A video showing the moment Nollywood actor, Femi Branch was prevented from leaving a movie set after assaulting the film’s First Assistant Director (1st A.D.) has surfaced on social media.
TheNewsGuru reports that the incident occurred between 3:30 PM and 4:30 PM on Day 8 of a 9-day shoot. The cast and crew were preparing to wrap up at one location before transitioning to their final setup. According to the Assistant Director, tensions flared during a routine camera setup involving two camera units—Camera A outside the location and Camera B inside.
While the Assistant Director and Director of Photography were still adjusting the second Camera, the Director began rolling on the first camera without notifying key crew members.
“I was hitting the door for them to open because the DP wanted to go out and confirm the frame,” the victim recalled. “When Femi Branch shouted they were filming, I questioned what they were filming when the DP and 1st AD were still inside.”
What began as a verbal disagreement escalated quickly. The actor allegedly hurled insults, telling the Assistant Director his “head is incorrect.” The AD, standing his ground, reminded Branch of his authority to halt filming if necessary.
“He flared up, asking who I was to talk back at him,” the victim stated. “As he came inside shouting at me, I told him he can’t intimidate me and that I was well within my rights, that was when he hit me.”
The altercation stunned the crew, as they rallied to support their colleague. Following the incident, the film star attempted to leave the set, but was restrained.
The movie location’s gate was locked as crew members stood in solidarity with their colleague and refused to shoot.
In a rare show of solidarity, the crew refused to proceed unless Branch issued a formal apology.
“When he arrived at the new location and was asked to apologise, he refused and tried to leave,” the AD explained. “The crew locked the gate to prevent him from escaping.”