Supervise child actors, protect them against molesters – Gloria Young

A veteran actress, Gloria Young, has called for adequate supervision of child actors to protect them against unhealthy information.In an interview with Newsmen on Monday in Lagos, Young said that the supervision should be a condition for allowing a child to act in any Nigerian movie.According to her, children need close monitoring and guidance even in acting.

“Adult family members should take up this responsibility which is basically to shield the child and ensure he or she does not get exposed to unhealthy information and clips.

“Children are necessary in our movies; in fact, their roles make movies interesting, their roles are exclusive. Nevertheless, all children on movie set must be chaperoned.“Some household names and faces in the Nigeria movie industry today started as children,” she said.

According to the veteran artiste, a child must be given a written approval by an adult family member before he or she is allowed to be on set.“It is also a way of protecting them against molesters.“These talented children cannot defend themselves; they need someone to speak up for them in time of danger, this is part of the reason such an approval is necessary,” she said.

Young, also a radio and television presenter, advised that education of child actors should be given a priority attention.According to her, children should not be taken out of school for filming and audition.“Producers need to take their school schedule into consideration before using their services,” she advised.Young urged parents to encourage their talented children to develop interest in acting.