KUMASI TAKES OVER...As Ghana's movie club (SHOWBIZ, BACK PAGE)

By George Ernest Asare

The Garden City is steadily becoming the brewing pot for local film production in the country, such that many actors and actresses as well as film producers and directors seem to have made Kumasi their base, where varieties of local films are produced weekly.
The serene atmosphere in Kumasi , coupled with its cosmopolitan nature, cultural attractions, traditional values and the adventurous attitude of the youth, have endeared the city to the movers and shakers of local film production who find it very convenient to shoot films here. About 80 percent of all films are now shot in Kumasi.
This year alone, films like Obra ye Oko, Pastors Club, Awurade Kasa, Nyame Akwan, Obaatan Pa, Agya Koo Sakawa, Agya Koo in Love, Odo Adaadaa Me, No Fears and Prophet One, which have been hits, were all produced in Kumasi.
Miss Gloria Agyemang, a Kumasi based actress who has been in the film industry for more than a decade, is one of the people who have been observing the trend and who has described it as a positive development. Thirty-year-old Gloria, popularly called Aso in movie circles is determined to make her mark in her acting career.
She told Showbiz last week that the use of Akan in many local movies has also contributed to making Kumasi the preferred location for film producers. “ Our audiences love to be communicated with in a language that they understand and they urge us on to do more of that. To me, this is an indication that, our audience have totally fallen in love with our handiwork.” She noted.
“With the feed back we are getting, we are gradually proving that we can also make it with our local language, so the sky should be our limit. If musicians can use local language to sell their brand of music, why can’t we in the film industry do the same?”
Gloria mentioned Miracle Films ,Three Unit Media, Holy Progress, Crystal Movies, Baffour Awuah Production, Osewus Ventures, Pedro House Ventures as well as Big Joe Production, Paykus Ventures, E &E Production, Liberty Films and B.K Films as some of the Kumasi based producers who are making Kumasi the centre of attraction in local film production.
Other Kumasi-based producers are Pat Thomas Ventures, My Time Production, Kingdom First Media, J&A Production, Trinity Production, Owoahene Production, One Stone Production and Great Monies.
She said beside the producers and directors, actresses and actors such as Naana Hayford, Nana Ama MacBrown, Emelia Brobbey, Mercy Asiedu, Portia Asare Boateng, Vivian Jill Lawrence, Ellen White, Awo Yaa Agyeiwaa, Benedicta Abgmobiase, Bernard Aduse, Poku, Bill Asamoah, Sabby Debrah and Kofi Adu, have all contributed their talents to bring local films to the high patronage that they enjoy now.
She mentioned Jackson Bentum, James Aboagye, Samuel Akwasi Nyamekye, James Agyemang, Asare Bediako, Frank Gabin and Ritchie as the directors whose professional touch had ignited interest in local film production in the Garden City. “Our directors are so good that they have become hotcakes for the many producers who are constantly on their neck to shoot one film or the other, “she noted.
Gloria was rather disappointed that in spite of the sacrifices actresses and actors are making to sustain interest in local film production they are not well paid. “We sacrifice a lot of our time because I am almost always out there shooting one film or the other and it is about time our efforts are appreciated and offered payment commensurate with the quantum of work we do”.
Gloria Agyemang, daughter of Madam Afia Yim and Mr Charles Amoah who are now based in France, was educated at the Prince of Peace Senior High School at South Suntreso after her basic school education at Bantama Presby and Mmofraturo. She also attended the Kumasi School of Languages. Gloria, who comes from Atwima Techiman near Denchemuoso, started acting with Kyerematen Playhouse in Kumasi in 1995 where she learnt all the rudiments in acting, playing drums and traditional dancing.
With a number of stage dramas such as Tears of Lucifer and Atobra behind her, Gloria took the advice when her director , Mr Daniel Appiagyei, encouraged her to join Miracle Films. She said she took the opportunity presented by Miracle Films and began warming herself into the game in 2000.
She mentioned the late Kwame Owusu Ansah and Santo, as well as veterans like Abusua Panin Judas, Grace Nortey, as those she met at Miracle Films where they produced films like Asem, Dabidabi, Choice, That Day, Mr HIPIC, Danfo Pa and Asew 419, among other interesting films.
“I love and cherish all my fans, so they should keep on buying made in Ghana films as a way of sustaining the industry” she noted.