Ghana's shoestring film industry struggles in a post-Covid, post-DVD world
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Loading... - Kisi Boadu
- 09 Sep 2022
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“Action!” comes the call. Four actors are fighting. The leading man’s character is ostensibly there because his boss is looking for love, and has hired him to go to a woman’s village and test her loyalty, to see if she remains faithful.
There are two cameramen – one with a jumper over his head to keep his monitor visible under the blaring sun – and a sound guy carrying a boom mic. Crowds of children have gathered behind, the cameramen occasionally shushing them. A baby starts to cry.
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The actors are unclear whether they are filming for a movie or a TV show. They also don’t know how the story will end. Mainly, they are conscious that they need to do as few takes as possible, as they will be paid only for the final product, not the extra days it may take to shoot scenes they mess up. This is Kumawood, the film industry in Kumasi, Ghana, where films are produced at speed. Usually, they film a whole movie, or four episodes of a TV show, in five days. Read More...
