ARROGANCE IS KILLING/KILLED AGYA KOO – PRODUCER

According to Agya Koo, Producers did not cast him throughout 2013 because his charges are exorbitant. The Producer in question who double as the CEO of Peace and Love Productions, Daniel K. Sarfo Tyson has responded after the story went viral last week.

Following up on the story, Nana Kwame, the host of OC Showbiz Review on Skyy Power 93.5, a Radio Station in Takoradi interviewed the CEO of the Production House mentioned by Agya Koo; Peace and Love Productions. In an interview with Mr. Sarfo Tyson, he divulged that, all Agya Koo said are lies.

The Producer said Agya Koo is egocentric and very arrogant and that is causing his ‘demise’ in the industry, not his ‘meat pie price.’  “Can you imagine he comes on set and tells us he has important things to attend to so he has to leave when he has not finished shooting his part? We keep begging him all the time to finish his part before he leaves but he mostly leave saying he has important things to attend to” “A movie like ‘For girls,’ he did not finish his part and left.

He said he had personal things to attend to and left. We pleaded he finish before leaving but he just left” Further asserting, Mr. Tyson said “If Agya Koo says he made Kumasi movies and Producers popular, then he is ungrateful and a liar. And it is untrue he was paid after shooting ‘Bumper to Bumper’, it is not true.”

RAHIM BANDA SPEAKS

Ghana's star-kid Rahim Banda has confessed that it was his dad whom opened the way to stardom to him. Rahim told CMN that though he had interest in acting, never knew it could land him this far except for his dad. He owes his dad for all the favour done him. In case you don't know his dad, he's Mr. Ahmed Banda, CEO of Bandex Production.

Roughly three years ago Rahim started his acting career. He happened to be the youngest actor of the luminary. Furthermore, he was able to pick his first award at age 12 with the movie "Wipe my Tears" as Best Actor in a Supporting Role category amidst nominations in other categories as well. An earlier claims has said that he has prospects of picking the Best Actor category one day.

Despite, the industry posed some defects at the preliminary stages. He was shrouded with nervity while shooting his debut "Masters of the Game". He described it as very "scarry and challenging". Onwards, he was able to tune in his artistic skills and made execution of roles in movies including: Behind the Mask, Jimmy, Isha, John Obama among others.

Moreover, he had also stated his movie making career is no threat to his education since he shoots only on vacations. Most of his movies come from his dad's Bandex Production. Also turns down other movie offers from other producers, for the sake of education.

Upon asking him about how it feels to be a star, he proudly exclaims "well, all attention is given to you. It all depends on how you take it". When one becomes a star or public eye, he/she is expected to be disciplined, courteous and infact possess all the good qualities of life since everyone looks up to you.

In his latter message to his fans, he had urged all to take education seriously and "always believe in your dream. Education is key dream for all" - he stated.

ELIKEM IN COURT OVER ODARTEY’S BROUHAHA

An Accra High Court has adjourned to January 22 the case involving former Black Star midfielder Nii Odartey Lamptey and his wife.

The case was on Tuesday heard in Chambers at the Cocoa Affairs court room 14.

Nii Odartey Lamptey who is the owner of Glow Lamp International School headed to court to seek divorce after over 20 years of marriage.

This became necessary after Nii Odartey Lamptey conducted DNA test and discovered that the three children he has fathered all his life are not his biological children.

Few weeks before Christmas, it will be recalled that there was an allegation from a highly placed source in an interview with XYZ News saying that Odartey Lamptey caught Elikem flirting with wife on three different occasions in their matrimonial home.

Both Nii Odartey Lamptey and Elikem Kumordzi were in court together with family friends and sympathizers.

MY HUBBY GAVE ME THE NICKNAME 'OMOSEXY' - OMOTOLA REVEALS

Many refer to prolific and powerful Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde as 'Omosexy' but don't know how she came about the name or its origin.

The screen goddess has been widely known with the name and later created a 'sexy nation' out of it. The TIME magazine 100 powerful person in the world recently told CNN that her husband, Capt Mathew Ekeinde, not her fans, gave her that name she is now widely known with.

According to her, "funnily, it was my husband that gave me the name. That name is the pet name he calls me at home."

Omotola is one of the most sexy Nollywood stars in Nigeria. She has four grown up children. Many budding stars see her as their role model.

GHANA MUSIC AWARDS 2014 PROCESS BEGINS!

Charterhouse Ghana, organizers of Ghana’s biggest and most prestigious event on the entertainment calendar, the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards would like to inform all Ghanaians including those in the diaspora that work has begun toward the 15th Vodafone Ghana Music Awards.

The event that seeks to reward musicians and music industry players that churned out various works within the calendar year opening January 1st 2013 and closing December 31st 2013, will be held in April 2014.

All artistes and record companies are thus invited to submit their works for the period in question to Charterhouse. The deadline for submission of entries and nominations is 31st January, 2014.

The calendar of events leading to the big night starts with a press launch slated for Thursday January 16th 2014 at Alisa Hotel at 5pm. All press, media personnel and interested industry practitioners are cordially invited.

Established in year 2000, Charterhouse Ghana, is Ghana’s leading events management and production firm with branches in Liberia, Cape Verde, Nigeria and the Ivory Coast.

CHARTERHOUSE BRINGS "GH ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS" THIS YEAR

On Sunday 12th January, 2014, host of the only Sunday radio entertainment programme – Flex on Pluz in Ghana, Samuel Atuobi Baah, asked the PRO of Charterhouse, Mr. George Quaye, if it’s true they have plans of birthing another award scheme called Ghana Entertainment Awards.

“Yes it’s true we shall be organizing another award scheme called GH Entertainment. It’s actually something we conceived two years ago but we were still putting the pieces together behind the scene. God being so good, GH Entertainment Awards shall come off this year hopefully before the first quarter of the year ends.

“We shall be launching it before this month – January ends and after that, more details of the award would be made public or available to the media. What would be so different from this award and Ghana Music Awards?

“Well unlike Ghana Music Awards, Ghana Movie Awards, Radio and Television Personality Awards, and the other awards which are specialty awards, GH Entertainment Awards is an award scheme designed to award people in all the different sects of our creative arts industry.”

“We shall be awarding players in music, movies, broadcasting, Art writing, event producers and directors, painting, graphics, a little sport and others,” George Quaye intimated.

Indeed, this award promises to be one with a broader scope compared to all the award schemes we have in Ghana.

AMAKYE DEDE LEADS ANTI-PIRACY CAMPAIGN

One of Ghana’s top highlife musicians whose music is being sold on the market without his approval, has warned that his outfit will soon deal drastically with all those involved in the illegal distributing of his music.

The highlife music icon, Abrantie Amakye Dede, wept over the rate at which music was being pirated in the country and disclosed that for the past years, his musical works had been sold on the local and international music markets and online without his approval.

Speaking to Beatwaves in an interview yesterday, the evergreen highlife musicians described pirates as thieves, and nation wreckers, and therefore called for an effective and rapid legal system in the country to deal with them.

“I have to make things uncomfortable for the pirates who are depriving Ghanaian musicians from making ends meet. We will chase them out of their hideouts very soon. We will use all available means to uproot them and destroy their criminal operations,” he declared.

He added that “it is time for all forms of piracy to be dealt a lethal blow. Pirates must be jailed. I call on all Ghanaians to expose their illegal activities in the supreme interest of the country.

“Piracy has not only decimated Ghana’s music industry, but has impoverished its creators and deprived government of legitimate tax revenue.”

According to him, measures were being put in place by his management team to check the activities of those pirating his musical works, adding that he would wage an intensive war against those behind the illegal sale and distribution of his musical works.

He asked music sellers and distributors in the country who want to do business with his music to contact him personally or his management.

Abrantie stated that he had not authorized any company such Mega Star or any group of persons to distribute and sell his musical works on his behalf.

ALLOW TWI AND ENGLISH MOVIES TO RUN SIDE BY SIDE- IRENE OPARE

Veteran actress, Irene Opare, has said the comparison between movies produced in Accra and those coming in from Kumasi as though they were two different fields, is totally unnecessary.

She’s told enewsgh.com in an interview that both can run side by side.

“Kumasi movies are local movies; I mean there’s nothing we can… we can’t compare ‘Kumasi’ movies and the English ones,” she says

“They are totally local movies and so we can have the two running alongside, which is fine. There is nothing wrong with it.”

In a response to why she hasn't been seen in a major movie production lately, she said:

“It’s not like I don’t want to do movies anymore. If I get a very good script, challenging role, good money, I will play it. I mean that’s my job .you know movies, going on locations and stuff is no joke, you know so I’m game.”

Why hasn't she produced her own movie yet?

“I haven’t ventured into movies yet. I haven’t thought of that.” Opare hasn't remained idle however; she is the brain behind the sanitation-themed television program, Clean Mama.

“I’m so seriously into TV production and it makes me so busy.”

‘I’ve been doing movies for twenty something years and I just had a dream to work on sanitation in Ghana so I just started it and that was it. That was what happened; I am into it so I want to educate Ghanaians about cleanliness. We need to get it right.”

Clean Mama, she says, talks about cleanliness and everything hygiene.

“Ghanaians, let’s make sure we keep our country clean. If you drink sachet water, don’t drop it on the floor please. Let’s make sure, we get it right and let’s make sure we teach our kids to do so.”

I CAN'T WORK WITH AN ACTRESS WHO DOES NOT UNDERSTAND KISSING- ACTOR

Having acted in a church drama with Yaw Sakyi and Jackie Appiah at a very tender age, Henry Adofo is currently holding high the acting flag of his motherland.

Born in Kwehu, the Eastern part of Ghana, Adofo studied science at the Presbyterian Boys Senior High School, Legon. He joined his family in Italy after his senior high and read pharmacy at the tertiary level.

After a nine year stay in Italy, Henry returned home in 2013. Known as the promising actor, the gem has seven movies to his credit of which four; Testing waters, House of Gold, Cheaters Book 1 and Book 2 are doing so well in the market.

The others are yet to be premiere/release. He’s an accomplished linguist and a versatile actor. In less than a year of active acting, Henry was nominated in the Zulu African Film Academy Awards (ZAFAA) and the just ended Ghana Movie Awards in 2013.

In an interview with good looking actor, he said he does not have any favorite but can work with any actress who understands a kissing scene. Aside the talkative role in Yvonne Nelson’s last produced movie, Henry has played some romantic scenes with couple of actresses.

“Ingrid and Uche felt the warmth of my lips in Testing Waters and Cheaters Book 1 respectively” he smiles, adding… “It’s just a joke o, don’t write it”The pink lips actor believes that when a role is efficiently and effectively played by the stake holders, our movie Industry would be a force to be reckoned with.

I DON'T USE COCOA BUTTER...LEAVE MY SKIN ALONE - YVONNE NELSON

Actress Yvonne Nelson says she cannot believe a section of Ghanaians have taken interest in a hoax that reported she and Apostle Kwadwo Safo were using Queen Elizabeth Cocoa Butter to change the colour of their skin.

“I am shocked people actually believe such a strange story about me. The writer quoted a press statement they claim I have issued to explain that I had a deal to become ‘Face of Queen Elizabeth Cocoa Butter’ and as part of the contract, I was given a lifetime supply of the body cream and that for three years I have used these Cocoa Butter to enhance my natural complexion rather than bleach it.

This is not true. It is a lie. I have never issued such a statement and I don’t use Cocoa Butter. People should leave my skin alone,” Yvonne told News-One.

Yvonne could, however, not tell why the media had been accusing her of bleaching her skin.

“I do not write the stories so I can’t answer for them. Maybe you should be asking the writers whether they have a report from a dermatologist that has diagnosed me of skin bleaching. They have made up their minds that I bleach and they are lost in that state of mental deception. Sometimes you feed your mind with an untruth and believe the untruth so much that you even start to think it is true,” Yvonne noted.

She continued: “I have always explained that as an actress I take different pictures under different shade of light and with different makeup depending on what the picture would be used for. It is therefore not strange to find different pictures of me looking different. It does not mean bleaching and one does not need to be an industry player to know this.

“Even in movies, depending on who the director is, there are different lighting angles and brightness levels that can be used to make a character look different and this is no secret. Even a change of weather can have an effect on one’s skin…I fully understand the dangers of skin bleaching and would not engage in any such venture. I am a lady and I appreciate my God-given looks.”

MY TOP WISHES FOR GHANA MOVIE INDUSTRY IN 2014

At the beginning of each year, people make all sorts of resolutions. Some work towards achieving the resolutions made, while others just make the resolutions and do not care whether they are realized or not.

Not left out is the Ghana movie industry where practitioners would have to work hard to elevate the budding industry. Some practitioners have individually noted down resolutions they intend working hard towards. I, on the other hand, also have some few wishes for the industry this year.

According to President Barrack Obama, of the United States of America, ‘Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”

I hope 2014 is not going to be a year in which the industry will wait for someone or an intervention from somewhere before it begins to effect the needed changes. It is a case of ‘God helps those who help themselves’.

In 2012, the government of Ghana set aside GHc2 million for the creative industry to help boost the sector and enable it meet international standards. The money was put into the music industry - a part of the creative industry thus the movie industry was neglected.

Clearly, the government did not give the money to the music industry alone. But can the movie industry ever attract such an offer as the above from the government?

This can only be if it starts working towards correcting certain wrongs in the industry and not wait for any person to effect that change.

If things are done differently this year in the industry, such as overhauling some of the ills within its ranks, things will be much better in 2014.

I do not have any resolutions, except some wishes for the make-believe enterprise.

• Thought provoking scripts: It is my wish that Ghanaian script writers will come out with well written, well balanced, well researched and thought provoking scripts.

Very often after watching a movie, you become certain about one thing; the movie seems as familiar as a movie that you might have already seen. Yes, it’s what is called an adaptation of a foreign movie. Then you begin to question the creativity of the script writers.

I saw some great movies in 2013. I cannot confirm if all the story lines were adapted from foreign movies. But I’m very certain that, not all were from the creative imagination of the story tellers.

Film making is fast becoming a big venture in this part of the world and scriptwriters must therefore change their ways. I believe this wish is not too big to come true.

You think all stories have been told already? How about getting into a taxi with your recorder? Through such an experience, the ‘all stories have been told’ mindset will be shot down. Please, stop turning foreign movies into Ghanaian movies. Be original!

• Actors must do more research: This is important. It is not out of place for actors to research the role they have been given or cast to play in a production. If you have been cast to play the role of a mad person, what stops you from understudying a mad person for weeks or months on end?

As a trained actor, I can say that the hallmark of a good actor is research and knowledge about the character one is playing. When that is done, directions from the director on set just go to benefit the actor. Mannerisms of a character are also important. Do more research please!

In 2014, I want to see good casting. Actors must not just jump into a role because the money is good. Actors must push themselves more by researching their roles and improve on their skills. They must do more intensive acting. Being more serious and professional on set or location should be a must this year!

• My next wish is on the technical professional who forms an integral part of the industry: Technical people should see the industry as one that is growing. If award events keep coming up for a particular industry, that is because the industry is growing and expanding. The movie industry is one that is growing steadily.

The Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAAs), will celebrate its 10th milestone this year and it is growing bigger and bigger. AfricaMagic has introduced a Viewer’s Choice Awards with good prospects. There are several other awards geared towards the movie industry including our own Ghana Movie Awards.

It is my wish that these professionals would begin to see the industry as a lucrative venture and that it can only be acknowledged and rewarded when much work is put into it and practitioners are professional on set.

I hate to see a movie with avoidable mistakes. It’s a turn off. Let’s endeavour to correct unforgivable mistakes in 2014.

• The media should be bold enough to call a spade a spade: Occasionally when movies are being reviewed, the media which are paid to promote or help market a particular movie tend to shy away from aspects of the movie that needs to be talked about critically.

Sometimes, these things are done in order not to make it seem as if one was being ungrateful to the producers. But I believe that when a movie does not match up, the production house knows it already and so why try to sound nice? My friend, it is your credibility which is at stake.

My wish this year is that, a poorly made movie should be tagged as such and a good movie be given the thumbs up.

The media must be able to do a lot of thought provoking analysis and critical reviews of movies. Not all movies should be considered as standard movies and passed as good. When there is something bad about a movie, it’s got to be said as it is and vice versa when it’s a great production.

• Marketing of movies: Marketing of movies in Ghana has been a major problem for most production houses. The marketing departments of major production houses must engage in a lot of serious work by understanding that marketing and promotion starts when the script is read and not after the movie has been shot and put on VCDs, DVDs.

There must be a publicist to put up bits and pieces of press releases about the movie in the media as the production is running, just so that by the time the movie is ready, the public will be anxious and ready for it. Any serious producer knows where to find such professionals.

IS BOBBY OBODO DATING JACKIE APPIAH?

There is no official confirmation yet to reports that Jackie Appiah is no longer married to Peter Agyeman, but speculations are that she is going out with Canadian-based Nigerian actor, Bobby Obodo.

Jackie and Bobby were often seen together at public events, but when news started making rounds that they were secretly dating, they stopped appearing in public until they were again spotted together at the Ghana Movie Awards.

Bobby arrived at the Accra International Conference Center the same time as Jackie Appiah. Few minutes later they were talking as they headed towards the entrance of the foyer with other members of their entourage.

However, they sat far away from each other in the main auditorium where the event took place.

Jackie had earlier on denied dating Bobby after rumours went viral.

“He is simply a colleague and there is no truth in the allegation that we are dating. It’s false! Because people see us together does not mean we are romantically inclined. It is just a figment of some people’s imagination. Some people are up to mischief. Controversies no longer get to me. I have outgrown many things,” she reportedly denied their alleged romantic affairs.

“That is my private life. I don’t go personal when granting interviews but I am a mother,” she also said about her marriage.

ALLOW TWI AND ENGLISH MOVIES TO RUN SIDE BY SIDE- IRENE OPARE

Veteran actress, Irene Opare, has said the comparison between movies produced in Accra and those coming in from Kumasi as though they were two different fields, is totally unnecessary.

She’s told enewsgh.com in an interview that both can run side by side.

“Kumasi movies are local movies; I mean there’s nothing we can… we can’t compare ‘Kumasi’ movies and the English ones,” she says

“They are totally local movies and so we can have the two running alongside, which is fine. There is nothing wrong with it.”

In a response to why she hasn't been seen in a major movie production lately, she said:

“It’s not like I don’t want to do movies anymore. If I get a very good script, challenging role, good money, I will play it. I mean that’s my job .you know movies, going on locations and stuff is no joke, you know so I’m game.”

Why hasn't she produced her own movie yet?

“I haven’t ventured into movies yet. I haven’t thought of that.” Opare hasn't remained idle however; she is the brain behind the sanitation-themed television program, Clean Mama.

“I’m so seriously into TV production and it makes me so busy.”

‘I’ve been doing movies for twenty something years and I just had a dream to work on sanitation in Ghana so I just started it and that was it. That was what happened; I am into it so I want to educate Ghanaians about cleanliness. We need to get it right.”

Clean Mama, she says, talks about cleanliness and everything hygiene.

“Ghanaians, let’s make sure we keep our country clean. If you drink sachet water, don’t drop it on the floor please. Let’s make sure, we get it right and let’s make sure we teach our kids to do so.”