PRESIDENT OF THE KUMASI FILM CREW ADMITS THAT KUMASI MOVIES LACK QUALITY

Many are those who have complained bitterly about the quality of movies produced in Kumasi and the fact that most of them are increasingly destroying the film industry.

Though some Kumasi movie makers disagree with people who pass negative comments about Kumasi movies, the President of Ghana Film Crew Association of Ghana (Kumasi branch), Owusu Asare has revealed to Flex newspaper that, it is true that most Kumasi films lack quality.

He lamented that many people who are technically good when it comes to movies end up blaming the Kumasi film crew because they handle most of the technical aspects of the movies. He added that he believes most of the blames should be directed to the film producers because they refuse to invest in quality and they like cheap labour.

He added that on the part of the Film Crew members, they are doing a lot to raise the standard of Kumasi films. “One of the main reasons why we came together to form this association is the blames we receive for poor work done, and we think though the producers are rather to blame, we also have to learn and work hard to bring out the best in us. We agree with those who criticize us for poor quality of our movies and we have learnt a lot from some of their criticism,” he said.

Talking about some of their strategic activities for the year, he said that they were planning to collaborate with NAFTI, so they could train most of the crew members who didn't have formal education, so they could also be professionals.

He also supposed that it would get to a point where they would control and force the producers to invest in quality and if they refuse, they would take personal actions against them.

As to what they have achieved within a shorter time, the president of the Association Samuel Owusu said that most of the winners of Kumawood Awards and Ghana Movie Awards are part of the Ghana Film Crew Association of Ghana. The Best Costumier in Ghana Movie Awards, George Atobire and makeup artiste Jude Odoh are part of the film crew.

NICHOLAS OMANE ACHEAMPONG EYES GOSPEL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR AWARD

Last year, Nicholas Omane Acheampong had his eye on the top Gospel Artiste of the Year award but lost it to Herty Borngreat.

Although Omane picked up the Gospel Song of the Year, the gospel musician, it appears, would not be content until he has won the ultimate Gospel Artiste of the Year at the Ghana Music Awards.

He is back saying the road to victory, this year, is smooth for him since he sees no competitor in that category.

According to him, he has worked better than any other gospel musician and deserves to be awarded Gospel artiste of the year.

“The impact my latest album Mahashala Hashbaz did in 2013 was so great. No other gospel musician was able to dominate the gospel scene or had better impact than me” Omane Acheampong told Showbiz last Thursday.

He said that anyone who had the opportunity to attend any of his shows during last year would testify the influence he had on his audience anytime he mounted the stage.

“Normally you are not likely to get too many gospel musicians cutting across both the secular and the gospel world but I believe I achieved that with Mahashala Hashba^ in 2013” Nicholas said.

Asked why he always praised himself for being the best, Nicholas said hard work pays and as a musician who is vibrant and releasing hit song after hit song, he would not let things bypass him and will continue to talk just as other musicians do when it is so clear the award is for them.

According to him, never would he complain if he knew he did not deserve any award but when Ghanaians are giving him. The support for his good work, he will always fight for his right.

“There are times when it is clear a particular musician deserves an award but at the end of the day, a different person picks it up. I cannot talk for others but I know what I am capable of and the influence I have on the society with my songs”, he said.

What if someone else picks the Gospel Artiste of the Year? “I will be disappointed although I am not the only Gospel artiste in Ghana. You need to call a spade a spade; I deserve the Gospel Artiste of the Year and probably Gospel Song of the Year as well”, he said.

KUMASI BUS DRIVERS ASK FIPAG TO RECONSIDERS ITS BAN DECISION

Few days after publications went viral that effective February 1 2014, long distance bus operators would be banned from showing movies in their buses as a result of the Film Producers Association of Ghana and the leaders of the various transport unions’ unsuccessful attempts to reach a consensus, VIP bus drivers in the Ashanti Region of Ghana have asked that FIPAG reconsiders its decision.

In an interview with NY DJ on the Kapital Entertainment Unplugged Show on Kapital Radio in Kumasi, PRO for FIPAG, Michael Ola explained although it had always been and continues to be illegal for their movies to be shown for commercial purposes until copyright permissions had been sought, many transport operators looked down on the law and hence the decision to reinforce the law effective February 1.

Speaking as to how FIPAG intends rolling out and monitoring such a policy as they would not and cannot be on all buses that travel across the length and breadth of the country, the PRO disclosed several plans had been penned down which they believed would work effectively.

In a related interview with leaders and bus drivers from the Kumasi garage of VIP as to how challenging the ban would affect their business, they disclosed it would be very necessary to resit and arrive at suitable terms since the ban will cause a huge effect on their transport business. Speaking to Big Adams, a vociferous driver at the station on Kapital Radio, he disclosed the movies were relevant to their customers as that was the first request travelers often made.

Michael Ola on the other hand has disclosed that the association is willing to meet with the executives of the transport operators should they call for it but until then, the ban takes effect from 1st February 2014.

KWESI PRATT PUNCHES KOJO ANTWI

Musician Kojo Antwi eulogized late broadcaster Komla Dumor who died last Saturday 18th Jan, 2014, disclosing that the latter’s death is as painful as that of Bob Marley, Nelson Mandela and other legends.

Kojo Antwi made those remarks in an interview with myjoyonline.com after signing the book of condolence opened at Joy 99.7 fm in honour of the former Super Morning Show host.

On today's edition of Adom fm’s morning show – Dwaso Nsem, ace journalist Kwasi Pratt spat venom at those who seem to be passing hyperbolized remarks at the late Komla Dumor; all in the name of solidarity.

“How can you liken Komla Dumor to Nelson Mandela? How can you compare the two? What do they have in common? Comments like these bring up needless wrangles! You say Komla Dumor is like Nelson Mandela and then another person comes to refute it. At the end of the day, we end up digging into their personality ‘work sheets.’

Mr. Pratt also took a swipe at the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Dzifa Gomashie. “Komla Dumor is bigger than Ghana? How could the Deputy Minister of Tourism say that? How can any person be bigger than his or her country? Nobody is bigger than Ghana! Kwame Nkrumah, Komfo Anokye, Asaboamanfi, Aggrey, and others were all not bigger than Ghana!”

‘MY PASTOR HATES SEEING BREASTS’ - ACTRESS

A popular Akan/Twi movie actress, Nana Yaa Appiah, has told News-One that combining her active Christian lifestyle and acting career has been a major challenge for her.

“I cannot play certain roles and have had to reject many scripts because my pastor does not like to see my buttocks or breasts, not even a small part of it in movies. He would get angry because it is against the teachings of my church. I attend the Open Bible Faith Ministry at Atonsu and as you can see, I can’t even pierce my ears more than double. I sing at church and I am bound to be a role model,” Nana Yaa noted.

Interestingly Nana Yaa is a very pretty lady with well rounded curves that could raise eyebrows if exposed in movies. She is tall and light-skinned, has an infectious smile and the type of body that could excite any right-thinking adult male.

Nana Yaa admitted that the job of an actress has become very competitive and her selective attitude puts her at a disadvantage, but she does not have a choice because she is a practicing Christian and would have to abide by the teachings of her church and her pastor.

Asked if her church does not know she needs to work to get money to pay her tithes and offering, Nana Yaa said her choice of career is not motivated by money.

“Acting movies in Ghana is not all about making money. The movies for which I was paid very small monies have rather helped me enter places I could not have entered. It has opened doors for me. So sometimes, you consider some of these things rather than focus on money for now….there was a time a family invited me to spend holidays with them in Europe simply because they love the way I act,” she stated.

Nana Yaa emerged on the Akan/Twi movie scenes in 2009 and with support from Samuel Akwesi Nyamekye of Miracle Films, she has since acted in some 70 movies.

Though she started mostly by playing the role of a pastor’s wife, Nana Yaa later switched to other roles which have earned her numerous accolades including Osofo Maame, Dede, Mama G and Lady Posh.