Ghanaian playwright and producer, Fiifi Coleman has voiced his support for actress Beverly Afaglo’s recent critique of the country’s movie industry.
Coleman highlighted the low production levels and the lack of visibility for Ghanaian films.
“They are not producing a lot of movies. There’s nothing. As a country from January to July, we are saying that we have produced six movies and these movies are not by the big houses… These movies that you’re talking about, no one knows about them.
“There are not enough being produced. And I don’t blame the producers because she (Beverly Afaglo) also mentioned it. They are investing to make money back and they are not getting it.”
Fiifi Coleman
Coleman also addressed the common criticism that Ghanaian movies are predictable, arguing that the predictability of a movie does not hinder creativity.
“When we watch the Marvel movies, we know exactly who is going to win at the end of the day. So that really doesn’t kill a story or doesn’t kill creativity. That is not what is bringing us down. We always know the end of every movie.
“But that never stopped anyone. What has been the issue is the process of getting to the end, the processes that we go through, and the plot twists. That is what the issue has always been, but not just identifying the ends of the story.”
Fiifi Coleman
Reflecting on his extensive experience in the industry, Coleman expressed frustration over the distribution challenges.
He stated that many producers are creating content, but it remains unseen due to inadequate distribution platforms.
“They are producing the movies, but who is watching the movie?” he rhetorically asked.
However, Ghanaian actress Beverly Afaglo backed the claims that the quality of production of many Ghanaian movies is low.
Afaglo further suggested a return to traditional methods of screening films in small town halls to reconnect with audiences.
Producer Describes Casting Young Actors for Older Roles in Movies ‘Irritating’
Renowned producer, Nana Poku Ashis voiced his concerns about the current state of Ghana’s movie industry, highlighting several issues that have led to its decline.
Ashis criticized the practice of casting younger actors with makeup to play older roles, calling it “irritating” and a factor in the industry’s loss of professionalism and audience interest.
“It is irritating sometimes when you watch movies and there’s an older character that needs to be cast by an older person in the system and then they use the younger ones with white powder and that nonsense, it’s very irritating.
There are a few that do it well. Yeah, but not everybody does it well. That makeup thing, not everybody is perfect in those roles.”
Nana Poku Ashis
He also pointed out the repetitive and predictable nature of Ghanaian movies, which he says has driven audiences to prefer Nigerian films, which offer better quality and direction.
“I’ll say the movie industry was privileged. When it really kicked, when it really flourished, we were all going to the cinemas to watch them, but then constructively, their writings went down,” he said.
“And then people started comparing. You could tell, like, you start the movie, you know how it’s going to end. So then people started comparing ours to the Nigerians.
“They could see the quality and direction, everything that they wanted to see on the other side. So then they were jumping there. This world is a competition. If you’re not doing it and B is doing it, expect all of us to go there.”
Nana Poku Ashis
Beverly Afaglo also expressed her frustration over the lack of opportunities for veteran actors in the local film industry.
The actress, in a post on her Instagram handle, highlighted that 80% of the “old faces” are currently not getting movie roles.
