British-Ghanaian actress and producer, Ama K. Abebrese has shared the process she went through to qualify for a role in the acclaimed film ‘Beasts of No Nation.’
She said she underwent standard audition processes, just like every other applicant who was equally interested in getting the role.
According to her, she fasted and prayed before the audition day because she was passionate about getting the particular role she applied for.
The actress explained how she managed to be cast in the movie despite it not being a full Ghanaian production
“They had the auditions in East Legon, and I was so nervous. I remember when I went into the auditions, I fasted and prayed for days, and I was so skinny.”
Ama K. Abebrese
She performed to the best of her abilities and impressed the judges in the audition room when she was finally given the chance to show her worth.
As a participant, she felt that her performance was excellent and gained confidence from some of the post-audition feedback she received
“There was a lady in the room who was like, ‘You’re going to make me cry,’ and that made me feel like even if I didn’t get that role, I knew I killed that audition. So I gave in my all.”
Ama K. Abebrese
In contrast to Nollywood and Hollywood, the project was a private individual production, thus none of the production team members anticipated it would become as popular as it has after she qualified for the position.
Playing a role in the film was an amazing experience for her, and her expectations were met. All the characters in the movie, including her, benefited financially from the project due to the recognitions and awards it received.
“I know a lot of people made a lot of money off that film. I made money not as much as I would, but I made money,” Ama K. Abebrese said.
However, she was more focused on the experience and exposure rather than the money, given the caliber of industry players involved in the film.
She emphatically relayed that she prefers to go through standard audition procedures for movie roles, regardless of her industry experience.
Acting, One of The Most Disappointing Careers
Ama K. Abebrese shared her opinion concerning the challenges actors face within and outside the industry.
She revealed that acting requires resilience due to the hassles they go through to get a movie role.
“I hear ‘I want to act’ all the time. Being an actor is one of the most disappointing things you can be. It doesn’t matter what part of the world you’re in. Let’s say that you’ve auditioned for something you think you’ve done so great, and sometimes you can go to your first, second, or third; they can call you back like four times, and by the fourth time you think you’ve started cashing the check, knowing you’ve got the role, and then you don’t get it.
“So, it builds you up and pushes you down. So, you need to have a level of tough skin because it gets to a point where you start taking it personally.”
Ama K. Abebrese
The actress further stated that she has been to more auditions than the number of movies she has been featured in since the beginning of her career. She recounted how she lost over twenty roles she auditioned for the past year despite her experience.
But she never gives up, although it is usually a difficult and painful encounter, admitting that it’s part of the industry. Instead, it helps to sharpen her skills and bounce back stronger. It also motivates her to persist in attending auditions as soon as she is informed about a project.
“If I didn’t get it, it just meant sometimes it’s not for me and you; there are times when you find out who got the role, and then you now understand why you were not given the role,” she further noted.
Over the years she has been in the creative industry, the actress indicated that she has only appeared in about twenty films but is happy with that because the majority of the movies have been impactful and gained traction. She highlighted that her focus is on the quality of the movies rather than the quantity.
Ama K. Abebrese featured in award-winning local and international movies, including Sinking Sands, Double-Cross, and Azali, among others.
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