In contrast to other movie industries outside of Ghana, the Ghanaian film industry is said to have been seeing a drop in output for some time now, making it a less serious and vibrant industry.
Regardless, actress cum producer, Yvonne Nelson has said that she is sick and tired of talking about how industry players can help revive the movie industry.
In an interview, she stated that she was doing her part and hoped it was enough to restore the movie industry to its former splendor.
“I don’t blame anyone but I believe you guys (media) talk about what you see. It’s obvious the industry is not as vibrant as before and I am sick and tired of talking about this subject. I am tired of it. For me, I am doing my part.
“It works and for me, it’s a business and I have the passion. I just cannot see myself not producing anymore. I believe I am going to be around for a long time. The thing is my colleagues and I have to invest”.
Yvonne Nelson
Yvonne further said that she thinks many people have already given up on the movie industry and that locals need to learn and invest in what is theirs because outsiders won’t do it for them.
“We have to invest in the industry, and if we don’t, we don’t expect outsiders, people who do not even know anything about the business to come and invest. Because we know it and this is what we do.
“So I was expecting to see John Dumelo start directing. I am always bugging Majid to direct you know. It’s really just us, and I feel like we’ve given up too easily, and things are the way they are because of us. We have to sit up and do something about it”.
Yvonne Nelson
My mother has never watched any of my movies
Many successful people have families that stand as support pillars, but this is not the case for Yvonne Nelson.
The actress revealed for the first time that her family, especially her mother, has never watched any of her movies since she began her career in 2007.
She detailed that her mother has never been interested in any of her movies; those she featured in and the ones she produced herself.
she revealed in an interview saying;
“You know African mothers; they see entertainers as the unserious ones. So since I started she has never watched any of my movies before, not even one. It bothers me but I haven’t had a conversation with her. Even with the movies I produced she has never been at the premiers or watched them before”.
Yvonne Nelson
According to her, the situation is so serious that should her movies pop up on any TV channel, she is sure, without a doubt, Madam Margaret Gaddy, her mother, will change the channel.
Yvonne Nelson revealed her mother has an interest in other movies, especially soap operas but the situation is not the same for her movies because her mother simply does not believe in her talent.
The actress noted that she made a move to have her mother watch her movies together and they did not watch beyond a single scene.
“Even when I get awards, they do not even mind, same with my two siblings. When I was banned in 2010, I was very depressed and wouldn’t even go out of my room and they still did not care. They are simply uninterested”.
Yvonne Nelson
Yvonne said she believes her mother’s identity as a preacher is a contributing factor, as well as some of the sensitive roles she plays.
However, she is calling those who believe in her talent to gather at the Silverbird Cinema on February 14, 2023, to watch her latest self-produced movie, ‘Kotoka’.
