Actress, Lydia Forson has slammed Ghanaian actress and movie producer, Selassie Ibrahim after Selassie passed some “denigrate” comments about full-time actors during an interview.
In the said interview, Selassie Ibrahim averred that Ghanaian actors or actresses can’t rely only on acting as a means of income. According to her, there must be something wrong with anyone who makes such claims.
She also noted that anyone who is into full-time acting in Ghana will die of hunger if he or she does not have any side job to augment the meager income they make from acting. According to her, the film gigs usually come once every three months and that cannot sustain anyone to depend on only acting.
“I keep telling them [actors and actress], you cannot tell me you are a full-time actress in Ghana; there is something wrong with you. You cannot call yourself a full-time actress or actor; you must be sick in the head. You will be hungry and die a pauper. You need to find something else to do. I have a setup and other stuff, but how about an ordinary person acting? You are only called every three months for a role in movies. It cannot sustain you”.
Se lassie Ibrahim
Lydia Forson who was obviously upset with Ibrahim Selassie’s assertion noted that her claims only denigrate the already struggling industry, especially where women are concerned.
Lydia added that she was a full-time actress for several years before owning any business.
“Too many people don’t understand filmmaking and Showbiz as a whole and it’s why some of these very nuanced conversations are overly simplified. I was a FULL-TIME ACTRESS for many years before I ever owned any business, and whiles I did struggle at times, I understood the (BIZ) in SHOWBIZ and knew that I had to run myself like the brand I was; it’s where your money comes from”.
Lydia Forson
Lydia Forson further expatiating the issue explained that actors all over the world have supporting careers when they’re coming up, but once they hit a certain status, it will take their full time and that is when the actor “functions as a business”.
The ‘Keteke’ lead actress said: “Loving an industry and being in it doesn’t mean you completely understand it and it’s why we need a lot more conversations on SHOWBIZ as a whole and with people who have an appreciation of its complexities”.
In Selassie Ibrahim’s submission, she advised her colleagues to venture into other businesses and make acting their hobbies to get money to support their lavish lifestyles on social media.
Lydia reacting to this particular statement said: “Please, saying it’s a HOBBY only cast even more negativity on what we do; what she does as a producer, the people she hires, and how much money she spends to produce one movie is not a hobby. Much love to all actors, filmmakers (including auntie Selassie) for continuing to sustain an industry that isn’t always easy”.
