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03.04.2014 Opinion

An Advice To Kumawood

By Felix Acquaye/CMN
An Advice To Kumawood
03.04.2014 LISTEN

The jargon "Kumawood" is the name tagging the Kumasi-based movie producers who produces the local dialect (Twi) movies in the country. Though, producers in this small industry are making it in the market domain, they are always in the news for the bad reasons. Not for its dishonest market strategies, tax evasion or piracy but simply for its poor delivery.

To begin with, Cinematography/Film or Movie -making is the art of stimulating experiences that communicate ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty or atmosphere by means of recorded or programmed moving pictures along with its related sound. This shows that a movie should be to able to reflect and affect our daily lives. A movie must possess the ability to Educate, Inform and Entertain except for farces, that does not obey these rules hence; any video without these qualities is no movie.

The artistic skill is the natural talent employed to execute a role in a movie. Despite it being a natural endowment, it is being polished through education almost as the technical aspect which compulsorily demands it. As Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers hold sacrosance to their profession, so must movie-makers. As vividly stated by the 1992 constitution that "freedom and independence of the media are hereby guranteed" should be enough substance to the Kumawoodians that, they hold a state power and therefore must not see themselves as the voiceless indie men. Is it that Kumahood film-makers lack creativity and left with only following trends?

"My advice for young film-makers is this; don't follow trends, start them" - Frank Capra.

The stigma that when one starts a trend everyone must follow is eating fast the creative sense of the industry in question. Someone introduces witchcraft and fetishes then every single producer does same. Someone shoots an action movie, all must do same, just as if it's planned thing.

Another negativity of Kumahood is poor character sketching. Some characters like Egya Koo, Lil Wayne and Kwaku Manu are just being overused. It makes even the lame audience know their weaknesses. Also, these same three maintain same character in all their movies. And their movie titles always amusing; Egya Koo Carpenter, Egya Koo Aligantus, Egya Bank Manager, Azonto Ghost, Nkranti3 Nkwan and so on and so forth. I strongly believe there is no code of ethics guiding these movie-makers or if there is, it's a moribund. Well, I blame neither the actors or producers of these hokums. It's obvious that those actors/actresses making it in this industry are completely novices. The producers also we know are not movie moguls but mere businessmen who test their fate by just investing into the industry, that is why an Executive producer and the traditional producers appear as same in their movies. Who then takes the blame?

The greatest of blames should go to the directors because they have oversight of all the production from when it begins, during and the end. If the director can't distinguish between characters or proper casting; then we have a long way to go. If I may ask; where are all those intellects who graduate from institutions like School of Performing Arts, NAFTI, Ghallywood Academy, Accra Film School and a host others situated across the length and breadth of the country that these jesters who have just little confidence for the camera keep degrading the film-making image of this nation?

Furthermore, these Kumawood folks are forcing us to believe that the entire akan community is a laughter hub. It's so baffling especially these days when characters like Lil Wayne must dance no matter the situation, be it Tragedy, Tragic-comedy or farce. You see, this is not just to make merriment but how far it goes to ruin our cultural image. It's high time we use our movies to tell our true identity. 'Huhucious' make-ups is what you would see; sometimes long bears, mustache and wigs. Then while in action, you would see some of these make-ups falling.

Again the movies are not scripted and lack coherence. Only scenarios are narrated to the actors and actresses. It then turns to be that, those that spew more verbiage and humorous comments become stars. Other times, in attempt to cover striking situations make them over-hasten on set and come out with total garbage. A few include; Atta Mortuary Man, Tonga, Supreme Court, Vote for me.etc.

A word to the wise is enough.

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