“His Majesty's Sergeant” out finally!!

The United Kingdom, to be precise the town of Slough was the venue for the launch of the revised dvd version of the film “His Majesty's Sergeant” on the 14th of August 2011, held in memory of the late film director Ato Yanney Snr who passed away on the 10th of April, 2011, after a long battle with illness.

The town Slough is not new in the film industry, because Pinewood Studios which has produced classical films in the past, and the Bucks Laboratory where the original negatives of the film “His Majesty's Sergeant” was being kept can all be found there.

With film pioneers like Kwaw Ansah, Ernest Abbeyquaye, King Ampaw etc, Ghana can boast of quality filmmakers who can really stand out amongst the crowd.

It was not a surprise therefore when Special guests like the Mayor of Slough, Councillor Sukjit Dhaliwal, and Fiona Mactaggart, the Labour Minister of Parliament for Slough who were all present to witness the handiwork of the late Ato Yanney, didn't leave disappointed.

Harry Fayers Rushton of Big H Entertainment, producer of the DVD version , as well as Bernard Odjidja, the veteran editor of the film, Godwin Osabutey (film producer), Charles Kyeremah of Premiere Productions(greetings from abroad), budding actress Nancy Ameyaw,Rev. Mr/Mrs Peter and Pauline Kamau of Emmanuel Celebrations Centre (UK) were also part of the audience to celebrate the life of a great son of Africa.

Big H Entertainment set the ball rolling, followed by a documentary on the life of the late Ato Yanney Snr, then the moment that everybody had been waiting for, that is the outdooring of the dvd “His Majesty's Sergeant” by the chairman of the event, John Kaniaru, C.E.O of Equator services a (UK) based firm.

Ato Yanney Jnr, C.E.O of Flamboyant Films, the Ghanaian production house did not hide his delight as to the outcome of the event, and so was the event coordinator George Fred Chacha who is a project manager.

“ This is just the beginning of the Legacy left behind by my late father. His dream that Africans be recognized in the world of cinema is finally manifesting. His death is a big blow, but that's why we are alive to carry on. Hard work pays, you know?” Ato Jnr remarked.

The film is being recommended by the Mayor of Slough for an Exhibition later in the year, due to its rich content and quality.

The event was sponsored by Emmanuel Celebrations Centre (UK), I.P.M.C Ghana's number one Information technology firm, Royal Magma Ghana Limited, Topspeed Limited(Ghana), Ghanaian Reactor Online, Meridian FM (Tema, Ghana), K. Jones Car services (UK)and Arc Consult Ghana Limited, to mention but a few.

“His Majesty's Sergeant” is a film shot on PANAVISION, and has had a history of disappearances until recently, when it was retrieved and transferred to dvd after re editing at the Molinaire Studios in England and certified under the British Board of Film Certification (B.B.F.C) .

The story is set in the sweltering heat of the Burmese Jungles (1944) , where the allies are fighting against the forces of imperial Japan. Three missing soldiers Jafa(Tommy Ebow Ansah), Jake( Tony Trent), and Singh(Surinder Singh Ghuman) who are thrown together by fate and war, get embroiled in their own highly charged individual battle for supremacy.

George Williams, a known face in the Ghanaian movie industry played the role of Jafa's father, and the film had big shots like Rev.Dr Chris Hesse (director of photography), James Mettle (camera) and Bernard Odjidja(editor).

Jamie Tories was the editor for the revised version, Len Brown of the Molinaire Studios as Consultant, Bob Lampon of Fluid Waves on voice over for the trailer, Promolounge 4(UK) contributing in the promotion and James Baffoe, Consultant.

Truly the “Sergeant” never dies.

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