Sex for movie roles: Who should be blamed?
Is it really wrong to offer sexual favours for the things that we desire to have? It is not for me to say but I’m pretty sure that, if this paper decides to hit the streets with the above question and people honestly and genuinely answer, it probably would come out a lot of the people may have offered sexual favours for things that they are in need of. It is not a big deal anyway, I think!
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UK based online newspaper; Daily Mail reports that, a woman was arraigned before a Florida court for offering three policemen sexual favours to escape being issued with a traffic ticket.
If she had succeeded with her plan, she would have escaped a great fine and at the same time pleased the libidos of the three policemen.
In Ghana, the same thing would have taken place without any reportage. She will just do it and go scot free without repercussions.
I am not saying this to condone such a practice though. Issues relating to sexual favours are seen differently in various parts of the world.
What I have gathered is that, people do not just go out of their way to offer that kind of service but only do so when they are in need. It is not only females who offer sexual favours, some men do it as well. However, the women do it more.
As a writer who has written about almost every important personality in the movie industry, I have had the chance to visit many movie locations and as a trained actor; I have also had the chance to follow the nitty-gritty of the movie making industry in Ghana.
There are lots of things I can say about the industry, but unfortunately, I cannot independently confirm that, directors and producers have carnal knowledge with female wannabe actresses before offering them roles but I have heard repeated claims that it is what happens in the industry.
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Last week, movie producer David Owusu, and CEO of Media5 Productions reiterated what most actresses have said over and over again that, producers indeed do have affairs with the young and wannabe actresses before they give them roles to play in movies.
“I won’t deny that it doesn’t happen. It happens. I have evidence of mobile conversations where producers make that demand, but I will not blame any producer or director who does that.
I blame the girls in question. Why, because as a girl, you have your dignity to protect and it is you who goes to see a producer and you know what you want.
You go there and the person gives you a condition; "it is up to you to say yes or no.If you say no and the person forces his way to sleep with you, that becomes rape".
You have your right to go and report and have the person prosecuted. But in the case where you don’t do that, the person gives you the condition and you agree and the person sleeps with you and you come out to say before they give roles they do this thing; then it means you also accepted it.
When it happens like that you cannot turn and blame the person who did that to you, once it wasn’t rape.”
“I will only advise our girls that if you want to act and go to meet a producer and the person makes that demand, you have the will power to say no or I won’t, because it is not all the producers that will make such demands. Some of the producers are very clean,” he told NewsOne.
Big Akwes
In 2014, Kumawood and Kumasi based actor Akwasi Asamoah, popularly known in Twi speaking movie fraternity as Big Akwes, alleged on Kumasi based television station RTV that, movie producers have sexual intercourse with actresses before they are offered movie roles.
His allegations were affirmed by some of his own male Kumawood practitioners but the female caucus swore heaven and earth that, there is nothing like that. Big Akwes was subsequently criticised, lambasted and was obliged to apologise, which he did open heartedly.
Despite his apology, he was banned for a year for his utterances. Before he offered the apology, he made it clear that, he will curse any producer or director who denies sleeping with the actresses.
Lamisi Sam Awinongya
As a former Ghana’s Most Beautiful queen, Lamisi Awinongya’s interest to be as an actress vanished when she was repeatedly asked to warm the bed of a producer before getting a role.
“Women are exposed to sexual harassment at most places of work and the movie industry is no exception…but I can boldly say that yes it happens there since someone tried to use that on me and that killed my enthusiasm on going full time into movies.”
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“We have wonderful directors and producers too, example Vincent Agbelengor, AkitiIfeanyi Okwem, Kobi Rana, Pascal and we have the shameless ones killing talents of young, better actresses but because they have decided not to play ball, no role is given to them so they sit back and watch others come on TV reading script and calling it acting,” she posted on Facebook.
Actress Nikki Samonas has also confirmed that, indeed some producers ask for sex before casting actresses. She said she was confronted but turned it down.
Also actress Roselyn Ngissah told Showbiz she believes producers sleeping with actresses before giving them roles is an act of choice.
“I will not allow a producer to sleep with me but someone else would. Under no circumstances will I sleep with a producer before I am given a role. I personally believe that when you are good, the roles will come your way.”
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Indeed, it has been established that, the practice goes on in the industry. But unfortunately what hasn’t been established is whether there are some producers who don’t ask for such favours because they think it’s morally wrong.
Why are we not also talking about the wannabe actresses who gladly offer sexual favours to be a favourite ahead of some other person when they cannot actually act?
Morally, that practice is wrong but at the same time, it’s a matter of choice. Until the ladies who willingly offer to take care of producers sexually to get favours come out to boldly say that yes they were involved in the practice that is when we can make noise about producers requesting.
Clearly, there is an asking and there is a giving in such cases. The practice will only cease if every wannabe actress will be wise and bold to always refuse and turn down the desperation.
anangfio@gmail.com
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