A little chat with Juliet
I met film maker Juliet Asante over drinks at the National Theatre last week. ‘A film is a cultural diplomacy tool, a trade enabler, and a global connector. It is also a powerful tool for communication,’ she said. I agreed to all the above.
Advertisement
Juliet had just led a delegation of stakeholders in the film industry to the Ministry of Communications. It was about the Black Star International Film Festival (BSIFF) to be held in Accra in August.
What tickled my imagination was that a policy her group had proposed at the meeting had been accepted in all good faith. Great, said I to my friend.
This policy mandates that all Ghanaian embassies should show Ghanaian films to audiences globally as a way of connecting, engaging and opening up interests to the country.
Such a move will create an avenue for engagement and ensure an opportunity for global communities to connect with Ghana, understand and appreciate our culture. This would ultimately develop curiosity that may lead to tourism and investment.
A release I later read said that Mr. Ato Sarpong, Deputy Minister of the Ministry, made a firm commitment to this policy by promising to push forward an actionable plan, in conjunction with the Foreign, Tourism and Creative Arts as well as the Trade Ministries to pass the policy on for all Ghanaian embassies around the world to show Ghanaian films as a tool for engagement.’ (Applause! Applause!!)
We have always maintained on this platform that placing Ghana’s tourism where it will fly demands the active participation of our film makers. The movie industry is a very influential one with potential for deep impact if it chooses to. Any nation’s film sector is simply its story telling machinery
As I listened to my friend, I had the idea that the success of this step hinges on the types of content that would be put out there. In telling our story as Ghanaians we must be able to project desirable images of ourselves.
Other Trending Stories
In a Ghanaian film worth its name therefore, the theme, subject matter, style, language, costume, among others, must portray our national setting.
As a matter of fact, few mediums present this opportunity to have intimate acquaintance of a people and their circumstance. That explains why film festivals such as Ouagadougou’s FESPACO are serious forums that attract tourists.
What image is our Ghanaian videos showing us? A land of gun-wielding youths, wicked mother-in-laws, ungrateful maidservants and bewitching old women? Is that really us?
Our film industry could do much better. Yes, in terms of employment it means a lot as currently, a typical film set employs 20-50 people per project on different skill levels. But films could do more for a nation than offer jobs.
In the chat with Juliet, my mind went to the types of films currently available that would be shown in embassies around the world. The point is you need a true representation of the societies in our nation. You also need to capture a fair sense of the various persuasions that prevail.
Indeed, you need aspirational images. You do not need films which you watch and you wonder if it’s Nigerian. By extension, we are also talking about documentaries.
Locally, the amount you pay to air one documentary on TV is outrageous. But that is another matter. The fact that the Film Bill is still not out is part of the challenge.
Another idea which came to mind is: at which forums are these documentaries going to be shown? Is it just in the reception space? Is it during formal events held by these embassies? Or are our embassies going to engage in more cultural events targeted to show these films?
This idea also led to another thought. How have our foreign missions been prepared to market Ghana. No, no. I am not talking about investment codes and trade protocols. I am talking what international relations experts call ‘soft power’. The nature of the Ghanaian, the culture, the traditions, the attractions, etc.
When well-conceived and resourced, a film does all these. That is how come we must be grateful for the Black Star International Film Festival. Already the August event which will take place between the 25-27th has over 1,000 films submitted.
I love something else that Juliet told me: the strategy that during the festival, films would be shown at under-served places around the city such as James Town, Circle and Kasoa.
Yes, coming soon at a venue near you.
kofiakpabli@yahoo.com
Advertisement