Nana Yaa Agyare is a consummate and thoroughbred broadcaster, scriptwriter, actress, and programmes manager at Max FM in Accra, Ghana. Over the years, she’s worked on radio and featured in several movies. In this interview with Lucky Onoriode George, Publisher/Editor, African Travel Times in Accra, Ghana, she bares her mind on interest and aspiration going forward in the Ghanaian film industry.
How did you get into acting?
Well, I would say that acting has been something that was there since the age of 3 because my mum tells me I would stand in a corner and depict two different people in a conversation and be acting them. She was wondering where I watched that from because those days, we wouldn’t be watching TV and all of that. It’s something I wanted to do a long time ago, you know, but I couldn’t get it going until the opportunity came when I wasn’t expecting; but actually, I started acting from the stage- secondary school stage acting. Then I joined the Talents Tabernacle Incorporated, which was a drama and music group. There, I doubled as a singer and actress- I did more of the stage.
So, in 2013, I was telling my students … I teach broadcasting as well…
What school is that?
Radio Broadcast Development Foundation … so I was telling my students something related to acting; and I said that in passing you know, that as an actress, this is what I do on stage and I apply some of the experience to the broadcasting field, blah, blah, blah! One night I was at home around 10.00 pm, and then one of the students called me and said there was this opportunity for a TV series, and that one cast failed and I have to play the wife of Emmanuel Armah, you know, and I almost refused the opportunity.
She insisted that she has said a lot of things about me and that “the producer wants to see you tonight”. It was 11.00 pm, so I said I could make it early morning. Very early in the morning, I went. I didn’t know I was going on set! I went there, he [the producer] gave me the script, he tried me for the screen, and he said “where have you been all this while?”. You know what that means.
He said, “okay, we are actually on set and this is the hotel we are shooting and so if you are ready…” I said “what!?” You know, there is the issue of getting into character and all of that. But there’s one thing about me, I don’t say no. Well, I said “sure I am ready”, and I now started to sweat. In the end, I delivered. From there, I started going to auditions. It was tough, very tough, but I will say, all in all, it’s been great.
Your generation in the likes of Jackie, Yvonne, and a few others, how competitive was it for you?
Very, very competitive, even before you talk about competition, it was difficult to break in; a whole lot of things happen in the industry, but in my case, I had interviewed some actors on my previous show, and so I knew what to expect, joining the industry.
On your show?
Yes, exactly, I was doing a celebrity profile show called Celebrity XYZ at Radio XYZ where I interviewed celebrities on what they go through and everything, so I came prepared, I knew it won’t be very easy. The challenges were many, a lot of challenges, but then I was determined.
Regarding competition, there was this issue of using the same cast in all the projects; it’s like recycling; and so where are you going to start from? Are you going to do your own production or is your friend going to do a movie and feature you? Your breakthrough is based on recommendation; someone says I know this actor; she is good, let’s use her, so that was when my breakthrough came. I landed myself a role in a Nigeria movie shot in Ghana, and that was my very first lead role, and that was in 2014. …. The competition is still there, in fact, if you are light-skinned, and there is another light-skinned woman and so on… But well, I believe that it has to do with timing. A lot of producers in Ghana are beginning to realize that they need to tap into new acts here and there and that is certainly helping new acts.
I know you don’t want to tell me about the role for sex in the industry, but It’s in the open in Nollywood. How prevalent is it here?
It is, I would not talk or mention names because we are each other’s keeper, alright, but everyone would tell you that it happens, there is either sex for roles or that you pay for roles, okay…. and unfortunately, if you won’t do it, somebody else would do it.
I have experienced times, in as much as I will not go into detail. When I started, I got a role alright, and they showed me where to come to finish talking about the role, and those times it was part of the script so I said, “oh well, you better send someone to come for your script or better still, let me leave it somewhere” Then he would say “ no, it hasn’t come to that”
You see, if you are in love with a producer or a director, it’s a different thing: two adults. But I don’t want to have to sleep my way to getting a role. So, some of the challenges I went through at the time, aside what I have mentioned is you going to do a job and not being paid, because they feel they are doing you a favour, not now, now is cool.
Why do you think some ladies would want to get everything done to get a lead-role or to be featured in a movie?
For some, not for all, their motive behind wanting to go into acting differs; One would want to go into acting because she wants to use it as a platform to do something, and I feel it’s the best platform ever. Somebody’s motives too might be different, you know that as you go on screen, you are appealing to a lot of people, and so it helps you to get favours, and if you are a lady, you can get the guys coming after you and all the money and all of that. Everybody wants somebody on the screen and all of that, so it differs.
How rewarding is acting itself as a profession?
I always say that when you love what you do, the passion drives you, and sometimes when the money is not coming, you don’t really kill yourself over it. It is not so, so lucrative, and that’s why I always say that if you’re into acting, you might want to also get something small doing on the side so that if per chance the money is not coming the way it should, you will not be totally frustrated. I don’t know about Nigeria, but in Ghana, it’s not too easy.
You know what the producers go through. The financial resources might not be that strong but they still want to do that movie. Sometimes an investor could disappoint them or pull out….And so, well, for me, when the script is good and I know you are going to go far in terms of marketing, and you come to speak with me in a language I understand, I will understand.
You also know that it comes with a lot of responsibility. The moment you get onto the screen your lifestyle will change, your taste will go up; how much have these affected you?
People say that at a certain level, you can’t do certain things, you don’t have too much of private life because when you are passing like that people are asking, what is she doing here? You see, you sit down and think they don’t know you right? When you do something wrong you will know they know you. I love to go to the bush canteen to have my fufu like you know; where the smoke is and all of that, somehow you can’t go there and sit on the stool again. But hey, when I go to Sunyani, for instance, to do a documentary …. I am a documentary artiste as well, I say “is there a bush canteen around?” And I just feel free under the assumption that it is far away from ….
That nobody knows you?
… Probably, but there is Facebook and TV! So, I try as much as possible to keep my private life to myself. Sometimes you are driving, and you let someone cross, and the person stands in front of the car and he says hey, and he is waving … but it comes as a package. I will say yes, it’s normal, so we are dealing with it, it’s going to get worse, I know.
In universities, there are theatre arts courses?
Absolutely yes…!
How many of such do you see coming from the Theatre Arts department and making it big in the movie industry in Ghana, how common is it?
I sometimes see them diverting to other things, I can’t figure out why, but most of them finish, some go to National Film and Television Institute [NAFTI], and then end up in let’s say, broadcasting.
Media generally; because we have them in both print and electronics?
…. Exactly! But then you would expect that he will do let’s say directing and then go and be a director, you know everyone has a reason, sometimes it’s not lucrative, but then again those our predecessors, they did theatre arts in school and they continued with it on stage and then on the screen.
Now, for the Nigerian movie, if you see the title, you can tell the end of the movie. Is it the same with Ghanaian film?
When I get a script I read it from cover to cover- I want to see if there is a story there; I won’t do a yawa script, because I believe that if am part of something if I am part of your project and its good, my brand goes higher. Sometimes you get a script, and there is really no story, two, the title of the movie is a put-off, three, there is no suspense like you rightly said, Oh! Yes, you can tell, there is no element of suspense, and probably you could also get a script and you remember that ah! I have watched this movie before. I read it from cover to cover like I am in the process of reading a script right now. Unfortunately, in Africa, some are used to giving you a job for you to say “let me read the script first before I tell you I will do it”.
What do you think about the case where if you see Chioma Apotha or Mercy Johnson, you know she will be crying throughout the film and stuff like that?
They use you for the same thing. Emmanuel France is my father in the industry. I just love that man. Now everybody wants to use him as a native doctor. Native doctor, native doctor; now the children see him and they run away. So, I think there has to be a bit of variety, apart from casting based on looks; because that is key, you also look at ability. Different people can do different things.
Now, I am mostly concerned about the welfare of the artistes. If you play a lead role in an American film, even if it’s just one scene, you are made forever. How much is it worth to play a lead role in a Nigerian or Ghanaian movie?
Well, again it depends on the production house okay? Somebody might be doing a low budget movie; another might be doing a high budget movie. And then, for instance, if there is a more-known actor than you, for instance, Akorfa Adjeani, she’s my senior in the industry. So even if she’s playing a supporting role, she might be paid more and I will be paid less even if am the lead. What is not good is when you are exploited, and when they don’t pay you or pay you your worth, but that discrepancy is there, that is why I am saying it depends on the production house and who is on board because, in Ghana, just a lead role will not earn you so much; don’t get it twisted.
Now how do we improve our scripts, because as you rightly said, the good and the bad come from the script? How do we train more scriptwriters?
I, for instance, I didn’t learn to write. I grew up writing. I’m trying to say that there is a talent called ‘your ability to write’, but that talent has to be sharpened.
I remember when I was in secondary school form one, my teacher, who was a professor in the university was carrying my essays and taking them to the university level 100 students and telling and telling them “ look at a form one girl writing this” So, that means that the talent is there, but what am I doing with the talent? I am training myself on a daily basis. When I hear of a scriptwriting master class, I pay and go do it. I feel I want to learn from people and that is what every scriptwriter should start to do if they are not doing it. They should also read wide because you get your stories from many experiences.
Is it the same thing as in music, for instance, somebody can write something for you? Is it the same thing for somebody to come to you as a scriptwriter to say, I have this concept?
Yes, they do that all the time. I am writing a script for a TV series. So, the person has a concept and says, this is what I want, can you now do the scriptwriting for me?
Perhaps the person comes with the storyline?
A storyline too, yes, narrates the story or tells you that this is what I experienced.
Now, initially, we saw collaborations both in music, entertainment generally between Nigeria and Ghana. How have these helped the movie industry in Ghana?
I think that the collaboration makes either party stronger, and again, let’s come to the business aspect of it, I want to shoot a movie, I don’t have much money, but I can come to Lucky and say let’s put money together and do something, then Lucky would say, why don’t we add this other person, now we are like four, we are lacking that. I don’t mind if it’s a collaboration with a Ghanaian, Ugandan, or Nigerian production, it’s a collaboration, and it does us a lot of good.
Now I know, even in Nigeria, it’s a kind of demonic issue for actors and actresses getting into a relationship and by tomorrow it crashes, I am talking of marriages among the actors and actresses; sometimes they get married to themselves and before you know it, they break up. The musicians are suffering the same thing. Is it common in Ghana too?
Yes, it is, and the next question is “why”? I think if you are a celebrity, your life is not private anymore, yes, but you can also control how you ‘privatize’ if I should use that word, your private issues. I have always said and my colleagues, some are beginning to understand me when I say it, that you don’t need to put your relationship on social media. Well, everybody has a motive for doing what they are doing, some use it for hype, some would even say, come, let’s break up for like, one week, we’ll come back together. Then everybody wants to find out why we have broken up, then when we come back together, my followers will increase…. Some use it as hype, but sometimes it is a real painful experience that might have been through for real.
So basically, you are saying most marriages among the celebrities’ crash because of social media or….?
It’s just one factor, but the other factors I would not know.
Now, I got to read a little bit about you, and I was talking to somebody and I said you are a young lady…. about your husband, and I realized he’s a mature guy and also perhaps in his sixties or so …., so how …, were you just looking for a safety net or what happened?
So, we were both working at Joy FM and never in my wildest dreams did I ever think …. I didn’t even know him. I only knew him on the radio.
So, it’s from afar?
It’s from afar; I didn’t even have him in mind. What he was doing was a good thing that everybody liked, the voice and everything. His big brother thought me Photo Journalism at GIJ at a point, and we were good friends as well, you know! That’s it after school, yes everybody went separate ways, and then I bumped into his brother at Joy FM and he liked the way I worked. He said I was a workaholic like he was, so I will be working and he would come and stand behind me like this, and when he stands behind me, I would not mind him till I was done.
So one day, we … somehow, I wasn’t driving by then, I finished my night duty around 11.00 pm he had finished his show, and then, this is a funny one, he was like, “I want to give you a lift home ”he said “Oh, Oh, no, no I will go with the company’s vehicle. He goes outside to check and comes back and says, “those vehicles have broken down … I am taking you home”, so he won.
And then that night we got talking. He dropped me at the gate and we talked till 1.00 am. And that was when we realized we had a lot in common.
Now, moving forward, where do you want to see Ghana, West Africa movie industry in the next few years?
Obviously, I really want to see the industry in Ghana, let’s talk about Ghana first, being more appreciated, believed in by our government, successive governments, that we are a bigtime revenue-generating venture. And, so they would put money into it. And we move. I would want to see the Ghanaian movie industry and Africa as a whole, doing stories that put Africa in a better light.
In America, you have stories that tell how powerful America is and they invest in it. It’s not one individual who gets up and says I have this idea, so I want to do it and fund it because it’s a lot of money. I want to see stories like that, that would portray us as who we really are. I’d want to see, you know, producers making more money because most of them are not. It’s very pathetic. You put in a lot and reap very little. I would want to see different actors and actresses springing forth and being used and being paid, and them living well so that we know that you can be an actor and live by it, and all of that. I also want to see more training going into the field of movie-making, not just acting, film-making. And I would also want to see more festivals in a country like Ghana, yes, we have the Black Star Film Festival, Juliet Asante is doing very well. I just love that woman, you know, she’s doing well.
Now, Ghana positioned itself as a leisure home for cultural tourism though, the first slaves were not taking from Ghana, the First slaves were taken from Angola. Now that the Year of Return is ending because the year of return kept Ghana busy in the last two years, so, what next and what role can the entertainment industry play to sustain what has been, the hype that has been done …?
The Year of Return has been able to do a lot within a short time, foreigners have been tasked to bring more foreigners home to invest in Ghana and all of that. You are more into tourism; you know that in Ghana our tourism sector needs some strengthening. There are so many places that could serve as tourism sites that are wasting, that if I were to mention, I wouldn’t finish.
We need to develop our tourism sector, which I believe the tourism industry is in the process of doing, and then we need to now look at creative arts as a peg. That is it, let’s make some noise, you know, but you do one programme, creative arts, only a few people would attend, the industry players, just a handful would come. But in Nigeria, they would storm and fill the whole room.
I followed Genevieve’s case and, I think what happened to her was that she didn’t follow the rules.
… particularly language, she used pidgin with the assumption that pidgin represents….
The local language….
Yes. I think before you shoot a movie, you look at the bigger picture. Where do you want your movie to go, don’t shoot your movie, and then you think of what platform you want to market it. But, all through and all through, let’s assume that the story is even authentic and good and all of that … yes, you know you would enter the Oscars, look at the criteria for getting your movies selected, and do your movies like that.
For most Nigerian films if it’s cultural related, if its local base, it is either witches and wizardry, is it the same thing in Ghana?
Yes, it is. One time an expatriate friend of mine asked me “ are you people safe, because I was watching a Ghanaian movie in a VIP pass… movie after movie, all of them had ‘someone wants to do you’, and ‘someone wants to juju you’, something is flying” and she asked me, “ are you people safe”? You know, just like I said, people can watch your movie and know what happens in Zimbabwe, that is how it’s supposed to be, and so we are telling everyone that our witches here are strong … everything about Ghana is witchcraft, especially in the rural areas.
There’s witchcraft everywhere, it’s not only in Africa, in America it’s there, but again we believe in tradition and all of that, which is good but, are there other things we can talk about?
So that is the role of you the scriptwriters, being honest, if you get the audience, which is the populace, is that what the public actually wants, as a scriptwriter?
The audience did not really ask for it, somebody came up and did a movie and did it like that, another producer looked at what this person did and did the same thing, and another one did the same thing, and that is all we have to watch; DVD, so we all buy it and we watch it! How did you know the audience liked it, did you do audience research, which we also don’t do?
You the producers and the marketers should know that…
Exactly, before you even create a programme, you have to do audience research, not Lucky has done a programme, that is like this with this segment, I also want to do that, that is what happens. You did a movie and you killed someone with witchcraft, I turn it the other way round; if you say a child killed someone, I’m going to use it, change the child to a woman, and then we are recycling the whole thing, story after story. I think we need to think outside the box and I don’t think that creativity is not there, I think it’s there and we need to revive it.
Now on a very final note, when do you want to see Ghana, African movies, entertainment generally? And what is the role of cinema in our movie industry?
Ok, I believe that if we had a lot more cinemas like some of the key players in the industry in Ghana are trying to push for, that would help. Our cinemas are few and cinema is what is pushing films. Today, if you are not a cinema face like… there is this particular producer when he wants to recommend you on the job, he says, “Oh she’s a cinema face” and that means a lot of my movies have been premiered. Even for your movie to go through a festival, it’s got to have gone through cinema, so things like that are picking up, but we need the physical infrastructure for cinemas.
Because in Lagos it’s about seven cinemas now. I know there is one in my area, there is one in Ikeja, and there’s one in Surulere …
And that’s for Lagos only!
On a very final note, for those who want to come into the industry, you want to be a producer, writer, director, actor, you name it, what should they do?
I think we should be a bit more competitive as individuals and a collective. When I say collective, we have our various associations and all of that. As an individual, are you just going to come and also just start producing movies and give it to the TV stations, what are you hoping to do? I am hoping that the movies for instance in Ghana, (like I said I don’t know about other African countries, but our movies in Ghana would have more elements that will make them more marketable outside the country, not only to fellow Ghanaians in the diaspora but in general, that’s what I am hoping for.
I won’t let you go until I ask you this question. The issue of piracy, it’s massive, in fact, there is no interview that would be complete without talking about it… How huge is piracy in Ghana?
Good, one of the reasons why the producers are not making money is piracy. Let’s look at the fact that DVD production has gone down, I don’t know whether it is because of piracy, but it is quite obvious because I do my movies, I do a number of DVDs, the marketer is marketing it, then you go to one small shop and then you see somebody duplicating and selling it to make money, and mine are there, it’s bad, and the producers were really crying.
Now let’s say that DVD is off a bit, now online, you download a YouTube movie for instance without the original titles of the movie, you start the movie you will not see montage, you will not see anything credit, the movie just starts on dialogue, why? We can’t answer that question, but that’s what I am saying, I was watching one film this afternoon, I was trying to make a point, so I watched like five since yesterday, and I realised that … they will tell ‘this movie will make you cry’, that’s the title you will see there, and there’s no title of the movie, there is no cast …, it just starts, there’s nothing.
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