Afriwood Media, in collaboration with AUCC and the Film Director’s Guild of Ghana, is poised to host a maiden workshop for filmmakers in Ghana.
The workshop is set to kick off on December 15, 2023, at the African University of Communication Campus.
The workshop is meant to equip filmmakers in Ghana with the requisite skills. Many have the talent to direct films or create content but lack the necessary skills or training. Due to the fact that many of the content creators lack the needed training, they are not able to create or produce quality films or video content for public and private consumption.
Many of the filmmakers in Africa, especially in Ghana, find it very difficult to determine what kind of content they should produce to meet the tastes of their audiences. It’s not a surprise that many content consumers go for foreign content after they complain about local content. Most of the local content has no directions; it lacks proper structures in terms of suspense, soundtrack or sound scores, proper storylines, the needed costumes, proper location, and actors who fit to play certain roles, among others.
The key speakers in the workshop are as follows: Pascal Amanfo, a film director; Albert Kyei Baffour, a film producer; Maclord Ice Impraim, a film-maker; Samuel Blankson, a lecturer at AUCC; and Haruna Seidu Zoree, a film producer and the founder of Afriwood Media. Some of the key speakers have their films in foreign markets, and some have won international film awards.
These guys are very equipped with the necessary skills to impact the knowledge of the filmmakers, who really want to be properly trained to meet industry standards. The upcoming filmmakers’ workshop will be one of the most memorable ones. Though it’s a maiden edition of the filmmakers’ workshop, it is set to take place every year.
It is very difficult to gain admission to pursue a filmmaking course, but the organizers saw the need beyond expectations to freely build the capacity of young filmmakers as well as existing filmmakers who are passionate and willing to undergo the needed capacity building.
It is not obvious some people call themselves filmmakers or film directors because they followed a film director on a few occasions so they think that made them a film director. To be called a film director or filmmaker is not only about “action”, and “cut”, but it’s a whole lot of craft that one needs to take his or her time and learn well.
Under the workshop, everyone shall learn what the role of a film director is, the role of directing actors on set or location, directing short films, film branding and marketing.
Marketing is one of the difficult areas that draws people backwards and due lack of proper marketing skills businesses are not able to do well.
As filmmakers or content creators, you can not create content or produce your film and drop it anywhere without gaining from your craft. The organizers of the event make it a point to teach the filmmakers how to sell their films after production. Notwithstanding the training shall not only cover the said topics but shall also direct the filmmakers to the authentic platforms where they can sell their films.
The workshop will help the participants to know the various kinds of filmmaking equipment and their uses. Most of the filmmakers in Ghana are used to only some old equipment which is no longer in the system or very few in the system without knowing the latest or modern equipment the creative arts industry requires.
It will surprise you that a so-called filmmaker does not know what is called audiovisual. Yes, it is not their fault, because the opportunity was not there for them to sharpen their talents. It is now time to embrace the given opportunity by allowing oneself to attend the filmmakers’ workshop in other to know all that it entails to be a filmmaker.
