Ghanaian playwright and producer Fiifi Coleman has recently backed actress Beverly Afaglo’s critique of Ghana’s film industry.
In a July 18, 2024 interview on Hitz FM, Coleman emphasized the industry’s minimal output and the lack of visibility for local films.
He pointed out that only six movies have been produced from January to July, none from major production houses.
“They are not producing a lot of movies. There’s nothing. As a country from January to July, we are saying that we have produced six movies and these movies are not by the big houses… These movies that you’re talking about, no one knows about them.
“There are not enough being produced. And I don’t blame the producers because she (Beverly Afaglo) also mentioned it. They are investing to make money back and they are not getting it,” he said.
Coleman echoed Afaglo’s concerns about financial constraints, noting that producers struggle to recover investments.
He criticized the industry’s inability to widely distribute these films, limiting their exposure on prominent platforms.
“When we watch the Marvel movies, we know exactly who is going to win at the end of the day. So that really doesn’t kill a story or doesn’t kill creativity.
“That is not what is bringing us down. We always know the end of every movie. But that never stopped anyone. What has been the issue is the processes of getting to the end, the processes that we go through, the plot twists. That is what the issue has always been, but not just identifying the ends of the story,” he said.
Coleman also addressed criticisms that Ghanaian films are overly predictable, arguing that predictability itself isn’t detrimental to creativity.
Instead, he highlighted the need for more engaging plot twists and better storytelling processes to enhance viewer engagement.
Reflecting on his industry experience, Coleman lamented the distribution challenges faced by many producers, who create content that often goes unnoticed due to inadequate platforms.
“They are producing the movies, but who is watching the movie?” he questioned.