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Introducing John Apea- Our entertainment correspondent.
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Despite attempting to disguise myself, I’m certain
my handsome identity has been unearthed! Yes, I am Junior from ‘Home Sweet
Home’ and I am honoured to finally be a part of the African Echo team. Watch
this space for the best in African news in the media and entertainment sector
and remember, if you heard it, you heard it first from the African Echo- the
voice of Africa! |
Editors note:
Welcome on board Junior. We are one big family at African Echo. We invite all other endowed members of our community to
come join us show the best Africa has to offer.
Send your comments, pictures, features and criticisms
to John through the email:
info@africanecho.co.uk.
WATCH OUT FOR MORE NEWS FROM THE CONTINENT AND OTHER EVENTS IN
THE UK
EMMANUEL APEA, THE BRAIN BEHIND TAXI DRIVER,
HOME SWEET HOME TALKS TO AFRICAN ECHO
Unless you have been recently living under a huge rock
in Afghanistan, I am certain that you must have seen ‘Home Sweet Home’ or
‘Taxi driver’, two popular sitcoms, on OBE television. Just incase you are the
above described, and have been living under a rock in Afghanistan, I have three things to say to you-firstly, my condolences, secondly, see a doctor a.s.a.p and thirdly, let
me quickly fill you in:
‘Home Sweet Home’ and ‘Taxi Driver’ are two drama-comediesset in Accra, Ghana; ‘Home Sweet Home’ depicting a part of Ghana which
the outside world rarely sees on Panorama or the News at Ten , and revolving
around the day to day situations within an upper middle class Ghanaian family. ‘TaxiDriver’ on the other hand portrays a different yet pleasant side of
Ghana, revolving around an amiable taxi driver, his good for nothing friends and aplethora of colourful passengers he encounters daily.
By way of intense blackmailing and plain threats,
(just joking) The Echo had the opportunity to meet the
creator/writer/producer/director of both shows Mr Emmanuel Apea to ask him
a few questions pertaining to both hit shows.
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African Echo:
First of all, thank you for granting The Echo
this interview
Emmanuel Apea: It’s my pleasure. You guys are really doing
a brilliant job with this paper .Keep it up
African Echo: Thank you. Firstly, can you tell us how you gotinto the film- making profession?
Emmanuel Apea: Well, I can probably say I stumbled
on filmmaking actually. I’ve always enjoyed watching films and writing but
being of African parentage my parents believed that filmmaking (like playing
soccer) wasn’t a real or noble profession!
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African Echo: So what was a noble profession in their view?
Emmanuel Apea : Doctor, Lawyer, Engineer, Accountant
or Teacher were the only real professions! So I went that route for their
sake, studying economics and politics at Queen Mary and Westfield –University
of London, and upon graduation briefly worked in the city as a banker, brokere.t.c. Ultimately, I was unhappy and decided to do some graduate work in
Film, and the rest ,as they say is history.
African Echo: Where did the ideas of ‘Home Sweet Home’
and‘ Taxi Driver’ come from?
Emmanuel Apea: Taxi driver came about from a brilliant musician called John K. He was
a high life musician and our paths crossed in 1998 in Ghana. He had just seen
a film I had shot called ‘Killing Me Softly’ and he pitched me the idea of
doing a show about a taxi driver and what he gets up to in Accra. Well, being a
big fan of the British ‘Carry on’ films I thought that this would be a good way
for me to explore the comedy as well as drama genres simultaneously. Well,
taxi driver became a hit and the rest they say is history.
African Echo: And ‘Home Sweet Home’?
Emmanuel Apea: ‘Home Sweet Home’ was a product of myself
and my wife Julia. We wanted to create a show that was wholesome and that the
whole family could watch and enjoy. This was partly because we had a growing
family and were thus interested in doing a show that would appeal to kids and
adults alike. We looked at shows like ‘My Wife and Kids’, ‘The Cosby Show’, ‘The
Fresh Prince of Belair’ as well as well parenthood as a basis for our show. Also,
we were tired of seeing Ghana being depicted as a grubby, poor country and thus
we wanted to show Ghanaian as well as foreign viewers a different side.
African Echo: Have Ghanaians and Africans been receptive
to both shows
Emmanuel Apea :Yes. We are currently being beamed all over Africa on DSTV, GTV, OBE and
on AFRICAST in North America. We are very glad that other nationals enjoy
the shows and can identify with them. This means that we have achieved
our objective of being a show that all races can enjoy.
African Echo: We have all heard about Hollywood,
Bollywood and Nollywood. Why no Gollywood? What’s the future for Ghanaian films?
Emmanuel Apea: Until we can get to a situation
where Ghanaian films travel beyond its borders, the plight of the Ghanaian
film industry will continue to be dismal. Just look at the Nigerian film
industry and how well they are able to export their products. This has led to
the viability of their film industry. On a recent trip to the Sithengi
film festival in South Africa, there was not even one Ghanaian producer
there! However, you just had to turn your head to see hordes of Nigerian
producers. The problem with the Ghana film industry is not dissimilar to the British
film industry:
1.our films are too insular and often do not have
cross over appeal
2.due to purchasing power, the amount a film can gross
is limited and thus producers will rather invest in a small budget film
3.we are swamped by cheaper imports from Nigeria
4.there is the lack of entrepreneurial flair
African Echo: What makes you a good filmmaker?
Emmanuel Apea: Well, because my father was an ambassador
for the United Nations I had the opportunity to live and school in over
four continents. This exposure has meant that I have definitely had an
eclectic cultural experience which translates into everything I write and direct.
African Echo: What’s next for Revele Films?
Emmanuel Apea: We want the world to realise that there
are film makers of international quality in Ghana who are capable of holding
their own against anyone in the west! Presently, we have secured some
major international backers so expect a feature of international quality from
Revele in 2006!
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