Entertainment of Friday, 14 February 2020

Source: classfmonline.com

Producers' Guild is 'like a bully organisation' – Leila Djansi

Leila Djansi Leila Djansi

Ghanaian filmmaker and producer, Leila Afua Djansi has described Ghanaian movie producers as "bullies."

Her comment follows the alleged reaction of the industry to a comment made by legendary actor Kofi Adjorlolo.

Mr Adjorlolo in a recent interview alleged that he was owed by about seven movie producers.

“Old man like me they call me to come and work and they can't pay me. About seven producers, they owe me money...Why? About seven producers in Ghana here, they owe me monies. Why? And then I’m sitting at home and I’m hungry and when I’m sick nobody... look we have elderly people sick lying there and producers owe them; they don’t even give them money. Why?” he quizzed.

Shortly after this outburst, the Film Producers Association of Ghana (FIPAG) in a statement signed by its President James Aboagye on Thursday, 6 February asked the actor to render an apology to film makers in the country.

“FIPAG has never received any of such complaints from him [Adjorlolo] nor ever had the opportunity to learn it from any quarters.

“It is, however, mind-boggling as to why he behaved the way he did in the said interview. With his failure to back his claims with any tangible fact, FIPAG hereby deems it fit for him to render an unqualified apology to film producers and the industry within 14 days.”

According to FIPAG, the actor will be sanctioned if he refuses to apologise.

Reacting to the news of the resulting threat to sanction the actor, Leila Djansi in an interview with Prince Benjamin on the Class Drive(CD) on Class91.3FM said she did not blame the actor for making the comments he made.

“I don’t blame him for doing that [Saying that]. Why do they want to blame him, they should call him and get a formal complaint. They can call him and say 'hey what happened, who are these producers' and then they should reach out to those producers and verify that yes, he’s owed and get him his money. Why do they want to ban him, they don’t have the right to do that. It’s not the right reaction,” she said.

Ms Djansi, however, noted that she had her own problems with movie producers in the country.

“I’ve got my problems with the producers' guild in Ghana, they’re like a bully organisation and they’re just doing what they do best. This should be a wake up call for them to do a proper administration of the industry,” the actor added.

Leila Djansi is known for movies such as ‘I sing of a well', 'Sinking sands’ among others.