[ 2021-03-03 ]

Kumawood producers turn to YouTube/TV series
Even before COVID–19 hit Ghana, the local movie
industry was experiencing a serious downturn
compelling players to venture into other areas in
order to survive.
With the pandemic making an already difficult
situation worse, producers and actors in the
Twi-speaking movie industry, Kumawood, say they
have adapted to change by filming short skits,
series, among other creative works, and showing
them on YouTube.

In an interview with Graphic Showbiz, Jackson K
Bentum of Bentum 5 Pictures said almost every
movie producer was either doing television series
or making videos for YouTube.

“The best way for a movie producer to survive
now is through Youtube or a series. Just when the
movies were picking up again through premieres,
COVID–19 came to destroy everything.





Jackson K Bentum

“I have a series titled Susupr? currently
running on Adom TV and I’m shooting another one
Adekye? Mu Ns?m. With YouTube, you get something
good at the end of the month, I mean money and
with the TV series, when you get a sponsor you are
good to go,” he said.

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According to him, movie premieres were paying off
until the President announced restrictions that
stopped cinemas among other establishments from
operating.

“My colleagues and I were making it through
premieres but not anymore because of the
President’s directive for cinemas not to
operate,” he said.

Paul Gee of Paul Gee Productions disclosed to
Graphic Showbiz that almost all his movies were
now on YouTube. “Since last year, all the movies
I have produced are on YouTube which I get some
money from at the end of the month. I wanted to do
TV series but without sponsorship you won’t get
much so I decided to go the YouTube route,” he
said.



Read more: Showing movies for free on TV was a
mistake – Socrate Safo

He expressed hope that the pandemic would ease so
that the premieres could resume.

“A movie that will take us a week to shoot is
now running into a month because you cannot have
too many people on set.

“At least, the 25 people in a room for a movie
premiere can help. In a month, we can get a lot of
people watching our movies but now the cinemas are
totally shut down,” he said.

Read more: COVID–19 has affected us big
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Mustapha Adams of A. A production said until
COVID-19 went away, the only means of survival for
movie producers was through YouTube and TV
series.

“Now that sales of movies are down, the best
approach is TV series and YouTube. Although
YouTube doesn’t give you so much, it is better
for you when you get a lot more people watching
the movies and that is why my works are there. I
am not surprised most of my colleagues are into
other businesses because nothing is really
happening,” he said.

Source - Graphic Online

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