“His Majesty’s Sergeant” DVD Revised Version, Launched!!

Slough, precisely the Weekes Drive Community Centre was the venue for the launch of the revised dvd version of the film “His Majesty’s Sergeant” on the 14th of August 2011, held in memory of the late film director Ato Yanney Snr who passed away on the 10th of April, 2011, after a long battle with illness.

Ghana can boast of quality filmmakers Kwaw Ansah, Ernest Abbeyquaye, King Ampaw etc who can really stand out amongst the crowd, and It was not a surprise therefore when Special guests like the Mayor of Slough, Councillor Sukjit Dhaliwal didn’t leave disappointed after watching the handiwork of Ato Yanney Snr, who was a British and Polish trained filmmaker, and also a member of the British Film Institute.

“My ancestors also fought in the second world war, so this films means a lot to me, and I am glad to be here today” were the comments of the mayor after the event. The MP of Slough, Fiona Mactaggart who made a brief appearance, Harry Fayers Rushton( producer of the year, Raindance Film Festival) of Big H Entertainment a UK production and consultancy unit, producer of the DVD version , as well as Bernard Odjidja, the veteran editor of the film, John Kaniaru, C.E.O of Equator Services a British Firm,who was the chairman of the day, Godwin Osabutey (film producer), Charles Kyeremeh of Premiere Productions(Ghana), budding actress Nancy Ameyaw, James Baffoe (consultant) Rev. Mr/Mrs Peter and Pauline Kamau of Emmanuel Celebrations Centre (UK) were also part of the audience to celebrate the life of a great son of Africa and to officially launch the movie. There was excitement all around when the film was being screened, after a documentary on the life of the late writer/director was shown, and some short speeches by the MP of Slough and other dignitaries who were present. George Chacha, the event coordinator, together with Ato Yanney Jnr chief executive of Flamboyant Films and son of the writer/director could all not hide their delight about the success of the launch.

The event was supported by Emmanuel Celebrations Centre (UK), I.P.M.C Ghana’s number one Information technology firm, Royal Magma Ghana Limited, Topspeed Limited(Ghana), Ghanaian Reactor Online, Meridian FM (Tema, Ghana), and Arc security Consult Ghana Limited, to mention but a few. “His Majesty’s Sergeant” is a film shot on PANAVISION, and has had a history of disappearances until recently, when it was retrieved at the Bucks Laboratory in Slough, transferred to DVD after re editing at the Molinaire Studios , and certified under the British Board of Film Certification (B.B.F.C) . The story is set in the sweltering heat of the Burmese Jungle (1944) , where the allies are fighting against the forces of imperial Japan. Three missing soldiers Jafa(Tommy Ebow Ansah) a Ghanaian sergeant, Jake( Tony Trent) a British private, and Singh(Surinder Singh Ghuman) an Indian corporal,who are thrown together by fate and war, get embroiled in their own highly charged individual battle for supremacy.

George Williams, a known face in the Ghanaian movie industry played the role of Jafa’s father, and the film had big shots like Rev.Dr Chris Hesse (director of photography), James Mettle (camera) and Bernard Odjidja(editor). Jamie Tories edited the revised version, Len Brown of the Molinaire Studios as Consultant, and Bob Lampon of Fluid Waves on voice over for the trailer. The DVD is being distributed by Big H Entertainment in the U.K and is a film to be watched!