Television of Wednesday, 4 May 2011
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The One Show on VIASAT 1 this week hosted one of its own, Ama Konadu Abebrese. The show’s producers, of which Ama is a part, pulled a surprise when co-host PY Addo Boateng hosted her for close to thirty minutes, delving into her personal and career life both home and abroad, her recent laurels in movie making on the continent and just about anything, unknown to the outside world.
The recently-decorated African Movie Academy Award winner looked pretty calm and relaxed as she took viewers through what it is that she’s been up to in the past and life after joining the VIASAT 1 family.
Ama who is famed in the United Kingdom for her extempore presentation style on Catherine Ampaw’s OBE TV where she hosted the very popular primetime programme “On the Sofa” for three years, said although the media landscape in Ghana has great potential, there is a lot that can be done to improve the situation, adding that the system, as bleak as it may look, requires a lot of hard work from its players.
“Media is the worse paying job until you pay your dues. It’s really tough. Half of the time, you keep on praying to be recognized for your hard work. But it takes time to get there. Love and passion for the job is what drives me,” she said. The Sinking Sands and Ties that Bind actress said it is her love and passion for the industry that has brought her thus far. She admonished the youth to be dedicated and loyal in everything they do, adding that “During my university days, I worked three jobs just to keep up appearances and meet life’s pressing needs. Today, it has paid off”.
She revealed that her biggest interview yet as a television presenter was that with Harrison Ford, years ago, adding that Sinking Sands and Ties that Bind, her two major feature films produced by award winning director/writer Leila Djansi, was the best thing to have happened to her the past one year. “It was such a wonderful experience working together with actors like Kimberley Elise, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde and Ebe Bassey. It was a dream come true,” she said.
Ama Konadu Abebrese is currently head of VIASAT 1’s OWN Productions, a unit that caters for specially produced programs such as their in-house coverage of the Uefa Champions League, The One Show and Laugh a Minute