Eddie Nartey weeps over film distribution

Ghanaian movie director and actor, Eddie Nartey, has expressed worry over the state of distribution in Ghana’s movie industry.

According to him, there is nothing to boast about in the movie sector, adding that “there is a big problem there.”

Speaking in an exclusive interview with NEWS-ONE, Eddie Nartey disclosed that lack of distribution networks in the movie industry is a bane to the growth of the industry. Thus, he asked private individuals, companies and government to take interest in movie marketing or distribution to help rescue the dying industry.

Currently, the country’s movie makers keep producing movies, yet there are not channels to distribute them locally. The local CD marketing is virtually non-existent, partly due to the activities of pirates, according to producers.

The only channels available for filmmakers to distribute are YouTube and foreign online platforms like Iroko TV.

Even that, there are reports that some producers are having their movies rejected by Iroko TV, and are left with no choice than keep the movies on their hard drives.

Eddie Nartey described the turn of events in the industry as appalling, and asked movie stakeholders not to give up on efforts to revive the industry. The industry isn’t dead yet and distribution is one of the major areas to look at to save it.

“I share in the opinion that industry is collapsing not dead. I do think that it is on the decline. Looking at where we are coming from and the kind of productions we used to do, I think it’s declining and it is because there are no structures in place. So I share in the fact that it is collapsing but it is not dead yet,” he hinted.

“In movie making, one sector spoils the lot. What am I saying here? I mean we have no marketers, distribution plan is not there so when you produced a movie who do you give to? The distribution plan where CDs are sold to consumers is no longer there. Nobody does CDs anymore. Everybody almost watches everything on cable TV or on television,” Eddie Nartey pointed out.

He continued that there is a need for stakeholders to come together to find a lasting solution to market the movies.

“Apart from premiering movies, there is no other way to make your money back except premiering on the internet. So if actors and producers would admit that the industry is declining then we need to come together and strategise and pull it up. Let’s put structures in place. Also we need 70 percent or 80 percent of our product on local TV and less of foreign content. This is because when you observe the scene now, all we watch is foreign productions and ours have been neglected. I hear people say some of our productions are not up to standard but if you don’t give us the opportunity to produce a standard film, how do we then get to where you expect us to get to?” he asked.

“There is a need for distribution channels. That structure should be put in place because I do believe that is one of the most important things affecting the industry. I mean you produce a movie and there are no Ghanaian channels except Iroko TV, Ibaka TV and another. Ghana doesn’t have any platform of its own. I have not seen anyone that is saying that I am distributing for Ghanaian movies. We need a distribution plan as Ghana movie industry. We shouldn’t give up as an industry. We should all come together. It is not just actors and producer, but all of us in the industry. This is what we do for a living,” he concluded.