Award-winning American-based Ghanaian movie producer, Leila Jewel Djansi has launched a scathing critique on the Ghana movie industry, citing unprofessionalism by some industry players.
In a post on her Facebook wall on March 2, 2025, the experienced filmmaker described the Ghanaian movie industry as a “mirthless joke”, referencing some unpleasant experiences she witnessed while working in Ghana.
Leila urged industry players to take criticisms in good faith to help grow the industry rather than countering these criticisms with knee-jerk reactions.
“Stop enduring mediocrity, please. Instead of these knee-jerk reactions, instead of acting like people just want to hate, forget the who and the how and listen.
“Sit with the criticism. Use it to rise,” she wrote on Facebook.
“Sometimes, when you are given criticism, don’t just get angry and fail to see the importance or ask the reason behind the accusation. Separate your emotions and be objective,” she added.
The experienced movie producer recounted an instance when actor and politician, John Dumelo, was nearly stabbed on set because a production designer was not careful.
“Should I talk about the production designer who passed a real knife to an actor for a stabbing scene? My God. If it wasn’t for divine intervention, Vanessa Williams would have stabbed John Dumelo with a real knife that day. How is this not a joke?” she recalled.
She further opened up about the unprofessional conduct of some crew members while working with some persons in the movie industry.
“Try an AD telling you he’s going to sleep for a few minutes in the middle of a shoot. Try a crew demanding you stop filming, bring a TV so they can watch football, and then return to set after the match.
“Look for what Cary Fukunaga said about working in Ghana. Try wardrobe telling an actor they don’t have an outfit for them because their role is not big enough,” she wrote.
Leila Djansi also took a swipe at the declining movie industry, noting that countries like Nigeria, Zambia, and South Africa are propelling in their movie industry.
“Take two of your most recent critically acclaimed films from the previous 3 years (cough cough) and compare them to two of the most recent critically acclaimed films from Nigeria, Zambia, Kenya, and South Africa (I feel a migraine coming on). Look at them side by side and ask yourself if we are actually gaining any momentum.
“In 2018, we got Azali for the Oscars, and since then, every single submission has been a joke. A literal joke. Some of the films would convince you to burn your Ghana card.
