FIPAG to discourage patronage of Silverbird Cinema?

General Secretary of the Film Producers Association of Ghana, FIPAG, Mr. James Aboagye has given a counter information, even threatening to discourage people from going to the cinema.

The marketing manager of Silverbird Cinema, Cynthia Elorm Dumfuor had earlier indicated that they do not show Kumawood movies because of their low quality and low standards.

The marketing manager of the cinema made the statement at Golden Tulip Hotel while the women in film making forum when the General Secretary made his statement on AM PLUZZ, a showbiz morning programme on Pluzz 89.9FM.

Read below what Mr. James Aboagye said on Pluzz AM show host, Sammy Flex in a telephone interview.

“The first question I ask the people at Silverbird is to show me which genre of movies is known as Kumawood, if they understand the dynamics of the movie industry?

All we know is Ghanaian movies, irrespective of the language used. I think silver bird should be bold to say the total movie industry should up its game and not hide behind Kumawood to say this.

Silverbird should also be compared to the international market for us to see? What pedigree do they have to set standards for us here in Ghana? They have done nothing for the industry after benefitting from the labour of our members who do the glamour movies.

Anybody who says a good movie is not about story lines does not know what he is talking about because the story is the raw material of every movie. Silverbird has not done anything to help the film industry and so cannot say that.

About 98% of practitioners in Ghana do not have formal training in film making and lots of the graduates from NAFTI do not even venture into the film industry because of the risk involved, leaving the industry with people who only have the passion for the industry.

We at FIPAG are now embarking on capacity building in collaboration with NAFTI. We are in contact with American Embassy who have agreed to do something starting 29th of this month regards film and Canadian High Commission.

If really we are talking about standards, then Silverbird should never even speak at all. They should rather support Ghanaian movies. They should call us in a meeting and point out our shortcomings then we'll know they really want to help.

We can also say they do not meet standards so people should not patronize the cinemas, and that will not be fair for them at all” irritated FIPAG General Secretary stated.