Leila Djansi Blows $270,000 On New Movie

GHANAIAN MOVIE director cum producer Leila Djansi says the budget for her upcoming Hollywood standard movie, ‘Sinking Sand’ is triple the amount she spent on shooting ‘I Sing Of A Well’, the movie which generated a lot of controversy between her and co-producer Akorfa Ejeani Asiedu.

Leila told NEWS-ONE and a section of Ghana’s media on Thursday that even though they’ve not finished shooting, she has already spent a colossal sum on the new movie.

“We don’t know what post production is going to cost like, but as of Wednesday, we have spent 270,000 US dollars. It is triple that of ‘I sing of a Well’,” she said.

With the new movie, Leila has raised the standards of movie production in Ghana. She didn’t rent hotel locations as it is commonly done. Like the Hollywood style, she designed her own sets with wooden structures at the various locations she shot the movie.

The production, apart from using red camera, which has one of the latest sensitive and powerful sensors, is also using Hollywood actor Jimmy Jean Louis, who is in Ghana for the first time, alongside Ghana’s Ama K. Abebrese. Leila said while choosing her cast, she paid attention to some specifics depending on the storyline; hence the casting of Louis and Ama K Abebrese, describing them as wonderful characters.

The story, she said, dwells on the abuse of women in societies today, and is being told with the intention of creating awareness about the continuous existence of abuse among today’s household.

The story touches on two lovebirds, Jimah and Pabi, a match made in heaven until a fatal accident turns Jimah into a monster. Endless days of wife battery become a part of their relationship. Pabi has a chance to flee but her guilt makes her stay, hoping and praying that Jimah will change and life will go back to normal. Her fear of living alone without a family is a weakness Jimah knows she has and he makes every effort to capitalize on it. But how long will Pabi endure? At what cost will she buy her freedom?

Leila said the story is based on her personal life, adding that she twisted the story into what happens in today’s life, most especially about women. The movie will be released on October 4 in Ghana, after it has been premiered in Toronto, Canada.