Popular veteran Ghanaian actor William Addo has expressed the need for some talents (actors) in Ghana’s movie industry to acquire further training to enhance their acting skills.
He told NEWS-ONE in an exclusive interview after the premiere of his latest movie, ‘Death After Birth’ weeks ago that “there are a lot of talents in the industry now. No doubt about that but they need some training so that they can get their acts right. You go on set and then they do some many retakes because the other partner is not giving it to you.”
William staged a comeback in ‘Death After Birth’ by Roger Q Production. He also has a number of upcoming movies. He said it felt good to be back on the scene after observing the industry from the lecture room. “It’s been all fun,” he said.
“During our time, you know it wasn’t commercialized. We were doing it for the love and education of it. But now it is a different ball game. Now it is business and I find it very challenging. But it is ok for me and I am ready now,” he added.
“I have been a lecturer at the School of Performing Arts at the University of Ghana and acting is my passion and therefore when I am given a script, I have to do analysis and interpret the role so that I come out convincingly. Not that I want to show my handsome face, no and therefore you find some…there are a lot of talents in the industry now. No doubt about that but they need some training so that they can get their acts right. You go on set and then they do some many retakes because the other partner is not giving it to you. Those are the challenges I am talking about,” he emphasized. William Addo, who has appeared in a number of Ghanaian movies, started acting from stage. He studied at the University of Ghana’s School of Performing Arts where he was retained as a teaching assistant at the school after he graduated.
Subsequently, he had a scholarship to do his masters abroad and came back as a lecturer in charge of acting at the university. Later on, he was released to the National Theatre where he handled concert party productions and managed to elevate the image and name of concert party.
From National Theatre, he was transferred to the Volta Region as the regional director, Centre for National Culture. The 61-year-old did a lot of stage production alongside movies but he can’t remember the titles of most of his movies.
He said the industry had come a long way, wishing that besides commercializing the industry, players would also not forget the educational values of the movies.
