NAFTI products challenged to make world class films

Accra, Nov 9, GNA - Professor Linus Abraham, Rector of the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI), has urged products of school to aim at becoming independent film producers, who would revolutionalize the film industry in Ghana, and make the country's film products competitive on the international market.   "Learn from the film industry while you are in school, and learn how to fit into the industry once you are out of school. It is about time NAFTI graduates started playing their roles as commercially successful, independent film makers, dominating the video-film industry with quality productions," he said.   Prof Abraham was speaking at NAFTI's 14th matriculation ceremony in Accra on Friday, which 60 matriculants being admitted to take up courses in film production and editing.   He said over the past few decades, Ghana and Africa had experienced profound growth and change, especially in the media industry and the film sector for instance.   "Since the 1970s, feature film production in the country has risen steadily from barely two a year to 160 local films released in the first four months of 2010."   Prof Abraham said skilled human resource was needed to manage the rapidly growing media industry in Ghana.   He said the boom and expansion of the media was creating a huge demand for audio-visual content, as well as for skilled human resource.   "Unfortunately, the demand for content is being met through importation of foreign material, which critics argue do not serve the needs of the continent."   The Rector of NAFTI said the film industry in Ghana and most parts of Africa, lacked the skilled human resources essential to the sector and "more importantly", the training institutions and facilities to develop the required professionals.   "The decision to turn NAFTI into a nedia arts university is intended to create a pool of skilled professional class media workers, who would help the country to exploit its creative arts and media resources, turn them into a viable area of economic growth for the country, and make our media products globally competitive."   He urged the matriculants not only to aim at fitting into "safe jobs in government and media houses".   Dr. Osei Darkwa, President of the Ghana Telecom University, said "most of our productions lack global appeal and we are over-dependent on productions. These are some of our challenges in the field".   He said what was most important, "is how your training would impact on our present situation of film production in the country".   Dr. Darkwa urged the matriculants to honor and make full use of the opportunity they had found to add to their knowledge at the institute.   Dr. Awo Asiedu, Acting Director of the School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana, Legon, who also chaired the function, said the media in any country largely influenced the thinking and awareness of the people concerning several key issues.   "As media students, be open to new ideas and not stuck within a particular bracket of thought."   She urged the matriculants to take full advantage of the "many opportunities" in the media industry, adding that they should make honesty and integrity their hallmark, if they intended to succeed further in life.   Mr. Joseph Budu, Registrar, University of Ghana-Legon, led the matriculants to recite oath of matriculation.   GNA... Read Full Story