On the 3rd of June 2022, imageSALONE published a blog about the passed saga between a member of Actors’ Guild Sierra Leone – Emma Dyfan and the producers of the movie project, The Scuffle.
Abdulai Saidu Tonkoh Kamara alias Glamour Raider, the current Actors’ Guild President got to us – imageSALONE via WhatsApp voice note in reaction to some key things he picked up from the writeup and said we wanted to send a message to the public and as well not only the producers of The Scuffle but every other producer working with actors in Sierra Leone. He rendered his dissatisfaction at the way one of his members, Emma Dyfan was treated by the producers.
Below is his voice note.
Voice Notes Transcript:
‘’Oor, I have gone through your post about Emma Dyfan and the producers of The Scuffle. From what I understand, it has to do with shadow casting. Understand eenh… First of all as actors guild president I want to make it clear that Sollywood doesn’t operate as Nollywood. You understand! So if the Nigerian’s want to come with their pattern from Nigeria to come and filter into the industry, it won’t work. Understand endn. Uhmm. Eehh Sorry. For quite a long time now I have been trying to understand what has been going in the industry with some set of people that come and say they want to do projects, to create jobs for the young people. Understand enhn. First of all this industry is our industry and we know how better we can tell our stories. That I can assure anybody. I can assure anybody across the world that there is nobody in the world that can tell our stories more than us, us Sierra Leoneans, us as filmmakers in Sierra Leone. The only thing that is our challenge here is that the government has not been able to protect us, protect the business we do’ as a result, people in the private sector are kind of afraid to put money into the business. You understand what I mean?
Coming back to The Scuffle project with the shadow casting that was done with Emma. First of all, it’s totally wrong, understand. All the producers that are involve in this producer that did this to Emma, it’s totally wrong. What I understand as an actor, and as a filmmaker, understand eenh? It’s that when you send a script to a person, that means you would have done a background check on the person already.it means you would have watched his/her reels, you know; of the movies he/she must have done to know that he/she is the best person for the role. That is what triggered you to send your script to the person.
So you wouldn’t send your script to the person, then person has accepted and acknowledged receipt of the job, then begin to take his/her time! read! Read! Read! You understand? Thereafter, you say you did shadow casting, you’re not fit for the role. That means you were gambling with the person’s effort. You’re gambling with the person’s character. You understand eehn? So, first of all, I expect Emma to have issue with that. Emma should have an issue with that. It’s not how it was communicated to her. She should have an issue with that. You understand enhn! Somebody you do not believe in, that is why you call for audition. Somebody you do not believe can be able to play the role. As you send the script to someone, that individual will not go again for auditioning. Because you have already forwarded the script, all you need now is to run the script with him/her. Like a script reading… then you guys go for shooting. You understand what I mean, eenhn. Let me give you one vivid example. They brough Patient Ozokwor, the brought Kofi Ajololo. You cannot do shadow casting with Kofi Ajololo. You cannot do shadow casting with Patient Ozokwor. Do you know why? Because you the kind of jobs they both have done. You understand what I mean? So when you forward script to them, you will not say again you have forwarded script to Okonkwo. So for you to choose between them. So, let them don’t come with that style here. If they come with that style, we are in for a very big war with them. Anyone, be it now Sierra Leone producer, Nigerian producer… if they come with that style here… because it’s something that is not good, and I have mandate to protect actors in this country. You understand? So what they did is totally, way out of line! Way out of line, imageSALONE.
Bro, let me just re-iterate on this issue, ya. When people talk about someone’s availability is why we give script to this, or to that, no. it doesn’t work like that. The person’s availability, first of all you have to tell the person that you have a project. So, so, so time, based on so, so, so. He/she will now have to confirm to you his/her availability. Probably when he/she have read the script and understands what is involved. And you would have discussed what he/she will get. He/she will now tell you when they will be available. It’s not you that will determine the persons availability. You understand? He/she will tell you that I’m available. You discuss your price and meet to an agreement. That is why you pay the person. In order to commit the person to the project, you have to pay him/her. But as they begin to gamble, gamble it, it means they don’t want to pay. And that will bring a very big problem if they begin it in our industry. And as president of actors’ guild I don’t support it today, I’ll not support it tomorrow. Have an agreement and he/she will tell you that he/she is available. Tell the person the timeline of the project, sign an agreement with clauses that if the person doesn’t complete the project, describing how you’ll deal with it. But to begin doing shadow casting is not good because we don’t want to see people seeing themselves as enemies. Because one may think the other undermined them. As it has started now, the moment will debunk it now and as the president of actors’ guild, I condemn it.”