Legendary actor Oscar Provencal famed Inspector Bediako has raised concerns about the remuneration of actors in Ghana’s film industry, alleging that some producers continue to pay actors poorly even when working with substantial production budgets.
According to the veteran actor, even when producer work with hefty budgets to make a film, they would still offer an actor as little as GH¢3,000 for a role.
“I’m telling you something on authority. The film producers we have today, if they are given 10 million pounds or dollars today to produce a film, they’ll still pay you GH¢3,000 for a role,” he said.
While acknowledging that raising money to finance films can be difficult for producers, Inspector Bediako argued that remuneration remains an important part of the conversation and one that actors should take more seriously.
He suggested that actors should be more willing to negotiate their rates instead of simply accepting whatever amount a producer offers.
In his view, an actor should be able to establish a fee, negotiate payment terms and, where appropriate, explore arrangements that could allow them to benefit from the commercial success of a production.
“Back in the past, it was take it or leave it, now actors must become more deliberate about the business side of their careers, ” he said.
Inspector Bediako also pointed to another challenge within the industry: many actors may not know how to maximise the value of the brands they have built through their work.
He argued that getting screen roles should not be viewed solely in terms of the immediate payment attached to a production. Actors, he said, also need to understand how to use their visibility, reputation and creative work to create additional opportunities.
For him, this requires actors to take their craft seriously while also developing a stronger understanding of the business that comes with being a creative professional.
“We have fun-loving people, so 90% of the time we’re looking at the fun aspects,” he said, drawing a comparison with musicians who, in the past, often focused more on making music than understanding the business around it.
He believes the same mindset must change among actors.
“You have to look at the business. You have to look at how you package yourself to move forward,” he added.
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