Filmmaker Leila Djansi has disclosed that a major blunder on a Ghanaian movie set nearly resulted in actor John Dumelo being stabbed with a real knife during a scene.
According to her, the incident occurred when a production designer mistakenly handed a real knife to actress Vanessa Williams for a stabbing scene, a situation that could have turned tragic if not for what she described as divine intervention.
Djansi used this near-fatal error to highlight what she sees as deep-seated inefficiencies in Ghana’s film industry.
She lamented the lack of professionalism, recalling instances where crew members abandoned filming to watch football, an assistant director took a nap in the middle of a shoot, and actors were denied proper wardrobe because their roles were deemed insignificant.
Drawing comparisons, she noted how meticulous film productions in other countries, such as the Dominican Republic, prioritize details, citing an experience where a props team provided her with eight different watches to select from for a single scene.
Her critique extended to the industry’s lack of growth, pointing out that despite Ghana’s talent and storytelling potential, poor execution continues to hold the sector back.
She referenced Ghana’s 2018 Oscar submission, Azali, as a rare bright spot, arguing that subsequent entries have failed to meet international standards.
Leila Djansi urged industry players to embrace constructive criticism instead of reacting defensively.
She educated that real progress can only come from acknowledging flaws and actively working to fix them.