FYI, This sounds like a wonderful undertaking... CST ___________________________________________
For Immediate Release: June 3, 2002 INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE For More Information Contact: GHANA Kwame Agyapong, Executive Dir.--ASA +233 21 508583 -- +233 21 772 055 fax ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) WORLDWIDE UME Public Relations C.Sade Turnipseed-Trabi, Publicist--ASA 323.759.8100 -- 323.759.8018 fax ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) GHANAIAN FILM SCHOOL 'ACADEMY OF SCREEN ARTS' (ASA) SCHEDULED TO OPEN ITS DOORS IN ACCRA THIS FALL (Accra, Ghana) The International Youth Education Program (IYEP) announced Accra Ghana as the home of its future Academy of Screen Arts (ASA). ASAs central offices and academic headquarters are currently under construction at 1 Cola Street, East Legon, Ghana West Africa, an upscale district in Accra. ASA is scheduled to open its doors to students, September 20, 2002. According to organizers, Ghana is strongly positioned to become the premiere film and video training ground of West Africa. The attributes that contribute to this mandate point to the legacy of former president and visionary leader, Kwame Nkrumah. President Nkrumah was the premiere African leader to foresee Ghana as a culturally cohesive resource for artists and progressive-minded people. ASAs purpose is to nurture the vision of Nkrumah, by bringing about the next generation of well trained, fully credentialed and highly successful filmmakers from Africa. ASAs mission statement reflects a commitment to training that is appropriate and relevant to the sensibility and cultural needs of Africa. The ASA program also provides unique opportunities for international film and video experts to visit Ghana and present continuing education courses, through master classes and industry conferences to professional African filmmakers. For the novice students, beginning workshops and regular classroom schedules are designed to encourage and support the young artisans in and around Ghana. "We will turn out a new generation of filmmakers, who write scripts, produce, edit, critical analysis and distribute aesthetically wonderful film and video projects, that the world will benefit from," commented Dr. Chris Abotchie, Board of Directors, Member. It is this thinking that led the IYEP to establish ASA and provide this necessary training in cinematic arts, not only for Ghanaians, but for all Africans. ìWe believe that this training is vital, if Africa is to ensure that its cultural development is free of deleterious influences. ASA will offer classes in acting and casting, directing, anchoring, musical scores, dance/movement, voice for the screen, animation, set design, make-up and costuming, film history and pre/post production,î stated Executive Director, Kwame Agyapong. ASA presents both full and part time academic offerings that emphasize the "tried and true" methods of independent film and video productions. The ASA vision is extensive, and in no way timid. With their resources, the intent is to generate the big picture feel, in spite of inherently small budgets. "It is urgent that we rise to the challenge of raising the standards of African cinematic techniques, in spite of the huge budget precedence set by Hollywood. We will prove African creativity is as effective on film and video as it is on concert and theatrical stage," Agyapong asserted. The diverse approach to cinematic training includes producing cinematic advertising campaigns for local and multinational businesses, television programs and festival releases that are not only interesting and relevant, in the global marketplace, but depicts Africa and the cultures of African people in a more realistic and aesthetically pleasing light. ASA has forged an opportunity to teach people how to produce the caliber of cinema worthy of the youthful genius that exist in Africa today. Servicing the Ghana production industry at present are the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI). NAFTI offers technical training in: camera, sound, lighting, editing and producing. They along with The School of Performing Arts, at the University of Ghana, Legon, currently provide vital personnel in theatre arts. The ASA will complement both NAFTI and The School of Performing Arts by providing training specifically geared at screen arts. Ghana is one of the most peaceful and exciting destinations in the world for tourists, business people and investors. Yet, the country is comparatively unknown because she is not attracting the bad press and notoriety that is associated with many developing conflict-torn countries. Ghana does not need war to be known. The IYEP asserts that Ghana and indeed all of Africa could better promote herself and cultures through film and television. In the wake of the technological advancements achieved in the field of cinematography, this powerful genre could easily be exploited for educating, informing and re-orienting the people. ASAs charge is to allow the world to see that Africans are willing and able to learn from the experiments of the advanced nations. The challenge, therefore, is to rapidly benefit from the cutting edge technology now available... ASA is aggressively seizing the opportunity by coordinating this effort. ASAs illustrious Advisory Board includes: Director of Research, Assoc. of African Universities, (AAU) and former Vice-Chancellor, University of Ghana Professor, Akilagpa Sawyer; Professor Emeritus and Dir. of the Intíl Centre for African Music and Dance, Professor Emeritus at UCLA and University of Pittsburgh, Professor J.H. Nketia; Head of Dept. of Sociology, University of Ghana, Dr. Chris Abotchie; Chairman National Commission on Culture, Inst. African Studies University of Ghana, Professor George Panyin Hagan; Former Professor and Head of Music Indiana University, Dr. Michael Gordon; Chairman, ENVIRON 4/Engineering Consultant, Theophilus Akofio Sowah; Executive Director and founder of IYEP, Baffour Kwame Agyapong. Patrons include: The Asantehene, Otumfuo; Osei Tutu II; recording artist, Rita Marley and potentially, the former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. The ASA organizationís appeal is directed to the sons, daughters and friends of Africa to assist IYEP and its Board in improving the standards of African cinematic releases. Years of offering such programs as ASA has demonstrated that individuals thrive in an environment that promotes responsibility for oneís own thoughts and actions! The International Youth Education Program (IYEP) is non-profit organization founded in 1994, in Ghana, to promote goodwill and cross-cultural understanding. ASA is a non-profit organization incorporated, April 2002. Secure donations from all lovers of the arts worldwide may be made via the Internet through Pay Pal at, http://www.screenartsghana.com, or, by contacting the ASA representatives for more information. For those who share the vision and interest, please support this urgent effort. ------------ ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, an NGO that is a GKP member*** To post a message, send it to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: <http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/>
