By Bubacarr Gaye
Film, also called a movie or cinema, is a visual art form that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere through the use of moving images. It is a dynamic tool that one can use to promote the culture of a particular country.
In an interview with this reporter, Sankanu, the producer of ‘Masaneh’, has informed that the film will be released some time in 2025.
Commenting on the content of the film, Mr Sankanu said the central aim of the film is to celebrate The Gambia’s unique culture in a way that the world will celebrate and appreciate it. He said The Gambia has a rich folklore that can be repackaged for global consumption and domestic social-cultural development; and that the Masanneh folklore is one of the rich oral narratives with universal appeal.
“If we really want to make films, we need to start by telling our own stories and preferably in our national languages. We have a rich culture and oral traditions waiting to be told through cinema and other forms of cultural expression. We also have a lot of role models in our history whose stories need to be told,” he asserted.
He emphasised that his fictional version of the Masaneh folklore with the working title of “The Crying Bride” (Manyo Be Kumbo La) is an advanced folklore with a recognized musical rhythm played at important events. In that, he said the film will be drilled towards celebrating our diversity and commonality while equally promoting history and cultural tourism in the country.
Further on the value of the folklore in the film industry, the producer said, having a quality and standard result will stimulate the economic activities in the country, expose young Gambian talents to the global community and boost the economic muscle of the film industry.
“We cannot have a film industry if we do not have a quality product to present as benchmarks. I am sure if my film comes out according to standard, it is going to attract a lot of interest in The Gambia’s soft power and cultural diplomacy”.
On the state of production, Mr Sankanu said the audition which is part of the preproduction stage is almost complete. “We have already started inviting potential actors and actresses for interviews which will be followed by rehearsals before production proper. We have got most of the materials needed, and the location that is going to be used for historic store is also identified. Once the rain subsides we are going to shoot the film,” he explained.
About the nature of the film, he said is going to have at least 10 major characters that will interpret different roles, while the remaining characters will be opened to different scenes in the film.
“The filming is going to take 10 days depending on the materials at hand. I would like to spend at least 30 days editing it,” he affirmed.
In conclusion, he urges people to come on board and support this film project because it is a national asset that he believes can be used to sell The Gambia to the global world.
