Omotola teams up with Hollywood star, others
Djansi who is said to be going back to the camera, lights and action is on the path of empowering women with her films. This is the reason she has put together this combination of women to drive home an equally powerful message of giving a voice to women in whatever situations they may find […]
Djansi who is said to be going back to the camera, lights and action is on the path of empowering women with her films. This is the reason she has put together this combination of women to drive home an equally powerful message of giving a voice to women in whatever situations they may find themselves.
The stars who will be playing Theresa (Kimberly Elise), Adobea (Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde) and Buki (Ama K. Abebrese) are three women from different walks of life bound together by a similar pain; the loss of a child. In a destined meeting in a small village in Kroboland, the women journey together to redemption, love, life and forgiveness as they renovate a dilapidated clinic for the villagers.
Expressing enthusiasm about the production which encompasses strong and touchy human stories in the movie, the women describe the stories of the individual characters they play as real life stories and challenges faced by women of different academic, social and professional backgrounds.
Hollywood’s four-time NAACP Image Award winner, Elise expressed excitement over working in Ghana, which she described as a different environment from what she is used to. She remarked that, “So far, I am excited about the production. In the true spirit of independent film production, the crew for ‘Ties That Bind’ has worked with togetherness so far and I can’t wait to see the final outcome.” She added that she believes her character in the movie can help many women to find their voice in whatever situations they find themselves and help take them on a road to self discovery and empowerment. In comparison to her role played in ‘Diary of a Mad Black Woman’ against that in ‘Ties That Bind’, Elise remarked that both women are very different although both give a voice to women. “I was a woman struggling to break free in ‘Diary of a Mad Black Woman’ but in this, I am a woman encouraging other women to find themselves and break free.”
According to Jalade-Ekeinde at a press conference in Ghana, “This will be my first time of shooting in Ghana. ‘Ties That Bind’ presents the right story I was looking for, and Leila Djansi’s works in the past spoke volumes to me.”
On themes in African movies, she said, “African cinema needs more themed movies. After more than ten years of acting in Nigeria and starring in tons of home videos, it is time for me to do more challenging films. This is what I will be focusing on more in the future.”
This year’s African Movie Academy Awards Best Actress, Ama K. Abebrese is excited to work with Leila Djansi again, just a few months after working together on the award winning psycho-drama, ‘Sinking Sands’. Ama commented that she loves Leila’s writing and she is getting used to her way of working. She added that the two of them now know each other very well and work well together. “I believe that the issues addressed in the movie will touch the female audience and ask questions that need answers within the society,” she added.
Also starring in the movie as Maa Dede an overbearing mother-in-law is Nigerian-American actress, Ebbe Bassey who stated that she doubts any woman would see that movie and not be inspired by it in one way or the other. She added that after reading previous scripts from Leila Djansi, she fell in love with Leila’s passion to use her works to uplift women issues and that not working on ‘Ties That Bind’ was simply not an option.
For movie writer, director and producer of the movie, Djansi, it is all excitement and thrills to be working with her stellar cast. “I was looking for a cast that would carry the artistic integrity of the work in terms of their performances as well as bankable actors that would make the movie marketable to audiences across the globe. I believe that I have struck gold with Omotola, Ama, Kimberly and Ebbe as well as the other cast members.” The movie will also feature John Dumelo, David Dontoh, Prince David amongst others.