The nonchalant attitude shown by a majority of musicians to film events in Cameroon is now a major call for concern within the entertainment industry.
Actors have often times voiced out their frustration about musicians not willing to show support to movie events or anything that has to do with films except they are been paid.
Meanwhile, film makers claim they do not mind turning out to music events or showing massive support to musicians when need be because, ‘we are in the entertainment business where we all need each other.’
At the 2018 Urban Jamz Awards in Buea, film makers made it a date to turn out in their numbers and show support to the initiative despite it being a music event. Although some would think that actors only came because the organizer, Valery Atia, is also a filmmaker, actors say it was their responsibility to give in their support to help move the growing industry forward.
“There’s no music without film and there’s no film without music. We are like one hand washing the other… I don’t really care if actors don’t support or they support; musicians not coming for whatever. For me, it’s just all about the music staying positive. It is hard for everybody but we just have to be there for each other,” actor Epule Jeffrey tells us exclusively.
Given the fact that every movie has a soundtrack done by a musician, and there are also musicals – play or film in which singing and dancing play an essential part – one would think musicians will also understand how vital they are to the world of film. Sadly, some filmmakers have concluded that Cameroonian musicians are selfish and have deliberately refused to take part in film-related activities if they don’t get any financial benefits in the process. (Mind you, there are exceptions).
“Our musicians think they are too big or busy to mingle with filmmakers or attend movie events. They forget that these two sectors work hand-in-hand for the growth of the emerging industry we have going on. Yet they will be the ones shouting for unity, support and togetherness on social media ” an actor shares with us (decides to stay anonymous).
“A movie like ‘A Man for the Weekend’ will be premiered in Douala and Yaounde and the musicians who were paid to make the soundtrack for the film were nowhere to be found. Why? Did they want a special invitation to show up or were they not supposed to take that movie as their own and show support by at least, attending the event?” he adds.
At this year’s Urban Jamz Awards, Stephanie Tum, Brenda Elung, Laura Onyama, Agbor Gilbert Ebot and many other actors took the opportunity to debunk rumors that actors don’t support musicians but called out on musicians to show support to movie events.
“I believe we have to work together for the greater good. We still have a growing industry and we need all hands on deck should we want to move forward,” Stephanie Tum said on stage.
In their defense, some movie events falls at the wrong time; either when the musicians have been booked for shows or are out of town/country. Also, musicians do sometimes use actors as vixens in their music videos although the big question here would be: Do they pay these actors to feature in those videos?
“Yes, sometimes these actors get paid to feature in music videos. If its not financial payment, they are taken care in one way or the other. But at times, musicians just call on their friends to come for their video shoots and its left for them to say yes or no,” a source tells us.
“The fact that these actors show up for music video shoots, paid or not, shows their support to the music industry and to their music friends. And from my understanding, they are being paid little or nothing. But tell me how many musicians or music producers will do movie soundtracks for free or even attend or perform at movie events for free?” another sources explains.
A typical example would be to see prominent actors like Epule Jeffrey and Nchifor Valery in Ambe‘s video, ‘Na For Bafut’. But when it came to him giving his acknowledgement speech at the Cameroon Fashion Awards for winning the “Most Trendy Video of the Year,’ the singer remembered to thank his manager, PR and fans but completely forgot to thank the same actors he used for his video even when they were seated right in front of him.
The most annoying part is when some musicians will not even attend movie events happening in the same towns they live in yet they will be spotted the same night chilling at nightclubs or hanging out with their friends at homes or bars. When asked why they shunned the event, they would tell you, “I was not invited” or “them pay me how much?”
There’s no doubt that music and film go hand in hand and it will be beautiful to see our musicians and movie stars work together to build what we have as an entertainment industry. Attending events, sharing movie or music event flyers online or praising each other online once in a while can really go along way to build unity, confidence and a powerful bond between entertainers… which can also establish a better fan base and a strong believe that we are heading somewhere.
