Kunle Afolayan ‘Phone Swap’ Director Will Only Use Ghanaian Actors If …

Director of the award winning movie ‘Figurine’, Kunle Afolayan has said that, after using Ghanaian actress Lydia Forson in his new movie, he is ready to feature other Ghanaian actors but if only they will interpret the script as a Ghanaian.

He said the above in an exclusive interview with GhanaCelebrities.Com after a short press preview of his latest movie ‘Phone Swap’. “I’m not going to feature them, if they are not going to play Ghanaian”, he said when asked if he will consider using other Ghanaian actors.

Actress Lydia Forson is the first Ghanaian to be featured by the award winning director, and for the better part of the movie spoke her indigenous language; Twi. According to the director, that added a lot to the movie.

He said a Ghanaian acting as a Ghanaian depends on the story. “If I’m doing a story that involves a Ghanaian and a Nigeria or a cross boarder story, why will I want to play Ramsey Nouah [Jnr.] as a Ghanaian? Why will I want to play Majid [Michel] as a Nigerian? No, for me, it won’t sell, it won’t work that way.”

He said if he plays them in their original territory, it works better because people can relate better with their language.

‘Phone Swap’ features Joke Silva – Jacobs, Lydia Forson, Chika Okpala, Wale Ojo, Nse Ikpe Etim and Ada Ameh. Aside directing it, Kunle Afolayan also produced it.

‘Phone Swap’ has been nominated in the upcoming Africa Movie Academy Awards [AMAA] 2012 in the following categories; ‘Achievement in Production Design’, ‘Prize for Best Nigerian Film’, ‘Prize for Best Actor in a Supporting Role’ and ‘Prize for Best Actor in a Leading Role’.