“…having to work with Kudus Mohammed, the West Ham forward, a lot of these people you realize are super chill. They’re not going to put pressure on you in any way…A little bit of pressure is good because it keeps you on your toes…”
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- KWESI BOTCHWAY
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in Africa has been a huge propeller for his career. He attributes this to the idea that many stories are yet to be told, unraveled, and seen, and it is fairly easy to tap into a story that hasn’t yet seen the light of day. Speaking about people who have had a major influence on his life and career, Botchway had a lot of people to thank, one of whom was Eric Boama, a creative producer and the co- founder of Beautiful Stories Studios who has been a mentor, father figure, and backbone in every facet of his life. Another honorable mention was Ekow Barnes (another creative producer) who has been super supportive of Botchway, serving as a brainstorming partner and a good friend. Reflecting on how far he has come and recognizing how much he still has to offer, Botchway sees himself steadily climbing and rising and expresses nothing but honest and enthusiastic optimism for the future. Already have an account? Sign In
When asked about how he handles the pressure of working with high-profile brands and prominent individuals, Botchway states he never really felt pressure to take on revered projects. Anxiety-causing conditions like imposter syndrome have also never been a problem for Botchway’s indomitable spirit. With preparation always in his utility belt and general awareness of his “God-given talents,” the “Custodian of the African Narrative,” as he calls himself, is able to stay afloat in any career storm, his wealth of experience helping him to navigate stormy waters. What’s more, the custodian reminisced that, in his experience, there is usually no pressure from the prominent individuals he has been privileged to work with—besides it may be useful to have a little. MAKING FILM IN GHANA Many African industry professionals lament their continent’s seeming detachment from the rest of the world—due to Africa’s much slower pace of development in some technologies and industries, filmmaking included—as a disadvantage to their careers. Speaking on the impact of his geographical location on his career, Botchway—a Ghanaian based in Ghana—had nothing but positive feelings to share. Botchway emphasizes that being
THE CREATION PROCESS Most people have a preference for their livelihood and life in general. In the case of his profession, Botchway is no different. The Ghanaian expressed his passion for the pre- production aspect of filmmaking as opposed to other areas, such as the production process itself, which Botchway describes as laborious The Pre-production process of filmmaking involves preparing ideas and concepts and presenting to clients or stakeholders how you intend your film to look, and “how the story, your film is supposed to go.” While production includes activities like rehearsing for the shoot and working with the production crew, including lighting, sound, and camera, and the actual shooting/filming of scheduled scenes including both video and audio, as well as shooting individual scenes from multiple angles. Nevertheless, there is no denying the importance of the production phase. It could be considered the principal stage of the entire filmmaking process, Even though he finds this stage quite laborious, Botchway does not fail to recognize and acknowledge this fact as he commits one hundred percent to it, like any other stage of the filmmaking process.
During his interview with TrooRa, Botchway relayed an introspective quote from a close friend who has served as a guide in the course of his professional career. With these words in mind, Botchway learned to harness the environmental wealth of his geological location to infuse more substance, truth, and authenticity in his films. PRESSURE MAKES DIAMONDS Botchway’s vision, creativity, and innate aptitude for creating brilliance with a camera are evident in his many, high-profile projects with multinational brands and clients, such as New Balance, Puma, Johnnie Walker, and more. He emphasizes his inclination to shoot “story first rather than product first.” When shooting for advertisement purposes, this entails using storytelling more prominently rather than presenting the brand to the viewers.
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