Sex Sells, Even If The Subject Matter Is Serious Says Ghanaian Writer Director Leila Djansi

Written By: MIM!—Africa Academy-nominated writer/director Leila Djansi is pushing the envelope in her upcoming film Sinking Sands, which is slated to premier in Ghana on November 13, 2010 at the National Theater. The film staring Jimmy Jean-Louis and Ama K. Abebrese deals with the subject of abuse, but also contains nudity—an undoubtedly taboo issue in African film. Indeed, as Ghanian writers and directors continue to seek to distinguish their films from Nollywood films by including sex scenes in their movies, the frenzy around the polarizing subject of the portrayal of sex in African films only increases as noted in MIMI's Summer 2010 article, Cut! Censoring Sex In Ghanaian Movies. In anticipation of the premier of Sinking Sands, Leila released a press release sharing her views about how she handles sex in films. Read Leila's Q&A below.

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Q. Nudity and sex are new to movies that are filmed and distributed in Ghana. Why do you think both are new to movies in Ghana? What has taken Ghanaian filmmakers so long to incorporate it in their films?

Leila Djansi. Just like Hollywood, it is a phase each industry has to pass through. Hollywood went through it with the Catholic Church and other elements driving them out of the East to what we now call Hollywood. Same way censorship boards in Ghana are getting drastic and same way it was in the early years of the American film industry, it is a phase ... a time to evolve. When I was growing up in my church, if you wear trousers you are a wayward girl. Today, female ministers preach in trousers. When I wrote the first script for GAMA, I was told the violence was too graphic; today you see movies with guns drawn in broad daylight in shopping malls. The only constant thing is change. That strong, strict Ghanaian culture is slowly growing lax with all the globalization.

Q. Nudity or sex in a film? Which would you prefer, and do you think they are both are the same?

Leila Djansi. Well either arouses sexual thoughts, desire and images; therefore, as an artist, in my opinion, they are same. It isn’t like your actors are really engaged in the act of copulation; they are selling the scene with the nudity and sexual gestures.

Q. What is considered in poor taste when putting nudity or sex in a film?

Leila Djansi. For one, if it’s out of place! That’s my subjective opinion, and if your composition is not attractive or appealing. Yes, it must be tastefully done, but, we all have different levels of taste. This makes it harder to define what’s appropriate because someone might say I sleep with my wife upside down. I might frown, and another might say sexy!! It’s hard to say, because all fingers are not equal. But, we all know a certain level of good from bad. Apply that, and your actors must be comfortable. I saw a still frame of two Ghana actors kissing, and the guy had a creased brow. He was not comfortable. There was no tenderness in the moment or any other kind of emotion. It just looked…ewww!

Q. How do you work with actors and actresses when filming a nudity and/or sex scene?

Leila Djansi. Closed set. Getting them to hang out with each other for a bit and get comfortable. I ask them if they are comfortable doing it. For example, we were having issues framing a shot in “Sinking Sands,” and Jimmy decided to do something brave. I asked him three times if he was sure he wanted to do that. He was like let’s go for it. We did. Once actors are comfortable, the rest is easy.

Q. When you were writing the script, were you thinking about how you were going to incorporate sex and nudity in the film?

Leila Djansi. No. I just wrote the script. The sex in “Sinking Sands” was used as a tool, not for beauty or commercialization. It is so obvious when you watch the movie after the sex scene you understand why the scene was there. It helped develop the characters and drive the story forward.

Q. There is a rape scene in the film, how were you able to direct this, seeing how it is such a savage crime against women?

Leila Djansi. Oh my God; it was intense! Sodomy is a distasteful word already. But to see it performed by such great actors[,] it was terrible. I was not watching the monitor. I could not. Interestingly, Jimmy noticed my discomfort and in a way he helped me laugh about it, and we were able to finish that scene. Ama could not watch it. When we shot the aftermath, Jimmy decided to reverse the action, because he was emotionally drained. His reversal did not make it into the cut though, but it was there if we needed it.

Q. Specifically, how did leads Jimmy Jean-Louis and Ama K. Abebrese handle filming the nudity and sex scenes?

Leila Djansi. Those two deserve more whisky! (Laughs) Ama was very uncomfortable initially. We took a break and kinda got naughty with a little bit of alcohol; her and myself. Jimmy was fine. He has a great body, and being that he was a model, he is already used to all that flesh.

Q. Like the United States, nudity and sex sells. Is this necessarily true in Ghana? If so or if not, why?

Leila Djansi. Oh yes; it sells. We are a huge bunch of hypocrites, we humans. I was sent a link to read comments about “Hot Fork,” Safo’s movie, and it had over 100 comments. They all watched the trailer, and they all saw the film. I saw it. I bought it. It’s the curiosity that drives sex. Porn is the richest market in entertainment right before horror then the others follow. Sex is a god in its own right. It sells. If it didn’t they won’t keep making films that have sex scenes.

Q. Do you believe more Ghanaian filmmakers will include nudity and sex in their films?

Leila Djansi. This is just the beginning! They will. They might do it more conservatively considering the insults they are getting. But, they will and actors will get more comfortable stripping.

Q. Lastly, what does nudity and sex mean to you in terms of being used as an art form? Can you have one without the other?

Leila Djansi. Nudity is a form of expression. It’s a storytelling tool. It’s also an aesthetic. It may not serve a strong purpose, but it brings other aesthetic dimensions. It can be used in so many ways. Film sex is almost the same thing. They carry the same connotations. How you depict the act of sex also is a storytelling tool—lovemaking or rape. You can have nudity without film sex, and you will be sending the same “erotic” message apart from what you intend to achieve artistically or even commercially.

(Photo Credits: Provided Courtesy Of Eaddy Perry & Associates, Inc.)