This week, Adrian speaks to Anniwaa Buachie, an award-winning actress, filmmaker and writer, shifting sands in the entertainment industry, globally. Known for her portrayal of “Eka” a Nigerian mother battling with issues concerning FGM in the TV series Survivor’s Remorse STARZ, opposite the renowned Tichina Arnold, Teyonah Parris and Erica Ash. Anniwaa is also known for her role in British feature film Aux, staring alongside Jonathan Rhys Davis, and for her guest star role in long running British TV series Holby City.
Born in South West London to working class Ghanaian immigrants, Anniwaa is the youngest child out of four. Growing up in a creative household and multi-cultural London, Anniwaa was constantly exposed to a variety of cultures and art forms.
Show Notes: https://thesoundofaccra.com/anniwaa
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/SQ6mDvvFjBM
Check out Swiff: https://bit.ly/SwiffSOA
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Connect with Anniwaa Buachie
Website: https://www.anniwaabuachie.com
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IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3977267/
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Timestamps
0:00 Intro
1:38 Aniwaaa: Actor, Filmmaker & Producer
2:26 Acting in America
3:49 British breaking into Hollywood
5:00 Notable TV & Film Roles
6:25 Archer
7:30 Moon over Aburi
7:52 The Festival Circuit
09:15 Nigerian and South Africa Dominating Films and TV
11:55 Acting vs Producing vs Writing
13:57 Actors becoming directors
15:47 Acting as a Black Woman
17:01 Limited Roles because your Black
18:13 Create your own films
19:37 How social media is changing the film & TV industry
22:16 Yaa Asantewaa
23:23 Anniwaa’s future
25:37 Acting pressures
26:33 Achievements and Awards
28:12 2023 plans
28:54 Favourite film
32:15 Biopics
33:18 Where in 5 years?
34:02 Socials
34:27 Tips for Actors and Producers
34:45 Outro
If you have feedback for the season or would like to share what you would like to hear from The Sound of Accra Podcast, please email info[at]thesoundofaccra.com with the subject 'Podcast feedback'
00:00:00
Hey, everyone. I got by the name of Adrian Daniels. And if this is your
00:00:03
first time listening, welcome to the Sound of Accra podcast, this is the show
00:00:07
where we chat with Top Ghanaian founders, entrepreneurs, and
00:00:10
creators worldwide with the aim of leaving you behind of meaningful
00:00:14
takeaways that you can apply in life business and career. just before
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we get into this episode, I would like you to know that for today's show
00:00:21
notes, head over to thesoundofaccra.com/anniwaa.
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That's a n n i w a a? Yes. That
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is correct. That's correct. So thesoundofaccra.com/anniwaa everyone, that's
00:00:32
a, double n, i w a a. Got
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you. That's it. And whilst you're here, please hit like,
00:00:40
subscribe, share the video and please give us a 5 star review if you're listening
00:00:44
to Spotify and Apple. so I'm joined, as you know,
00:00:47
by Anniwaa Buachie. She's an award winning British
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Ghanaian, actress, filmmaker, and a writer. How are you doing? Thanks for coming
00:00:54
on the show. Thank you very much. This is coming. Lovely to see you. Thank
00:00:58
you for having me on the show, and I'm excited to go in a time
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with you. Absolutely. Thank you for coming to Alfred, yeah,
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anniversary as well, which is -- Yeah. That was really good. Everyone the week, which
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is really good to have you. Brilliant. great to be a part of
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your, celebrations and just looking forward to
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hearing more about the sound of background and how you're expanding. Thank you
00:01:18
so much. Yeah. So, I mean, 2023, hopefully, it's, it's gonna be a good year
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for us and looking forward to, hey. Well, you've got in store, which we'll get
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into towards the end of their episode. Alright? So, anyway, look, for those that don't
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know you, of course, I've I've got to know you over the past few weeks
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or so. just give just give the audience, like, a elevator
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60, 30 second pitch about who you are. so I'm
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a guardian, British filmmaker, actress,
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and just all around creative. I
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was born and raised in London. I have lived in, LA, New York. I am
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someone that likes to travel a lot
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because I like to learn from lots of different people, lots of different environments.
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I'm like a sponge, so I've solved that and developed work.
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that always puts black women to the forefront of the conversation. Okay. Great. Okay. Cool.
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So I can
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You guys heard that from anyone. International lady. International lady.
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Yeah. New York LA, London gone on well. I mean, this is quite
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this is quite, something, but I think probably what takes you
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to America quite a lot is you're acting acting in your -- It's acting.
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I used to live in the States for about six and a half years.
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I was very much interested and still very much am,
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because this is what I do in expanding my acting
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career so it goes beyond, the UK border. I felt like in America, there's more
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opportunities for for Black
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to play roles that are, you know, you're not just playing the mother and the
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council state who the sons haven't, like,
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fallen in the wrong crowd. You know, there's roles where you can be a lawyer.
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You can, you know, be a
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doctor and all that kind of stuff. Yeah. I mean, I've I mean, because you
00:03:08
got Hollywood and it's the the, you know, a huge film and TV in the
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street of America. Right? Yeah. I mean, the UK is like a small little drop
00:03:15
in the ocean compared to America. Right? It's just it's America's massive. Exactly.
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And a lot of the times In America, there's more executive
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producers as well that aren't just white men -- Yeah. --
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whereas in the UK, executive producers are predominantly
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white men. Yeah. So so, like, it's like, you
00:03:34
know, so you're having to convince those execs
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or commissioners, listen to your story
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or want to try it and tell your story as a
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black woman. It's a black woman. Yeah. And I just find it quite interesting as
00:03:49
a British guardian actor, or you could say like a black British actor. because
00:03:52
of what that's. So I just find it quite interesting about all of the
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British actors that have kind of broken into, like,
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you know, the film and TV industry by going to America and shooting
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films there like, Daniel. Daniel. Yeah. I mean,
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a male mean. There's so many of them. There's so many of these actors. I'm
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sure there's more that I've missed as well, but there's so many of them that
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have come to America. Once they get America, they've kind of been able to break
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into any kind of film or TV. any anywhere in the world.
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why do you but, I mean, of course, America's actually the the the other leaders,
00:04:24
and that's where, like, the most the value is. That's where pop culture
00:04:27
is. That's where, like, you know, they they, like you
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said, money talks there. They have a lot of money that
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they're they invest in entertainment there. Yeah. so
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and is the entertainment capital in that sense when it comes to film and
00:04:42
TV? Okay. Cool. Alright. So let's get straight into it. So let's
00:04:45
let's talk a bit about your, your, kind of, your
00:04:49
resume in terms of TV film and produce or directing.
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because, of course, you've been around different countries, of course, since you know, obvious reasons
00:04:57
is for your career and what you've been doing in the industry. Talk, can you
00:05:00
give us a quick run through of, like, what you've been doing? I mean, I've
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seen your IMDB. I think this this is quite impressive. could you just share the
00:05:07
audience lights and notable roles and actions
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or direct direct shifts that you've done. So in the UK,
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I did, you know, the a a long time running show. I think it's
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been running now for maybe 60 years. I wanna say,
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like, offenders. you know, I just hold the
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city. Hold the city. Then right.
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Then, when I went to States, I did,
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stars. I can't even I
00:05:39
can't even remember now. It's been quite a while. -- the show So we'll have
00:05:42
your I n d b, her I n d b in the show. There's no
00:05:44
way, but it's nice. Well, I worked with, like, Tatina Arnold.
00:05:51
I've worked with, Jonathan
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Reece Mears, you know, in the
00:05:59
States, I have kind of branched more into voice acting
00:06:03
in terms of animation. So, I'm currently working
00:06:07
on X Men at the moment, X Men97,
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Archer, which is a big classic. Everyone loves Archer. I don't think
00:06:15
I know it. Archer, it's a big one on Netflix. So I get a lot
00:06:19
of people who hit me up saying, yeah. But I saw you in the in
00:06:21
the -- I saw you in Archer. Yeah. Yeah. -- What is it?
00:06:25
Was it Archer's like it's a it's a satire -- Okay. -- of a
00:06:29
guy that's kinda like James Bond, but he's so silly. And he's just
00:06:33
like, the people around him solve the
00:06:36
cases. He's just like really do this and that kind of stuff.
00:06:40
Yeah. That's great. Where was it shot? Well, it's a shock. So, basically, when it
00:06:44
comes to voice animation, a lot of the times, you go into the studio and
00:06:47
then -- Oh, this is voice under this. Yeah. Under me. Yeah. They record your
00:06:50
voice. Yeah. and then sometimes it it's to match the
00:06:54
animation or sometimes the animation matches you. Yeah.
00:06:58
That's quite cool. Cool. So that's that's that's on Netflix right now. Yeah. Netflix. And
00:07:01
is is this like a US production UK production? It's a US production.
00:07:05
It's a lot of the stuff that I've I'm doing at the moment
00:07:08
is US based. Yeah. I mean, that's what money is. Right? Yeah. Yeah. Well,
00:07:13
that's plain. You know? but, of course, like, last
00:07:16
year, I, produced and starred
00:07:20
in a film by, Emmy Award winning
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writer Pama doors could rule over Brie, shot by a
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full gunning cast. you know, it was
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shot in Ghana or Sue -- Wow. -- and also
00:07:35
in a brie. and, yeah, it's doing really well in the festival
00:07:39
circuit at the moment. Okay. Cool. We're working people see it or where where was
00:07:41
it? the words are shown. So at the moment, when what what happens with the
00:07:45
festival circuit is because it's it's just started
00:07:49
its round -- Okay. -- until it kinda does all the festival won't be able
00:07:52
to to screen. However, we have just been accepted into the Pan
00:07:56
African film festival, which is a Oscar qualifier for. Oh, nice.
00:08:00
Well, congratulations. Thank you, which will be happening in Los Angeles
00:08:04
in February 2023. Nice. if you happen to be in LA
00:08:08
in February, then definitely you'll be able to see the
00:08:12
no. Wonderful. Wonderful. I think it's it's
00:08:16
really good to see a lot more kind of like darlings
00:08:20
or being involved in films, which can have more
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visibility in, like, country like America or even end up on them like a Netflix
00:08:27
or Amazon Prime Video or like a, what's the other one?
00:08:31
Apple TV, you won't be calling. I actually went
00:08:34
to a, I went to a summit, not last
00:08:38
year, but the year before 2021. And, I think it
00:08:42
was James Gardner. He was he was there. He was speaking about how
00:08:45
difficult it is for African actors to kind of like break
00:08:49
into the industry because when you do a form here, usually it's just
00:08:53
it's just shown on, like, the few screens and about it. So it's a
00:08:57
little limited to who you can reach, but I think what he was saying is
00:09:00
that he feels like the narrative's changing because he have Netflix now a lot more
00:09:03
advocates being important to Netflix. And now, and even Amazon Prime
00:09:07
Video now is is competing as well. So now he feels like there there might
00:09:11
be a change where finding the African film step to finally get the
00:09:14
attention of the reserve and even the money, the revenue of the reserve as well.
00:09:18
I feel like that's happening,
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I feel like that's happening, but the focus always is on Nigeria
00:09:26
and South Africa. Yeah. And maybe Kenya. And with
00:09:29
the with with the tourism of Ghana,
00:09:33
with the music and with the number of African
00:09:37
Americans come in and enjoying. And, you know, what
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I feel now is that there needs to be a series that
00:09:45
comes out from Ghana. And so Ghana is also a
00:09:48
contender when it comes to the African film market and the
00:09:52
streaming services. Yeah. it's understandable because
00:09:56
money talks, right, And because Nigeria is a big country. Yeah. And there's a
00:10:00
lot of, you know, people Nigeria, and they they have a an
00:10:03
established livelihood. Yeah. And, of course, with South Africa, there's a infrastructure
00:10:07
and there's familiarity, that a lot of
00:10:11
Europeans have. So they tend to all Europeans or
00:10:14
Western have So they tend to favor South Africa.
00:10:18
with the, east Africa, you know, it's becoming the new
00:10:22
tech hub as well. So now streamers are looking at that because
00:10:25
then you can tie in, you know, the fact that a
00:10:29
lot of East African people are able to you know, have access to
00:10:33
wifi to some extent. Right? so,
00:10:37
hopefully, this kind of speed
00:10:41
or the the development will reach Togana,
00:10:44
but it also has to come from Ghanaians
00:10:48
that entertain us entertainment system here to push for
00:10:52
it. Sure. Sure. Yeah. I'll I'll be doing need all the help. We can get,
00:10:56
like, from the government, I mean, the government, that's never conversation, but we need all
00:11:00
the help we can get to get a team to get garnet into the hat
00:11:03
of those African films because when you went out of social Netflix, I'm seeing
00:11:07
so many films produced in Nigeria or maybe South
00:11:10
Africa. Which is which is brilliant. Which is great. Yeah. But I mean, Ghana, I
00:11:14
think there's potential for Ghana to be in there. and then we have so
00:11:18
much potential tone to, like, the films we can make and stuff. I mean, like,
00:11:21
so many people wanna make a plumbing for our film. Oh, I Thank you again.
00:11:24
That's not a good start on that one. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And it
00:11:29
needs to happen. at least I have -- It
00:11:33
definitely needs that. -- the Americans would do it. Yeah. I mean, that's -- Yeah.
00:11:37
So, I mean, this is quite interesting. mean, the experience you have in
00:11:41
the act and the different types of roles you've got, you've got quite a range
00:11:44
of experience. what would you say that you
00:11:48
like the most or how would you kind of like
00:11:51
if, acting versus Ryan versus producing them directly? And what
00:11:55
so you've you've done well, you've you've done all of them, Ryan, you've acted. Have
00:11:58
you kind of produced I've actually produced. I've directed
00:12:02
a documentary. I've directed, like, some live theater
00:12:05
shows. Yep. and I have written out,
00:12:09
yeah, I've written as well. So what what
00:12:13
I mean, acting's always been my soul as my heart. That's that's me. That's
00:12:17
what I do. I've always been an actress. I've
00:12:20
never deviated from that whatsoever. I've always known
00:12:24
that's that's that's me from the get go. But
00:12:27
as you as you get further
00:12:31
within that, industry. It becomes
00:12:35
apparent, especially when you're a woman, that there's only
00:12:39
so much you can do because you're limited because
00:12:42
you're waiting on someone else to understand or you're
00:12:46
waiting for a story that speaks to you.
00:12:49
Mhmm. And I'm someone where I can't wait like that.
00:12:53
I like to be creative. So the whole writing
00:12:58
I kinda just fell into it because I was just like, okay. Why am I
00:13:01
why am I waiting for? So I started writing, but in terms of -- --
00:13:05
sense. Yeah. In terms of writing, it's like,
00:13:08
I like to write short stories and, you know, I
00:13:12
would make, like, short films about the short stories. Yeah. And so
00:13:16
it's it's right. It's a very personal thing, and I'm still at this stage where
00:13:19
I'm still trying to, find a way to
00:13:23
put myself out there when it comes to it. I've written pilots. You know, I've
00:13:27
got co writers as well that I I write with, and that's
00:13:31
something that I'm pushing to get my productions out there.
00:13:36
Yeah. And I think what what would you say is that the general,
00:13:40
what would you say that the general trend of people that start acting. because usually
00:13:43
what happens happens is they start acting. And then they start producing the
00:13:47
direction and then write in is, like, I tend to see, like, a trend in
00:13:50
the act. Like, for example, I know, Michael B. Jordan, he starts and, like, now
00:13:54
he's trying to direct and produce his own films, but he was just acting a
00:13:57
whole bunch of films. So I see a natural kind of like you
00:14:00
know, progression where you move away from acting and you start, oh, I
00:14:04
wanna start producing direct to the mate and write in movies now.
00:14:08
Amazon. Because you, as a producer, you have the opportunity
00:14:11
to, have a say as to what
00:14:15
type of story should be put forward. When you're an
00:14:19
actor, you're so used to someone saying, stand here, move here, say this like this,
00:14:23
do this like this. Look like this. be like this. No. You're
00:14:26
not right. You're too thin. You're too small. You're too dark. You're too and then
00:14:30
it start you start to play it starts playing your mind when you're like, okay.
00:14:33
I could easily do this role, but I have to
00:14:37
convince so many other people that I can. So a lot of the
00:14:41
times and that will get to a certain point where they have a certain
00:14:44
level of success or a certain income where
00:14:48
they can start investing back into themselves. So
00:14:52
they would then have a become a point where they're like, okay, I'm gonna
00:14:56
produce my own thing. And I know exactly who I want
00:14:59
to being it with me. and so, like, yeah,
00:15:03
producing is always the next level because you
00:15:08
On your way up, you've already met a number of directors and writers that you've
00:15:11
seen their journey and you wanna bring them in to create a story that's
00:15:15
impactful. to a new to an audience that's always there, but
00:15:19
it has always been forgotten. That's clever. That's clever. Using utilizing
00:15:23
the with the relationships you've you've built along the way in your way
00:15:26
to to create something tiny new. Mhmm. So you mentioned earlier
00:15:30
on, I just wanna double tap because you mentioned what, you know, as a woman
00:15:34
where, like, how is it for you as a black woman, like, for acting in
00:15:37
the industry? it can be in any country. How how's it, what's the
00:15:40
experience to challenge? I mean, we maybe not spend too much time in it, but
00:15:44
I'm like Yeah. I'm just gonna just just really quickly. I
00:15:47
think
00:15:53
I think as I think it
00:15:57
is reflective of society. So
00:16:02
there is a a there's a hierarchy in society,
00:16:06
and everybody knows this. and anyone that pretends that doesn't exist, I don't
00:16:10
know what world you're living in, but,
00:16:14
colorism comes into play a lot. racism
00:16:17
comes into play. there are it is
00:16:21
changing that, you know, there's a lot of,
00:16:24
improvements but there's also certain roles that
00:16:29
there's certain chances, certain roles that are black
00:16:32
woman has a black actress has.
00:16:37
and It's it's difficult sometimes
00:16:41
because, you know, you have to be very strong and understand
00:16:44
that it's not necessarily you. it's just the situation
00:16:48
and the industry. Have you had any personal experiences
00:16:52
of, like, being limited to your role or an opportunity because of the
00:16:55
cardio skin Anywhere?
00:17:00
Yes. I have. there's been a lot of
00:17:04
times,
00:17:08
Oh, that's -- Is it? Did I did I really did I talk? Did I
00:17:11
go did I go to a specific area, emotional area? Yeah. I
00:17:15
mean, like, there's been a lot of times where I've gone up for a role
00:17:19
and because I'm a a dark skinned woman -- Yeah. -- there's an
00:17:22
assumption that I'm not softer company vulnerable. Yeah. I
00:17:26
always have to be very strong, very militant.
00:17:31
you know, or very, like, Philly or Jovial,
00:17:37
there's there's never there's not really anything
00:17:41
where I'm just like, I'm just a woman that's just trying to figure out life.
00:17:44
It's always like a role where I really know where I'm going and what I'm
00:17:48
doing. Okay. And As people, we're not all like
00:17:51
that. Yeah. How's it made you feel when there's maybe a role or opportunities come
00:17:55
up in the industry and you haven't been able to do it? Because
00:17:59
of what you look like. I think at this point, I'm so used to it,
00:18:02
which is why I decided to create my own content now.
00:18:06
Yeah. I think this is the day and days that we're in now where people
00:18:09
are creating content. They're selling it to to the to the platforms. I mean, all
00:18:13
the Netflix and Amazon prime video of this other platform. Here, though, you name it.
00:18:17
Yeah. Apple plus TV is that they're just they're just like a
00:18:21
media. Right? You can go now, it's important opportunity. Now now go
00:18:24
straight to the source and just pitch your product to them rather than have
00:18:28
them to kinda like go through all of the motions and, you know, But even
00:18:32
when you're going straight to the source, there's still a lot of,
00:18:35
gatekeepers. 100%. Yeah. You know, and it's better
00:18:39
now. Yeah. but there's still some way to go, I think.
00:18:43
Absolutely. Yeah. I think in the this generation where you can create your content, unless
00:18:47
you charge people for it, upfront. Have you ever had to reach out before? Yeah.
00:18:50
That's fantastic. So, I mean, it's more I see it more of youtubers and
00:18:54
stuff, but in terms of the act to the actors and people that wanna write.
00:18:58
And there's, I mean, I see short films in YouTube, but I think maybe
00:19:02
it's harder for them to kinda, like, monetize it. Yeah. Yeah. because you
00:19:05
arrive at, like, watch that called YouTube tag content. so that's an interesting
00:19:09
one for real. Yeah. Definitely definitely is an interesting one
00:19:13
as well. So you've definitely you've definitely had a very interesting journey
00:19:17
in terms of, like, your career. what would you say
00:19:20
is, how how would you say, like, to be
00:19:24
like TV film? What would you say that?
00:19:29
is happening right now. That's improving or changing the narrative
00:19:33
of how TV and films are. I think
00:19:37
there's more black female writers are out there
00:19:41
that are being commissioned. that are
00:19:44
telling interesting stories.
00:19:48
and I also think that people actors
00:19:53
creatives are less inclined to not say anything anymore.
00:19:56
They're they're more inclined to highlight, certain
00:20:00
things like you know, colorism,
00:20:05
you know, narratives that are very stereotypical,
00:20:10
Yeah. People people speaking out a lot more and the power of
00:20:13
social media as well. That's a very good point because you've seen a lot more
00:20:17
people speak out on social media, and in a lot more voices are being heard
00:20:20
as well. that's kind of like changing things as well. Yeah. Yeah.
00:20:25
And, yeah, I think think there's been certain movies or films
00:20:28
where someone, maybe this person is gonna be the character, this
00:20:32
particular character, and then people, like, complained about it, and then they they made a
00:20:36
change. Exactly. Yeah. Even something is smaller, I think, Sonic
00:20:39
the hedgehog. I think some of the hedgehog was coming out, and I think like
00:20:43
the the Sonic community. I'm a Sonic fan and, the the kennemies, the
00:20:47
Sonic. Yeah. Yeah. And, I think that the community, the Sonic community, like,
00:20:51
they they add their opinions and then they they ended up changing either the voice
00:20:54
of actor or how I think it was how sonic looked like in a sense.
00:20:58
So I think with the day age of social media, like, it's a great opportunity
00:21:02
also for people that produce and writing directing films that -- Yeah. -- they put
00:21:05
out a teaser or trailer -- Yeah. -- and then people don't like they were
00:21:09
they would talk about it, and then they will quickly remove it. And -- There
00:21:11
you go. -- because they understand, like, you know, with, Black Panther,
00:21:15
they understand that the community we -- Yeah. -- we
00:21:20
when we back something, it does very well, like, financially, and now
00:21:23
they want to ensure that we're pleased as
00:21:27
well. You know, whereas before, I think, it was kinda like, oh, whatever. It
00:21:31
doesn't matter. Where, like, now, it's important because
00:21:34
we're lucrative. I feel like, I feel
00:21:38
like in terms of social
00:21:41
popular culture, what's cool, what's happening is very
00:21:45
reliant on the black community at the moment. Sure. Gotcha.
00:21:49
If you want to like being like a dream role, what
00:21:53
what what kind of film and what would that look like?
00:21:57
A dream role. It would actually be Yara Santawa.
00:22:01
Really? Yeah. I I wanna play
00:22:05
Yara Santawa. Has there been some films and productions made around Yara Santawa
00:22:09
Not yet. Not really. Not really. Not really. Not yet. Same
00:22:12
thing as one we've talked about. But that that is a
00:22:16
role. Yeah. since I was a kid, I've always wanted to play that. Do you
00:22:20
think it will be like the black Pamper type film or woman king
00:22:23
tackle that came out? even better. It it will be it will
00:22:27
be even better. Yeah. It would be even
00:22:31
it'll be even better. Yeah. I feel like
00:22:34
I feel like it's a Hollywood type film. If they made it, they can make
00:22:38
it look really, really good, but at the same time, like, you wanna have the
00:22:41
Africans And that's why I said it would be even better because the creatives
00:22:45
that write it -- Yeah. -- with yas Antoine. I I
00:22:49
it would be fantastic. Okay. If It
00:22:53
was led by gunning writers. 100%. And then they had
00:22:56
additional writers. That'd be a good one. I could I could see you doing that.
00:22:59
I've I haven't seen you. I haven't watched any of your your your your acting
00:23:03
gigs, but I can see you doing that really well just from speaking to you,
00:23:06
you know, of of Sam. Yeah. I think I can see. that's that's my
00:23:10
dream role to be honest. You know? So what do you wanna do
00:23:14
like in the in the in the future? Like, I mean, what what way where
00:23:17
you heading towards? Like, do you wanna, like, fully is
00:23:21
establish yourself as an actor, or do you wanna, like, move it to
00:23:25
producing, directing? I'm already established as an
00:23:29
actor. Okay. or okay. Let me let me actually
00:23:32
rephrase that. Maybe, like, do you wanna, like, like, be, like, super,
00:23:36
super style, or do you wanna just, like, With me, it's about the work.
00:23:40
because everyone everyone's different. Yeah. With me, it's about the work. Okay. If I
00:23:44
wanted fame -- Yeah. -- if I wanna just fame, I would've just taken off
00:23:47
my clothes 100%. You know what I mean? It's always been about the work craft.
00:23:51
The stories that I'm trying to tell. The audience is that I'm trying to target.
00:23:57
So I'd go with the stories. And if I have the power and the
00:24:01
means to produce, to bring more people on
00:24:06
to ensure that there's more people that are able
00:24:10
to get their foot in the door. That's what I'm gonna do because
00:24:15
for me, it's about bringing the whole village, not just an individual. It's an individual.
00:24:18
Yeah. Okay. So you're you're more into like state and choose
00:24:22
yourself and being able to pursue what you wanna do in
00:24:26
the act in industry or it's in the film industry. So all the TV
00:24:29
industry rather than just just taking any kind of role or doing
00:24:33
anything just to kind of make it to the top. Yeah. Yeah. It's a it's
00:24:36
a it's a it's a it's a multiple. It's a noticeable path. It's a noticeable
00:24:40
path, and I think my because when you when you've been in the
00:24:43
industry for a while, you have to be very specific. There's
00:24:47
power in saying yes. There's also power in saying no. just just know
00:24:51
when to do it. You know? And everyone
00:24:54
has, space to grow. Everyone has space to have that
00:24:58
opportunity. I feel like there's lots of people have compromised
00:25:02
in this industry to get to where they are. have you felt
00:25:05
temptations or pressures to kind of that marketing any kind of way, shape,
00:25:09
or form to -- Like, Harvey Weinstein kind of way. But --
00:25:13
Sure. I mean, maybe that's a bit too extreme, but in any way, shape, or
00:25:16
form, have you felt like pressures or -- I felt. Yeah. That's -- I'm sure
00:25:19
they must be kind of must be common. Right? -- pressures in terms of, like,
00:25:22
aesthetically pressures in terms of, like,
00:25:28
planes that involves, you know,
00:25:32
plain slave roles, and and say no to that because
00:25:36
I just feel like how many slow films have we had?
00:25:39
what does it what does it How can I put it? At
00:25:43
this point, I think we need to move in a
00:25:47
direction where it's telling a a different
00:25:50
story about a situation. And that's
00:25:54
that's something that I believe woman king did really well.
00:25:58
Yeah. I haven't seen that for me in all this. I've seen that Pamper too,
00:26:00
but I've seen woman too. I have no idea what it's like.
00:26:04
Yeah. Yeah. I have an I have an idea of what it's like, but I
00:26:07
haven't seen it, but I'm sure it must be good for production. Yes. Fantastic.
00:26:11
Production point of view. Yeah. So, what would
00:26:14
you say is, like, some of the achievements and awards that you've
00:26:18
made, like, any kind of key awards achievements picked up along the way in
00:26:22
your Yeah. I mean, I think my major
00:26:26
achievement is producing, the short
00:26:29
film, you know, the in Ghana. Like, I always wanted to
00:26:34
create a film here. I had friends that had tried
00:26:37
before, and it was never successful for them. So
00:26:41
doing it here, starting it here, I was a bit nervous. I was I was
00:26:44
a bit scared, and I worked with amazing people
00:26:48
here, like, the cast, the crew. Absolutely amazing.
00:26:52
And what we have, what we've achieved together -- Yeah. -- is
00:26:55
very beautiful, and I'm really excited that at some point, for everyone
00:26:59
to see it. Yeah. I'll I'll I'll love to see it. I mean, there's 1
00:27:02
or 2 films, grassroots films that I've I've seen in in the cinema in
00:27:06
Ghana Yeah. And now I think one is finally coming onto Netflix, which is
00:27:10
quite interesting. That's good. The one of, is it, what's this guy
00:27:14
called? Ajite? What's his name? What's his full name? I can't remember his name. So
00:27:17
if you, I think he wants to take to take tiktak in one of these
00:27:20
TV shows back in the day, I can't remember his full name. Oh, good. Good.
00:27:23
Good. yeah, I think. Yeah. But anyway, it's just really good to see, you know,
00:27:27
a lot more, you know, films and TV shows and short films
00:27:31
just getting the recognition it deserves. I'll come in to see it. I'd be able
00:27:34
to see it. Yeah. Really, really can't. And, what's
00:27:37
what's what's the next thing I wanted to ask you? So, in terms
00:27:41
of what you wanna do like, in in in 2023. What does
00:27:45
that look like? Oh, it's already really busy.
00:27:49
It's already really busy. So I actually wanted to film,
00:27:53
like, 2 more documentaries that have,
00:27:57
up my sleeve. So I
00:28:00
wanna fill in 2 more documentaries. Of course, Moonova Breeze doing the festival
00:28:04
circuit, so I'm doing a lot of traveling with that.
00:28:09
I am also gonna be working on a festival,
00:28:13
in the UK in London, for black creatives.
00:28:18
and I'm also hosting, like, what? I'm being
00:28:22
a part of a female filmmaker event. at the
00:28:26
barbican in London, to discuss my film saying, but
00:28:29
different. so the first quarter
00:28:33
is is packed. Yeah. You're busy, man. And then when I when I get
00:28:37
towards the end of the first quarter, then I start to look at the second
00:28:41
quarter. Okay. Then you'll start. So then look up what what opportunities you wanna
00:28:44
pursue? Yeah. Take you stay as it comes. Wonderful.
00:28:48
What what's your favorite film? Jab 1.
00:28:52
Is that a trick question? That's not a trick question,
00:28:56
Adrian. Okay. He's a favorite actor. Again -- This is a trick
00:29:00
question as well. -- trick question. TB show?
00:29:05
I have so many. The way the way I was. Okay. Let's maybe you can
00:29:08
name some. Okay. OB
00:29:12
City.
00:29:16
my favorite film. Yeah. I really like
00:29:20
requiem of a dream.
00:29:25
I really also like do the right thing.
00:29:28
Yeah. I've I've seen bits of it. It's it's it's so it's powerful.
00:29:32
did the right thing. And, Just put things based on the 90s or
00:29:36
80s. Is that in Harlem Harlem or something like that? Yeah.
00:29:39
Yeah. No. Brooklyn. Brooklyn. Brooklyn. 1 of 1 of the parts of
00:29:43
New York. Yeah. and
00:29:48
In terms of TV shows off, there's so many. Yeah.
00:29:52
There's an email I had to go with share. Of course, I guess we can
00:29:55
skip it. TV shows, I would say that I watch
00:29:59
recently. Do you know what I watch recently, which I really like is
00:30:05
Bloodamoto. Bloodamoto. Yes. The South African series.
00:30:08
Okay. that one is really good. Mhmm. And
00:30:16
I haven't started it yet. I've heard really great things by,
00:30:19
succession. Succession. What about, you know?
00:30:25
It's about, a family, very wealthy family.
00:30:29
And I think, like, a It's like a media mogul,
00:30:33
and he is, I think, retiring or something, and
00:30:36
he's handing over. to
00:30:40
his family, like the business. Wow.
00:30:44
But he has, like, a number of children -- Okay. -- that they need to,
00:30:47
you know, So it's like, I think about sibling rivalry.
00:30:50
So it sounds very kinglier to me, basically. Yeah. No. It sounds
00:30:54
like a really good plot. a good story line as well. I would love to
00:30:58
watch something like that. It sounds exciting. It's just it's like a level anticipation of
00:31:01
what's gonna happen. take to it, you know, are they gonna live up to the
00:31:05
to the pressure and all that kind of stuff? what's your
00:31:08
favorite genre of of of movie or film? I mean, to to act
00:31:12
in I love I love thrillers. I love thrillers. I
00:31:16
love action. Okay. and I
00:31:19
also like, biopics. Yeah. I like to
00:31:23
sit down and watch biopics. Like, the Ray Charles biopic is
00:31:27
is absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. You love that one? Yeah.
00:31:31
That one's really, really good. Yeah. Really good. Which one do I
00:31:34
like? I mean, I mean, What's this 1? What's
00:31:38
£7? And sorry. To see your happiness, I was not that
00:31:42
1. Yeah. Tina Turner. Tina Turner. Yeah. I can
00:31:45
see you probably doing that. Angela Bassett Tina Tanner. He's
00:31:49
gonna have to see that. No. I haven't seen it. No. I haven't seen it.
00:31:52
That that forms really good. happen to see. There's there's a few really good
00:31:56
biopics out there. I think biopics, like, the storylines are so powerful as
00:31:59
well. Yeah. So biopics are they they like films like real life. And they,
00:32:03
like, they films based on true story? Their films based on, yeah, true story.
00:32:07
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I really like -- Real people, real life.
00:32:10
Yeah. I really like the the serenum in the Williams 1. I
00:32:14
haven't seen that one yet. That was powerful. Yeah. I'm a covered sports. Yeah. I
00:32:18
really enjoyed that one as well. King Richards. That's it. King
00:32:21
Richards. She knows that. Yeah. You're really,
00:32:25
you're not. Okay. So If I mentioned the word that a car to you,
00:32:29
what four to five's feelings come to mind? If you so
00:32:33
if I mentioned the word a car to you, what four's fives or feelings come
00:32:36
to mind? enjoyment? Yeah. Just enjoyment.
00:32:41
enjoyment. heat.
00:32:46
palm wine, pineapple.
00:32:50
Just blend at words.
00:32:54
Yeah. Just just
00:32:59
whole heartless, like fulfillment, vibrancy. Yeah.
00:33:04
Yeah. Okay. We're generally being 5 years in terms of your
00:33:08
your your act you're acting producing production that you're creating
00:33:12
legacy. what 5, 10 years, like, what would you wanna be? I would
00:33:15
like to have my own production company. Mhmm. And I want my production
00:33:19
company to also, be based here.
00:33:23
Focusing on producing, TV
00:33:26
content, based in Africa.
00:33:30
Wonderful. primarily in Ghana,
00:33:34
with streams on Netflix or either Amazon,
00:33:39
And I wanna be in a situation where I
00:33:44
also live in Ghana like
00:33:48
Elise 6 months of the year, live in the US for 3
00:33:51
months, and then live in the UK for 3 months. Where can everyone find you?
00:33:56
you can find me at www.anniwaabuachie.com
00:34:00
or or my socials, which is at anniwaa
00:34:08
buachie. Mhmm. That's where you can find me. Wonderful.
00:34:12
Well, there you have it, guys. Anniwaa Buachie on the Sound of Accra podcast.
00:34:15
what tips would you give to aspiring actors, producers, director?
00:34:19
Real quick. Just say focus,
00:34:23
write down everything that you find interesting because it might be a story of
00:34:27
film or something you would like to share later. And,
00:34:31
there's always room for another story, another expected.
00:34:34
Wonderful. Well, sweet and short. You have it,
00:34:38
guys. Anniwaa Buachie, actor.
00:34:42
writer, producer. She does it all. You can get all of the
00:34:46
links, references, all the nuggets, and the gems, and the wisdom
00:34:50
by heading over to the www.thesoundofaccra.com/anniwaa anyone that's a,
00:34:54
double n, I w, double a. Okay. I've got it. Yeah.
00:34:57
And, yeah, on your way out, hit like share it leave us a comment. Let
00:35:01
us know what you think of this episode. And if you're listening on the Apple
00:35:04
or Spotify please give us a 5 star review. It does more than you know,
00:35:07
and, we'll see you in the next episode. Thank you so much.