Back to Kumawood: The intriguing case of Mr Beautiful
The romance between actor Clement Bonney, with the popular moniker, Mr Beautiful and the film industry based in Kumasi (Kumawood), is a classic case of how entertainers should avoid involving in politics in order not to put their careers in jeopardy.
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Mr Beautiful is one of the actors who worked hard to project Kumawood, as a result of which the disturbing infiltration of Nigerian movies onto the Ghanaian market significantly reduced and in that regard, he deserves some plaudit.
For the love of politics, he jettisoned the craft entirely, dedicating his time and resources to supporting ex-President John Mahama in his pursuit for a second term in government
After the failed bid by the former President, the actor has declared his intention to go back to the industry that made him popular.
Good acting skills
There’s little cynicism about the acting skills of Mr Beautiful. Yes, he is a good actor with a plethora of very good movies to his credit. At one point in his career, no movie was released from Kumawood without his name being on the cast.
His delivery in the Fanti language was a refreshing fit in all the movies he starred in and he presented a refreshing drift to the characters he played. He is versatile as he was able to fit into every role assigned and he always delivered. That’s how proficient he is in acting!
The Blacklist
Some years ago, news was rife that the actor had been blacklisted by the movie producers because of his open campaign for the ex-President, especially in the stronghold of the then opposition – Ashanti Region.
The producers understated their reason for side-stepping the actor by stating that he had lost touch with the movie-loving masses and he was no longer a selling force in the sector.
The actor, in reacting to the snub, did not help matters. Instead, in a defiant mood, he also declared that he would always choose to support and campaign for President John Mahama over featuring in Kumawood movies.
His efforts were fixated in travelling with the then President on his campaign trail and he became his advisor for his benevolent gesture of providing aid to some needy and sick entertainers.
Plenty loose talk
Mr. Beautiful, after the seeming blacklist, engaged in a lot of loose talk, very infantile and unnecessary rant throughout the period of his dormancy in acting.
At one point, he talked about how he was not hungry because the ex-president fed him adequately. He also barked about how the quality of movies had been affected due to his absence.
He was heard gloating about how an investor had given him some huge sum of money to produce his own movie but he dreaded the issues with marketing and distribution, so, he declined.
Not done with the obnoxious rants, he brazenly attacked some prominent producers in Kumawood, calling them unprofessional and their movies, trash.
His condescending approach to anything and anybody not in support of John Mahama and his policies was worrisome and his arrogant demeanour in his media interviews, during which he abruptly ended calls or conversations with such impunity – was extremely nauseating!
The come back
After former President John Mahama’s failed bid to have a second term in office, Mr Beautiful has declared his resolve to go back to Kumawood and act.
That is a testament of how immature the actor had been in his entire outburst since he made the infamous declaration to support former President Mahama and shun Kumawood.
Obviously, if John Mahama had won, there would be no way the actor would have made such a move. He would be eyeing a higher position in Government but as things didn’t turn out as anticipated, he is here, scrambling to undo some of the statements he spewed and feverishly trying to make up with folks he fell out with.
Honestly, the industry in Kumasi survived tremendously without him. The likes of Akrobeto, LiWin, Dabo, Bernard Nyarko, Apostle Prah and many others have handled the industry well, sustaining it even in the midst of all the economic challenges.
His absence was hardly felt in any way, but, that notwithstanding; his comeback is good for the industry. He is still a good actor, and his inclusion would complement the efforts of the many who held the fort while he was gallivanting across the country dabbling in politics and making a nuisance of himself.
Thankfully, some of the producers who were noted to have blacklisted him, have welcomed the idea of the actor making a return to the fold and their willingness to work with him again.
Lessons
Arnold Schwarzenegger moved from acting to be a governor. His way of politics was clean, so, he was able to make his way back to acting without many inhibitions. Nigeria’s Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD) took political appointment after gracing the screens for years. After his tenure, he is back, still swooning ladies with his looks and acting skills. As a government official, he kept his dealings clean, ensuring that he didn’t close doors on his way up. He is definitely not finding closed doors on his way back to the craft.
Yes, it is a laudable idea for entertainers to do politics. In fact, politics is us, and entertainers should be encouraged to involve themselves in it, but, in doing so; they ought to be circumspect, decorous and responsible in their political dealings in order not to injure relationships and human relations.