Ghanaian skit maker Ben South has disclosed the cost of producing his latest movie titled "24."

According to him, he invested GHS60,000 to feature actors like, Maame Serwaa, AJ Brown, and Quecy Official, who have all appeared in several Ghanaian short films and digital series.

“Some of the actors took GH¢2,000, some took GH¢3,000. The entire budget for the production is 5,000 dollars, that is GH¢ 60,000 cedis,” he disclosed to  to Kwame Dadzie on Joy FM's Showbiz A-Z.

Speaking on the inspiration behind the title of the movie, Ben South stated, “I chose the title so people could not easily predict the storyline,” he added.

Ben South previously produced the short film titled "Wrong Target", garnering positive views for its direction and cinematography.

The filmmaker hinted that 24 explores human emotions and moral choices within a 24-hour period and will premiere later this year.

Popular Kumawood actor and filmmaker Kwadwo Nkansah, known in the entertainment industry as LilWin, opened up about the financial struggles of Ghana’s film industry, revealing that many filmmakers are forced to fund their own productions due to a lack of investors.

In an interview with Graphic Showbiz, LilWin emphasized that the film sector is grappling with financial constraints, which has left actors and producers with no choice but to invest their own resources to keep the industry alive.

"At the moment, our industry is struggling mainly due to a lack of investment. This has forced some of us to finance our own film productions," he stated.

Despite these challenges, LilWin encouraged his colleagues to take control of their careers by exploring filmmaking and directing rather than relying solely on acting opportunities, a step that seems to have been taken by Ben South.

"I encourage my colleagues to take action because you can’t sit idle, waiting for a producer to give you a role. If you have what it takes, create your own movie," he advised.

Having personally experienced the burden of self-financing, LilWin noted that all his projects have been executed without external financial support.

"Today, I can proudly say that all my movies and TV productions were financed solely by me, without any external backing. So you can imagine the quality I could achieve if I had an investor supporting me," he added.

He cited his latest film, A Country Called Ghana, as a testament to what Ghanaian filmmakers can accomplish despite financial hardships.

"A Country Called Ghana is the best production in recent times, just like the classic I Told You So. It has won several awards, including Best Indigenous Film at the 2024 Nollywood Film Festival, as well as Best Production Design and Best Makeup at the 2024 Imo International Film Festival," he revealed.

The movie, which was also nominated for Movie of the Year at the 2024 Black Star International Film Festival (BSIFF), features top Nollywood stars such as Ramsey Nouah, Charles Awurum, and Victor Osuagwu, popularly known as Awilo Sharp Sharp.

LilWin remains hopeful that with the right investment, the Ghanaian film industry can thrive, attract international recognition, and create more opportunities for talents in the sector.

Renowned Ghanaian filmmaker Leila Djansi has sparked a debate among industry players, questioning whether they will continue making excuses for the state of Ghana’s film industry or take action to improve it.

“Good and bad can coexist in anything. But at what point do we stop excusing the bad and start fixing it?” she asked in a Facebook post, calling for a shift from complacency to progress.

Djansi criticized the industry's reluctance to embrace constructive criticism, urging filmmakers to compare their work with productions from other African countries such as Nigeria, Zambia, Kenya, and South Africa.

“Take two of your most recent critically acclaimed films from the previous three years and compare them to two from Nigeria, Zambia, Kenya, and South Africa. Look at them side by side and ask yourself if we are actually gaining any momentum,” she challenged.

She lamented that since Azali’s Oscar submission in 2018, Ghana’s subsequent entries have not been up to standard.

“In 2018, we got Azali for the Oscars, and since then, every single submission has been a joke. A literal joke. Some of the films would convince you to burn your Ghana card,” she stated.

Djansi stressed that the problem is not a lack of talent but an unwillingness to elevate the industry through hard work and innovation.

Sharing a personal experience, she recalled how a Creative Artists Agency (CAA) agent once critiqued her storytelling approach. Instead of dismissing the feedback, she took it as an opportunity to grow.

“What he actually said to me was, ‘Go take risks with your storytelling.’ I grew up,” she revealed.

She urged filmmakers to stop dismissing criticism as hate or jealousy and instead use it as a tool for improvement.

“Stop enduring mediocrity, please. Instead of these knee-jerk reactions, instead of acting like people just want to hate, forget the who and the how and actually listen. Sit with the criticism. Use it to rise,” Djansi advised.

With her bold remarks, Djansi hopes to ignite a mindset shift in the Ghanaian film industry, pushing creatives to move beyond excuses and take the necessary steps to compete on the global stage.