We had the good fortune of connecting with Prince Adu Mensah Obrempong and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Prince Adu, why did you pursue a creative career?
Growing up, I have been inspired by influential people who have been able to effect change over the course of history. I have learnt from experience that changing the status quo is easier said than done hence I hold my heroes like DR. Kwame Nkrumah, Nelson Mandela and DR. Martin Luther King in high regard. I have always wanted to live up to my heroes and one platform which has given me the opportunity to get my voice heard is filmmaking. I grew up wanting to be a doctor but I couldn’t stop writing films, I couldn’t go a day without writing a story. Even in my Science class I would put away my biology book and be writing scripts. One of my scripts landed in a popular TV series in Ghana titled Chorkor Trotro. I wrote an episode for this TV series when I was 15 years old titled “Osama”.
I then started making drama in high school (St, Augustine’s College, Ghana). These drama made strong positive impact in my school. I then realized that I could change a larger society if I focus on storytelling.
I am a survivor of child abuse and I wanted to use storytelling or filmmaking as a medium to create awareness on the long term negative impact of abuse on people especially children. I want to tell a story, a story that will put fear in the hearts and minds of abusers and empower the victim. My first short film was about child abuse titled “Adyiah” , this film opened the door of acceptance into the creative space. Since then all the films I have made had a theme of abuse. However I have broaden my scope where I now tell stories of all social issues.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I love to make social expose’ films. I have a signature or style that runs through all my films. It is easy for my audience to identify my films. My film always begins with sound on blackscreen before actual pictures shows on screen. The reason i do this is because i always want to set a silent atmostphere inorder to get my audience’s attention to the pictures. So once the film begins with sound they will want to be attentive to hear what is being said then whiles they are attentive i go ahead to show images. Mind you; the images in my films are very strong and sometimes sensitive thats why i need their full attention. My films are open ended films. I delibrately do that to get my audience discuss the film even when they are out of the cinema. It’s a “social issue” so they need to discuss about it which makes the subject or the theme in the film very important.

One thing I’m proud of is that i never gave up on filmmaking despite all the challanges that comes with it. I’m also proud of being able to move to the heart of filmmaking of the world (Hollywood) to get more filmmaking experience. This is enough evidence of how much i love film

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The beach!!! I love the beach, it is my home. If i should choose anywhere in the world to spend time then i will choose under the ocean. That’s where i love to eat, drink, hangout and live. Life begins on the ocean!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My Mother; Patricia Gyasi Late Dad; Kwesi Adu
My Sponsors : Transformation Foundation 108, Anita Darko, Jnana Caskus Das, Nana Kwame Gutsche
Mentor: Sarah Kuntoh and Stanley Yeboah of National Film and Television Institute, Stanley Tam of New York Film Academy LA .

Little Credit: Kofi Appiah Adjei of Ghana Broadcast Cooperation

Instagram: prince_obrempong_mensah

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmehnz

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/princemensa11

Other: Instagram : wetfilms_

Image Credits
Pictures by @Jidekol Film color grade: @Afrosinek

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