UK-based unconventional American visual artist, Douglas Fishbone is currently in Ghana filming his first major role in a feature, tentatively titled ‘Elmina’. The Revele Films production is a thought provoking feature on oil, colonialism, greed, love and hatred. Although the story revolves around different families in crisis, it would focus on a man who decides to fight the system and live with the consequences.

Douglas Fishbone describes the project as an exciting and unusual film with an interesting approach to tradition and contemporary issues. “I wanted to experiment with different movie traditions and leave it as a surprise. The idea to develop something unexpected and Ghanaian has been on the cards for me and the producers for some time now. So I am very excited to be here,” comments Fishbone.

Fishbone was born in New York City in 1969 and holds an MA in Fine Art degree from Goldsmiths College. In 2004, he was awarded the Beck’s Futures Prize for Student Film and Video in 2004. He is perhaps best known for his project 30,000 Bananas – a huge mountain of ripe bananas installed in the middle of London’s Trafalgar Square and later given away free to the audience – in October 2004. His video and performance work was included in the British Art Show 6, a national touring exhibition held every five years to feature the best in contemporary British art. He had his first major solo project at Gimpel Fils in London in October of 2006, and performed at London’s Hayward Gallery as well as Serpentine Gallery, ICA and KHOJ International, Delhi.

‘Elmina’ will mark the comeback for Revele Films, after four years of its groundbreaking movie on drug trafficking, ‘Run Baby Run’. The award winning movie showed in several film festivals across the globe with rave reviews.  Revele has hinted that it would use modern and efficient technology that comes as close to ‘film’ as possible to achieve a landmark in production far better than what it did with ‘Run Baby Run’ in 2006.

According to John Apea who co-wrote the story with his elder brother, Emmanuel Apea, ‘Elmina’ would not just tell a great story but would reveal an artistic approach to telling the story. Hence, the decision to collaborate with the Tate, an institution that houses UK’s national collection of British Art, and International Modern and Contemporary Art. The UK premiere would be held at the Tate Gallery accordingly in October with a Ghanaian styled cinema set up.

The producer of the movie, Julia Apea adds that the movie would showcase the cultural heritage of Ghana and not just modern Ghana to the world. She believes that shooting on location in the Western and Central Regions of Ghana provides a great setting that readily projects the Ghanaian heritage.

The 21-day shoot began on July 1 and it features some of Ghana’s most talented actors including Kofi Bucknor, Kojo Dadson, Akorfa E. Asiedu, John Apea, Ama K. Abebrese and others. It also stars Douglas Fishbone and directed by Emmanuel Apea.