Sinking Sands

Movie Title: Sinking Sands

Country / Region: USA

Genre: Drama

Runtime:USA: 116 min (approx.)

Filming Locations:
Accra, Ghana

Production costs: $ 1,000,000 / estimated

Release Date: January 14,2011,USA

Plot:
Pabi and Jimah are happily married and living a peaceful life when disaster strikes in the form of a domestic accident which leaves Jimah with a scar. Unable to live with his new features, his anger and hurt turn him into a monster. The once peaceful relationship turns into abuse.

Taglines:
How long will you endure abuse?

Trivia:
Renowned American- Ghanaian film director, Leila Djansi, is working on another blockbuster movie as part of her credentials- her latest film work in the pipeline  ‘Sinking Sands’, is set to be released in 2011, and already, critics are acclaiming it would be one of her most successful movies.
Miss Djansi made the transition into film after winning a regional beauty pageant. With the realisation that being a director was what she wanted to do, she enrolled at Ghana’s National Film and Television School, and from here, she continued her film education at Manifold College. She left Ghana in the late 1990s, in order to complete her ‘Film and Television’ degree at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, USA.
Working on blockbuster movies is nothing new to Miss Djansi; she worked as a writer-producer for hit movies including ‘I Sing of a Well,’ ‘Daughters of Eve,’ and ‘The Sisterhood’. However, ‘Sinking Sands’ is set to upstage all her previous works, with an interesting storyline, and a star-studded cast featuring the likes of Haitian- Born actor Jimmy-Jean Louis (The Bourne Identity, Hollywood Homicide) and John Dumelo (Perfect Picture, Prince’s Bride).
Other cast members of the film include veteran Ghanaian actress Doris Sakitey (Lost Hope, Divine Love), Eamonn Walker (Cadillac Records, Othello), and the TV presenter, producer and actress,-Ama K. Abebrese (London Get Problem).
‘Sinking Sands’ is set to be one of the biggest Ghanaian movies of the decade, and definitely a far cry from the pornographic material that has been dominating our screens recently. Another movie to show the world that Ghollywood is a film industry to be taken seriously, prepare to view this blockbuster for yourselves when it is released in 2011.

“Sinking Sands”, Nadia Buari, Genevieve Nnaji & John Dumelo win at the 2010 Ghana Movie Awards.Ghanaian thriller “Sinking Sands” won the Best Picture prize while filmmaker Shirley Frimpong-Manso picked up two awards, one in the Writing/Screenplay category and the other in the Best Directing category. Nadia Buari won the Best Actress in a Supporting Role (English Language) for her role in Shirley Frimpong-Manso’s Checkmate.

In line with its Say NO! to Violence campaign championed by Hollwyood actress Nicole Kidman, UNIFEM Ghana has endorsed the groundbreaking international drama “Sinking Sands” as part of its media resource for the campaign.  As a resource, the film will be used by UNIIFEM in educating women on the issues of violence and ways to prevent it in their homes and in their lives.
“We are so excited to have the endorsement of UNIFEM Ghana. The film seeks to empower women no matter their circumstance, and UNIFEM Ghana’s mission fits perfectly as we use art to give life lessons,” said an elated filmmaker Leila Djansi.
“Sinking Sands” is a feature length psychological drama that tells the story of a couple, in a loving marriage that turns into one of violence and abuse when Jimah becomes disfigured in a domestic accident. The project is intended to create awareness on the continuous existence of abuse among today’s households.  It is an effort to show a side of defense that is proactive.
The screen play was written and directed by Africa Movie Academy Award-nominated director Leila Djansi and playing the lead roles in the film are Ghanaian-born British actress Ama K. Abebrese and Haitian-born model and Hollywood actor Jimmy Jean-Louis.  The film was shot in Accra and Ho,Ghana.
“Because up to 70 percent of women experience physical or sexual violence from men in their lifetime, we are all stakeholders in making change. Working as a team, we are indeed improving the quality of life for every victim here in Ghana and all over globe,” said Mr. Ansre of UNIFEM Ghana in a speech announcing its endorsement.
“Thank you to Leila Djansi for bringing the issue of domestic violence to light through an artistic form such as film.  This is just the beginning of our relationship to combat this global pandemic.”
UNIFEM Ghana is the women’s fund at the United Nations Ghana, dedicated to advancing women’s rights and achieving gender equality. The organization works on the premise that it is the fundamental right of every woman to live a life free from discrimination and violence, and that gender equality is essential to achieving development and to building just societies.
Financed through The David Djansi Memorial Film Fund and its Australian associates, “Sinking Sands” is produced by Turning Point Pictures. The film successfully premiered on Nov. 13, in Accra Ghana, and is headed to the Domestic US and international market for distribution.

Directed by
Leila Djansi       

Writing credits
Leila Djansi         story and screenplay

Cast (in alphabetical order)
    Jimmy Jean-Louis    ...     Jimah Sanson
    Yemi Blaq    ...     Dr Zach Mathews
    Chris Attoh    ...     Mensah
    Louis Marcus    ...     Jimahs' friend
    Ama Abebrese    ...     Pabi
    Doris Sakitey    ...     Mrs. Dodou
    Grace Nortey    ...     Grandma
    Amanda Jissie    ...     Ms Olu
    Lawrence Hanson    ...     Panel member
    Narki Adulai    ...     Wedding Guest
    Joe Akpali    ...     Bank Manager
    Faustina Aheto    ...     Mourner
    Natascha Mieke    ...     Dr. Samantha Rogers
    Avissey Gbormitah    ...     Man under the tree
    Michelle Hogba    ...     Herself
    Trustina Fafa Sarbah    ...     Stella
    Samir Yaw White    ...     Mourner
    Akosua Agyepong    ...     Mama May
    Valarie Kessie    ...     Harlott
    Archibald Etse    ...     Son
    Mrs. Julia Djansi    ...     Panel Member
    Afi Dzakpasu    ...     Singer at Bar
    Eddie Coffie    ...     Obed
    Peter Etse    ...     Priest

Produced by
Theodore Baidoo    ....     producer
Leila Djansi    ....     producer
Dave Harper    ....     executive producer
Winrich Kolbe    ....     executive producer
Nora Kumahor    ....     line producer
Nick Manousakis    ....     producer associate
Tonita Perry    ....     producer

Original Music by
Koo Nimo       
Jacob Yoffee       

Cinematography by
Adrian Correia       

Film Editing by
Asher Bingham       
Howard Heard       

Production Design by
Tony Prince Tometi       

Art Direction by
Suzan Ertumen       
Gotfried Palm       

Set Decoration by
Albert Aidoo Bevell       

Costume Design by
Mabel Germaine       

Makeup Department
Aku Emilia Banini    ....     key hair stylist
Abby Lyle    ....     key makeup artist
Abby Lyle    ....     key special effects makeup

Production Management
Sandra Kumah    ....     production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kristina Perez    ....     first assistant director
Asantewa Cokee Prempeh    ....     second assistant director

Art Department
Johnson Edu Jay    ....     set designer
Issifu Teekay    ....     props

Sound Department
Francis Dua    ....     cable wrangler
Jeffrey Dyal    ....     sound editor
Travis Groves    ....     sound recordist
William Manning    ....     dialogue editor
James Pete    ....     sound effects editor
Kwame Sefa    ....     sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Anne Carson    ....     first assistant camera
John David Devirgiliis    ....     second assistant camera
Jason Peprah    ....     assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Nuela Perez    ....     wardrobe supervisor

Music Department
Leila Djansi    ....     soundtrack
Okyeame Quophi    ....     musical director

Transportation Department
Hope Fia    ....     unit driver
Sammy Iyang    ....     transportation coordinator
William Percy    ....     driver: cast

Other crew
Tom Brown    ....     script supervisor
Ameyaw Debra    ....     unit publicist
Florence Djansi    ....     production staff
Mrs. Julia Djansi    ....     researcher
Avissey Gbormitah    ....     location manager
Guud Kelly    ....     production coordinator
Tonita Perry    ....     publicist
Gyasi Wiafe    ....     production accountant

Thanks
Oliver Abada    ....     thanks
Dave Harper    ....     very special thanks
Stratton Leopold    ....     special thanks
Azumah Nelson    ....     special thanks
Mawuli School    ....     the producers wish to thank

Production Companies

     Miles Project
     Turning Point Pictures

Distributors

     NeoClassics Films (2010) (Non-USA) (theatrical)