The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2021 - Issue 29

biteactorsprofile lander as an actor. However, this is not the complete list of the work he has acquired over the years in the industry. The actor and director describes himself as a complex per- son: a very physical guy that's done martial arts his whole life, has a bachelor's degree in Science, speaks French, and has lived in different places around the world. He sees himself as a deep thinker and quite a nerd. “So there are these contradictory assets of who I am, and most of the projects I’ve acted in have only allowed me to show a small percentage of that. But I think presenting certain characters on screen may show some interesting things for people to view.” His inspiration for performing arts came from watching movies with iconic figures like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Syl- vester Stallone, Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Jean-Claude Van Damme. He describes acting as magical and com- pares actors to the illusionist. “The magician knows he is not performing real supernatural magic, but as long as the audience believes it’s possible and supernatural, he or she has 100% succeeded. The magician doesn’t believe what you believe, but it doesn’t matter because it is irrelevant. The audience living the true experience is what matters.” Being the actor, he does not tell the audience what to think but instead allows them to insert their thoughts into the character. “You, as the viewer, are moving, and they are bouncing like a mirror of your deep subconscious back at you. It’s resonating very profoundly within you.” He further added that, “Sixty percent of acting is confidence or lack of inhibition” and that confidence is not being afraid of being vulnerable and outside of your comfort zone. He shared that one job required him to be naked on an open set with 20 supporting artists, two cast members and all the crew and cameras, which helped him get out of his comfort zone. So what is the driving force and motivation for becoming the versatile and talented man he is today? Initially, Joey started in the film business because he wanted to be of significance. His father was a great fashion designer who is considered a pioneer in modern African styles and designs on the international stage (his work will be celebrated in the Victoria and Albert Museum in June 2022). Due to his father’s respected reputation, the young Joey felt pressure to live up to his dad’s legacy. “I did not feel significant enough as a human being. I was craving significance for something, and that probably pushed me down that path,” he said. “But once I got there, I realised I didn’t need it anymore for my ego; now I do it because I love it - the love for the craft and the passion for detailed, nuanced storytelling that will move people. I have no interest in making a movie just to pass the time. I would rather make a movie that people hate than something me- diocre.” One of the most epic quotes from his idol Bruce Lee’s only film interview, which he adapts and lives by, is: “I have no fear of a man in front of me. I know that I am self-sufficient, and whatever happens will happen. So you better kill me before I kill you.” He further deconstructed it, saying, “No matter the versatility and broad range of tools, no one can guarantee success, and no matter what, you should com- mit anyway. Have the strength that if it does change neg- atively, you will be a survivor and will find a way to adapt and come out the other side stronger. Pray not for an easy life but for the strength to endure the difficult one because if you have the strength inside you, you can endure the great difficulties. That’s why you have to have a diverse ex- perience, interact with diverse people, and have a diverse range of activities to give you the tools to adapt to almost any situation.” As a director, Joey explained if you want your scene to have a particular energy, you, as the driving force, have to set that energy for everyone and tailor your direction to the scene’s tone. He also emphasised that it is essential to remind the cast that "together we will get there", allow the actors to make mistakes and play with the scenes to get the perfect take. “People can’t do their best work if they are not calm; if there’s too much adrenaline streaming through “Directing and acting is just a way to have a mean- ingful human interaction with a lot of people through the medium of film” - Joey Ansah. Image credit: Universal / Jasin Boland