Chris Tsui Hesse

**Christian Tsui Hesse**, wey chaw manas know am as **Chris Hesse** (born 29 August 1932) be Ghanaian cinematographer, filmmaker, film administrator, photographer den Presbyterian pastor wey be famous for ein cinematography work for plenty award-winning films, like de one wey people praise well well, *Love Brewed in de African Pot* (1980) den *Heritage Africa* (1989). He be de personal cameraman give Ghana first Presido, Dr Kwame Nkrumah. Chris Hesse help take picture of de history of Ghana politics den how de country grow. Ein sanso work for United Nations, take picture of de crisis for Congo for 1960.

## Ein Early life plus education
Chris Tsui Hesse born for 29 August 1932 for Osu, Accra. He attend Salem School, de all-boys' Presbyterian boarding school, den Odorgonno Secondary School, wey he get Cambridge Overseas Certificate for 1954. Same year, he start work for Ghana Film Industry Corporation (GFIC). He go National Film School for Łódź, Poland, wey he fini for 1960. He sanso get post-graduate certificate for Film and TV Arts from University of Sorbonne for Paris. Ein other academic credentials be Bachelor of Divinity (1985) den PhD (1989) for Film and Arts, wey he get from University of Southern California for California.

## Ein Career
Chris Hesse work give film industry for 40 years, from 1954 go 1994. He start for Gold Coast Film Unit, wey later cam turn Ghana Film Industry Corporation. He work on one famous film, "The Boy Kumasenu" (1952), wey get nominate for big award wey British director Sean Graham direct am. He rise up to become de managing director of Ghana Film Industry Corporation for 10 years, till he retire from government work for 1994. Chris Hesse get plenty experience for film production, wey dey include he be de head of News Department for GFIC for ten years (1974-1984), wey he produce plenty newsreels, magazines, adverts, den short documentaries, some of dem win international awards. He win Golden Camera Award (First Prize insyd Cinematography for Africa) for Pan African Film Festival for Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (FESPACO) for 1985. He be de director of photography for Kwaw Ansah ein award-winning films *Love Brewed in de African Pot* (1980) den *Heritage Africa* (1989). He sanso be de director of photography for filmmaker Ato Yanney Snr. ein *His Majesty's Sergeant* (1984). He sana travel go plenty places around de world, dey film conferences for UN, Commonwealth, OAU, Non-Aligned Movement, visits of Heads of State, den various international seminars.

Chris Hesse be de first war cameraman wey shoot film on Congo Crisis for 1960, for worldwide distribution, as Honorary Captain for Peace Keeping Force for 1960. From pre-colonial to post-independent Ghana (1956-1966), he be official cinematographer to Kwame Nkrumah (1956-1966), den sanso to subsequent Heads of State, like J. A. Ankrah, A. A. Afrifa, K. A. Busia, I. K. Acheampong, Fred Akuffo, Hilla Liman, den J. J. Rawlings.

He cam turn pastor for Presbyterian Church of Ghana for 1985, wey he serve for plenty churches. He sanso cam turn de boss of Prisons Ministry of Ghana. Chris Hesse marry Regina Hesse (wey be retired officer for Bank of Ghana) since 1959, wey dem get five kiddies den grand kiddies. He like play lawn tennis, jog, cycle, den do yoga. He fi speak English, French, Ga, den Twi well well.

For 2014, dem honour Chris Hesse for ein big contributions to cinema den Ghana at de 3rd NAFTI Film Lectures on Motion Picture Industry, wey dem focus for ein work as cinematographer, film director den documentary photographer. Chris Hesse be one of de people wey dey call for de government to pass de film bill, wey go help put proper structures den systems for de film industry. Chris Tsui Hesse be founding member den former Presido give de Ghana Academy of Film and Television Arts (GAFTA). For 2017, dem honour Chris Hesse at de National Film and Television Institute Awards night for Accra.

## Filmography

* *The Boy Kumasenu* (1952)
* *Progress in Kodjokrom* (1953)
* *Mr Mensah Builds a House* (1956)
* *Beyond the Volta* (1956)
* *Plebiscite of Togoland* (1957)
* *Freedom for Ghana* (1957)
* *Operation Congo* (1960)
* *Love Brewed in the African Pot* (1980)
* *His Majesty's Sergeant* (1984)
* *Heritage Africa* (1989)
* *Harvest at 17* (1994)
* *Cross Road of People, Cross of Trade* (1994)

## References