By Precious D. Freeman
The highly anticipated fifth episode of the hit radio series Behind the Scenes aired on Hott FM 107.9, featuring a dynamic lineup of film industry professionals from Liberia and a powerhouse multimedia team from Sierra Leone, led by Daniel Moore of Africa Young Voices (AYV) has been released.
Hosted by DSTV Content Manager Mary Williams, alongside co-hosts Eddie Gibson and Gardea Menyon, the episode delivered an engaging discussion on the evolving landscape of filmmaking and film promotion in Liberia.
The conversation also built excitement for an upcoming industry event set to take place on Saturday, March 29, at the esteemed Prime Cinema in Mamba Point.
A key highlight of the episode was the appearance of Daniel Moore, Director of Commercial, Marketing, and Brands at AYV Global and Manager of the West Coast Cypher Battle.
Moore outlined AYV’s mission to elevate entertainment across West Africa, particularly through its involvement in competitive platforms like the Cypher Battle.
“I’m here to work with the Cypher team to ensure that we have the best of Liberia competing with the best of Gambia and Sierra Leone for the West Coast crown,” Moore stated confidently.
Mary Williams steered the conversation toward Moore’s marketing expertise, asking about his strategies for branding AYV.
“Marketing is me looking for money for AYV. Branding is me protecting and promoting the AYV image,” Moore explained. “We are giving youth a voice on the continent to express themselves. AYV is over a decade old now. We have a newspaper, a radio station, and three television platforms—one dedicated to entertainment, another for current affairs and business, and a third focused on talent showcases.”
Moore also highlighted AYV’s long-standing partnerships with Liberian entertainment events, including the national dance championship, LIB Rap Battle, and the inter-college beauty pageant. Winners from these competitions will represent Liberia in the highly competitive West Coast Battle.
In another segment, Mary Williams welcomed the vice president of Administration for the Liberia Movie Union, Julius Williams who passionately advocated for greater support of local filmmaking.
“People criticize our informal English, Kolokwa, in movies, but Nigerian films use their local dialects, and audiences love it,” Williams argued. “Why can’t we embrace our own?”
Williams stressed the importance of workshops to nurture filmmakers in Bong and Nimba Counties and called for innovative marketing strategies to increase the profitability of Liberian productions.
“One of our biggest challenges is that marketers are used to selling pirated foreign films for $2, but they won’t invest in distributing local movies properly,” he explained.
“I have traveled across all the counties just to sell a single Liberian movie. So, when people say Liberians don’t support Liberian projects, I disagree.”
As Behind the Scenes continues to bridge the gap between filmmakers and audiences, industry stakeholders were encouraged to participate in the event at Prime Cinema on March 29.
The gathering fostered discussions on long-term strategies for promoting and distributing Liberian films.
With its unique blend of radio programming, print media, and digital outreach, Behind the Scenes has cemented itself as a vital platform for celebrating Liberia’s creative industries.
By bringing together key players in film, media, and entertainment, the show is fueling a movement to amplify local talent and reshape the country’s cinematic future.
Fifth Episode Of ‘Behind The Scenes’ Spotlights Liberian, West African Film Industry
