CAMEROON'S FILM WORLD : MALE-MALE

Tatapong Beyala sets up her camera in a studio in the city of Yaounde Cameroon, surrounded by an all-women team of technicians, make-up artists, assistant and more.

For the 27-year-old owner of Gurl Boss Productions, it is perfect crew to take on the male dominated world of film production in her central African country and beyond.

''I have a lot of difficulties with my own colleagues, like the other male directors who don't even want to accept me,'' Beyala says on the set.
''Therefore, I decided to have an all-female production team, firstly based on my history, my experience and all the difficulties I faced, which I still face.''

Beyala and her crew are shooting a new music video for Cameroonian rapper Lor's new track STOP. '

'All these jokers think they've got something on me,'' Lor raps, as masked actors crowd around her. The performer and the extras are dressed in stark black, but other scenes from Beyala's videos -including one for Lor's ON CONNAIT - burst with bright colours.

''I style I am very colorful, yeah. In my videos, you always see lots of pink and blue,'' says Beyala, who is working as script-writer, director, choreographer and editor on the shoot.

''So, I try to leave the feminine soft-touch, even if I am going for a dark video.''

Beyala began her film career as a model in other people's videos. She then went to get a Master's degree in cinematography and started organising her own productions.

Two years ago, she set up her company and now employs a full-time staff of seven women.

So far, the artist has worked on around 50 videos for Lor and other artists that have spread far and wide online.

Oddly enough, many of her fans assume Beyala's is a man.

''I have seen people saying 'Beyala..........I like his work. I like his work.'' And then they come on the set and they realise it's a girl. They look at you age, they look at your physical appearance. And even when you give them the good work............they think you are a joke.''  [Reuter]