Robert Kwame "Bob J" Johnson (? - 12 December 2010) was a famous

Ghana Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...

ian cinematographer.

Life and career

Johnson worked on a number of highly rated Ghanaian films, often collaborating with the popular director

Shirley Frimpong-Manso Shirley Frimpong-Manso (born 16 March 1977) is a Ghanaian film director, writer, and producer. She is the founder and CEO of Sparrow Productions, a film, television and advertising production company. She won Best Director at the 6th Africa Mo ...

. He also worked on several television commercials and documentaries. He was well-loved within the acting community and was sometimes called Ghana's best cinematographer. Popularly known as "Bob J," Johnson was educated at the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI). In addition to creating films within the Ghanaian movie industry, he worked in the camera department on international productions in the United States and the United Kingdom. Johnson was the former President of the Cinematographers Guild of Ghana (CGG).

Death and legacy

Johnson was an experienced professional

motorbike A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruisin ...

r. However, while training soldiers to ride motorbikes in

Aburi Aburi is a town in the Akuapim South Municipal District of the Eastern Region of south Ghana famous for the Aburi Botanical Gardens and the Odwira festival.

, Johnson died on 12 December 2010. Speaking after his death, Shirley Frimpong-Manso, who directed five of Johnson's films, noted that "Bob J" had left a lasting influence on the Ghanaian film industry. She also said: “Bob was meticulous, professional, creative, a strong pillar of reliability and above all, a big brother and this can be attested by all those who had the privilege to work with him. He was full of life and Great Spirit on and offset; it will never be the same without him.” The respect for Johnson within the film industry, both by on-screen performers and behind-the-scenes personnel, was such that some film production companies halted production purposely for Johnson's funeral. Some actors deserted production sets which did not stop filming to attend the funeral.

Posthumous awards

At the maiden edition of the

Ghana Movie Awards ''Ghana Movie Awards'' is an annual film award to recognise excellence in the Ghanaian film industry. The first edition was held on 25 December 2010 at the Accra International Conference Center. It’s only in 2017 that the ceremony wasn’t held ...

, Johnson was posthumously awarded the Best Cinematography Award for his 2009 film ''A Sting in a Tale''. His film ''Check Mate'' also received a posthumous nomination for Best Cinematography at the Ghana Movie Awards. Additionally, his film ''The Good Old Days: The Love of AA'' received a posthumous nomination for Best Cinematography at the

African Movie Academy Awards The Africa Movie Academy Awards, popularly known as AMAA and The AMA Awards, is presented annually to recognize excellence among professionals working in, or non-African professionals who have contributed to, the African film industry. It was fou ...

(AMAA). In 2012, the Ghana Academy of Film and Television Arts (GAFTA) instituted the Robert Johnson Silhouette Award for Best Cinematography at the National Film and Television Institute Students Film Festival. The award has been given out twice, in 2012 and 2014.

Filmography

* ''Scorned'' (2008) (directed by Shirley Frimpong-Manso) * ''Perfect Picture'' (2009) (directed by Shirley Frimpong-Manso) * ''A Sting in a Tale'' (2009) (directed by Shirley Frimpong-Manso) * ''Double'' (2009) (directed by Kwaku Sintim-Misa) * ''Check Mate'' (2010) (directed by Shirley Frimpong-Manso) * ''6 Hours to Christmas'' (2010) (directed by Shirley Frimpong-Manso) * ''The Good Old Days: The Love AA'' (2010) (directed by

Kwaw Ansah Kwaw Paintsil Ansah (born 1941) is a Ghanaian film-maker, whose work as writer, director or producer includes '' Love Brewed in the African Pot'' in 1980 and ''Heritage Africa'' in 1989. His first feature, ''Love Brewed in the African Pot'', earn ...

) * ''4Play Reloaded'' (2011) (produced by Abdul Sallam) * ''Masquerades'' (2011) (directed by Xavier Arjis of

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

; written by

Lydia Forson Lydia Forson (born 24 October 1984) is a Ghanaian actress, writer, and producer. In 2010 she won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Early life and education Forson was born on 24 October 1984 in Mankessim, Ghan ...

)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Robert Ghanaian cinematographers Date of birth unknown 2010 deaths