Diminutive Ghanaian actor, Joseph Pamfo, known in showbiz circles as Joe Shortingo, is not disturbed about how people perceive his God-given physique.
He told BEATWAVES that he feels like any normal human being and does not see himself different from others simply because he is short.
“I am not tall. I will take it like that. I am okay with the way I am. I don’t regret it,†he said.
Anytime Joseph comes out onto the street, fans yell at him, with some calling him names while others try to touch him to as it were, satisfy their curiosity that he is indeed an old person.
Joseph is 23 years of age and comes from Apam. He was however born and raised in Accra. He had his basic education at the Dakuman One Junior High School and later enrolled at the Wesley Grammar High School, after which he took a course in computer software application.
Even though acting has taken most of his time, Joseph’s topmost priority is to become a refined computer scientist.
“Before acting, I was into writing poems,†he told BEATWAVES. One of his poems about examination leakages was published in the Junior Graphic.
Currently, he is one of Ghana’s big stars who are trying to use their images to help raise Ghana’s movie industry. ÂÂ
He has recently been invited to one of Switzerland’s big film festivals for a role he played in the movie titled ‘Baba’s Song’.
That movie was shot in Malawi in 2007 and was later sent to Switzerland for dubbing and voiceover which Joseph, who was the only Ghanaian cast, went to do. There were a lot of stars in the movie including Hollywood actress Franka Potente of the ‘Pirate of Caribbean’ fame.
Joseph, before entering the movie industry, was in a drama group with the famous comedian, Ice Water.
Later, he had the opportunity to star in the King Ampah-produced movie, ‘No Time To Die’. He later approached Miracle Films to work with them and after seeing the talent him, he was given a role play in ‘Alomo Jata’ in 2006.
He has since studded in over 19 movies. But the one which shot him to fame was ‘Yeko Mma Pe’ which featured movie stars like Agya Koo, Mzbel and Wayosi. His favourite role in his acting career, he said, was in the movie ‘Busumba’.
Joseph is also concerned about the setbacks of the Ghanaian movie industry. According to him, there are a lot of different groupings in the industry, a situation he said is compounding the problem.
Until industry players come together to fight a common cause, he noted, the politician would not take the movie industry seriously.
By Francis Addo