Challenges for the Performer in Social Distancing,

Social Media, and Copyright Law

In her presentaon, Edinam Atatsi noted that performing arsts were the hardest hit by the COVID-19 lockdown in Ghana. According to Edinam, this was because performers needed to rehearse, and when the producon was ready, they needed to perform for an audience. Thus, the COVID19 lockdown restricons made it impossible for performingarstslikeherselftowork.

As an employee of the state, Edinam said she sustained her livelihood during the lockdown restricons. She noted that receiving her monthly income was not the same because COVID-19 restricons took away the pleasure of work. Although Edinam's monthly income during the lockdown wassupporve,shesllneededmore. However, working when the COVID-19 lockdown restricons were relaxed was very challenging. For instance, she noted that at rehearsals, while some had their nose mask on, others were not wearing nose masks. That experience brought discomfort to rehearsals because it was difficult to track where one had been. It was also difficult to trust their commitment to Coronavirus-free pracces,especiallyiftheywerenotwearingnosemasks.

To connue to work, performers like her decided to reach the public through social media. They rehearsed a couple of set plays, but unfortunately, the producon had to be canceledbecauseofcopyrightcomplicaons.

One key aspect of Edinam's performances includes the producon of set books for school children for basic and senior secondary schools apart from the general public producons,includingcommunitytheater

Madam Edinam said all the plays needed a direct audience and it was impossible to do any producons especially when the plays had copyrightconcernsforsocialmediaproducons.

Madam Edinam Atatsi said she was featured in a music video by some of her colleagues who did other creave work since their main producons were on hold. Other colleagues worked hard to produce a music album during the COVID-19 lockdown women in the arts share experiences on “digitall: innovaon and technology for gender equality” within the COVID-19 context.

She also created an Instagram account with over 10,000 followers. On her account, she has posted some of her performances and she is working on sharing more of her producons to entertain her followers and hopefully connue discussionsontopicsrelatedtotheplaysormovies.

Madam Edinam said that she is working on partnering with Franka, a writer to produce short content for her social media plaorms. A previous collaboraon between Edinam and Franka has been successful, and she hopes to explore their creaveinterestsinthefuture.

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Multiple award winning performer

Edinam Atatsi is a proud Ghanaian, an actress and a philanthropist. She believes a successful acng career requires equal parts gi or talent, the right me, the right place and pracce. She is blessed to have portrayed characters from the past that have impacted history, and characters that were desned to impact her culture.

She dabbled in stage acng, using her voice to create new worlds. She has contributed immensely to the performance industry's development over the years. She has been one of the actresses that helped reshape the Ghana Movie Industry Being a trendseer, her first movie was Abibigromma and she connued to star in variousmovies.

FiveSignicances

Public Relaons/ Markeng Head, The Naonal Theatre of Ghana

Performed in over 100 local and internaonal producons.

Over 30 years' experience in the Arts; Stage, Television, Radio Film and Community Theater

Volunteer mentor for new and emerging industry talent

Philanthropist skills training for street children