NEW FOCUS FOR JAMEDIAPRO Mrs. Barbara Blake-Hannah’s company JAMAICA MEDIA PRODUCTIONS has restarted its operations as a Public Relations and Communications service to the Jamaican music industry. The company successfully handled the media relations of the recently concluded REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL, issuing releases, blogs and digital messages that informed the media of the event’s plans and personalities, and provided material for their press, radio and TV stories. In 2011 JaMediaPro launched Jamaica’s first solar recording studio Sugashak Records and promoted its first single “Go Roun’ Dem” by singer Keke-I to national attention.
As a journalist, Mrs. Blake-Hannah has been covering the entertainment industry for various newspapers, radio stations, internet magazines and blogs for many years. Her knowledge of the industry and its chief stars is legendary, having written articles about all of Jamaica’s great musicians and musical moments since the 1970s. Mrs. Blake-Hannah’s list of former clients include Sizzla Kalonji, Aidonia, Norris Man, Turbalance, Buju Banton/Gargamel Studios, Lutan Fiya, Teflon and Droop Lion, and she has written articles and reviews of all Jamaica’s major annual music events, album launches and special celebrations.
Since its inception in 1998, JaMediaPro has showcased the younger generation of reggae music-makers who are breaking new ground while holding fast to the traditions already set by the icons of Jamaica’s unique culture. This re-launch of JaMediaPro’s operations will enable the company to shine the Spotlight on the career development of a select group of new Jamaican artists with planned programmes to bring them to public attention via the electronic, print and digital media.With decades of experience as a foundation, JAMAICA MEDIA PRODUCTIONS offers quality services to Music Artists and Companies seeking to create and establish an effective national and international media presence.
I am privileged to be a member of a very select private group on Facebook, where Ethiopians descendants of the royal family of Emperor Haile Selassie and his closest advisors and executives now living in exile exchange photographs, history and memorabilia about His Imperial Majesty and the history of modern Ethiopia.
One of the most beautiful and interesting stories shared on the page is the story of the Gold Purse, a pure gold ladies evening handbag carved with a filigree pattern and carried on a gold chain. The purse first came to our attention in a post which informed that it was going to be sold by a major auction house. Auctions of Ethiopian treasures, especially gold objects and medals, take place often much to the sorrow of the Ethiopians in this group, for whom these were not only works of art, but pieces of history. The massacres of the Emperor, the Royal family and his closest advisors by the Marxist leaders of the Derg revolution scattered those relatives who escaped, and who now live in exile unable to do much to salvage the treasures of an era.
The group’s founder and administrator Abbe Fekade brought good news that the Gold Purse was withdrawn from the auction, but the curiosity that was sparked by the immensely beautiful object led to interesting revelations from other members.
Pres. Lyndon Johnson Reception
Edward L. Buddy King: Gifts to be presented at State Dinner in honor of HIM visit to USA. Notice the gifts, most likely jewelery work done by Solomon Kibriye’s father…
Hannah A….. It’s that stunning gold purse again!
Barbara Blake Hannah: Wow, that gold purse it’s beautiful! Where is it now?
Jackie Kennedy with Gold Purse & Leopard coat
STATE VISIT TO USA
I learned that the gold purse was a gift from H.I.M. To First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy on the Emperor’s first State Visit to the USA. He also gave her a full length leopard coat, and gave carved ivory toys to John John Jr and Caroline.
Emperor Haile Selassie I gives a carved ivory warrior to John John
What then happened to the Gold Purse?
Edward L. Buddy King: Mrs.Kenndey did not turn the purse into the government as required for all foreign gifts. Several months ago it was due to go to auction by members of her family?
Barbara Blake Hannah: So who owns it now? Presumably it was sold after she died.
Notable – and notorious – women of the 20th century
Eight years ago, former magazine editor Judith Price launched the National Jewelry Institute in New York to preserve and exhibit fine jewellery. Against the backdrop of New York fashion week, she is opening her 16th jewellery exhibition, Notorious & Notable: 20th-Century Women of Style. Here she describes the curating process.
“To stage the show, it was necessary to tell the story of women who made their mark– whether notorious or notable.
“We began by making a list of women, those from café society, the art crowd, fashionistas and celebrities, using old newspapers, books and magazines for research. Collaborating with the Museum of the City of New York, we used 50 dresses and 40 pieces of jewellery from 80 such women.
The yellow gold handbag Haile Selassie gave to Jackie Kennedy
“Among them would be the Duchess of Windsor in Christian Dior haute couture, Lauren Bacall in her Tissue of Diamonds gown, Lena Horne in blue silk Giorgio St Angelo, and Babe Paley in Valentino – as well as writers/collectors Amy Fine Collins and Barbara Taylor Bradford – all placed next to vitrines containing accessories, such as the yellow gold handbag Haile Selassie gave to Jackie Kennedy and the bling bracelet of Joan Crawford.
MORE THAN ONE GOLD PURSE
My Ethiopian group friends enlightened me further. This was not the only Gold Purse given by H.I.M. Solomon Kibriye the son of the goldsmith who crafted this and other treasures, is a member of our group.
Solomon Kibriye: About the purse, my father made several evening bags of various designs that were given as gifts by H.I.M.
Edward L. Buddy King: Solomon, that explains why this gold purse is on the display at the State Dinner for HIM given by President Johnson….both your father and Grandfather did excellent work.
So where is the golden purse now? It is quite the most beautiful handbag ever made. Not a single red carpet diva has anything like this!
Without an answer, I can only end with a photo of Jackie O’s face when she met His Imperial Majesty. I can see why she is so happy!!!
INFOBUZZ JA – A MAJOR STEP ON THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY
Mr. Ray Daley
A tech innovation — sometimes attempted but never yet achieved — was launched Friday, December 16 at the Margaritaville Blue Beat Bar on Montego Bay’s Hip Strip. The cosy bar was an appropriate venue for the hip new concept, and the velvet banquettes inside, as well as the softly-lit outdoor patio were made mellow with the buzz of happy conversations and the clink of wine glasses, as guests mingled before the official start of the function.
Vibrant PR personality Peta-Gaye King then introduced the audience to Mr. Ray Daley, CEO of INFOBUZZ JA.COM an online directory to provide Jamaican businesses with a one-stop website presence where information can be posted, advertised and sourced. Daley, a Remittance agent, Bill Express and FX trader, was inspired to create the service by his wife Oleithea, who was searching unsuccessfully for addresses and phone numbers of suitable schools for her son. The two decided that such an information gap should be filled, and the idea of an online directory was born.
Oleithea and Ray Daley
Offering three levels of online registration, INFOBUZZ-JA lists not only names and phone numbers, but also a clear location map for each listing. A Ship Schedule, regular News updates and an online Blog, as well as a Search option that enables access to information by type and location, are some of the accessible information points.
All schools island-wide receive a free listing on INFOBUZZ-JA and there is also a free access page for communities to post information about community activities, meetings and events. Customers using the services of INFOBUZZ-JA businesses can post their comments online to provide valuable feedback. An additional advantage is that all INFOBUZZ-JA listings can be shared on Facebook and Twitter.
FULFILLED A DREAM
Guest speaker for the INFOBUZZ-JA launch was Makonnen Blake Hanna, who said it fulfilled a dream of his from his days as a tech consultant to the Government of Jamaica, as it was an idea he suggested ten years ago to be implemented by Government as incentive to make small, medium and large-scale businesses more convenient and efficient.
Makonnen Blake Hanna
Describing how useful he found INFOBUZZ-JA to be, he said it was not just another website, but a milestone and step forward for connectivity and accessibility in Jamaica. “This website provides location-centric information that can be tailored to fit the size and scope of your business,” he said, “all gathered in one location, beautifully laid out and with an easy-to-use interface.”
Predicting that INFOBUZZ-JA could become ‘as big as CraigsList’, he congratulated Mr.& Mrs. Daley for bringing this innovative development to the Jamaican technology landscape and praised the IT specialists who built the website. “I have to commend them on the development of their mobile app” he continued, “which is extremely robust and well thought out and proves Jamaican techies are as good as any in the world.”
Visit http://www. infobuzzja.com and have a look around this interesting new Jamaican web-space that brilliantly offers a new option for marketing our growing local businesses and services.’
‘JAMAICA FAREWELL’ RETURNS
Bizot Bar & Theatre
Jamaican actress Debra Erhardt gave a special presentation of her one-woman play ‘JAMAICA FAREWELL’ at the Golden Eye Hotel, Oracabessa on December 10. Held in a cool performance space upstairs the Bizot Bar, the event elicited the usual bursts of laughter and a thunderous applause at the of this unusual drama that tells an amusing tale of her determined escape from a politically-charged Jamaica of the mid 1970s.
Among the VIP guests at the exclusive resort performance were Maurice Facey, wife Valerie and daughter, acclaimed sculptor Laura, while seated front row were former Prime Minister Hon. Edward Seaga and wife Carla, who confessed they had tried once before to see the play but it was sold out on that occasion. Mr. Seaga endorsed the play in the Guest Book with a special comment: “Truth is rarely more exciting than fiction. But this time it is. Jamaica Farewell authored and acted by Debra Ehrhardt recalls the never-to-be-forgotten period of the 1970′s in dramatic and traumatic episodes, brilliantly performed by Debra in a magnificent reawakening of the most tragic period in modern Jamaican History.”
Hon. Edward Seaga & Debra Erhardt
Saying how glad she was for ‘any excuse to come home to Jamaica’, Debra did a second performance the following day at the Sunset Jamaica Grande Hotel in Ocho Rios, then returned to continue her series of sold-out performances in the USA, before production starts on the film version of the play being produced by Rita Wilson, wife of actor Tom Hanks.
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Christopher Byfield, a young Jamaican film maker whose entry in the 2011 Reggae Film Festival/RBC Make A Film In 24 Hours competition earned third prize, has completed an interesting new Jamaican short film ‘Red, Amber, Green‘ he hopes will become a TV series.
Depicting a day in the life of some Kingston youths who hustle a living at the major traffic intersections, young film dynamo Byfield has captured a slice of urban life in this sometimes-amusing, sometimes-sad drama that shows what can be done with a tiny budget and an enormous will to succeed. Have a look at his effort, which deserves huge congratulations and an A+ for effort.
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Wishing all my readers a Peaceful and Holy CHRISTmas, and a special Greeting to those celebrating KWANZAA at this time of year.
THE ANNUNCIATION: Blessed Virgin Mariam, Archangel Gabriel - Ethiopian Orthodox Church icon
C0mposer/Producer Makonnen Blake Hanna, returned December 1 from a 3 month stay in Toronto, Canada where he signed with EZ Mak Records, founded by well-known Trini-Canadian artist Kamakaze. Makonnen worked as production manager and in-house producer for artists on the label, including tracks for a new album and mix tape for Canadian rapper QUANCHE, just signed to EZ Mak Records and heralded as ‘the next big thing to Drake” in the North American music market.
The EZ Mak Record label has just negotiated a distribution deal with Universal Records, Canada and plans for the launch of the artist and album in 2012 are being manged by Universal Records Canada which also handles noted rapper Drake. This signing comes in the vein of previous label deals such as Cash Money Records and Rick Ross Mayback Music Group, which were all independent entities before signing with major music companies.
Quanche
THE WEEKEND, WUTANG KLAN & MORE
Makonnen arrived in Toronto for the Red Carpet launch of the studio on September 17, held at the Kelly Rowland After party celebrating the end of her ‘Motivation’ tour. While in Toronto, Makonnen got to work closely with and do a remix for rising Ethiopian-Canadian star The Weekend, recorded with a number of EZ MAK artists including Soca-Dancehall artist Study Rider, Neza The Songbird – an African-Canadian singer, crossover singer SamC and had the privelege of having the rap legend Raekwon of Wu-Tang Clan record some tracks on his riddims during an extended visit to the EZ MAK Studio.
Makonnen, US actor Bokeem Woodbine, EZ MAK CEO Kamakaze
The direct links with Universal Records management provides connections for distribution and promotion of the Jamaican artists Makonnen works with and opportunities to cross over to the North American market. EZ MAK Records includes the already-established film division that will see developments including the use of Jamaica as locations for feature films and videos
In January 2012 Makonnen joins the EZ MAK Records booth at MIDEM, the major international music gathering in Cannes, France.
HITZ & MORE
Since 2001 Makonnen has helped to bring hits to such artists as Capelton (“Pain”), Andrew & Wadda Blood (‘Money Print”), Teflon (“Jailhouse Rock’), Vybz Kartel (“Tenth Stage of Evil’) and more recently Keke-I (“Go Round Dem”, “Tivoli Worries”) . He has also participated in starting the careers of several artists including Aidonia, Turbalance, Droop Lion and Abdel Wright.
Fujy De Konero
Makonnen has recently been producing tracks for Sugashak Records solar-powered studio in Mango Valley, St. Mary, where the singles he produced for artist Keke-I have cemented the artist’s name and further proved him as one to watch in 2012. The roster of MultiCast artists extends to Africa, with the signing of Ghana artist Fujy De Konero, whose first single “Queen of the Night” will be an early 2012 release. Upcoming Jamaican reggaeton artist DonRico, a co-founder of MultiCast Entertainment whose single and video “Dally Mammy” is enjoying some popularity, has welcomed the opportunities generated by the company’s expanded business connections.
Book and theatre lovers should not miss the presentation of ‘Fallen Angel and the Devil Concubine’ at the excellent Bookophilia bookstore on Hope Road, Liguanea on Friday August 19. This unique opportunity to see one of the most interesting Jamaican plays of recent years, is a blessed result of Paul Issa’s publication of “Three Jamaican Plays – A Postcolinial Anthology (1977-1987)” that gathers under one cover three plays that Issa describes as “… a social and political history of that period in Jamaica’s history between the optimism of Independence and the cynicism, economic and social difficulties of the 1990s and beyond.
“‘Three Jamaican Plays’ is a jewel of Jamaican literature edited by Honor Ford-Smith, memoralizing three works that in their time shook the foundation of Jamaican thetre with their bold themes and dialogue that exposed a critical decade in which Jamaica struggled to extricate itself from the colonial experience and examine the development options possible. Stafford ‘Ashani’ Harrison’s ‘Masqueraders’ draws on the playwright’s Rastafari consciousness to critique Eurocentricism and white supremacy and establish an alliance with the ideological left that transcended race and class privelege. When first staged in 1977 with a cast of mainly dreadlocksed actors, it was shocking and controversial in its dramatization of the relationship between violence, social rupture and transformation.
Ginger Knight’s ‘Whiplash‘ (1983) would be easily understood in today’s Jamaica, with its tale of two brothers caught up on different sides of the inner-city political conflict. Honour Ford-Smith, in one of several excellent introductory comments, says the play ‘…dramatizes the violent crisis that interupted the project of decolonization in the late 1970s … and makes a bold comment on the misrule of ntional and economic political elites.” The play references the Green Bay Massacre and shows how the power of Rastafari ideology acted as a ‘force for peace that people deeply desired.” It is a play that would transfer easily to the cinema screen.
“Fallen Angel and the Devil Concubine” presents two ageing women — one black and a former servant, the other white woman rejected by her family for a brief mixed race liaison — and who spend what remains of their life arguing over who owns the decaying house in which they both live in permanent conflict. The play exposes the uneasy alliance between social classes, gender and race in Jamaica, as they use their former lives to justify their right to own and live in the house. First presented in 1987, the play was written by members of the Groundwork Theatre company that included Editor Ford-Smith herself, and at the time was considered a major exposition of the growing Jamaican feminist movement.
The plays are set in context by the editor’s introductions to each play that make the book a valuable thesis on Jamaican theatre and especially a vision of the most important years of Jamaica’s post-colonial development. Ford-Smith’s excellent commentary places each play in context, not only describing the era in which it was written, but reporting on the impact of its presentation. Indeed, her comments through the book frame each play contextually and provide an understanding of what made it exceptional as a vehicle for social transformation.
Paul Issa
The collection of plays in one volume is a bold and positive step for which publisher Paul Issa is to be heartily commended, as the book becomes a valuable part of Jamaica’s theatrical history that provides schools, universities and lovers of good literature with an important addition to curriculua and libraries.
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REGGAE FILMS FOR NATIONAL LIBRARY
The JAMAICA FILM ACADEMY has been petitioned by the NATIONAL LIBRARY OF JAMAICA to make a Legal Deposit of copies of all the films shown in the REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL since its inception in 2008 to help build an archive of films made in Jamaica and films featuring Jamaican topics for research, study and preservation.
The building of a comprehensive archive of Jamaican films has been one of the foremost objectives of the JAMAICA FILM ACADEMY. As such, the JFA Trustees BARBARA BLAKE HANNAH and PETER GITTINS are pleased to have been invited by the NLJ to assist this national endeavour, and will begin with a presentation of films shown at the first REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL in 2008 at a Seminar on Legal Deposit being presented by the NLJ on September 29. The Jamaica Film Academy Archive will continue to present the NLJ with copies of films from all future stagings of the REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL .
Esther Anderson, Jamaican actress and director of the documentary BOB MARLEY: MAKING OF A LEGEND, has been invited by the NLJ to be guest speaker at the Seminar. The JAMAICA FILM ACADEMY has invited all film makers whose works have been shown in the 4 years of the REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL and become part of the JFA Archive, to attend the NLJ Seminar and present their film copy in person, if desired.
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SUGASHAK RECORDS ARTIST KEKE-I HITS THE SPOTLIGHT
This was a great week for Sugashak Records, Jamaica’s first solar recording studio and its star artist Keke-I with lots of activity that energised and occupied the team of off-the-grid music producers. First, Sugashak’s CEO Christopher Kaufman was happy to see how far construction has come towards completion of the three-story Sugashak Villa 800 ft above sea level at Mango Valley, St. Ann, that will provide luxury accommodation for music makers using Sugashak studios.
On Friday night Sugashak journeyed from Mango Valley to Wickie Wackie on the St. Thomas beach for the first of the Conscious Reggae Parties organized by Rasis International. A full moon illuminated the waves crashing on the black sand beach and a cool breeze fanned the night, as beautifully dressed Rasta and Afrocentric guests gathered on the lawns to listen to music, watch a Garvey film, browse the Ination bookshop and eat ital at the Veggie On Wheels food booth.
In a line-up that included I-Wayne, Joop Lion, Chakula and Roots Uprising Band, Keke-I gave an exciting performance of his hit song “Go Round Dem” and transfixed the appreciative audience.
Two days later, Keke-I again electrified the audience when he was among the stellar line-up of leading artists at the IRIE-FM tribute to Marcus Garvey on Sunday August 14 at Coconut Grove, Ocho Rios. Almost unknown among ‘name brand’ performers, Keke-I showed his star qualities, as he strolled the stage confidently and departed from his lyrics to bring messages of peace, unity and love of children. Pulling two children from the audience, he had the cameras flashing and the audience cheering as he knelt to embrace them and illustrate his comments. There is no doubt that this artist, who has been waiting in the wings for many years, has finally come to national recognition. His mentor, Sugar Minott, would be proud.
It was a long day, but one at which the singers and players on instruments poured forth their best to honour the great National Hero. Praises and blessings to the ladies of IRIE-FM – Andrea Williams, K’Shema Francis, Mama Elise Kelly. as well as to Ron Muschette and IRIE-FM’s boss ChadYoung. ONE LOVE
The 4th Jamaica REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL was held May 23-28 at Studio 38, New Kingston. The venue was a tree-covered open courtyard in the PULSE modelling agency complex, decorated by Props & More with a film theme including a massive reel of film and smaller reels hung around the open courtyard. The stage was divided into performance and screening halves, with films shown on a screen designed like a clapper board, while banners promoting the event’s sponsors provided a backdrop for photographs of the many celebrities and VIPs attending. A bar offering a wide variety of drinks, and a spacious yard that encouraged socializing, made the venue was a perfect home for the week-long event.
Declared a success by the Jamaica Film Academy organizers, the Festival accomplished several of the JFA’s goals for increasing and improving the Jamaican film industry, and included important cinematic moments. These included:
* The entry of 11 Jamaican films, an increase from 2 in inaugural year 2008;
* The emergence of a strong body of Jamaican animators creating work that is both amusing, as well as thought-provoking;
* The high quality and increased participation in the Make A Film In 24 Hours competition and its sponsorship by RBTT/RBC Bank;
* The large number of entries from European countries including Britain, Spain, Poland, Slovenia, and the surprising entry from Tehran, Iran;
* The ‘discovery’ of new Jamaican director Vanessa Phillips, winning both the RBTT/RBC 24 Hours Film competition and the Best Short Feature awards’
* The presence of film makers from the USA, UK, Canada, Antigua, Spain including Hollywood actor Cedric Sanders
Cedric Sanders & Jamaican actor Carl Davis
* The sponsorship support by the Jamaica National Commission for UNESCO, DIGICEL, SUGASHAK RECORDS, IRIE-FM and international companies REGGAE FILMS UK, H&H Pictures In Motion andTait Computer Services.
MAKE A FILM IN 24 HOURS The festival opened on Jamaica’s Labour Day, May 23 with the start of the RBTT/RBC Make a Film In 24 Hours competition. Fifteen teams of young film makers, some experienced, others first-timers signed in and waited to learn the ‘element’ that had to be included in each film to ensure no one had started their film before time. This year’s ‘element’ was: SOMETHING MUSICAL and with this in mind, teams set off. They were certainly inspired by the prize of JA$50,000 offered to the winner by the Bank as part of its on-going support of the creative arts and especially of emerging young talent. The following morning 12 of the original 15 returned with completed films, which were then sent to a judging panel composed of the festival’s international film guests, Cordel Green, head of Jamaica’s Broadcasting Commission, and Festival Director Barbara Blake Hannah. The entries were screened each night of the Festival and as it was too difficult to select only five finalists, six were chosen for the final cut.
The outstanding winner was the film WHAT IF? by director Vanessa Phlllips, with THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IS IN THE MUSIC by film novices Denise Gladishaw and Regina Beavers, winning for themselves a holiday at Couples Hotels. The Audience Popularity vote went overwhelmingly to the entry STAY FIRM by Craig ‘Amaziyah The Great’ Kirkland, winner of last year’s competition. He received a DIGICEL Blackberry Bold as his prize.
Spanish Ambassador H.E. Celsa Nuno (c) and husband, with Roxane Lindsay,RBTT/RBC, RFF Judge Stokeley Marshall and BBH
OPENING NIGHT
The Opening Night ceremony was hosted by Jamaica Film Academy Chairman, celebrated actor Carl Bradshaw who starred in the historic Jamaican film THE HARDER THEY COME. He spoke of the link between music and film, saying “Film is a composition of sight and sound. We Jamaicans have conquered the world with our sounds, now it is time to do it with sight.” Guest speaker Spanish Ambassador H.E. Celsa Nuno Garcia, reminded of the historic links between Jamaica and Spain, pointing out that her country now hosts Rototom Reggae Sunsplash — the world’s largest reggae festival. “The potential of Jamaican culture has not been economised and exploited fully yet, and the combination of the film industry and reggae holds an endless array of possibilities.” RBTT/RBC Senior Vice President Roxanne Lindsay spoke of the Bank’s support of film festivals in Trinidad and Toronto, Canada, saying how pleased she was to add Jamaica to this list. Also present was Dr. Maria Smith of the Jamaica National Commission for UNESCO and DIGICEL’s Sandra Legister who added her company’s endorsement, while Rastafarian Elder, Bro. Sam Clayton of the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari who was featured in one of the night’s documentaries, brought Ethiopian blessings.
DIGICEL Animation Award winner Reinardo Chung
Film screenings began with the animated film BAD INFLUENCE by self-taught Jamaican animator Reinardo Chung. This short tale of a would-be gunman is told with 3-dimensional, all-action movement, a rich dialogue and a stunning conclusion to the story, and received loud applause that showed why it won the DIGICEL Best Animation award. This was followed by HOLDING ON TO JAH, the one-hour documentary by US director Roger Hall that uses interviews, music and historic footage to tell the story of the birth and growth of reggae from the people and beliefs of Rastafari religion. Several Rastafari in the audience included dub poet Mutabaruka and Elder Empress Sister Mitzie.
US feature film ROCKSTEADY – THE MOVIE starred Cedric Sanders (THE SOCIAL NETWORK) as a Jamaican-fathered young man who tries to become a stock car racer to pay his mother’s mortgage. This film found favour with the audience, thanks to Sanders screen presence, as well as the rocking reggae soundtrack by Steel Pulse — whose lead singer David Hinds has a supporting role andwhich won the SUGASHAK Award for Best Soundtrack. Both Sanders and the film’s director Mustapha Khan attended the Festival, bringing some Hollywood stardust to the event. The short feature DINNER by Antiguan director Tameka Jarvis-George was shown next. This video-poem about a woman’s anticipation of her husband’s homecoming and dinner preparation, raised some eyebrows due to a small moment of implied sexual intimacy, but this in no way affected the positive reception given the director of her film.
Tameka Jarvis-George
FESTIVAL NIGHT 2 To the great regret of the Festival organizers, Antiguan film makers Mitzie and Howard Allen were unable to attend and screen their new feature THE SKIN and their earlier film THE SWEETEST MANGO. The claymation animated film TRIBUTE TO PETER TOSH by UK director Scally Ranks was shown. This unique stop-motion technique using clay figures of the artist brought a humourous, yet serious side to the reggae hero’s words about Emperor Haile Selassie, and was punctuated by snippets of Tosh’s songs. This was followed by Jamaican director Wayne Benjamin’s short film THE CROFT – the first episode of what he described as a horror TV series. A film script-writer drives to the mountains to restore his writer’s block, and finds a mysterious apparition is following him.
Spanish director Jep Jorba, who attended the first Reggae Film Festival in 2008 with his film RICO RODRIQUES – THE LEGACY, returned this year thanks to sponsorship by the Spanish Ministry of Culture, with his documentary INTENSIFIED – COME FORWARD, narrating the history of the British band that revived interest in Ska in the 1980s and inspired the birth of scores of European ska bands. This was followed by VISION OF PARADISE, an introduction to a film on Lee Scratch Perry. Then came the film INVITATION from Iran, which follows a family emigrating reluctantly from Tehran to Baghdad, Iraq. Narrated by the young woman who filmed it using a cameraphone, the film gives a revealing look into the family’s journey through war-torn territory that is more graphic and emotional than any CNN or AlJazeera news story.
FESTIVAL NIGHT 3
After the 24 Hours Film entries were shown, the evening screened HEAVEN & HELLSHIRE, a short picture-poem about the popular Kingston beach by US director Sugar Cane, who also attended and entered the 2010 Festival. This was followed by the BBC documentary REGGAE BRITTANIA, directed by Jeremy Marre, a history of the influence of reggae in Britain and how the music has impacted on race relations and social interaction. The film shared the UNESCO Honour Award for Best Documentary with Friday night’s cricket documentary FIRE IN BABYLON. Technical problems cut short the night’s film screenings, which were to have included BEYOND BABYLON by Polish director Michael Szydlowski, SUPERSTONIC SOUND: THE REBEL DREAD by UK director Raphael Erichsen, and THE CASE OF THUGGY THUGGY RUFUS, a US feature directed by Stephanie Slade. (All films had previously been screened for the judges.)
FESTIVAL NIGHT 4 The Children’s Programme was held at 2 p.m. this year rather than last year’s 10 a.m. slot. Due to the extremely limited festival budget that did not enable press advertising, the event was not attended by many persons to view the film MADE IN TRENCHTOWN – a documentary by Dutch film social worker Esther Magdenberg about her work setting up a library in Trench Town. The film KIDS PARADISE – THE GREAT LOST TREASURE HUNT – a children’s TV drama by Festival Director Barbara Blake Hannah, was also shown.
Animators Chung, Alison Latchman, Corretta Singer, and 24 Hours director Amaziyah The Great
The evening’s films began with a live performance by reggae artist Marcus I, who was later featured in the Brazilian documentary VIAJAH. The animated CABBIE CHRONICLES by Alison and Tabois Latchman, which is a running feature on Jamaican cable TV, roused roars of laughter with its simple 2-D images and wickedly funny script. Playwright Ginger Knight’s play-to-movie ROOM FOR RENT, with rib-tickling performances by Volier Johnson and Deon Silvera, was appreciated by all, including veteran Jamaican actor Munair Zacca, who attended all the festival screenings.
Hawaii-based US director Joe Trivigno, whose 11 MILES TO PARADISE was screened at the 2010 Festival, returned with FROM KINGSTON TO CALI, a concert documentary featuring reggae icon Jr. Reid performing to a full house in San Francisco on a tour of California. This was followed by one of the Festival’s controversial entries, DAVID IS DYING by UK director Stephen Lloyd Jackson. This story of an HIV-infected upper-class Black stockbroker contained a shocking scene that merited its midnight screening. Though not strictly a ‘reggae film’, the film’s entry was accepted by the JFA because of its excellent production values, unusual script, good direction and also a stunning performance by the lead actor that won him Honourable Mention on Awards night.
FESTIVAL NIGHT 5
Producer Peter Hargitay accepts 2 Awards for FIRE IN BABYL
The full house attendance on Friday, May 27th showed that despite the lack of press advertising, the word-of-mouth promotion of the festival, plus its continuous reporting in the social media Facebook and Twitter, had brought out film lovers to see three of the most talked-about films of the festival. This was the night when the six 24 Hours film finalists were screened to the audience and a popular choice selected. The films were followed by another of Jamaica’s new animation cartoons, JERK CHICKEN by director Samuel Stewart, in which the chickens fight back and which received a standing ovation from a laughing-out-loud audience. This year’s Reggae Film Festival has shown that there is Jamaican potential for a Disney or Pixar-type feature film. Coretta Singer, whose breakthrough, award-winning KINA SKY was the only animated film in the2010 festival, was a proud ‘godmother’ of this year entrants.
New record company Sugashak Records of Mango Valley, St. Mary, presented a live showcase of their artist KeKe-I, who gave a well-received performance backed bya live band of reggae professionals. Sugashak handed out rustic bags filled with CDs, press releases and organic soaps made in their Mango Valley country village.
BOB MARLEY: THE MAKING OF A LEGEND by Jamaican actress/director Esther Anderson shows footage she shot when she met Marley in the year while he recorded the ‘Catch A Fire’ album. Though his locks have only just started growing, his comments show that his Rastafari philosophy was already firm. Surrounded by a young Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer, the young group yet unaware of the fame and money to come, relax and speak their world views, giving an early glimpse of Marley that with the hindsight of 50 years, is amazing to see for the first time. Esther supports the footage with background narrative of Rastafari history, as well as her own memories of the time spent with him and with the growing Rastafari movement. Returning to the people and places of that history, she reflects with them on the Marley they knew, and the legend he has become. The film’s presence in Jamaica co-incided with its screening at the Cannes Film Festival taking place that same week, and the director specially honoured the Reggae Film Festival and her home country by showing her film at the same time as its gala Cannes screening.
The next documentary, FIRE IN BABYLON, was in the news that week for holding the top sales position for sports documentaries on Amazon.com. Directed by Stevan Riley (THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND), the film recounts the exploits of the winning West Indies cricket team of the 1970s that was faced with a barrage of racism, but used its bowling fire-power, batting expertise and racial confidence to overcome the English and Australian cricketers and make themselves everlasting Caribbean heroes. Laced with references to Rastafari, Black Power and the politics of the 70s, the film is a conscious tribute to a great moment in Black Caribbean history that deserves its Honour Award as the Outstanding Film of the Reggae Film Festival.
The midnight movie was BUBBLIN’, directed by US-based Denise Campbell. A story of a single-mother country girl who turns to ‘bubblin’ (dirty dancing to lewd dancehall music) in seedy nightclubs to support her fatherless daughter, the film nevertheless captures accurately what life is like for women like the film’s lead character. Controversial because of its subject matter, visual content and use of unlicensed music, the film nevertheless showed that Campbell is a capable director.
AWARDS NIGHT
L&SHarmony
L&SHarmony, daughters of reggae superstar I-JahMan Levi, performed life to open the Awards Presentation. The full list of Awards is attached below. Then long awaited announcement of the winner of the RBTT/RBC 24 Hours competition was no surprise, as those who had seen it were unanimous that WHAT IF? by Vanessa Phllips was the winning film. The young film maker, previously unknown, showed that she is a major film talent capable of writing, directing, producing and acting in well-made productions. She was definitely the talk of the Festival, receiving several offers of interest in whatever productions she undertakes next. The winning film was shown, then given a choice of winning films, the audience unanimously called for the cricket documentary FIRE IN BABYLON. The night and the Reggae Film Festival 2011 ended on a high and positive note.
Award winners with JFA Directors Jungle George (l) and BBH
Thanks first to our sponsors RBTT/RBC whose support of the 24 Hours Film competition strengthened our ability to present the event. Special thanks to RBTT/RBC executives Annette Atkinson and Karen Watson Pink. Thanks to DIGICEL, especially executives Karl Donnelly and Marketing officer Sandra Legister. Thanks must be given to all the Festival guests who travelled to Jamaica for the event: Festival co-director Peter Gittins from England, Jep Jorba and Mark Maldovar from Spain, Jungle George Tait from Canada, Roger Hart, Cedric Sanders and Mustapha Khan from the USA, Tameka Jarvis-George and sister Toya from Antigua, US-based Jamaican film maker Wayne Jobson and BILLBOARD Magazine journalist Pat Meschino. Thanks to all our audiences whose support showed we had done a good job.
Wayne Jobson & friends
Thanks to Spanish Ambassador who hosted the Festival guests for lunch, and Paul & Oriente Issa who hosted a splendid dinner party for the Spanish film makers and gave a prize of a weekend for 2 at a Couples Hotel to the runner-up in the 24 Hours competition. Thanks to those who gave their services freely for the success of the event, especially Teena Marie Tucker and Wendell Richards, co-ordinators of the RBTT/RBC Make A Film In 24 Hours competition; Amaziah The Great, Jollywood Productions and Jungle George Tait, for their photographs of the event; Reinardo Chung, for digital design services; entertainers Marcus I, L&SHarmony and KeKe-I; the behind-the-scenes support of Chris Kaufman and Hailond Nottage of Sugashak; the personal interest and help given by H&H Pictures In Motion; and the work of production assistants Eric ‘DonRico’ Dixon and Granville Shields.
My thanks especially to my son Makonnen Blake Hannah, who has always been the main help and worker in the months leading up to the Festival and who continued to be a strong support all through the week’s activities.
Plans are now underway to present THE BEST OF THE REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL at venues in Jamaica, Canada, the USA and England and to make the 5th Festival in 2012 be a worthy celebration of Jamaica’s 50th anniversary of Independence.
See you in 2012!!!
AWARDS – REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL 2011
RBTT/RBC AWARD – MAKE A FILM IN 24 HOURS: ‘WHAT IF…” Vanessa Phillips
UNESCO AWARD – FEATURE DOCUMENTARY – ‘FIRE IN BABYLON’ (Dir: Stevan Riley)
‘REGGAE BRITANNIA’ (Dir: Jeremy Marre)
JFA Honour Awards: BOB MARLEY: MAKING OF A LEGEND (Dir: Esther Anderson/Gian Goody)
HOLDING ON TO JAH (Dir: Roger Hall) – JFA HONOUR AWARD
DIRECTOR – FEATURE FILM – Mustapha Khan -”ROCKSTEADY’
Nominees: Stephen Lloyd Jackson – DAVID IS DYING
KNUTSFORD COURT HOTEL AWARD – ACTOR – CEDRIC SANDERS – “ROCKSTEADY”
Nominees: Volier Johnson – ‘ROOM FOR RENT’
TAIT COMPUTER SERVICES AWARD – ACTRESS: Danielle Clarke ‘BUBBLIN’
Nominee: Vanessa Phillips – ‘MISINJUSTICE’
DIRECTOR – SHORT FEATURE: Vanessa Phillips – ‘MISINJUSTICE’
Nominees: Tameka Jarvis-George: ‘DINNER’ – JFA HONOUR AWARD
Wayne Benjamin: ‘THE CROFT’
Jovel Johnson: ‘RECKONING’
SUGASHAK AWARD – SOUNDTRACK: Steel Pulse – ‘ROCKSTEADY’
Nominees: ‘HOLDING ON TO JAH
DIGICEL AWARD – ANIMATION: ‘BAD INFLUENCE’ Reinardo ‘Mental’ Chung
Nominees: JERK CHICKEN – Sam Stewart – JFA HONOUR AWARD
CABBIE CHRONICLES – Alison Latchman – JFA HONOUR AWARD
COUPLES AWARD – SCREENPLAY – Ginger Knight – ‘ROOM FOR RENT’
JAMAICA FILM ACADEMY – SPECIAL AWARDS
REGGAE CONCERT: ‘FROM KINGSTON TO CALI’ Dir: Joe Trivigno
OUTSTANDING FILM OF THE FESTIVAL: ‘Fire in Babylon’ Dir: Stevan Riley
(l-r) Dr. Maria Smith, JNC-UNESCO Programme Manager, Mr. Everton Hannam, Secretary General - JNC-UNESCO; Carl Bradshaw - Chair, Jamaica Film Academy; Ms. Hilchuli Gurug, UNESCO Programme Specialist for Culture; Barbara Blake Hannah, Festival Director
The JAMAICA FILM ACADEMY has announced final plans for the 4th JAMAICA REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL to be held at STUDIO 38, Trafalgar Road, New Kingston from May 23-27. STUDIO 38 CEO Kingsley Cooper, has welcomed the REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL to the venue’s calendar of events, and all is set for a five- night programme of film screenings, seminars and meetings of the Jamaican and international film communities.
A main focus of interest at the festival this year is the Make A Film In 24 Hours competition, in which teams will make a 5-minute film in 24 hours and compete for prizes including cash, Jamaican vacations and entry in international film festivals.
UNESCO is supporting the Reggae Film Festival as an event celebrating the UN Year of African Descendants which will be celebrated at the Festival on May 25, African Liberation Day. UNESCO will present the Honour Award for Best Documentary.
Entries in the Reggae Film Festival have come from the USA, UK, Antigua, Poland, Brazil and Catalonia, with the largest number of entries from Jamaica whose 11 entries include animation, short and long features and documentaries. Films include:
‘Rocksteady – The Movie’, (USA) A brilliant feature film starring Cedric Sanders, whose performance won him a role in THE SOCIAL NETWORK, and David Hinds, lead singer of Steel Pulse reggae band which provided the film’s soundtrack.
‘Reggae Britannia (UK) – the February 2011 BBC documentary tribute to Jamaica’s reggae and its influence on Britain.
‘Intensified’ (SPAIN)– A look at the British band that revived interest in Ska in the 80s, long after it was no longer popular in Jamaica, and inspired scores of European bands to follow their example.
‘Bob Marley – Making Of A Legend(JA/UK) – Rare footage by Jamaican actress Esther Anderson of Marley and musicians in the early years before the ‘Catch A Fire” album.
Esther Anderson & Bob Marley
‘Room For Rent’ (JA) – Film of Ginger Knight’s popular roots play, a load of laughs starring Volier Johnson, Deon Silvera.
This year’s festival includes five films by female directors, including the short features ‘Dinner‘ by Tameka Jarvis-George of Antigua, and ‘Reckoning‘ by Jamaican film student Jovel Johnson. Innovative entries from Jamaica include animated films “Bad Influence‘ byReinardo “Menta l” Chung and ‘Cabbie Chronicles‘ by Alison Tabois Latchman.
Among the unusual entries are ‘David Is Dying’ — a Black British feature by director Stephen Lloyd Jackson, and ‘Bubblin’,a feature by new Jamaican director Denisse Campbell in which a country girl turns go-go dancer to make ends meet. Both films will be shown in the Midnight Movies programme to be screened after midnight.
David Hinds
Howard & Mitzie Allen
Special guests of the REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL are David ‘Steel Pulse‘ Hinds, who stars in the US feature film ‘Rocksteady – The Movie; producers Mitzie and Howard Allen of HamaFilms Antigua, directors of ‘Skin”; and Jamaican actors Audrey Reid and Carl Davis – all of whom will participate in the Film Festival Seminars. A contingent of supporters from the ‘Rocksteady‘ film production company led by US producer Stephen Mays will be attending the festival. Antiguan producer-director Tamika Jarvis-George of the short film ‘Dinner’, British director Stephen Lloyd Jackson, and first-time director Jamaican Denisse Campbell of the feature film ‘Bubblin’‘, are all expected in Jamaica for the week-long event.
The REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL is an annual event presented by the JAMAICA FILM ACADEMY to inspire and influence the development of the Jamaican film industry, with special emphasis on films that focus on or include Jamaica’s reggae music culture. Winning entries will be included in the Best of the Reggae Film Festival international tour to the UK, USA and Europe.
The beautiful women of Rastafari dressed in their regal finery at the colourful Empress Mennen Earthlight Banquet and Awards ceremony organised by the Rastafari Youth Initiative to celebrate the Earthday of Empress Mennen, wife of Emperor Haile Selassie I. As in previous years, the annual tribute honoured 13 Elder Rastafari Empresses whose work has been an inspiration to other women and to the movement, and several previous awardees were present, as well as leading Rastafari brethren representing all Mansions.
Empress Adugo Onouro Ranglin (c) with RYI directors
It was a rare, and beautiful occasion when the Rastafari nation in Jamaica celebrated some of its heroines and icons. Held at the Country Farmhouse, Kingston, the highlight of the evening was the presentation to Empress Adugo Onoura Ranglin, a cancer survivor whose presence at the event brought cheers and joy to the gathering.
The RYI is a 4 year old organization of Rastafari youths who have set out in new directions to do Rastafari works. In addition to having jobs or being tertiary students, they have established an organic farm, they organize annual youth camps and field trips, and have been instrumental in the formation of a Rastafari Business & Professional Association that provides a central business hub service to help start and maintain a variety of small businesses. The inter-mansion unity shown by the RYI membership is a welcome development by the 4th generation of Rastafari, and the group shows acceptance of its presence and livelihood in Jamaica, while maintaining the traditional focus on Africa as Motherland.
RYI Princesses
The RYI youths worked hard to organize the evening of excellence. Tables were set with red tablecloths and red-gold-and-green napkins and formally-dressed RYI members served the elegant gathering bowls of thick vegetable soup, platters of tofu in coconut sauce, rice-and-peas, and black bean stew, as well as a variety of fresh juices. The entire banquet was prepared from food grown by RYI members as well as from Country Farmhouse’s “NationTime” range of soya, grain and natural foods.
Among the evening’s celebrations were Nyabinghi drums and chanting, a ‘Reggae Opera’ performance of Nyabinghi hymns sung in classical style by Dominican opera singer Marie Claire, and a graceful dance by the Iritical Kush Dancers, 3 elegant young ladies whose movements seemed inspired by the work of former NDTC dancer Patsy Ricketts who was one of the Elder Empresses being honoured. Other well-known Empresses receiving Awards were: “Dawta Bubbles” (Lucena Williams-Heartley) now resident in the USA; Mama Baby I (Iris Dailey); Boboshanti Empress Esther; and Twelve Tribes of Israel Empress Miriam.
The evening’s programme was hosted by RYI Executive members Ishiwaawa Hope (Mutabaruka’s eldest daughter), TV personality Emprezz Mullings (“Talk Up Youth”) and music producer IyaGift Wilson. Among the well-known personalities present were film and TV actor Carl Davis, Jamaica Alliance Movement political candidate Ras Astor Black, Ras Howie of the Millenium Council, and Ras IyaV of the Nyabinghi Order, while I had the privelege and honour of being the event’s Guest Speaker.
A special mention must be made of the many RYI children present who skipped around and through the gathering, generally enjoying themselves, yet so well-behaved that none gave any reason to be reined in or reprimanded by their watchful, smiling parents. The beautiful evening closed with musical selections providing a backdrop to the many conversations still being exchanged by friends and friends.
Book Review: THE UNDERTAKERS DAUGHTER
The Colourful Life of a Theatre Director: by Yvonne Brewster
Yvonne Brewster went from directing plays in Jamaica to being awarded the OBE by Queen Elizabeth II for her work in founding and leading Britain’s Black Theatre movement. She tells her story in this book through the words and memories of her mother Kathleen’s life as the daughter of Jamaica’s leading undertaker, the Jewish Sam Isaacs, and his East Indian wife, Yvonne’s grandparents.
Born into a family that was light-brown and priveleged, Yvonne grew up in a home where European classics and Shakespeare were forms of family entertainment and her lifestyle of maids, chauffeurs and enough money gave her access to Jamaica’s opportunities of race and class. When she decided to go to live in England and develop her theatrical talents, she found her encounters with racism unexpected and challenging. However, the self-confidence inculcated in her upbringing led her to challenge racism, most spectacularly in her unceasing efforts to show that Black actors and playwrights were are talented as any. She did this by staging several theatrical triumphs of classical as well as Caribbean plays that broke down racial barriers onstage and backstage, and embellished the careers of many Caribbean actors in Britain.
No less were her achievements back home in Jamaica, to which she returned periodically in efforts to re-settle with her English husband. The book is full of annecdotes of funny and dramatic experiences while appointed to high positions in the Jamaican cultural fields. Yvonne knew all the top political and social players and became best known for the establishment of the trend-setting Barn Theatre in collaboration with noted playright Trevor Rhone, that staged numerous sold-out performances of the growing indigenous theatre.
The musings of her mother Kathleen that form the template of the book, show a wider picture of Creole Jamaica in the 19th and 20th Centuries, its manners, mores and modes of life in a world of privelege and genteel existence, of shady verandahs and family dinners. Told with humour and love, the story of the ‘Undertakers Daughter’ and her daughter is a captivating memoir worth reading.
THE SPOKEN WORD RETURNS
The pleasure of hearing the spoken word in performance returned to Kingston’s nightlife calendar two Sunday nights ago, when The Village Cafe in Barbican presented the first of every-three-weeks ‘Seh Supmn’ poetry readings that drew a sizeable and appreciative crowd. Guest poet, cultural historian Jerry Small, was the main draw, and Takura of Rawyal Afrikan Souljahs livened up the night with his strong rant, but presentations from the ladies present – including TV news journalist Khalila Henriques gained welcome applause, while Kai Wakeling brought a musical interlude accompanying herself on guitar. Forgive my lack of details, as I lost my notes, but I promise more details as the series continues.
With the REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL‘s move to the island’s premier resort city, Montego Bay, plans are in place to present a first class event from May 23-27 that will make its mark among the premiere international film festivals. The films, guests and plans of the 2011 REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL were revealed to a gathering of film fans at a Preview held at the Bob Marley Museum Legend Cafe on 25. Guests included Ambassador of Spain, H.E. Celso Nuno, Mexican Ambassador H.E. Leonora Rueda; Rohan Marley, Bob Marley’s son, and former Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis, directors of Marley Coffee, who announced their sponsorship of a Reggae Film Festival Honour Award.
Also present was Ms. Hema Gurung, UNESCO Regional Culture Representative, acknowledging the sponsorship of an Honour Award by Jamaica National Commission for UNESCO. Adding to the celebrities present was Carl Bradshaw, director of the Jamaica Film Academy, who was interviewed by Donisha Prendergast about his film acting career and role in the Antiguan feature film THE SKIN that will be premiered at the festival.
Carl & Donisha
Among the films already entered whose trailers were shown were:
ROCKSTEADY, a coming of age story set against the world of dirt track stock car racing in rural New York. BC Cook (21) is the son of a Jamaican immigrant who died tragically 10 years earlier leaving him and his mom to fend for themselves. Times are tough financially and they are at risk of losing the family homestead to foreclosure.
Once a talented go-kart racer, BC now spends his time carelessly tending to his father’s garage while engaging in street races and other reckless activities. When BC is busted for running from the cops, again, he is given one last chance. Events lead BC back to the world of racing where he learns not only about how to succeed on the track, but also about becoming a responsible young adult from an Rasta mentor.
David Hinds
Set to a reggae soundtrack and featuring acting and musical performances by Grammy award-winner, Steel Pulse, ROCKSTEADY follows a young man’s journey over the course of a racing season, but more importantly of self-discovery and growth. The story is filled with humor, poignancy, subtle racial tension, intrigue and plenty of racing action.
THE SKIN – This will be a world and Caribbean premiere of the Antiguan feature film by legendary Caribbean film makers Mitzie and Harold Allen, directors of the 2001 feature SWEETEST MANGO.
REGGAE BRITANNIA explores and celebrates the impact of reggae on British music and culture from the Sixties through to the mid-Eighties. The documentary delves into the world of reggae, examining everything from the music, the bass lines and the spliff, to black kids speaking brummie or cockney, the romance of Jamaica and the smell of British streets in the Seventies.
Travelling through the years, the programme talks to the performers who brought their music to the UK from Jamaica, discusses how reggae helped forge Rock Against Racism, showcasesthe New Wave bands of the Eighties who were influenced by the genre and explores how the genre became a part of the British mainstream my the mid-Eighties. Directed by Jeremy Marre, the programme hears from Jerry Dammers and Neville Staple of The Specials, Dennis Bovell, Chris Blackwell, UB40, Paul Weller, Janet Kay and Carroll Thompson, Dennis Alcapone, Boy George and many more.BAD INFLUENCE(JA) - This brilliant piece of animated storytelling was made by a self-taught 27-year-old Jamaican youth. He received the biggest, loudest applause at the Preview after this film was shown.
INTENSIFIED(Spain) – Ska became a popular British musical phenomenon, long after it was no longer the music of Jamaican reggae. The surprising renewal of interest in the brass-bound, big band music of the Jamaican 50s was started by INTENSIFIED, a British band that loved the music, made it popular and was good enough to back top reggae artists as Alton Ellis. Historic interviews, stero-recorded soundtrack and an inside look at some of the people who love reggae music, even though they are not Jamaican, or even Black.
Directed by Spanish film maker Jep Jorba, whose film on Rico Rodriques was an entry in the 2008 RFF, INTENSIFIED tells their interesting story.
RECKONING – Jamaican AIU film student Jovel Johnson Garcia‘s graduation film.
SUPERSTONIC SOUND: The Rebel Dread Documentary (UK) – Best known as director of Jamaican feature film “Dance Hall Queen, Don Letts is an unsung hero of British music. “Superstonic Sound: The Rebel Dread” is a documentary about the Letts family legacy that mirrors the history of BASS in the UK from Dub, Reggae and Punk to 80s pop, Hip Hop and Dubstep; a musical, cultural and personal link between past and present. Three generations of DJ; the Letts family has been an integral part of British music for over 50 years. Their story IS the story of BASS in British music.
EVERYDAY SUNSHINE: The Story of Fishbone – Narrator: Laurence Fishburne. A Pale Griot production. Produced, directed, written by Lev Anderson, Chris Metzler. With: Angelo Moore, Norwood Fisher, Chris Dowd, Gwen Stefani, Bob Forrest, George Clinton, Ice-T, Branford Marsalis. Years of “Behind the Music”-style studies suggest that all unhappy bands seem to follow a similar sequence of drug-fueled dissolution. Iconoclastic Los Angeles band Fishbone proves a welcome exception to the rule in Lev Anderson and Chris Metzler’s “Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone,” which uses clever touches (including animation and oil paintings) and resists self-pity in casting the band’s many misfortunes as a sort of secret triumph. Effortlessly entertaining, joyful documentary.
Cedric Sanders
GUESTS – Leading film personalities who have been invited to attend the REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL include US actors Laurence Fishbourne and Carl Lumley, Jamaicans Sheryl Lee Ralph and Audrey Reid; UK directors Jeremy Marre and Don Letts, Jamaicans Ras Kassa and Chris Browne; and Mitzie & Harold Allen of Hamafilms Antigua. Several directors of other festival films have indicated their intention to attend the festival, including a team from the US feature film ‘ROCKSTEADY’ including David ‘Steel Pulse’ Hinds and young lead actor Cedric Sanders, whose performance in the film led to a speaking role in ‘THE SOCIAL NETWORK’.
Jep Jorba at RFF'08
MEDIA – A team led by Spanish director Jep Jorba will film a documentary on the Reggae Film Festival with highlights of the resort city of Montego Bay, its hotels and tour attractions. Journalists from France, England and the USA have indicated their intention to cover the festival, while Jamaican cable TV channel HYPE-TV has become the first local media sponsor.
CASH PRIZES FOR HONOUR AWARDS – Winners of Honour Awards for excellence in film making arts will each receive cash prizes of $50,000 in this year’s REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL, to be held May 23-27 in Montego Bay. Honour Awards in 13 categories will be presented by organizations supporting the growth and development of Jamaican culture in film. Honour Award sponsors also contribute to a fund for future film productions, to be administered by the Jamaica Film Academy which organizes the annual Reggae Film Festival.
UNESCO, through its Kingston office, became the first Honour Award Sponsor in a presentation by the Jamaica National Commission for UNESCO. The UN has declared 2011 the Year of African Descandants and the global celebration of African Liberation Day, May 25, will occur during the Reggae Film Festival. Rohan Marley, son of the reggae hero, announced the sponsorship of a Marley Coffee Honour Award at the Reggae Film Festival preview. He was accompanied by Marley Coffee co-director, heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis. whose second acting role is in the new Jamaican film “Ghett’a Life”.
The RFF producers are now actively seeking other Honour Award sponsors.
PREVIEW SERIES FOR OCHO RIOS, FALMOUTH – A series of REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL Previews will be held across the island, with presentations in Ocho Rios, Falmouth and Montego Bay to continue the promotion of the festival. Festival producers JAMAICA FILM ACADEMY directors report that “All goes well” for the Reggae Film Festival.
Rohan Marley, Lenox Lewis, Sharps from Coffee Traders and Balram Vaswani
This February Jamaica’s celebration of Reggae Month became “Marley Month” as not only was Bob Marley’s Earthday celebrated island-wide on February 6, but several members of the Marley family made significant contributions to the entertainment activities taking place in February.
In this past week son Rohan Marley celebrated the award of USDA certification of his organic Marley Blue Mountain Coffee, grown on pristine acres of the highest reaches of Jamaica’s premier coffee region. That evening Rohan and his partners, retired heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis and businessman Balram Vaswani announced the Marley Coffee sponsorship of the Best Director Honour Award at the upcoming Reggae Film Festival.
The announcement took place at a Preview held to showcase the films already entered in the May festival, and the audience was thrilled to be rubbing shoulders with both Rohan Marley and Lewis, who has begun a career as a film actor with roles in “Johnny Was” and the new Jamaican feature “Ghett’a Life” directed by Chris Browne that will be shown in the Festival.
CONVERSATIONS
Donisha Prendergast with Bongo Herman
One night later, Marley grand-daughter Donisha Prendergast hosted another in her series of ‘Conversations” – live performances with a difference that have become a new and refreshing entertainment event exposing talented, upcoming artists to the young, culturally aware of Kingston. With five acts each delivering a full set, the audience is also invited to question the performers – crossing the barrier between stage and audience – and the evenings have become laid-back occasions echoing the Rasta Peace-And-Love vibe of the early Seventies, brought forward to the 21st Century with digital cameras, Blackberrys and SUVs.
“Conversations” is presented under the OneJamaicaLifestyle banner to showcase young artists playing and singing their music live and accoustic, backed by excellent musicians. The event promotes eco-awareness, partnering with OneJamaica Recycling – Jamaica’s first recycling company operated by Raul Haynes — to carry the message at every show. Donisha’s membership of the Manifesto Jamaica organisation, brings the involvement of this group of committed young adults who use the arts as teaching and socializing tools in their work with youth in marginalized communities.
Two weeks earlier, “Conversations” featured Donisha’s uncle Julian Marley and Richie Spice, performing under a full moon on the wave-washed black sand beach at Wickie Wackie, St. Thomas. This week the event moved to Morgans Harbour yacht club at Port Royal, with the lights of Kingston twinkling across the water as Kymani Marley celebrated his birthday by headlining the event, in company of some excellent entertainers.
Singer Italee, opening the evening with the stage presence of a dreadlocksed Tina Turner, grabbed the audience with her poetry-set-to-song ballads, preaching and teaching and amusing with her strong voice, and drawing everyone into her act.
JABALANCE
She was followed by Jabalance, a fiery Boboshanti well-known in St. Ann, but unknown to the Kingston audience. Backed by drums and riddims led by Bongo Herman and Iyah Gift, he started with “Rain A Fall”, a tribute to the showers that bless his farm, and the audience held their breath as he sang with beautiful voice a vivid description of the food he grows.
Breaking into a smile, he ordered up a fierce Nyabinghi riddim and opened the lyrics of “The First Time I Smoke a Spliff...” a humourous tale of visions of talking animals and singing bees that had the audience roaring with laughter. A few songs later, and Jabalance had made his never-to-be-forgotten impression with his strong voice, his easy, happy communication with his audience and his roots Bobo chants and praises that endeared him still further.
To cap his performance, he called on stage the multi-talented Donisha, who dueted “Catch A Fire” with Jabalance and displayed her beautiful voice and jazz-style variations that made their performance a unique experience. I expect much from the release of “Catch A Fire” and was pleased to be present to witness the rise of a new star in Jabalance.
PROTOJE
They were followed by Protoje, the newest star of roots reggae. Son of songtress Lorna (‘Breakfast In Bed’) Bennett, this young singer mixes a middle-class upbringing with an inner-city consciousness that produces lyrics that poetically and articulately express the emotions of the suffering with the consciousness of Rasta spirituality. Protoje has developed a faithful following among the young, hip and culturally aware, and has come to public attention with his debut CD “7 Year Itch” which is gaining him both respect and fame. His songs are deep, delivered with emotion and often humour. Accompanied by master guitarist Jason Wharton, and joined for one song by thrilling singer JaNINE, Protoje delivered an awesome set that had the audience shouting approval.
Followed immediately on stage was Kimani Marley, whose duet with Protoje “In Love With A Rasta Man” is topping reggae charts. They closed the evening with the hit, but not before Kymani delivered his ganja anthem “Rolling Paper” and a beautiful, soulful rendition of his father’s “Redemption Song” that reminded me once again of how much of Bob has been reborn in this son.
So ended another interesting “Conversations”. I look forward to the next one.
NEW FOCUS FOR JAMEDIAPRO 
