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The Cuban film that opened the 2nd UNESCO itinerant Caribbean Film Display, to be devoted to children and teenagers, is a love story between a German and black Haitian woman in the early 19th century at the most prosperous coffee farm in western Cuba. As director of the Caribbean project, Lopez noted his success at the 2007 premier along 30 films translated by the Cuban Institute of Arts and Cinema into Spanish, English, French and Creole. Cuba is accompanied in this display by films from Haiti, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Barbados, Netherlands Antilles, Caiman Islands and Guadeloupe. Lopez called the event opportunity to assess the contribution of cinema and audiovisual materials to knowledge and recognition of each country's cultural details and regional integration through dialogue. The Cuban filmmaker thanked UNESCO's support in this project through its offices in Havana (Cuba), Kingston (Jamaica) and Port-au-Prince (Haiti). There were also Françoise Riviere, UNESCO's vice director general for culture, and Maria de los Angeles Florez, head of the Cuban Commission at UNESCO. Cuban Ambassador to UNESCO Hector Hernandez Pardo said the display favors mutual knowledge, respect to cultural diversity and challenges homogeneity attempts.
The National Assembly on Wednesday approved US$9.8 million (BDS$19.6 million) for Toussaint , a film about Haitian rebel leader Toussaint Louverture, after previously approving US$19.7 million (BDS$39.4 million). The most recent funding was announced on the Assembly's website. The movie will be produced by Glover's independent company Louvertoure Films with support from the Cinema Villa, Venezuela's state film studio. Louvertoure Films produces movies of "historical relevance, social purpose, commercial value and artistic integrity", according to the company's website. (AP)
This is the succinct advice actor Gerard Anthony Joseph gives to young upcoming actors and actresses should they pursue a career in this field. "G," as he is also often called, is best known for his lead role in the local sequel Men of Gray as the good guy and butt-kicking hunk. The well-put-together, well-spoken and easygoing chap is currently in Trinidad to promote his new film-Contract Killers-a movie in which he stars as well as produced. Dressed in a pair of cream cargo pants and black jersey, matching hat and an ethnic-type chain bearing a cross around his neck, Joseph paid me a visit in his simple state to discuss not only his role in the movie but the progress he had made coming from the days of being a martial arts instructor to becoming an actor/producer. Joseph, who was born in Trinidad and grew up in the hills of Petit Valley, recalls leaving his homeland at age ten to go to the US to live. After having studied martial arts for some time, he eventually returned home to teach the skill to young people at the old church hall, at St Finbar's RC Church in Diego Martin. When asked how the transition was made from teaching the skill to becoming involved in acting, Joseph, with a smile on his face, and eyes searching his thoughts, said: "I was getting kind of bored doing it (martial arts) after a while; not that I didn't love it. I had just realised there was nowhere else really for me to go with such a career in Trinidad." He recalled while looking at a movie featuring Hollywood actor Chuck Norris, he felt that with his skill he could have done better and that was when he found his "calling." Wanting to perfect and nurture this desire, Joseph enrolled in drama classes where he was taught by the finest, including Charles Applewhite, Horace James and Sonia Mose. He went on to land his first lead role in James' theatrical play Last Dance In The Sun. Realising the joy and satisfaction he derived through acting, Joseph said his mind was made up. He was going to Hollywood. THE ROAD TO SUCCESS IS CHALLENGING Like many, Joseph faced life-changing challenges on the road to success. Recounting the many odd jobs he took up before his big break, among them being a pump attendant at a gas station for five years, he said: "It was not easy and at times I felt despondent." Adding that leaving home where he was comfortable to be out there where things were seemingly not happening, and having to be away from his wife because of their different work schedules made it even harder. "I worked non-stop," he recalled. Laughing playfully for a moment, but soon becoming a little emotional as he reminisced he said: "actually talking about it now it makes me want to cry; we had to try to find the time to spend with each other." Joseph said though his quest and hunger to become an actor brought these sacrifices, his wife Ria never complained nor did she ever show lack of support for his dream. "In fact, she was the one ho kept pushing me," he said. HARD WORK PAYS OFF Not losing sight of his goal, while working at a gas station, Joseph said he kept in touch with long-time friend and mentor the late Horace James, who encouraged him to write. "I wanted to change the way movies were done locally," he said. "Make them more appealing." With that in mind and the encouragement from James, Joseph put pen to paper and began writing what would be his first major movie-Men of Gray. In a very nonchalant tone, he said: "I wrote that story in one year while working the 'graveyard shift' at the gas station." The heavens possibly opening up for Joseph as Men of Gray was able to come alive, with the help of his wife who co-produced the film and pooled her savings along with his. The movie was completed on an amazing US$7,000 budget. The film went on to win first place at the Pegasus Film and Video festival in Oklahoma City, and received honorary mention and a special screening at the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in San Francisco under the watchful eye of such notables as Debbie Allen, Robert Townsend and Keenan Wayans. Joseph, who credits his ability to remain focused to that of the upbringing by his mother, said: "she gave me two books (Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged) to read when I was little. These books, he said, later taught him the power man possesses to succeed, and his ability to think logically. "At 13, I always knew where I was going. I used to say to myself, 'just hurry and grow up so you can get the job done.'" BIOGRAPHY Gerard Anthony Joseph is the founder and president of Tritan-Northstar Entertainment, an independent film production company in the United States. He is also currently a working actor in Hollywood, CA. His supporting role credits include TV series American Family for Fox/Greenbalt/PBS Network; the PAX TV/A&E special In the Footsteps of a Holy Family with host Roger Moore; the 2002 season premiere of The District with T Nelson and Ving Rhames for CBS; and, the Paramount CBS hit show JAG, with stars David James Elliot and Catherine Bell, directed by Rod Hardy. In Contract Killers, he appears as Monoven, a contract killer. Tritan-Northstar has also successfully completed three other action-packed feature films entitled Eliminator, The Vault and Backlash. ABOUT THE MOVIE Contract Killers, which is written, directed and edited by debut director Justin Rhodes and produced by Gerard Anthony Joseph, is partially filmed in Trinidad. The movie, which features young Swedish actress Frida Farrell in the role of Jane, takes viewers on a roller-coaster ride as Jane is on the run from the company she once worked for as she has evidence of them being involved in fraud. The company, knowing their secret is out, tries to frame Jane who ends up in Trinidad. They later hire Joseph, who plays a highly-trained contract killer from the island, to kill her. The movie, which premiered at 20th Century Fox on March 13, is said to have had an overwhelming turnout. The cast of Contract Killers includes Nick Mancuso, Rhett Giles, Wolf Muser, Steven Boergadine, Christian Willis, Lee Sherman, Paul Cram and Randy Molnar.
Gomes, who has appeared on several television series including, Lightning Force, The Crow: Stairway to Heaven, Sue Thomas FBeye, Commander in Chief and Criminal Minds, will be this year's guest of honor at the Committee to Celebrate Guyana event, Chair and founder of the event, Felicia Persaud, announced yesterday. The free event is set for May 31st from 12:30 p.m. at Bowling Green in Lower Manhattan, New York City, just below Wall Street. It is the second flag raising ceremony for Guyana to be held in Manhattan. Gomes, who migrated from Guyana at age 11 and recently finished writing a film adaptation of the classic Caribbean novel Corentyne Thunder, which he will direct in the fall of 2008, said he is looking forward to being a part of the event and celebrating `with other Guyanese.` Last year, Persaud along with individuals like Ron Bobb Semple, Chuck Mohan, Rickford Burke, Allison Skeete, Marina Sahadeo, Irwine Clare and Arthur Piccolo, launched the multi-cultural, multi-ethnic event to raise the level of visibility and prominence of Guyanese as the fourth largest group of foreign born nationals in the city. The event drew hundreds of Guyanese of all races to Lower Manhattan and Hollywood Actor Sean Patrick Thomas, who is of Guyanese descent, joined Bollywood actor Kumar Guarav, famed boxer Vivian Harris and movie producers Rohit Jagessar and Mikey Nivelli, among several other VIP's at the inaugural 2007 independence celebration. While cultural artists like The Dheeraj Cultural Foundation's Ghungroos Dance School; James Richmond, Francis Quamina Farrier; Almira Brasse, Mr. H2o WataFlow, Slingshot Drepaul, Moses Josiah, the Verna Walcott dancers, Courtney Noel, the Triad group and a number of other entertainers helped celebrate Guyana in true Caribbean fashion. The Guyana flag flew for the first time over lower Manhattan while the magnificent Rotunda at the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House played host to the VIP awards reception. Support for last year's event came from Western Union, AmeriGroup Funding, Laparkan, Deluxe Delivery and North American Airlines among several other individual donors, including Edgar Henry, J.R.Giddings and numerous volunteers. This year, the event has gotten the support early of Western Union. Other interested sponsors are urged to call 866-487-3419. Nationals of Guyana account for the fourth highest number of the foreign born population of New York City foreign and continue to make great strides as entrepreneurs and homeowners. In one area of Queens, NY alone, their annual earnings are more than both native born black and white Americans according to the US Census' recent American Community Survey report. Many Guyanese New Yorkers have launched their own businesses in striving communities in Richmond Hill, Brooklyn and the Bronx where they create employment for each other in real estate offices, mortgage companies, stores, restaurants and travel agencies. The median income is over $50,000. And most are homeowners, who work hard to send their children to top colleges - where they count among the rising Black and Asian presence on many college campuses today. For more information on being part of the cultural presentation or being a sponsor, email Felicia@caribpr.com.
Guyanese actress and radio announcer, Margaret Lawrence, is appealing to all who love Theatre to not let this symbol of history be lost. `Donate whatever you can to the Rebuilding of The Theatre Guild. You'll be contributing to the development of the many talented youths of Guyana,` Lawrence said in a recent statement. The famous Guyana Playhouse has hosted a myriad of performance genres - from ballet to contemporary dance, musical theatre, Caribbean and Shakespearean drama to pantomime. Already GY$38 million has been spent to rehabilitate the building but more is needed to complete the process. Actor Ken Corsbie, insists, `We should and can help to make it happen,` while legendary Patricia `Aunty Pat` Cameron is urging `everyone to help preserve a part of Guyana's cultural heritage, by preserving that which has been at the forefront of our cultural evolution.` To support the effort, mail donations to the Board of the Guyana Theatre Guild, c/o, The Guyana Cultural Association, NY, 1368 E.89 Street, Suite 2, Brooklyn, New York 11236 and confirm your contribution by return email to: TGPlayhouse2008@aol.com. CaribWorldNews.com
The event groups representatives of Haiti, Barbados, Guyana, Trinidad y Tobago, Martinique, Dominican Republic, Panama, Brazil, Venezuela and Cuba as host country. The jury, led by Ramiro Guerra (1999 National Dance Prize), will choose most outstanding dancers and organizations and the winners will make a tour by South America during third and fourth quarter of this year. The scheduled program includes an exchange among participants and directors of festivals, like Panorama de Danza Company, from Rio de Janeiro; Jovenes coreografos de Caracas (Company of Young Choreographers from Caracas) and Internacional de Danza de Buenos Aires (Buenos Aires International Dance Company) Red Suramericana de Danza (South American Network of Dance Company) will also session, integrated by professionals of that manifestation in Latin America. Danza Nacional de Cuba (National Dance of Cuba) will premiere the work "El peso de una isla" in the closing ceremony, and the company of Santiago Alfonso will show "Conga" dance again, to close with an spectacular ending. The encounter, sponsored by National Council of Scenic Arts, Association Cultures France and French embassy to Cuba, has among its objectives to get closer the creators of this artistic manifestation in the region. First Caribbean Contemporary Dance Biennial will take place in parallel with the 13th International Festival of Dance in Urban Landscapes Old Havana, City in Movement, organized by Retazos Company, directed by choreographer and Chilean dancer Isabel Bustos.
The OECS Secretariat is bringing together the region's film and music practitioners, and a number of invited international operators in these sectors, to face off over two days - April 3rd and 4th - in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This is the second annual OECS International Development Conference, and this year the theme is "Promoting and Sustaining the OECS Service Industry: The Creative Industries Music and Film". The conference will provide a forum for persons engaged in the music and film industries both within the OECS and outside to network and discuss the challenges faced by the industries in the OECS and to strategise on development of a Plan of Action leading to the structured and comprehensive development of the Music and Film industries in this region, through the development of regional and international partnerships. The Secretariat says while some local feature films have made inroads at international film festivals and while the region has provided seductive backdrop for a number of successful movies including Pirates of the Caribbean I and II and Dr. Doolittle, the efforts have been piecemeal, ad hoc and lacking in structure. The overall story is similar with music, despite the success of groups and artistes like Exile One, and Ophelia of Dominica, Kevin Little of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and others who have managed to sign on to international record labels. Given the urgent need for economic diversification, and the social dislocation faced by the region's youth, particularly an element of its young men, it is all the more imperative that considerable attention be devoted to finding mechanisms to marshal the considerable creative talents and energies of the region's young people, in a structured and comprehensive approach to growing these industries, the Secretariat says. The two day conference will focus on topics in the film industry including the Current State of the Creative Industries in the OECS; Typology of Filmed Entertainment; Location Production; International requirements for Building a Film Industry' and Digital Entertainment, 3-D and unique Content Broadcasting, Animation and Video Game Development; and Building the Film Industries the Case of Calgary and Vancouver Canada. The focus on the Music Industry will touch on areas such as Music Development and Studio production, Artist Development and Management, Touring and Concert development, Online and Virtual IP development, Broadcasting and Distribution, the Performing Arts, Linking Art and Culture, and a comprehensive approach to building the Creative Industries in the OECS.
The Weinstein Co. will produce and distribute a big-screen version of her 2004 autobiography "No Woman No Cry: My Life With Bob Marley," a chronicle of the musician's childhood and their tumultuous 15-year marriage through his death from cancer in 1981. "Lauryn would be ideal (to play me)," said Marley. "She sees my life as her life." Her husband's son with Janet Hunt, Rohan, is married to the troubled former Fugees singer, who largely disappeared from the music scene after her Grammy-winning 1998 debut solo album, "The Miseducation of Lauren Hill." Hill will vet the adaptation currently being written by Lizzie Borden ("Working Girls"), who is down in Jamaica completing the script. The untitled project from producer Rudy Langlais ("The Hurricane") is tentatively set to begin filming early next year with a projected late 2009 release date. Langlais said the film will be an "epic romance," including the Marleys' life and the assassination attempt on the couple. "It's miraculous that Rita is still here after being shot in the head," he says. The singer had 13 children, including several from extramarital affairs. At least some of the project will be filmed in Jamaica, though other locations will be used to take advantage of tax rebates. The feature could arrive before Martin Scorsese's authorized feature documentary on the performer, set for release on what would be Marley's 65th birthday, February 6, 2010. The musician will be played by two actors, one portraying him at age 15 and another as an adult, with the option of the original songs, covers sung by an actor or a "Ray"-style blend of the two all possible for the soundtrack. Marley says her grandson Stefan is "the spitting image" of the singer and would be perfect for the role. Langlais adds that while the project will not necessarily be star-driven, all casting decisions will be made late in the year. Marley plans to be on the set every day. "Every inch of me is in there," she says, "and I don't want a fairy tale or Cinderella story."
In a press release the IDB said the exhibition is open to all artists born in Latin America and the Caribbean, regardless of where they live. The works must tell the story of the migration experience. MIF General Manager Don Terry said migration has become an integral part of economic development both inside and outside the region and as such "the MIF has made great strides on the financial side of remittances." He said the exhibition is intended to show "the human and community dimension." Artists must submit a portfolio with the following; a statement about the interest of the artist in the subject; the artist's resume (not to exceed two pages) listing all relevant information about his or her career and up to ten images of work available for exhibition. Works should not exceed six feet in any direction in the case of bi-dimensional works (painting, drawing, printmaking, photography and mixed media) or three feet in any direction for tri-dimensional works. Installations, video, multimedia works or performances will not be accepted. The artwork should depict migration's impact on individuals, communities and nations, the release said. The submission deadline is April 18 and the exhibition will be held from June 9-20 in Washington, DC The MIF said all entries must be mailed by courier service to Elba Agusti, IDB Cultural Center, 1300 New York Avenue, Washington, DC 20577. Selected artists will be notified by May 2. The IDB will cover the expenses of packing, transportation, insurance and return of selected works from those submitting proposals. The works will be displayed in the atrium of the IDB headquarters and a catalogue reproducing all the selected works and the artists' biographies will be published for the occasion.
St. Maarten's annual Carnival is a two-week celebration that encompasses the island's unique cultural traditions and allows visitors and residents alike to parade alongside costumed revelers and join in the numerous street jump-ups. The celebration begins on April 17th with thousands of dancing revelers parading through the streets for the "Opening of the Carnival Village Jump-Up" and the opening of the "Carnival Village" gates which signifies the start of Carnival. The events continue with the annual "Children's Parade" which is slated to take place on April 20th. This special costumed procession showcases the children of St. Maarten and represents the rich tradition of Carnival being passed from one generation to the next preserving the island's culture. On April 26th residents and visitors alike celebrate the "Jouvert," which comes from the French saying "jour ouvert" or morning open. In St. Maarten the Jouvert is centered on the Great Salt Pond, and is considered to be the largest of the street parties. Here revelers celebrate throughout the night by the shores of this unique St. Maarten landmark wearing personal costumes and creative dress. On April 29th, the "Grand Carnival Parade" showcases the creativity of costume design and dance from local and international participants. Carnival's Grand Parade is a unique multi-cultural event that celebrates the traditions of many countries and cultures around the world. The floats are spectacular, the music and costumes lavish and varied. Beautifully designed floats depict rich multi-cultural themes, and often feature performers that excite and entertain the crowds. Numerous troupes line the streets each with up to 300 members dancing in fantastic creative carnival costumes, while local musical artistes perform soca and calypso music for the revelers' entertainment as well as the onlookers. "The Closing Jump Up" or "Last Lap" marks the Official Closing of the Carnival festivities. This is the last chance for all spectators to be seen fully dressed, dancing their way to the Carnival Village. This is also the last chance for the bands to prove who the best Carnival band is, as they compete for the prize of Carnival Band of the Year. This jump-up is be usually led by the Carnival man, known as "King MoMo." When the he gets to the Carnival Village, "King MoMo is burnt, symbolizing all sins from the past year are forgiven and that the carnival celebrations have come to an end. For more information about St. Maarten Carnival 2008, including the artists performing at the six different concerts taking place during the 2-week event, visit www.stmaartencarnival.com. For more information on St. Maarten, please visit the website at www.vacationstmaarten.com.
The film, which tells the emotional story of a Black men's support group that forms in a local Caribbean take away restaurant, after a young boy is killed by a stray bullet, was shown for the second time at BAM in Brooklyn Saturday night and was featured again last night. Solomon's acclaimed feature film made its US premiere last November, when it was selected to open the 15th annual African Diaspora Film Festival in Manhattan. After premiering to a sold-out crowd, and screening three times throughout the festival, the film has been invited back to New York to take part in a special series that celebrates crowd favorites from the ADFF. In addition to its New York reprise, the film was released theatrically in Toronto, Canada on February 13, 2008 and beginning April 9, 2008, `A Winter Tale` will open in cinemas across the Caribbean beginning with five theatres in Jamaica. Today, the filmmaker heads to the Brooklyn Library for a special screening of her award-winning debut `What My Mother Told Me,` from 6:30 p.m. For more information visit www.caribbeantales.ca. CaribWorldNews.com
Jamaica, Farewell is a heart-warming but heart-breaking story of Ehrhardt's unique, unstoppable journey from Jamaica to America, the twists and turns of which include a daring and dangerous caper with the unwitting help of an infatuated American CIA agent. A scene from Jamaica, Farewell. (Photo: Aaron Erstein) "A brilliant evening's entertainment. Debra Ehrhardt held the audience spellbound for one-and-a-half hours without a hitch. Some serious talent's involved here," was the judgment rendered by the late Perry Henzell, director of The Harder They Come. "Superb acting places the viewers at the centre of the plot and leaves them holding their bellies in pure laughter," said Dr Basil K Bryant, former New York consul general of Jamaica. The show, which won the New York City Fringe Festival award in 2007, has been performed to rave reviews and full houses in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Toronto. Previews of Jamaica, Farewell began on Friday, February 22 in what is being described as a triumphant return to New York and a major coup for Kingston-born Ehrhardt. This is her third one-woman show. Previous productions include Mango Mango, which received two National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) awards; and Invisible Chairs, which was produced by David Strasbourg at the Marilyn Monroe Theatre in West Hollywood and later optioned as a situation comedy by Fox. Ehrhardt received a 2007 Proclamation from the City of New York for Jamaica, Farewell for her "outstanding contribution to the Jamaican community". A member of the Writers Guild of America, Ehrhardt is currently adapting Jamaica, Farewell for the big screen.
Appropriately, the first Reggae Film Festival opened with the showing of a documentary about one of Jamaica's legendary musicians, entitled The Legacy of Rico Rodriques, by director Jep Jorba from Spain. Among the other flicks was the German feature film on Jamaica Almost Heaven directed by Ed Herzog featuring a number of Jamaican actors, including Carl Bradshaw, who was in attendance, and Oliver Samuels. The final one was the Wayne Jobson-produced Stepping Razor documentary on reggae icon Peter Tosh. "I was lucky enough to meet Peter, Bob and Bunny - the Wailers - back in the 1970s. And of the three of them, it was Peter who most impressed me with his brilliant intellect and his brilliant mind and also sense of humour. African producer, Geeza Graham being quizzed by Barbara Blake-Hannah. (Photos: Joseph Wellington) "And in the early 1990s when I realised that the whole world was only focusing on Bob Marley and everybody had forgotten about Peter, I decided to put together this film so the world could understand the mind of this great poet," was how Jobson replied to festival conceptualiser, Barbara Blake Hannah's question, "Why Peter Tosh?" In an interview with Splash, Carl Bradshaw expressed pleasure in the standard of the films that were featured and noted that it "will grow from strength to strength". "This film festival is of a difference. This is not the first film festival to be held in Jamaica, but one of this nature, a reggae film festival with the kind of films being shown, really presents a different perspective to the culture." The popular movie personality also said that that year is going to be an hectic one for him, as quite a few projects from a Jamaican perspective, are in the pipeline and this includes a documentary on himself. "My current project is really a documentary on myself. It will be like a travelogue around Jamaica from my perspective. Doing a documentary on myself, gives me an opportunity to give an overview of Jamaica in detail from my point of view of the country," Bradshaw told Splash.
Unless you are plugged-in, you wouldn't know that actor Nicholls-King plays Cheryl in HBO's TV acclaimed series The Wire, which begins its fifth season this year Much like the journey of so many actors who have gone before, Nicholls-King took the same nomadic path that led to her current home in the Bronx, New York. The child of Trinidadian parents, born in England, taken to Trinidad as a baby, then to Toronto, where she completed high school; then onto the University of Windsor, to finally complete her training as an actor at the Vancouver Conservatory. A few years of beating the Toronto bush, seeking opportunities to hone her skills and launch an acting career, to which she had committed a lifetime, put her on both stage and screen and into the sight lines of a young, talented American jazz-drummer. That led to marriage, and the home she now shares with her husband Larry Johnson and four-year-old son, Elijah. While Nicholls-King's more telling acting moments have been on American television, stage and film, Canadians will have had a closer look at their home girl in the recent release of Paramount Vantages film How She Move. Based on a family's life in the Jane and Finch neighbourhood, Nicholls-King plays the mother of a daughter destined for a prestigious university but drawn to the world of competitive dancing. Nicholls-King admits that the tension between mother's university plans for her daughter and her talent and hankering for the world of dance is like a reprise of her life. Her parents also had set eyes on a medical career for her, but young Melanie had too much of the "ham" in her. So Mom, Carol, and Dad, Lennox, got a start when she chose the Fine Arts route rather than medicine. But love is love, and family is family. Nicholls-King recalls that when she arrived in Vancouver to attend the conservatory, her uncle was happy to give her a home and, when she moved to her own digs, her mother arrived from Toronto to stock the fridge. While the passage through the generally rough-and-tumble world of the novice actor was not as difficult as it could have been, "There were times when it was hard. But there was nothing else I could imagine myself committing to." So how does she account for the relatively easy passage? "I've always been a positive person. Our thoughts create our reality. I didn't know I was supposed to struggle. All I knew was that I was doing what I loved. Still there was a time when I wasn't working, so three of us, Sharon Lewis, Maxine Bailey and I started a theatre company called Sugar and Spice. "The mandate was to produce works for, by and about women of colour. S&S was a brief but brilliant effort that saw the staging of one of the more well-received plays of the 1990's called Sistahs. It lasted ten days and sold out most of the time." Nicholls-King's first break came when she was cast in Rude, the first film written and produced by young, Jamaica-born Clement Virgo. "With the exception of one character," said Melanie, "all the lead characters were black. It came out of the Canadian Film Centre and won for the best short film of the Toronto Film Festival in 1993." Nicholls-King clearly has a good handle on her blackness and, despite what that entails, seems to have successfully negotiated a reasonably smooth path in life and the theatre. She explained, "Your thoughts create your reality. Therefore you are in control of what happens to you. You can't control what people do or say. The only thing you have control of is how you react. I am non-confrontational. Even as a black woman, you can still negotiate your way to your goal without selling out. You do not always have to choose." Since Rude, Nicholls-King has appeared in Deacons For The Defense with Forest Whittaker, three Law & Order episodes, Third Watch, One Life to Live, TV's Forever Knight, The Defenders with Beau Bridges, What Makes A Family with Whoopi Goldberg and is a recurring character in Traders. How She Move opened on January 25 across Toronto. It is a great movie with a talented cast of young Canadians and brilliant dancing to music tracks from Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, Lil Mama and Yumy Bingham.
In papers filed with the Jamaican Supreme Court, Kartel, whose real name is Adidjah Palmer, alleged that his 31-year-old bride had given birth to a son who was fathered by another man. He said he had never lived with his wife since the January 9, 2006 private wedding, pictures of which are posted on the Internet. Kartel also provided for the court a copy of the child's birth certificate. Kartel said also that his wife never visited him in Jamaica after the US revoked his visa to that country some time after the wedding. The two met at a stage show in Brooklyn, New York and had been dating four years prior to tying the knot in a private ceremony before a marriage officer at the Registrar General Department branch on Trevennion Park Road in Cross Roads, Kingston. The website yardflex.com on which the wedding photos were posted, quoted the artiste on his big day as saying, "... Mi just get up mad and decide fi do it, is like mi get a wedding fever from wha day because my babymother's mother got married recently, and I was the best man for the groom, so I just decided to do it. I flew her in from New York for the wedding, and it's all good, I am in love, I am happy, this is just glorious. "From the first time I met her, I knew she was special. So we talked a couple of times on the phone, it wasn't a groupie thing, and we just fell in love little by little." Elliott, who was born in Jamaica, is also quoted in the same story as saying that she too was deeply in love. "I love his personality, he is fun-loving, and very smart, and I believe he is misunderstood, he has good qualities. From the moment I met him, I fell in love with him...," she added.
Gravity is an exciting new collaboration of theatre and video installation that interweaves storytelling, memories and the stitching together of myths and facts. Gravity tells the story of four women across time, water and worlds connected by blood; by forces pull/pushing them together/apart; and their thirsty love for life and for each other. Gravity propels forward from the kidnapping of a young girl in China to the entrapment of a ghost in a Guyana waterfall, to the journey of a Vancouverite mending an understanding of her cultural past and natural catastrophes of her émigré West Indian homeland. I only recently heard of Tricia when Mr. Memory Man, Godfrey Chin reported meeting her at the launching of his NOSTALGIA book in Vancouver four months ago, and at what an opportune it is, with Carifesta looming over the cultural landscape just seven months away in Guyana. Two years ago in Barbados it was Alison-Sealey Smith with CAST IRON , then there was Michael Gilkes' solo tour de force LAST OF THE REDMEN, just last weekend I experienced Trevor Rhone's one-man BELLAS GATE BOY in Brooklyn, and now there is Tricia's GRAVITY. The accumulative impressions of these productions have inspired/moved/prodded me to put together the disparate pieces of my repertoire into my own one-man play name? This Mango Sweeet (and Sour)? Voyage of Discovery? Old World New World? Crossbreed?, and to have it ready in time as a potential Carifesta entry. At this time, I have no idea how a production coming out of the diaspora gets to participate in Carifesta. As I understand it, only Government invited productions are allowed in the official program. Is there a "fringe theatre" system where independents can show their works? Perhaps the Theatre Guild now being rebuilt, or the ex Russian Embassy Club could be the venue for one-person storytelling plays out of the diaspora. THE LAST OF THE REDMEN (Gilkes) BELLAS GATE BOY (Rhone) GRAVITY (Collins) CROSSBREED (Corsbie) CAST IRON (Sealy-Smith) They are uniquely different storytelling modes and usually relatively inexpensive to mount. Perhaps there are more one-person shows already in the regional and diaspora theatre scene that would be suited for a special series in Guyana's CARIFESTA August 22nd 30th.
One of Jamaica's best known dramatists, Rhone's work has won him international critical acclaim, as well numerous professional and civic accolades including a Toronto Film Festival Genie Award, a Living Legend Award from the National Black Theatre Festival and the Commander of the Order Distinction from the Government of Jamaica. He has scores of scripts for stage and screen to his credit, including the internationally acclaimed film, The Harder They Come. This St. John's presentation is sponsored by The President's Multicultural Advisory Committee, the Committee on Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS), the Division of Student Affairs, Student Government, Inc., the Caribbean Students Association and Haraya, the Pan-African Students Coalition. The event is free but requires pre-registration. Please visit www.stjohns.edu/campus/queens/studentlife/lecture/ to RSVP.
Rihanna, wearing a purple Zac Posen knee-length dress and sporting a shorter hairstyle, looked visibly nervous as she walked on to the stage and was shown to the mike by mentor and record label exec, Jay-Z. She dedicated the award, the Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, to her father, as well as her mother and brothers and to Barbados, her homeland. This as Jay-Z interrupted to thank producers and others at the label. Rihanna also performed at the ceremony, appearing in a short khaki-colored dress that looked almost like a grass creation held together by a black belt with matching black boots. She opened with her global hit, `Umbrella,` before transitioning off to hits by The Time and the Recording Academy's chairman, Jimmy Jam, with whom she shared the stage. Jam, strapped on his keytar for the first performance in 15 years by his 1980s Minneapolis funk group, the Time. Singer Morris Day was in fine form - and, as always, dressed to impress in a gold brocade jacket and yellow pants - during a run through the band's hit, `Jungle Love.` The Time backed Rihanna as she sang `Umbrella` along with a group of dancers in gold and silver miniskirt/shorts combinations holding up leopard-print umbrellas. They also added some Twin Cities soul to Rihanna's `Don't Stop the Music` before it morphed back into `Jungle Love` again. Meanwhile, Stephen Marley last night joined two of his brothers in doing what his father did not winning the most Grammy awards for the Marley family and reggae. In a year when the Grammy turned 50 and Bob Marley would have turned 63, Stephen walked away with the 2008 Best Reggae Album for `Mind Control` on the Tuff Gong/Ghetto Youths/Universal Republic label. Stephen Marley beat out Burning Spears' `The Burning Spear Experience,` Lee "Scratch" Perry's ` The End Of An American Dream` and ` Sly & Robbie And The Taxi Gang.` Stephen has been credited as the driving creative force behind the music of his brothers. His production, performance and writing credits have earned him two previous Grammy's, giving him a total of six. Born in 1972, Stephen is the second son of Bob Marley. Since its inception, the category has never been presented live during the airing of the Grammy's. Other featured performances that paired younger and more veteran singers came from an edited collaboration between Alicia Keyes, whose father is Jamaican, and The Chairman of the Board, Frank Sinatra; Rihanna and The Times and Beyonce & Tina Turner. Turner, 72, looked her age on the dance moves but her voice ringed through on the all popular, `What's Love Got To Do,` and the duet with Beyonce, `Proud Mary.` Kanye West was also among the performers as was Will I. Am, Little Richard, Amy Winehouse, Carrie Underwood, Aretha Franklin and Fergie and John Legend. West's tribute to his `Mama,` left many in tears. West's mother died late last year following complication with plastic surgery. He also paid tribute to his mother during the receipt of his Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance. Winehouse, who has grabbed the headlines recently for her battle with drugs, won the Grammy for Song of the Year, the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album and Best New Artist. Another multiple nominee, Bruce Springsteen, won for best solo rock vocal performance and best rock song for "Radio Nowhere" from "Magic"; Springsteen also won best rock instrumental performance for his "Once Upon A Time In The West" from "We All Love Ennio Morricone." West took home the Best Rap Solo Performance for `Stronger` while his collaboration with Common - ` Southside` - won for Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group. Underwood was the winner of Best Female Country Vocal Performance for ` Before He Cheats` while Keith Urban grabbed the Best Male Country Vocal Performance Grammy for `Stupid Boy.` The Grammy for Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals went to the Eagles, who returned with a new album late last year while Alicia Keyes won Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for `No One.` While Presidential hopeful Barack Obama won his second Grammy for best spoken world album for `The Audacity Of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream.` One of his fellow nominees was former President Bill Clinton, for `Giving: How Each of Us Can Change The World.` And album of the year went to Herbie Hancock.
Then she shifted gears and went on to win a Cacique for her performance as the adorable ditz "Vera" in Funny Farm's The Odd Couple. Maybe you caught her on Gayelle in the show she wrote, directed and produced; Sugar House's tenth anniversary Cacique nominated Single - An Act of Love. She's still out there, but you might have been wondering - what has Patti-Anne Ali been up to? The Cacique Award Winner for Best Supporting Actress 2005 has been in NewYork going international. In March 2007 she was cast in Ian Gordon's Blood and Rum which ran at the Theatre for the New City, New York. This original play set in Port-of-Spain Trinidad in 1939 spun a web of international intrigue and featured a nine member cast. Patti played Constable Bobby Richmond of The Trinidad Police Force. In June 2007 she was off to Fort Worth Texas to play "Maryamma" in Christopher Durang's Miss Witherspoon. Named one of the ten best plays of 2005 by both Time and Newsday, Ms Witherspoon was a dark comedy about a suicidal woman who is helped on her life-journey by an Indian guide - Maryamma. In December 2007 she was cast as Ammiel in Valerie D Wright's original musical Bathsheba! And as fate would have it, Patti was later invited to direct the 15 member cast musical. She marks her New York Directorial debut on Thursday, February 14 at the 411 Theatre, Times Square. If you are in New York, drop by and show your fellow country woman some love on Valentines Day http://bathshebalive.com/ Thanks to Carivog International and the World Star Programme, Patti honed her craft at the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, School of Film and Television - www.sft.edu. She received this incredible opportunity when she auditioned for the Carivog World Talent Auditions for an opportunity to go to Hollywood and received a partial scholarship to attend NYCDA in 2005. "I am incredibly proud and grateful to be representing the talent of TT on the international stage. Carivog International, the World Star Programme and the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts have each played an invaluable part in my evolution as an actress and a person. I look forward to sharing what I have learned and growing as a Caribbean artiste in a global context." Carivog International is at present auditioning singers, dancers, actors, models and instrumentalists for international and European opportunities. For further information contact 657-3708 or 778-9376.
"It is with great pleasure and pride that I welcome our new School Director, Jose Costas, back to his artistic home. I see a bright future for the Ballet Hispanico School of Dance under his artistic direction," said Ms. Ramirez. Costas comes to Ballet Hispanico from Orange Coast College, where he was Associate Professor of Dance for the past eight years. In addition to his role as a professor, he created the annual "Festival Latino," a one-day Latino dance and music event in celebration of El Dia De La Raza (October 12) held at Orange Coast College. Costas also developed "Recruit to Dance," an outreach program that provides high School students the opportunity to experience college level dance classes at no cost. This project, now in its third trimester, brought many Latino students to Orange Coast College. Costas holds an M.F.A. in dance from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University and a M. Ed. from Catholic University of Puerto Rico. Costas began his dance training in his native Puerto Rico, under the direction of Julie Mayoral and Lolita San Miguel. As a principal dancer with Ballet Hispanico, he performed lead roles in many ballets and performed with the company throughout the United States, Europe and South America. He has worked extensively as a choreographer, creating pieces for colleges and companies around the country. Costas is also a master teacher, working extensively with educational programs for Ballet Hispanico, City Center and the Orchestra of St. Luke's. He has taught master classes in ballet, modern, jazz and ethnic dance styles for universities, dance schools and public schools in the United States and Puerto Rico. In 1995, he received a Modern Dance Award given by Puerto Rican Institute of New York. He taught at California State University, Dominguez Hills for four years before becoming a full-time faculty member in the Orange Coast College Dance Department. Costas completes his commitment to Orange County College this spring, while transitioning to New York. "I'm thrilled to be returning to the Ballet Hispanico family in this new position," said Costas. "It's an honor to be back and I look forward to helping the School reach new levels of excellence." The Ballet Hispanico School of Dance Established by Artistic Director Tina Ramirez in 1970, the Ballet Hispanico School of Dance has forged a reputation among the nation's leading professional training programs, offering a balanced curriculum in classical ballet, modern and Spanish dance - a practice unique among America's dance training institutions. As a result, students receive not only a thorough grounding in the primary techniques required for a successful performing career but also specialized training in the rich and varied dance tradition which, for many, is their cultural heritage. Students may study the Ballet Hispanico aesthetic via the pre-professional track or the less intensive enrichment program. The faculty boasts a diverse team of respected dance artists from around the world, and includes current members of the Company as guest teachers. The Ballet Hispanico Company rehearses on-site, serving as a model to young dancers who aspire to perform with their Company mentors. Select students dance in the School Ensemble, the performing arm of the School that serves as a bridge to the professional dance world. All classes are given to live music and housed in Ballet Hispanico's headquarters located on Manhattan's Upper West Side. In addition to performing with Ballet Hispanico's own company, alumni of the School have gone on to careers in theater (Nancy Ticotin), film (Jennifer Lopez, Leelee Sobieski and Rachel Ticotin) and television (Michael DeLorenzo), as well as with other leading dance companies such as Alvin Ailey and Paul Taylor. Still others are applying the discipline and self-esteem acquired through their dance classes to demanding professions in other fields such as business, education, government, law and medicine. About Ballet Hispanico Ballet Hispanico explores, preserves, and expands the passion and joyous theatricality of Latino dance through the work in its three core divisions: the Company, the School of Dance, and Primeros Pasos. Its mission is to celebrate and further interpret the moving and beautiful aesthetic of this dynamic culture and to share it with all people. Ballet Hispanico has forged a reputation among the nation's most beloved and important cultural institutions. The acclaimed professional company has performed for more than two million people in the United States, Europe and South America with a repertory of over 75 works, each created especially for Ballet Hispanico that fuse ballet, modern and Latin dance forms into a spirited image of contemporary Latino culture.
According to Edhard most of Suriname's history has not been recorded through a Surinamese perspective. "I want to tell the story of Suriname's contribution to win the war to the world. A lot of Surinamese nationals and numerous people all over the world don't know that Suriname has provided over 80 per cent of all the aluminum to build the war planes," said Edhard. The remains of the US Army DC3 that crashed in June 1943 were photographed by French Bubberman. After eight months of preparations and research, an expedition led by Rob van Petten, last week located one of the crashed aircraft, a Dakota DC3, in a practically inaccessible swamp some 150 kilometers west of the capital Paramaribo. "The wreck is almost complete," Edhard noted. Archieves obtained from several institutions in the United States of America indicate that the aircraft crashed in June 1943 due to mechanical problems. The four-strong crew survived the incident, stayed for 11 days with the wreck and after plodding through the swamp and dense tropical forest eventually found help. "This story is beyond my wildest imagination. This is Hollywood stuff," said an excited Edhard. The film producer went on, stating that the second aircraft to be exposed in the documentary, A C-54, crashed in the Commewijne district, killing all 35 passengers, in what at that time was the worst air disaster in the Western Hemisphere. This aircraft was most likely on its way to the Casablanca Conference, when it crashed in the jungle 30 miles from Paramaribo. Rumours of a bomb on board allegedly forced the pilot, Benjamin Hart Dally, to land in Trinidad and search the plane. However, no bomb was found. Among those lost were Maj. Eric Mowbray Knight, author of the much-loved novel, Lassie Come-Home. Evidence at the crash site allegedly had indicated that the airplane was on a secret mission to North Africa. Included were large sums of money and secret-coded documents for British General Sir Harold Alexander. The crash made headlines in major newspapers across the US a week following the crash. Although officials promised an investigation into the cause, to this date, no official cause has been given by the United States Government. Edhard say that the documentary will also have some educational value. During his research he noticed that students were not informed adequately about World War II. "I want to give the youth a different perspective on World War II," said the filmmaker. He further disclosed that since the US had established a military base in Suriname during the war and due to the booming bauxite and aluminum industry, the Surinamese economy had benefitted from the war, as did large sections of the community, which found employment with the Americans and the mining company. According to Edhard, "Some people were actually disappointed when the war ended." "A lot of people were earning a decent living," he added.The shooting on location of the movie will start in a couple of weeks while it should hit theatres later this year.
Walker played the cab driver in the widely acclaimed Coca-Cola's parade-float. In the ad, a couple of inflated cartoon characters battle it out for a floating bottle of Coke, only to lose the prize to a triumphant Charlie Brown balloon. Walker was seen staring up in shock at the huge balloons as they floated past his cab. Yesterday, the actor who has played several roles on shows like `Law & Order Special Victims Unit,` and `The Pretender,` told CWN jokingly, he was glad `they didn't edit me out.` The ad was shot in December, he said, adding that he hopes it will serve as an inspiration to `actors from the region to know they can perform at the highest possible standards if they are prepared to put in the work.` Thirty-second ads in the Super Bowl, which according to Nielsen rating was seen by a whopping 92 million people, cost a huge US$2.7 million a pop. CaribWorldNews.com
On Marley's Earth strong on February 6, Carib 5 Cinema will be a hub of activity with the premiere of the documentary starring American actor Danny Glover, Angelique Kidjo, the I-Threes and the Marley family. Africa Unite is centred on the Marley's family first family trip to Ethiopia in 2005 for the twelve-hour concert held in the capital city of Addis Ababa. 300,000 persons from across the globe helped the Marley family celebrate Bob Marley's 60th birthday that year with this massive outdoor concert. Africa Unite is a masterful film focusing on the Africa Unite concert as well as the Marley family's travelogue, humanitarian documentary and documenting the spirit of the legendary reggae icon. The film also includes rare archival footage of Marley himself. The 2005 concert was the realization of an ambitious vision of unity that Bob Marley preached about when he himself performed his historic 1978 Zimbabwe concert. According to Executive Producer Mrs Rita Marley the film chronicles the concert before, during and after. It also covers various important historical events in Africa as well as the history of the icon Bob Marley. She explained "its about Africa Unite, its about the unification of all Africans- those at home and those abroad. Its about togetherness, the film is a combination of the events that happened in Africa during the Africa Unite event." While the film is anchored by the marathon Marley benefit concert there are parallel narratives that help to create a fuller picture of Bob Marley's personal dream of a Pan-African movement on the continent and throughout the Diaspora. A Tuff Gong Pictures production for Rita Marley Foundation and Bob Marley Foundation, the film features principle persons to the cause of uniting the nation such as UNICEF's Goodwill Ambassador Danny Glover, Jamaican politician Dudley Thompson, world music sensation Angelique Kidjo, Marley's mother Mrs Booker, American singer Lauryn Hill, Bob Andy, singer Penny Afro, the Marley boys- Ziggy, Stephen, Damian, Rohan and Julian, as well as a special appearance by Princess Mary the granddaughter of Emperor Haile Selassie. Directed by Stephanie Black, Rita Marley emphasizes that the documentary is a one of kind film. She said "its truly one of a kind- places and things that you've never seen before or dreamed they existed. We're quite fortunate we were able to make it into a documentary." One of those unique moments is Ras 'Bongo' Tawney, featured in Black's award winning documentary 'Life and Debt'. Tawney's recollections are of the early and severe discrimination that Rasta's faced in Jamaica making it clear how far the Rastafarian movement has really progressed. He remembers when merely wearing dreadlocks was considered not fashion, but a crime. Another special moment in the film is the presence of American actor Danny Glover. According to Mrs. Marley, Glover's involvement is more than just acting but the actor showed a genuine interest in the achievement of African youth. She said, "UNICEF sponsored him to attend in the first place for the youth symposium- showing the youths how they can be what they want to be." Footage from these workshops and symposiums assist in demonstrating the amount of education and organizing necessary to rebuild a present day movement that reclaims the mid 20th century goals of leaders like Jomo Kenyatta and Haile Selassie. Proceeds from the film premiere will be going towards various charities in Jamaica. While this February is the premiere of the film the Africa Unite movement continues as Rita Marley emphasizes " we're taking Africa Unite around the continent. Tuff Gong Pictures production for Rita Marley Foundation and Bob Marley Foundation and it is directed by Stephanie Black.
Even a casual look at their website program list will show their regional outlook Trinidadian Freddie Kissoon's comedies, Kamau Braithwaite's poetry performances, playwright Godfrey Sealy's (Trinidad) award winning play ONE OF OUR SONS IS MISSING, one of the original dub or riddim poets Jamaican Linton Kwesi Johnson, Edward (E.R) Braithwaite's of TO SIR WITH LOVE, Barbadian playwright/novelist Glenville Lovell, and of course, the late great Louise Bennett (Miss Lou). Their immediate program is of TREVOR RHONE, another outstanding Jamaican playwright whose works have been widely produced throughout the Caribbean and it's global diaspora. Trevor graduated as a dramatist from the Rose Bruford College for Speech and Drama (England) in the early 1960's, just one year before I began my three-year course there. We've taken different roads in our theatre lives he became "the playwright" and I "the performer". and now here he is in New York as "the performer", while I'm in the throes of trying to write a book an autobiography in my storytelling mode. It's been 16 years since I've seen Trevor at a sit down on a Portofspain curb interview during Carnival that I did with him for the CARIBBEAN EYE television series produced by the Trinidad Banyan Studios.
This unusual cultural event brings together artisans from throughout the Caribbean to display, sell and demonstrate their crafts at a variety of locations in the beautiful British Virgin Islands: Days 1-3 in Trellis Bay, day 4 in Virgin Gorda and Day 5 in Road Town. The Caribbean Artisan Network is a five year old regional organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Caribbean Arts and Crafts. By creating links between artisans, wholesalers and retail buyers, the network functions to strengthen the production of traditional and innovative Caribbean Crafts, through educational workshops, marketing initiatives and skill preservation efforts. The Artisan Network is dedicated to increasing the commercial viability of Craft as an income generator and as a crucial aspect of maintaining Caribbean cultural identity. To aid in bringing these crafts people and artisans together, LIAT will be offering discounted flights for those participants traveling to the BVI for this event.
The story of an aspiring young baseball player in the Dominican Republic, the film is more than a baseball story, but it will be a real delight for fans of the game. Several of the biggest stars in baseball -- Sammy Sosa, Pedro Martinez and David Ortiz -- have come from the tiny Caribbean nation of the Dominican Republic, where every major league team operates a baseball academy for promising prospects. But the ones who make it to the big leagues, or even a successful minor league career in the States, are a very small percentage. "Sugar" is the story of a talented pitcher who doesn't make it all the way but learns some important life lessons along the way. Boden and Fleck, who brought a similar sense of reality to their debut film, "Half Nelson," recruited mostly ballplayers who could act, not the other way around. For their hero, Miguel "Sugar" Soto, they discovered Algenis Perez Soto on a baseball diamond in the Dominican Republic. With his heavy-lidded, almost brooding presence, he is one of those amateurs whose naturalness allows him to cut to the heart of his character. Playing baseball is the ticket out of poverty for many boys in the Dominican, and Sugar is no exception. Trained from an early age, and with the hopes of his family riding on almost every pitch, he bears the weight of enormous expectations. His American dream is to buy a Cadillac he can drive on the water. He does well at the academy and is invited to spring training in Arizona, where the culture shock really sets in. Language is the big barrier, sometimes humorous, as when Sugar orders the same food every day (French toast), and sometimes painful, when he can't express himself. He gives an impressive performance at spring training, and the next stop is a minor league team in Bridgewater, Iowa. No place could be further from the street life and poverty of the Dominican, and the adjustment is hard, even with the help of an elderly couple (Ann Whitney and Richard Bull) who take him in. While the filmmakers don't whitewash Sugar and his teammates, they clearly made a choice to downplay any sexual shenanigans that might go on among young athletes with raging hormones in a foreign country. Sugar pitches effectively at first, but with the departure of Jorge (Rayniel Rufino), his best friend on the team, a nagging injury and rejection by a pretty local girl (Ellary Porterfield), he falls into a black hole. Unable to take the loneliness and isolation anymore, he hops on a bus to New York to try to find himself. New York can be a hard place, too, but eventually he prevails on the kindness of strangers, especially a good-hearted carpenter (Jaime Tirelli), and he eventually meets up with Jorge and starts to create a new life for himself. When he starts playing baseball with a bunch of Latino guys, all of whom have been through the same flirtation with professional ball, the game becomes fun again. The filmmakers, aided by cinematographer Andrij Parekh and composer Michael Brook, do a fine job capturing the different rhythms of Sugar's experience: the bright colors and sounds of the Dominican Republic, the subdued palette of Iowa and the bustling life of New York. Acting as her own editor, Boden uses crisp cutting and a keen eye to tell the story visually. Everything from the performances to the production design contributes to capturing what life must really be like for these kids. As much as you root for Sugar to succeed, Boden and Fleck resist the temptation to give the film a Hollywood ending. What happens is more real, and Sugar gains something more important -- he grows up. Cast: Miguel "Sugar" Santos: Algenis Perez Soto Jorge Ramirez: Rayniel Rufino Brad Johnson: Andre Holland Stu Sutton: Michael Gaston Osvaldo: Jaime Tirelli Helen Higgins: Ann Whitney Earl Higgins: Richard Bull Anne Higgins: Ellary Porterfield Reyna: Alina Vargas Directors-screenwriters: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck; Producers: Paul Mezey, Jamie Patricof, Jeremy Kipp Walker; Executive producer: Anna Boden; Director of cinematography: Andrij Parekh; Production designer: Elizabeth Mickle; Music: Michael Brook; Costume designer: Erin Benach; Editor: Anna Boden.
Appropriately named Reggae Uncensored, the footage showcases key elements of Reggae and its sub-culture in a candid way with sustained images of sizzling performances strung together with generous portions of drugs, sex and the inevitable passa passa. The DVD gives an inside look at what's really going on in the world of reggae music. It takes the viewer on the road, back stage, behind the hallowed closed doors and beyond the eye of mainstream media to document the real truths. The first of several episodes features today's brightest and biggest stars: Damian Marley, Sean Paul, Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Sizzla Kalonji, Ninja Man and Junior Reid. The documentary also features the contemporary crop of hit makers - Mavado, Collie Budzz, Ding Dong, Aidonia, Macka Diamond and Empire Isis to name a few. This groundbreaking DVD title is broken down in chapters very much like a storybook. Some of the chapters are called 'The Return of Ninja Man,' 'Irie Jamboree,' 'Ravers Clavers,' 'Shopping with Macka Diamond,' 'Labor Day on the Parkway,' 'The Rise And Fall of a Jamaican Don' and Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley. In defining his role in the reggae music business with host Chyna, Marley commented, "We are in a position where we can help and be a voice others who really do not have a voice for themselves." Reggae Uncensored is 90 minutes long with English subtitles to support the Jamaican Creole. Other parts of the series are to follow. The documentary was produced by Nutz Films (New York City) in collaboration with Chyna Doll Productions and is being distributed worldwide by Gold Dust Media. "We feel extremely proud of the world class quality and professionalism of this exciting new product, and we feel this DVD will continue to push our music to new levels of understanding and acceptance globally," remarked Ray Stewart, executive producer of Reggae Uncensored.
The Dreadlock Rock movie documentary will be screened in various markets and film festivals around North America in 2008. Special concert dates including Jack Miller and the Reggae music icons in the film and soundtrack will be planned also. The Dreadlock Rock movie soundtrack CD through is now available at all leading digital download services (I-TUNES, RHAPSODY, SONY'S CONNECT AND MORE) and available for purchase through the www.DreadlockRock.com website. Dreadlock Rock Records will also release for digital download the following albums: Dreadlock Rock Dub (dub companion to the Dreadlock Rock movie soundtrack), Blue Riddim Live, James McWhinney (formerly of Big Mountain), and Vision (a Jack Miller compilation) TUNE IN - Jack Miller will be in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 27 for radio interviews discussing Dreadlock Rock and more on Reggae Central with veteran broadcaster Chuck Foster / KPFK 90.7 FM (www.kpfk.org) at 3:00pm and Native Wayne's Smoke-In with Wayne Jobson / INDIE 103.1 FM (www.indie1031.fm) at 4:30pm ABOUT DREADLOCK ROCK: Dreadlock Rock is an incredible musical and spiritual journey told through the lives of the brilliantly talented Jamaican musicians who's "Reggae, Rasta Revolution" of one love, one heart would forever change the musical world. In 1977, California musician, Jack Miller went to Jamaica beginning a passionate, life long pilgrimage into the heart of the Kingston recording scene. Miller befriended, recorded & toured with a who's who of Reggae superstars including Sly Dunbar & Robbie Shakespeare, the Mighty Diamonds, Big Youth, Rebel Rockers, the Reggae All-Stars, Blue Riddim Band, The Soul Syndicate and members of Third World and the Wailers. Documenting legendary recording sessions at Bob Marley's Tuff Gong Studio, Harry J's and Channel One Studios in Kingston, live concert performances and revealing interviews with Peter Tosh, Toots & the Maytals, Third World, Willie Nelson, Sly & Robbie, Tabby Diamond and Bob Marley & the Wailers. It's a thirty year musical journey that comes full circle in a powerful climax at the "Reggae Summit" in Jamaica with the Love, Peace & Unity Band. This is a true insiders story about a musical family that has influenced the contemporary World culture.
The yet-to-be-released Africa Unite: A Celebration of Bob Marley's Vision captures Marley's dream of African unity and the efforts to make it a reality. The documentary focuses on the 'Africa Unite' concert, held in 2005 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and the other activities that took place then to celebrate the mission of reuniting Africa. Directed by Stephanie Black, who is also known for the documentary Life and Debt , the film is a coherent flow of events past and present. It brings together the lives of the Marley family, national figures in Africa, members of UNICEF, devout Rastafarians and the youth who are trying to make a change in their world. The film begins with clips from the 'Africa Unite' concert as Marley's sons Ziggy, Stephen, Ky-Mani, Julian and Damian take the stage, all dressed in white, African-style tops. The focus is on the fervent response from the massive crowd as Ziggy quickly goes into the Bob Marley song, Africa Unite . The concert is used as a means of showing not only the family and Bob's music, but also to present the different messages in the music that are touched on throughout the documentary. Although the film is centred around Bob Marley and the concert, it explores many themes and shows the impact of the dream of unity on the lives of others. It shows the significance of Marley in people's lives as different persons attest to his influence, some even citing him as a father figure and someone to always look up to. Persons travelled from across Africa, Japan and Jamaica to the 'Africa Unite' 2005 concert, at which clips of Bob Marley talking about why unity was so important to him and his world view were shown. Vital role by young people Young people play a vital role throughout the film as they give their reasons for being involved in the 'Africa Unite' movement. Whether they want to be musicians, doctors or economists, they all have one goal - unity among all Africans. Juxtaposed to this are stories from the older generation through Jamaican politician Dudley Thompson, actor and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Danny Glover, and various lecturers on what it means to be truly free, not worshipping a colonial flag. Thompson captures it best when he says, "Now you don't need to look at the Western world for knowledge, but to Africa." Probably the most touching part of the film is the journey of Ras 'Bongo' Tawney. Tawney is a devout Rastafarian who highlights the persecution of Rastas in the beginning as he emphasised "the system tried to wipe us out". He talks about the discrimination Rastas faced in the early days, which is supported by video and newspaper clips of the crimes against Rastafarians in the early '70s. Tawney sees the accomplishment of a lifelong dream - to enter Ethiopia. In a touching scene outside of the Cathedral of Haile Selassie, Tawney almost breaks down in tears as he describes how he has dreamed of coming home to Africa for almost all his life. The sections on the Marley family are narrated in large part by Ziggy Marley, who tells of how happy he and his brothers are to be in Ethiopia for their father. Giving brief looks at the various functions attended by the brothers, it gives rare insight into the interaction of the Marley sons. Africa Unite: A Celebration of Bob Marley's Vision is more than a documentary on Bob Marley as it looks on his impact, his dream and its realisation. Filled with historical facts and data, Stephanie Black brings it all together for a masterful film. Ending with the concert itself, one of the many messages is that there is a need for more Bob Marleys in the world to help in making a difference. Africa Unite: A Celebration of Bob Marley's Vision premieres worldwide on the Tuff Gong's birthday, February 6, at the Carib 5 Cinema, Cross Roads.
The film, Karma: A Love Story, which was written and directed by Frankie Sooknanan, is a love story loosely based on Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. According to information on its website, the story revolves around two best friends living in 1980s Guyana, who fall in love with the same girl. Karma was fully produced by Flat Tire Productions on a shoestring budget of US$12,000. It was distributed by the same entity for a special one week release at Kew Gardens Theater from yesterday to next Wednesday. It is also scheduled to be shown in Guyana from February 14 to 17. The film tells the story of love, betrayal, and friendship while exploring love and how it can easily lead to hatred and the human need for revenge to ease the pain of a broken heart. The story is of two friends, one rich and one poor, who both live in Guyana. They both fall in love with the same girl, unbeknownst to the other. Many years later love brings them together again, but the hatred they have for each other overpowers that love and brings forth tragedy. Over 50% of the film was shot on location in Guyana mostly on the West Coast. Primary filming locations included Parika backdam, Meten-Meer-Zorg, De Willem, Lamaha Gardens, and Leonora cane fields. According to the website, the cast and crew stayed in De Willem for the one-month shoot in January 2007. Most of the production was kept under wraps because the crew did not want to draw too much attention to themselves. They received full cooperation and a wonderful reception from the locals. In April 2007 filming of the New York scenes began and the production finally wrapped in late May. The script was written in 2004 by Sooknanan but was placed on the backburner for three years because Flat Tire Productions did not have enough money at the time to produce the film.
The month-long programme is being co-ordinated by the Caribbean Cultural Theatre of Brooklyn, with five scheduled stops across the state from opening day, January 30, to February 27, when the programme closes at the Central Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library at Grand Army Plaza/Flatbush Avenue intersection, Brooklyn, New York. "Our offerings for Black History Month honour cultural pioneers, showcase innovative new voices, exude pride and celebrate vision," declares Jamaican, E Wayne McDonald, artistic director of the Cultural Theatre. Rhone's takes centre stage during this year's Classic Stage and Screen Series with an intimate account of his journey from the poverty of rural Jamaica. Bellas Gate Boy will be presented at York College in Jamaica, NY, on Friday, February 1; St. Francis College, Brooklyn, NY on Sunday February 3; Rockland County Community College, Rockland, NY on Friday, February 8 and St. John's University, Queens, NY, on Wednesday, February 13. Rhone will also be a featured guest at the Flatbush Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, where Mr Burgie will join the noted playwright to share their insights on career and cultural identity in an interactive session with members of the audience. Partners for the Black History Month celebration include the Caribbean Literary and Cultural Centre, Jamaican Civic and Cultural Association of Rockland and TSO Productions.
The 35-year-old rapper, who is of Caribbean background, also must pay a $1,250 fine, plus court costs, for driving while intoxicated and with a suspended license. He pleaded guilty to the charges -- related to four separate incidents -- in Manhattan Criminal Court on the day he was set to stand trial. Rhymes , whose real name is Trevor Smith, must also enroll in a DWI program. "I just want to say that I'm very grateful to the judge, and I'm very grateful to the system. I believe in the system," Rhymes said as he left court. Judge Larry Stephen revoked Rhymes' driver's license for six months and signed an order of protection directing him to stay away from his former driver. Rhymes is due back in court for formal sentencing on March 18. Rhymes, known for eye-catching outfits and an antic performance style, was dressed in a conservative black suit with gray pinstripes, a dark shirt and gray tie during his court appearance. His hits include "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See," "Dangerous" and "Touch It." He also has appeared in movies, including "Shaft" and "Finding Forrester."
The award is given every two years to artists and craftspeople who have shown exceptional promise in their own country and who would benefit from the opportunity to expand their horizons. They are given a grant to travel to another Commonwealth country, work alongside that country's artists, share their skills and put on an exhibition or public display of their work. Akuzuru will visit India in 2008. In the words of one of the 2005 winners, Stary Mwaba from Zambia, the scheme gives artists "a chance to experiment with different materials and take risks, exploring different working processes and ideas different from the habitual." Artists are chosen on the basis of their artwork, which must be strong, original and have its own voice, but also on their personal qualities. Judges select people who will make the most of the opportunity the award offers, who have a desire to extend their horizons and learn from and share with others, and who are resourceful and self-reliant enough to organise and manage their award. Winners of the award come through a rigorous selection process, being chosen from over 365 entries. Online judging by regionally based panels of notable artists and administrators around the Commonwealth brought to the Award scheme a wide range of artistic expertise and knowledge. The Commonwealth Arts and Crafts Awards were first developed in 1985 by the Commonwealth Foundation, which both funds and administers the scheme. The Awards form part of the Culture and Diversity Programme of the Foundation, along with other schemes such as the Commonwealth Writers' Prize and Commonwealth Short Story Competition. The Commonwealth Foundation is an intergovernmental organisation that reports to Commonwealth governments. It works to enhance the role of civil society organisations in governance, democracy, sustainable development, and culture and diversity by strengthening their institutional and human capacity, and creating opportunities and space for partnership, participation, advice and leadership
It could not have been a more fitting occasion for the renowned pop diva, whose maiden album entitled Music Of The Sun, having cited her Caribbean background as one of her major influences on her musical career, to return to Jamaica. The concert will be one of the highlights of Reggae Month, and Rihanna celebrates her 20th birthday, just three days before (February 20) what will be her second appearance in Jamaica. During the recording of A Girl Like Me, Rihanna jetted down to Jamaica to record with Sean Paul on the yardie duet Break It Off. "I have so much respect and love for Sean Paul. He took me to visit the Bob Marley Museum before going into the studio, which was an amazing experience. When we finally got to the studio, I felt as though Marley's spirit was in the room with us," Rihanna, then at the age of 18, was reported to have said. After selling one million copies worldwide of her debut set, Music Of The Sun, Rihanna proved with A Girl Like Me, that her breakthrough was no fluke. She won the World's Best-Selling Pop Female Artiste and Entertainer of the Year at the 2007 World Music Awards. On November 18, 2007, she won Favourite Female Artiste-Soul/R&B at the 2007 American Music Awards. Rihanna's hit song Shut Up And Drive won Best R&B Song at the 2008 People's Choice Award. The single Umbrella from her Good Girl Gone Bad album featuring Jay-Z, was number one in the UK for 10 consecutive weeks, the longest running number one single since Wet Wet Wet's Love Is All Around, back in 1994, and the longest running number one hit single by a female artiste since Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You, which also topped the chart for ten weeks in 1992. The Smile Jamaica-Africa Unite concert being promoted by Stephen Marley/Rita Marley Foundation, will also feature Marley brothers of Ziggy, Junior Gong, Julian and Ky-mani. Other acts booked to appear are Queen Ifrica, Tarrus Riley, Sizzla, Capleton, Spragga Benz, Lutan Fyah, Richie Spice, Elephant Man and Javaughn. The event is an effort of the Marley family to unite Africa with members of the African Diaspora through music so that Bob's message of love, confidence in self and hope, will be perpetuated. It's a combination of two ventures, the Smile Jamaica concert which was held in 1976, and the Rita Marley Africa Unite initiative which will be held in Jamaica for the first time. The concert is an extention of the celebration of Bob Marley's legacy which is even more special this year with February officially designated Reggae Month by Prime Minister Bruce Golding. On February 6, the feature documentary, Africa Unite will be premiered at the Carib 5 Cinema. The film starring Rita Marley, Danny Glover, Angelique Kidjo, Lauryn Hill and the Marley's children, is produced and directed by Stephanie Black of Life and Debt, H-2Workers fame. And the launch of the documentry will be hosted by People's Telecom. "We feel extremely honoured now in 2007, to be asked by Mrs Rita Marley to host Africa Unite in 2008," stated Michael Dawson, CEO and co-founder of the one hundred per cent Jamaica owned telecommunication company. "This is a perfect synergy between the Marley Foundations and People's Telecom as the company from the outset was founded on the principles of stalwarts like Marcus Garvey and His Imperial Majesty (Haile Selassie I), and influenced by the words of Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer," Dawson added in a press release.
The Digicel Inferno's' "The People who came" troupe was declared band of the year with 317 points ahead of Zodiac 1- The Elements by Banker Mas Camp with 300 points. Last years winners the Phunnmakers rounded up the top 3 with a 3rd place finish with Mas Xotique amassing 241 points. DJ Ronnie Rascals Extreme Jouvert Jammaz was adjudged best jouvert troupe while Peacock King from the Mas Xotique troupe won the King of the Bands award on parade day. King Konris equalled the record of the Legendary King Ellie Matt when he became just the 2nd calypsonian to win 3 straight Calypso Monarch titles. The National Calypso Show was the most exciting and largest in recent history . Konris gave two spectacularly memorable performances of "One Song" in the first round and "Sleeping Tiger "in the 2nd round. Konris' closest competitor Big Lice was some 77 points behind in the 1st runner-up position. Big Lice was extremely popular with the large audience but Konris was simply too much on this night and was undoubtedly the King. Lady Sunshine got a surprise 2nd runner-up position while Queen Anastasia who herself made history just two nights earlier when she became the first Queen to 3-peat when she won the National Calypso Female Bacchanal, rounded up the top 4 positions. The other Calypsonians that participated in the finals were former Monarchs Ayatollah who gave a splendid first round performance and Pungwah who performed credibly in both rounds. The Mighty Pat as well as 8 time Nevis Calypso King Dis and Dat were the remaining performers on what was labeled as the best calypso show in recent times as the standard exceeded that of last years memorable finals which featured a fierce battle between Anastasia and King Konris. The beautiful and lovely Ms. Mariece Roberts gracefully walked away winner of the National Queen Pageant and the title of Ms. St.Kitts 2007-09. The young beauty amassed 424.5 points to clinch the prestigious title. In addition to winning the overall title, Mariece also won the Best Interview segment, to cap off a well rounded performance. Ms. Beaumont Park, Fatisha Imo, took the First Runner up spot. Her points' total of 420 is indicative of just how competitive the fight for the crown was. Fatisha also topped two segments- Best Evening Wear and Best Costume- in her bid for the crown. The Second Runner up position was awarded to Ms Cindy DeSouza, with 401.5 points. She also won the Swimwear segment. The Best Talent Segment was won by Ms.Chevaughn Claxton, the lone contestant from Nevis. The other two contestants were Ms. Shanel Bart, and Ms. Patonia Williams. Shanel was named Ms. Photogenic while Patonia was named Ms. Amity. The show was very exciting and was punctuated by a scintillating performance by the very popular d'Vybz Band. K'nyshau Cameron of Anguilla was crowned the new Miss Digicel Haynes Smith Caribbean Talented Teen 2007-2008 with a whopping seven hundred and forty four points. K'nyshau also captured the award for the Best Production number. In first place was Lina Liset Saroza Manso of Cuba, who also won the Best Talent segment while the second runner up spot was Noveecha James of St.Vincent & the Grenadines. The third runner up position went to new comer Bermuda, Miss Alexa Lightbourne. Ms. Macellina Ventura of the United States Virgin Islands won the Best Interview and Best Evening Wear and Best Ambassadorial Appearance went to Ms. Guyana Tennicia Defreitas. Miss Photogenic went to Miss BVI Rosanna Winchester. She got over nineteen thousand votes online. The other contestants were Gwendeline Susana of Curacao; Renee Marquez representing Grenada; Joedina Celestine of St. Lucia; Kershelle Hilaire representing Trinidad & Tobago and Alsanarda Hanley representing the host country, St. Kitts. This is the first time Anguilla has won the crown in the shows twenty-eight year history. The 2007-08 Soca Monarch is King Konris who won the title with the hit song "Walk Away". Mente of Small Axe and defending Soca Monarch champion Ras Kelly were 1st and 2nd runners-up respectively. However the most memorable performance came from d'Vybz Band's Shakki who brought the house down with her scintillating performance of her bands big hit 'Party in Da Streets'. Miss Sandy Point High, Che-Raina Warner, was crowned Miss Talented Teen while the junior calypso crown went to Nevisian Husani Paris, "The Inspirer. Warner received the awards for best Personality and Achievement, Best Interview, Miss Photogenic and the Chairman's Award. The first runner up was Miss Basseterre High, Kerisse Hanley, who won the award for Best Evening Wear and in second place was Miss St. Theresa's Convent High, Lisette Hutchinson, who won the awards for Best Talent and Miss Amity. The other contestants were Tandy Trotz of the Washington Archibald High, Micayan Dore of the Cayon High and Tiffany Pereira of the Verchild's High. The Inspirer won with a song entitled "Down on my knees," while the 'Mighty Junior" took the first place with "Retaining My Crown Second place went to the Mighty Al, who sang "Questions from a Youth" while the third place spot went to "Singing Shaddy", who sang "Education." Ten junior calypsonians competed for the crown. One of the main highlights of the Carnival season was the 2nd annual Night of the Stars New Years Eve Ball which featured d'Vybz, Small Axe, Ronnie Rascal and DJ Sugar Bowl. D'Vybz gave a truly excitingly memorable performance with the thousands jumping and waving in the New Year with the bands hot carnival tunes DJ Play, My Life,So Wine,Warriors and Party in the Streets. The band was very well received and played 2 hours of non stop sweet soca and Caribbean music for the thousands at the Bird Rock Beach Hotel. The Small Axe Band was as usual spectacular as they had the massive crowd in attendance in soca frenzy blazing thier big carnival hits Naughty Shorty and In Da Middle. The success of the Ball has resulted in the booking by the events promoters by the same headliners in Small Axe and d'Vybz Band for the 2008-09 edition of the annual event. Another carnival highlight was the new addition to the carnival line-up the Miss Big and Beautiful Pageant. "Who say big isn't beautiful?" Definitely not the five beauties who competed in the Miss Big and Beautiful Pageant. The crown was captured by Miss Kibiane Willett; in first place was Yvette Herbert while Lonya Small took the second place. The other contestants were Denise Hodge and Vanessa Francis. The five big beauties graced the stage with confidence and were no way near embarrassed about their weight. The audience was stunned when the ladies made their swimsuit appearance and gave full support throughout the entire show. Best introductory speech went to Miss Yvette Herbert; best professional wear was Miss Vanessa Francis while best swimsuit, best talent and best evening wear went to Miss Kibiane Willett and Miss Denise Hodge was given Miss Photogenic, Miss Congeniality and best interview The Miss Big and Beautiful Queen Pageant is expected to be an annual event. The most popular calypso songs for the carnival season were two politically charged witty compositions, Sucking Labour Breast by Lord Kut and Focus by the Unexpected. Both songs were comical, witty yet hard-hitting jabs at the government The St.Kitts-Nevis carnival 2007-08 was by no means the best ever but it was certainly a very memorable carnival. The music for this year's carnival, particularly from the bands was for the most part on a much higher level than in recent years. With songs like DJ Play, My Life, Party in Da Streets and So Wine D'Vybz Band produced what many have termed as the best album for the season mainly due to its distinct universal appeal. Small Axe as well received rave reviews for their 2008 production, in particular the groovy soca hit Naughty Shorty. Other very commendable cds have been produced by calypso monarch King Konris and road march champions Grand Masters. 5 time former road march champions the Sugar Band received mixed reviews for their 2007-08 album, Band A Lion. The |
