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Films put Jamaica on 'negative'
published: Sunday | September 21, 2008
Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter
There are several Jamaican-based films, but few represent a side of the island that is non-violent, crime-free or drug-free.
Jimmy Cliff in a scene from 'The Harder They Come'.
Even in the popular 1972 Jimmy Cliff-starred Harder They Come, Jamaica was shown in a somewhat negative light. Cliff, who played Ivanhoe Martin, left his rural community to find employment opportunities and fulfil his musical dream in Kingston. However, in the city he had to deal with corruption, drugs and crime.
violence
Other subsequent popular films about are Dancehall Queen (1997), Third World Cop (1999), Rude Boy (2002) and Shottas (2002). There is some violence in these films, some more graphic than others.
Veteran actor Ronald Goshop, who played a taxi driver in Dancehall Queen, agreed that most of the films about Jamaica are violent.
"I think they are like that because that is what sells," said Goshop, who is known for playing Mackie on the television series Royal Palm Estate.
"Jamaicans that live abroad see Jamaica from the outside. They are not here to see the family life and the love that is on the island. So they paint of big picture of drugs, sex and crime," Goshop said.
He said most of the film roles that he had been offered in his long acting career had been drug- or gun-related.
While he would gladly welcome roles in films that predominantly show the beautiful side of the island, he believes that direction would have to come from someone living here.
But there is a problem. Films are very expensive to make and local filmmakers lack financing.
Goshop
interpret the character
So while Goshop recognises the situation, he will accept a role in a crime or drug movie about Jamaica.
"I would take it because that is what is offered and I am an actor. But probably I could interpret the character and portray one that has more meaning and not just one that is about murder and killing," he told The Sunday Gleaner.
Like Goshop, young actor Everaldo Creary believes many Jamaican films are about crime and sex. He said "crime and sex sell and it overpowers most plots". However, he does not believe Jamaican movies are always violent.
"It is a relative situation. There is not a hard or fast thing. We are in the developing stage," said Creary, who was part of the cast in the comedic Candy Shop. "Some actors have to play that because that is what they are good at or because that is the only role available."
Creary also played a role in Better Mus Come which has its share of violence, with Jamaica's 1970s' political upheaval as its setting. Nonetheless, he still has hope that Jamaican films will move away from portraying organised crime.
"Better days will come when we (actors) can do a wide range and look at other topics. We are at a building stage and we are definitely improving," Creary said.
few movies
There are a few movies in the making which have plots that are not predominantly about organised crime.
Cop and a Badman is about three men who stole the Queen's jewels and a cop is sent in search of them to recover the stolen goods. However, the comedic value in the movie overshadows the violence.
There is also Urban Smuggler, a movie based on a book which was launched last weekend. Shooting will start November in England, and in Jamaica next year.
life story
Urban Smuggler is based on the life of Andrew Pritchard. It is written by Pritchard and Norman Parker. Pritchard was accused of transporting a large quantity of cocaine into the United Kingdom. After being in prison for 18 months he was acquitted and the charges dropped.
Co-producer for the film, Paul Samuda, said it will highlight the positive side of Jamaica.
"It is not for negative crime-related things, but to show the island as a beautiful place. It is not a violent film, but there are couple violent scenes," Samuda told The Sunday Gleaner. "It is not the regular run-of-the-mill negative depiction of Jamaica as what has been the case in other films. It is also a love story."
Samuda was adamant that the country would not be seen in a negative light and Jamaicans would be able to get employment opportunities.
published: Sunday | September 21, 2008
Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter
There are several Jamaican-based films, but few represent a side of the island that is non-violent, crime-free or drug-free.
Jimmy Cliff in a scene from 'The Harder They Come'.
Even in the popular 1972 Jimmy Cliff-starred Harder They Come, Jamaica was shown in a somewhat negative light. Cliff, who played Ivanhoe Martin, left his rural community to find employment opportunities and fulfil his musical dream in Kingston. However, in the city he had to deal with corruption, drugs and crime.
violence
Other subsequent popular films about are Dancehall Queen (1997), Third World Cop (1999), Rude Boy (2002) and Shottas (2002). There is some violence in these films, some more graphic than others.
Veteran actor Ronald Goshop, who played a taxi driver in Dancehall Queen, agreed that most of the films about Jamaica are violent.
"I think they are like that because that is what sells," said Goshop, who is known for playing Mackie on the television series Royal Palm Estate.
"Jamaicans that live abroad see Jamaica from the outside. They are not here to see the family life and the love that is on the island. So they paint of big picture of drugs, sex and crime," Goshop said.
He said most of the film roles that he had been offered in his long acting career had been drug- or gun-related.
While he would gladly welcome roles in films that predominantly show the beautiful side of the island, he believes that direction would have to come from someone living here.
But there is a problem. Films are very expensive to make and local filmmakers lack financing.
Goshop
interpret the character
So while Goshop recognises the situation, he will accept a role in a crime or drug movie about Jamaica.
"I would take it because that is what is offered and I am an actor. But probably I could interpret the character and portray one that has more meaning and not just one that is about murder and killing," he told The Sunday Gleaner.
Like Goshop, young actor Everaldo Creary believes many Jamaican films are about crime and sex. He said "crime and sex sell and it overpowers most plots". However, he does not believe Jamaican movies are always violent.
"It is a relative situation. There is not a hard or fast thing. We are in the developing stage," said Creary, who was part of the cast in the comedic Candy Shop. "Some actors have to play that because that is what they are good at or because that is the only role available."
Creary also played a role in Better Mus Come which has its share of violence, with Jamaica's 1970s' political upheaval as its setting. Nonetheless, he still has hope that Jamaican films will move away from portraying organised crime.
"Better days will come when we (actors) can do a wide range and look at other topics. We are at a building stage and we are definitely improving," Creary said.
few movies
There are a few movies in the making which have plots that are not predominantly about organised crime.
Cop and a Badman is about three men who stole the Queen's jewels and a cop is sent in search of them to recover the stolen goods. However, the comedic value in the movie overshadows the violence.
There is also Urban Smuggler, a movie based on a book which was launched last weekend. Shooting will start November in England, and in Jamaica next year.
life story
Urban Smuggler is based on the life of Andrew Pritchard. It is written by Pritchard and Norman Parker. Pritchard was accused of transporting a large quantity of cocaine into the United Kingdom. After being in prison for 18 months he was acquitted and the charges dropped.
Co-producer for the film, Paul Samuda, said it will highlight the positive side of Jamaica.
"It is not for negative crime-related things, but to show the island as a beautiful place. It is not a violent film, but there are couple violent scenes," Samuda told The Sunday Gleaner. "It is not the regular run-of-the-mill negative depiction of Jamaica as what has been the case in other films. It is also a love story."
Samuda was adamant that the country would not be seen in a negative light and Jamaicans would be able to get employment opportunities.