Photo: Maia Chung and Best Selling Author K Sean Harris enjoy a moment at the Jollywood Jamaica Film screening
Last night Tuesday April 16-2013 saw the screening of two short films by Jollywood Jamaica, where actors, media and well-wishers gathered at the New Kingston based Cuddyz Sports Bar, in Kingston Jamaica.
The location was used to show two Jollywood Jamaica productions, which were the context within which Jollywood Jamaica Founder Kanhai Condison announced the beginning of the Jollywood Jamaica Short Film Series – starting this month April 2013.
Founder of Jollywood Jamaica Productions, Kanhai Condison - at this first screening explained that the event last night was being used to kick of a series of Short Film Festivals; that will begin officially on April 29-2013 and run throughout the year until December.
The film festival series is a development of Jollywood Jamaica and is open to all film makers who are interested in having their work seen and judged by industry professionals, who are trained and specialize in film making and the other areas of the craft of film making.
Photo: Founder of Jollywood Jamaica Kanhai Condison (l) with cast members from Escape 4 one of the films shown at the event being acknowledged for their performance by the event's attendees.
As at the Monday April 29-2013, the Jollywood Jamaica Short Film Festival Series will kick off its first staging; after which a film festival will be staged every three months.
Started in 2008, the Jollywood Jamaica Production house is made up seven actors currently.
The first film festival event, on Monday April 29-2013 will cost attendees 1200 per person and groups can book attendance in batches for special discounts.
Proceeds from the festival will be donated to the Franklyn Town Primary School, the alma mater of Condison.
While addressing those gathered last night Mr. Condison said, a major part of his mission is to get Jamaican actors into the global acting market place, which is not happening now to the extent that it can, based on the talent and interest within the acting community here.
He says that what he has found since starting his Production house is that many of the Jamaican actors who aspire to do movies, have theatre experience, but not necessarily movie and camera experience, which are different.
He explained that the global market place needs actors that have done work on camera and have played roles on film, not just the stage. He says many international movie makers are trading on our actors, by having them coach other nationalities to play Jamaicans, while the accolades, exposure and the earnings go to others.
He says this has to stop and has to be stopped by those involved in the industry here in Jamaica.
A part of the objectives of Jollywood Jamaica is to also get indigenous music out to the world as part of the film making process. The scores for the movies shown last night; Protecting Harris and Escape 4, were in the main performed by local singer, some of whom are the actors that make up Jollywood Jamaica Productions.
At last night’s event after each screening the singers, who acted and had their music featured in the film shown, performed live to the appreciative audience.
Photo: Wayne McGregor and Maia Chung smile for the paparazzi at the Jollywood Jamaica Short Film Screening held Tuesday April 16-2013
Locally respected actor Munair Zacca and top Jamaican video director Ras Kassa are a part of the Jollywood Jamaica Production house, with Zacca playing main role in one of the films screened last night: Protecting Harris, while Ras Kassa directed and produced videos for songs of the actors …who are part of Jollywood and complement their acting with singing.
The event also included Condison’s announcement of his intention to make an Autism themed short film starring Jamaican Autism advocate Maia Chung, founder of The Maia Chung Autism and Disabilities Foundation.
Film makers wanting to enter the film festival and actors interested in practicing their craft, are being asked to contact Jollywood Jamaica at 1 876 369 0070, or email the company at Jollywood.jamaica@hotmail.com, the company’s website can be visited by going to www.jollywoodjamaica.com
Contact Kanhai Condison – 369-0070
Photo: Jollywood Jamaica Head Kanhai Condison and his actors take a bow at the Tuesday April 16-2013 showing of two films produced by the production house
