Movies

Actor Countryman is dead

Edwin ‘Countryman’ Lothan as he appeared in the 1982 film Countryman

Edwin “Countryman Lothan, star of the 1982 film Countryman, is dead. The fisherman-turned-actor passed away at home in Hellshire, St Catherine, on Sunday. He was 70. Countryman became a household name following the release of the cult classic of the same name, written and directed by Dickie ... Read More

Film-maker now looking at Marcus Garvey flick
A docu-film on the life of Jamaica first National Hero Marcus Garvey is currently in development, sp ... Read More

The Elizabeth Ashley story
Greetings from Albuquerque, New Mexico, where the air is desert dry, the sky turquoise blue. It&rsqu ... Read More

Jamaica trains lens on Toronto Film Fest
A delegation of at least 20 people, headed by Jamaica’s Film Commissioner Renee Robinson, leav ... Read More

Deer makes debut

By Richard Johnson Observer senior reporter johnsonr@jamaicaobserver.com | Sunday, August 28, 2016

Deer, (seated, centre) on the set of Dope Fiend on location in New York.

WHEN Dope Fiend premieres at Newark International Film Festival in the United States on September 9 and 10, viewers will see local actress Sakina Deer, who assumes the production’s female lead. Deer is familiar to Jamaican audiences for her recurring stage production roles by the Jambiz International outfit. She can currently be seen in Blindspot, now showing at the Centrestage Theatre in New Kingston. She attributes her debut film role to former co-star Shayne Powell, with whom she sha ... Read More

On set with Johnny Mathis

with Sheryl Lee Ralph | Sunday, August 28, 2016

Greetings from Santa Fe in New Mexico, where the dirt is a warm pink, the sky is a turquoise blue and the phone reception is just a little bit better than Jamaican land lines after Hurricane Gilbert. Yes, I am still here making a movie (which shall remain nameless), but forgive me I’m a little on the groggy side because my pickup this morning was 5:25 am. No matter how glamorous you think movie making is, we all usually get up with the sun and work a minimum of 12 hours a day. By 7:35 a ... Read More

Webb gives ‘Witch’ new life

BY RICHARD JOHNSON Observer senior reporter johnsonr@jamaicaobserver.com | Sunday, August 21, 2016

With the constant plea for film-makers to create local content with international appeal, one animator is moving forward with products geared for that wider market. Michael Webb is a US-trained software engineer who has parlayed his expertise and love for movies into creating content with a very Jamaican storyline. Based in Manchester, Webb is currently working on the pilot for an animated series called A Witch at Rose Hall. It is his take on the Annie Palmer story, the much talked about 18t ... Read More

Earthkry racks up overseas miles

Friday, August 19, 2016

In June, the Jamaica Observer presented a series looking at reggae artistes going on tour. We follow up with some of those acts. LAST summer, the Earthkry band had little live work to show for hours of intense rehearsals. Their frustration was eased considerably this summer by a 15-date tour of the United States. It started June 19 at the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival in northern California and closed July 17 at the Wild Fire club in Chicago. The quartet also did club dates in the South, ... Read More

VIDEO: Rowell shoots for ‘Location Jamaica’

By Richard Johnson Observer senior reporter johnsonr@jamaicaobserver.com | Sunday, August 14, 2016

On the set of The Rich and the Ruthless (Antonio Graham)

THE threat of a tropical wave did nothing to dampen the spirits on the set of the Rich and the Ruthless, the television film which was being shot at the Secrets Resort in Montego Bay recently. Directed by Hollywood actress Victoria Rowell of The Young and the Restless fame, she is hoping the movie will develop into a television series. “The storms did not affect our filming at all. When you are filming you always have alternatives, especially when you know weather is about to break. So ... Read More

Exile Di Brave goes to movies

Saturday, August 13, 2016

Exile Di Brave (left) and French film director Romaine ‘Sher khan’ Chiffre at the Rock Dem release party in Kingston recently.

Exile Di Brave is always putting out new and exciting projects for his growing fan base. The fast-rising reggae star’s creative drive and his desire to keep his fans happy have kept his career on an upward trajectory since he embarked on his musical journey in 2003. He has a deep love for music and other forms of artistic expressions. Therefore, it is no surprise that his latest project has landed him on the silver screen. Exile Di Brave is featured in the recently released short fil ... Read More

Film festival off?

BY RICHARD JOHNSON Observer senior reporter johnsonr@jamaicaobserver.com | Tuesday, August 09, 2016

Participants in last year’s Jamaica Film Festival at the Courtleigh Auditorium in St Andrew.

THE second staging of the Jamaica Film Fesitval, set for September this year, seems to have hit a snag and will not take place this year. The event — which was first held in July last year — an initiative of the then film commissioner Carole Beckford, was to be repeated this year. However, when new film commissioner Renee Robinson took up that post in February of this year, it was announced that the July staging of the festival was being shifted to align the local festival with the ... Read More

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