The video Rise Again, the Digicel funded musical tribute for Haiti and led by international Reggae artiste Shaggy, was shot on location in Port Royal, Mountain View Clinic and the Emmanuel Apostolic Church on Slipe Road in Kingston.

While director Jay Will was busy getting everyone into place when Sunday Observer caught up with him at the Emmanuel Apostolic, assistant director Kurt Wright said every thing should take no more than five days to be completed, including putting the various clips together and getting the video out.

“The vibes and overall theme of the video is to give hope,” Wright said. “A lot of imagery shot was done and we have to now put everything together. It was a great experience. It’s really worth it!”

Shelly-Ann Curran, Digicel’s senior sponsorship manager and production manager for the song, explained that all the artistes from across the Caribbean were shot in studios with footage made available to piece together from all the shoots.

“Tessanne and Etana are the only two artistes doing real scenes outside of studio,” Curran said. “The video is about real people, so you see kites, doves and balloons, etc. Tessanne has a strong part in the video because her vocals are so strong. The song is now playing all over the world. The proceeds from that will be 100 per cent donated to Haiti. This song is our Caribbean We are the World,” she said excitedly.

While Tessanne plays a very integral part in the video, she wished it was something that did not have to be done at all.

“I wish we didn’t have to do it at all because so many persons (in Haiti) are affected,” Tessanne said. “But I am truly happy to be a part of something that is so much bigger than ourselves. Something that will benefit those in Haiti, especially with them being our neighbours and all.”

For her, she is doing something that everyone would want to do under the circumstance– help.

“Basically, I am following my heart,” she said.

Etana was amazed at the speed of the production of both song and video.

“I still can’t believe how fast this video is being produced and put together,” she said. “The song was just done a couple days ago and we are doing the video now, so that means when trouble comes people fight.”

Etana is the first female voice heard in the song, setting the tone for the seriousness and reality to follow.

The shoot ended with 30 members of the church’s choir doing the chorus, along with Tessanne and Etana.

Mark Reid, choir director, explained that the choir would be participating in a two minute clip doing back-up for Tessanne.

“It’s a good opportunity for the choir and the church overall,” Reid said. “To do something as noble as this? Why not! It’s the least we can do to show we really care.”

Christopher Burch said that while he is the producer, he was first and foremost a musician and was quite happy being a musician in the video, in which he is seen playing keyboard for the choir.

“Anybody can be a producer but not everyone can be a musician. I am a musician,” Burch said animatedly.