Who? Jamaican writer Summer Eldemire, who has for the past three years been creating art and working in film. She’s been writing for publications like The Fader, The Face Magazine, and working on a book about her childhood in Jamaica. She’s also been directing videos for the BBC, working in the art department, doing some acting and working on documentaries for HBO, Showtime and Netflix.

The buzz… The release Tuesday, of Bougie Banton, the first episode of Jamaican web series Highly Favored.

Everyone knows Jamaicans are God’s chosen people, but being highly favoured isn’t always easy! The web series Highly Favored follows Winter, a Jamaican creative navigating the everyday highs and lows of life as an artist, both in foreign and yaad. Inspired by Issa Rae’s Awkward Black Girl-turned-HBO hit, Insecure, Highly Favored is an exciting new voice encapsulating the Jamaican and diaspora experience.

In the first episode, Bougie Banton, a job interview takes an unexpected turn when Winter’s potential employer turns out to be obsessed with Jamaica. The episode’s name Bougie Banton plays off of reggae icon Buju Banton and the ‘bougie-ness’ of the interviewer’s neighbourhood, using humour to explore the stereotypes the world has about Jamaicans.

The budget… It was made on zero budget by a team of Caribbean creatives with music from Shanique Marie, Equiknoxx Music, Runkus, and Jesse Royal. Edited by the creator of Losing Patience. Written, directed and starring Eldemire, whose work has appeared in The Fader, The Daily Beast, The Face, Sole DxB, BBC, Al Jazeera and the Jamaica Observer.

The more… “Art imitates life. The short is based on real-life experiences. If you’re a Jamaican in foreign you’re bound to be dealing with the stereotypes the world has about Jamaica. I’m just mirroring what I see and hear around me.

“The point of creating art is bringing people together and sharing conversations, and this project was definitely about community. The best part of the experience has been working with other Caribbean creatives. The DP, Tim “Hydreams” Coleman, is from Belize. The editor is the creator of Jamaican web series Losing Patience. The music is all from Jamaican artistes, Equiknoxx, Shanique Marie, Jesse Royal and Runkus. I’ve been away from Jamaica for two-and-a-half years because of visa issues so it was amazing to collaborate.

“I’m known as a writer but I’ve often found writing to be isolating. I’ve been looking for a way to use my writing in other creative mediums and do something more collaborative, and this project was perfect for it. Acting and directing have allowed me to channel my creativity into different things that are more community-oriented.

Mostly, I’m hoping to make people laugh and feel a connection… I hope viewers take away the experience of “Oh, I relate to that! That’s happened to me too.” And maybe viewers have never seen that particular experience reflected in the media.

Feedback thus far has been very positive… People have been reaching out to say that it’s a relatable experience and that they’ve been in similar situations as Jamaicans in the diaspora. Whether it’s being shocked that some Americans will let their dogs drink out of cups, having people assume you smoke weed, saying touristy slogans or assuming you look a certain way because you’re Jamaican.

Next up is… releasing a six-episode first season of Highly Favored. The second episode is in the edit and will be ready for release in August. The plan is to shoot season two in Jamaica. Like the rest of the world, I’m obsessed with my country and want to continue making films and art about it. We’re also releasing a Highly Favored line of merch next week, so stay tuned! It’s a T-shirt but also a collectable piece of art from the show.

Follow @sum.lion on Instagram and subscribe to our Highly Favored YouTube channel for updates.

Website: www.highly-favored.com

E-mail: summereldemire@gmail.com