HEARTY applause and cheers from specially invited guests greeted the credits as they rolled up on Carib Cinema’s huge screen, signalling the end of Second Chance.

The independent film, directed by Jamaican Cleon James and starring Spragga Benz and American actor Jhonn de La Puente, premiered to a rousing reception Thursday evening.

Guests included Minister of Gender, Entertainment, Culture and Sport Olivia “Babsy” Grange; Minister of Transport and Mining Audley Shaw; British-Jamaican actor Micheal Ward; Olympian Asafa Powell; as well as artistes Benzly Hype, Twin of Twins, Snagga Puss, and Wickerman.

Spragga Benz — who previously starred in the 2002 cult classic Shottas, alongside Ky-Mani Marley — shared the challenges he experienced in his latest flick.

“Trying to remember the lines because this time wi never had much leeway to do our own thing. In Shottas wi jus’ a hol’ a vibes an’ talk, jus’ like how wi talk pon di street, but this time it’s more scripted,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

“But it’s a great experience because, for di first time, wi ah invest inna wi self… wi naah do dis fi Sony, wi nah do dis fi nobody but for ourself an’ our culture, while getting di youth dem motivated,” he continued.

Spragga Benz is credited as one of two executive producers for Second Chance.

The deejay hopes the film will inspire youth to do positive things with their lives.

“Di message of this film directly counteracts di message of Shottas, mi definitely waan keep dat balance deh consciously,” he added.

Second Chance tells the story of a academically qualified Rastafarian who struggles to find a job in corporate America. Discouraged by his failures, he falls into a life of crime with old high school friends.

Second Chance’s cast also features American actress Merlisa Determined, sound system selector Tony Matterhorn, soca disc jock Barrie Hype, and Jodi Covington. It premiered in Florida in February.

Jones, who also wears the hat of executive director, said Second Chance breaks the mould of Jamaican films.

“We are sending a message that we are breaking the chain of Jamaican films… What we are doing is trying to create a movie that represents Jamaica that could make an impact with the rest of the world… This movie has no swearing or profanity… and Jamaicans know right from wrong. So many youths go down the wrong path because they don’t have any encouragement, so we have to figure out how to influence them in doing what’s right and this is the platform that we’re using,” he noted.

Jones, who studied at New York Film Academy, is credited as director for Blood Shed (2007), Facing Reality (2009), Foreign Exchange (2012), and Trust in God (2014).

Spragga Benz, given name Carlton Grant, is known for songs like Could A Deal (produced by Winston Riley), Girls Hooray (Steely and Clevie), and Turn Me On with Kevin Lyttle.