Friday, November 4, 2022
Lifestyle, Page2, Page2 Section
November 3, 2022

Friday, November 4, 2022

Blackjack Christmas, a movie executive-produced by Hollywood actress Victoria Rowell, best known for her role as Drucilla Winters in the soap opera The Young & The Restless, was screened at the AC Hotel, Kingston, Tuesday evening. In an exclusive chat with Page 2 Rowell described the movie as one that speaks on the surface to “family, forgiveness and festivities, but also addresses immigration, grief, addiction and letting go…”

It is that and so much more. The by-invitation-only screening found favour with those in attendance, including Olivia “Babsy” Grange, minister of culture, gender, entertainment, and sport, who described the movie as an early Christmas present for Jamaica.

Page 2 shares popcorn and pretzels with castmates Fae Ellington and Oliver Samuels, who along with Charmin Lee and Dawnn Lewis, Adam Lazarre-White and Kyrie McAlpin, among others, star in the movie which will be aired on BET+ on December 15, just in time for the Christmas holidays.

Casting director Shawneil Bailey-Gordon (left), film director Victoria Rowell (right) and cast members (from second left) Fae Ellington, Adam Lazarre-White, and Kyrie McAlpin (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport Olivia “Babsy” Grange (centre), a guest at Tuesday’s screening of Blackjack Christmas, was delighted to be in the company of Adam Lazarre-White, who stars in the movie, and the film’s director Victoria Rowell. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
Broad smiles all around from Blackjack film director Victoria Rowell and long-time friend, multi-hyphenate Mutabaruka, who came out in support of the movie that was filmed both in Jamaica and Los Angeles. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
Blackjack Christmas actress Kyrie McAlpin, whose mum is Jamaican and father Trinbagonian, and who has been nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Younger Voice Performer in an animated or preschool animated programme as Emma Pine in Doug Unplugs, dazzled the Page 2 lens. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
US-based Jamaican actress Soraya Dabdoub (left) and High Esteem Modelling Agency model Lianne Fullwood were spotted at the private screening of Blackjack Christmas. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
Noted supporters of the arts Pat Ramsay and Paul Issa were as delighted to catch up as they were to witness Jamaica’s latest movie. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
Blackjack Christmas director Victoria Rowell (second left) and her local production partner The Lab CEO Kimala Bennett were flanked by execs Steven Gooden (left), NCB Capital Markets CEO, and Sekou Crawford, vice-president, investment banking and corporate solutions. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
Veteran Jamaican actors Fae Ellington and Oliver Samuels, who both star in the feature film Blackjack Christmas, could hardly contain their glee as they greeted each other with warm embraces Tuesday evening. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
Blackjack Christmas director Victoria Rowell was all smiles as she readied to welcome guests to the AC Hotel Kingston for the screening of the movie. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

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