Black reaps ‘success’
Life And Debt, American filmmaker Stephanie Black’s revealing documentary on the effects globalisation has had on Jamaica’s economy, returns to this country in April for a second run. This time around, it will be shown in Montego Bay at the recently opened Palace Cineplex.
The hour-long film had its Jamaica premiere July 29 last year at the Island Cineplex, two months after it first opened in New York and Los Angeles. A two-week run at Palace’s Sovereign Cineplex followed in August.
Speaking from her New York home last week, Black expressed hope that Life And Debt will have a longer local stay the second time of asking. “Because of the amount of emails I’ve been receiving, hopefully the schedule can be extended for more people to see it,” she told All Woman.
Since its debut here six months ago, Black’s second documentary has been making the rounds at small theatres in major cities across the United States and Canada. This weekend, it plays at the Dobie Theatre in Austin, Texas and at the Olympia in Washington.
Last week, Life And Debt was shown in Toronto, Seattle, Belmont, Maryland, Ann Arbor, Michigan and Tucson, Arizona. According to Black, the response to the film in big and small cities has been tremendous and there has been requests by many of these houses for a second helping that has kept Life And Debt in theatres.
“I knew it would do well in the major cities but I’m surprised at the response in smaller cities,” said Black. “It’s rare for a documentary to be shown in US theatres for so long.”
To date, Life And Debt has been shown in over 50 cities. Significantly, Black points out that not many of these areas have large Caribbean immigrant populations. She contends that it has been social activists who have long fought against globalisation in Third World countries that turn out to see Life And Debt in the smaller cities.
While Life And Debt has brought awareness to activists and concerned Jamaicans in North America about the plight of the Jamaican farmer and workers in the Free Zones, Black reports that it has not produced a profit, grossing a modest US$170,000.
“I haven’t made a cent, advertising in most cities is very expensive,” she said, adding: “This film was not intended to make money.”
It took Black almost 10 years to produce Life And Debt. She was influenced to make it after reading of Jamaica’s tumultuos relationship with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and that lending agency’s demands on the government.
Among the people featured in Life And Debt is late prime minister, Michael Manley, who comments on his socialist government’s relationship with the IMF during the 1970s.
Life and Debt documents the problems local farmers face competing against cheap produce (carrots, milk powder, etc) from the US. The dilemma of underpaid workers in Free Zone companies owned by giant American corporations like Hanes is also scrutinised.
New York-born Black has worked over the years with the long-running children’s television programme Sesame Street. She has also directed several music videos for reggae performers including Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers.
Her first documentary, H2 Worker, exposed the inhumane conditions Jamaican farm workers lived in Florida.
Life And Debt is scheduled to kick off its European dates March 23 at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival in London. It will be shown at the Ritzy Theatre.
