EZONE-IT'S BACK !!!

Ezone airs its last taped season on TV6 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6pm. This show is the brain child of Lisa Wickham and is also directed by her. The show hightlights the islands of the Caribbean, their majestic and breathtaking sites, sumptuous restaurants, festivals, heritage, history and wonderful people.

 Although i am of the belief that the show could've been a revamped and re-branded one that was airing but it's not. This show has its advantages of being locally produced, showcasing the Caribbean and well organized from my observations. There are various locally produced shows that do the same such as: Gayelle, the Bush Diaries, The Road Less Travelled with Paolo Kernahan and  Nic & Company with Nicola Bariteau. But what about movies and great documentaries?

I think it is time to think bigger, the local media needs to win back the public with showing the talent that we possess. There would be those who would argue that 'local' isn't as professional  or even good enough, but if they see it often enough that appreciation for local would come.

So check out Ezone on TV6 and let the appreciation for for local begin!!!

Trinidad Talent Mastana Bahar

"We want back we Local"

Sometimes when I look at television I often wonder, who are we? are we even Trinidad any more? why are so many of our local shows made to mimic that of American Television? What about our culture, have we all lost the talent to think local and not just do as" monkey say monkey do". Before there was cable our local stations would showcase what it meant to be a true 'Trinbagonian' in shows that were rich with our culture, they were shows that we looked forward to. Who remembers "Calabash Alley" aired on a Sunday night now that was "comess" it was our very own soap opera made right here among our local, by our locals and for our local.  Today all that is local has been plagued with what i like to call the "copy cat" fever, its like we have become the worlds best followers and can no longer be leaders.

American television has some called American's next top model we have a Trinidad's next top model, American television has American's next dance crew, we have Trinidad's next dance crew...

We have become so lazy not only in creating our on programs but we have also now even steal the name from our American counterparts...

I would like to see Trinidad rise again where local programming and its content is concerned and not have to rely on the American programs to come up with our next idea...we have come so far as a country yet the world still see us as the worlds greatest COPY CATS......

What About .......????

What about those locally produced shows we had on television back in my days? Although i was only born yesterday! i still remember the one that shaped my upbringing:

1. Ricky Ticky (Children's show)

2. Twelve and Under- who knew ho wto speak the Queen's english better than Aunty Hazel! I always used to feel as though she spoke to me specially while on her shows.

3. Mastana Bahar

4. Scouting for Talent

5. West WoodPark- I used to be angry when i miss an epsiode for one reason or another!

6. No Boundaries- Ogosh boy!!! this one took me back real far hmmm. Can you remember this one?

All of these shows were locally produced and catered to a certain niche in society; from highlighting talent to soap oprahs. Can you remember any of them that you saw growing up?

Scorch

Scorch Magazine has been published 10 times annually since 2004. It is the brainchild of radio personality and entrepreneur Kwasi ‘Hypa Hoppa’ Hopkinson. From inception, this free magazine has stood out as unique. Its writing style is conversational, favoring the local vernacular over the Queen’s English. The events it covers are current, totally local and can sometimes be described as an indigenous comical tabloid. It pokes fun at local celebrities and public figures in a way that can never be described as subtle.

The Bold Issue (Vol 3: October 10), besides heavily promoting a line of Angostura rums, devotes a lot of space to attracting and securing a mate. In the article entitled “Staying in Your F*cking Bracket”, an individual is encouraged to honestly assess and rate themselves on their level of desirability and then seek a mate who is on par with them. The language used throughout the magazine is candid and not for the faint of heart. If not clearly stated, the implication is barely concealed. A primary school student is capable of connecting the inferences of profanity, sexual innuendos and crude jokes.

Giving credit where it is due, the magazine also attempts to focus on intellectual topics such as health care, the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival and how to tell a ‘good girl’ from a ‘bad thing’ (sic). What caused me to be in awe was how come this very ‘liberal’ magazine has been allowed to exist in our very ‘conservative’ society without a hint of public outcry?

Turtle: The Incredible Journey

     The documentary entitled “Turtle: The Incredible Journey” is an 80 minute feature about the birth, growth and exploits of a loggerhead turtle. Within the first few minutes of the film the viewer is pleased to discover that this is no dreary monologue but rather, an educational, awe inspiring experience. The director uses the camera to bring these tiny newborn creatures into focus and create the illusion that we are experiencing the world through their eyes. The battle for survival as the baby loggerheads race towards the open sea captivates the entire audience and we are able to sense the fear and anxiety they must have felt at the time.

     Honestly, had it not been for the purpose of supplying this blog with information about the film festival I would not have taken it upon myself to see a film about a turtle, but I’m glad I did. There were many aspects of the ocean and the beings that cohabitated there highlighted in the film that I did not know. It was also interesting to realize how intricately woven the existence of these sea dwellers are. The most interesting feature of the documentary for me is the fact loggerhead was born with an internal compass that enables them to find their way around the ocean unaided. The turtle was born with all the skills needed to navigate and survive the vast ocean.

     Though I was not particularly surprised that the auditorium was only 40% full for the movie presentation (because advertising for the event left a lot to be desired), the actual content of the audience surprised me. Those coming to view the movie made it a family event. The ages of those present ranged from pre teens to elderly persons.  I was taken aback because I am used to seeing mainly couples and groups of friends populating a cinema.

     Although the benefits of having such a film being included in the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival was obvious I wondered what exactly are the criteria for an application to be considered as an entrant in the Film Festival and why after considering local and regional films, there were still vacancies for foreign films? Were there not enough local and regional applications or were the quality of these applications called into question? However there is no doubt that the film was well received by the audience, as was evident at the conclusion of the film everyone gave a standing ovation.

Have You Seen Ida's Daughter?



Eintou Pearl Springer



Ida's daughter, Eintou Pearl Springer is missing! She is not missing from daily existence amongst her family, friends and loved ones. She is missing from the recently concluded Fifth Annual Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival via a feature documentary entitled Ida's Daughter: The World of Eintou Pearl Springer.

This discovery was made a couple of days after the film was screened in the AV room of NAlIS, Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain. Having thoroughly enjoyed the documentary for the insight it provided on a "daughter of the soil" early upbringing and influences, a couple of Media Jamettes team members eagerly perused the Film Festival's guide to see when it would be shown.

Much to our dismay, shock and utter confusion, the documentary was not in the Film Festival's viewing line-up. Needless to say the screening of the documentary at which a couple of our team members were privileged to be at was the sole initiative of NALIS. It was done to honour this said "daughter of the soil" as they recognised her past, present and ongoing passion filled contribution to the arts in this country. It is to be noted that Ms. Springer was at one point and time the director of the Heritage Library at NALIS.

So, back to why the documentary was not a part of the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival line-up for 2010. Well, when asked, the information received from a reliable source was that it was rejected by the Film Festival Commission which is spearheaded by Bruce Paddington.

We will reiterate, the documentary Ida's Daughter: The World of Eintou Pearl Springer was rejected as part of this year's film festival? Why? We do not have the answer to as yet but it has led us on the part of questioning exactly what is the criteria that must be met for a film (documentary, short, drama, monologue etc.) to be a part of Trinidad and Tobago's Film Festival.

At this point we must indicate that the documentary was selected and shown at the Fifth Annual Belize International Film Festival. The festival ran from July 16 to 24, 2010 under the auspices of the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) and the Belize Film Commission.

OMG! How more obvious can it be? Is it to say that there is only one copy of the documentary for circulation and it did not make it to Trinidad on time. In time to be screened and subsequently admitted to the Fifth Trinidad and Tobago International Film Festival which ran from September 22nd to October 5th, 2010.

It is quite irritating and disappointing, the blatant disregard that artistes are treated with by most people in this country and in particular the media. It is even more so in this particular instance as the film industry in general is deeply embedded in the media. There was and is a need the media in this country to secure and support the interests and vitality of our local artistes such as Ms. Springer through the different mediums and or forums afforded to them via the media.

Ida's Daughter: The World of Eintou Pearl Springer is a documentary that is pertinent to the history of Trinidad and Tobago as a whole and to the arts in particular. It passes on knowledge and inspiration and identifes the different experiences and influences one can come across in life. It is relevant to understanding the development of Ms. Springer's passion for her artforms as a poet, playwright, actor, cultural activist and about literature becoming the source of her interest.

The documentary recalls  her chilhood in Santa Cruz, the cultural milieu that shaped her, the role of the extended family and, in particular, her grandfather; the stick fighting, the mas, the cuisine, the fauna and the flora. the film also looked at Ms. Springer's role in the Black Power events of 1970 in which her cousin, Theodore Guerra, SC, was a prosecutor and she was an activist.

The team members of Media Jamettes gives this documentary four stars and encourage that members of the public source and view this documentary film, which we hope will become available for the general public's viewing very soon. Of course this is dependent on all aspects of the media in Trinidad and Tobago taking their role and responsibility where the film industry to the full extent.

Please look out for continued review postings on the films that were shown at this year's film festival which this team fully endorses!