President Bharrat Jagdeo has pledged Gy$30 million towards the continuation of the President’s Film Endowment Project, which had a red carpet premier on July 7th, at the Theatre Guild Playhouse, Parade Street, Kingston.
“This was a tremendous project for our country,” Jagdeo told the producers, cast, crew and special invitees who were present for the screening of the eight short films produced under the project.
The President’s Film Endowment Project 2011 stemmed from a meeting in November last year with stakeholders in the local arts and entertainment industry.
A small grant of Gy$10 million was committed to encourage film making in Guyana.
President Bharrat Jagdeo accepts a copy of the films from one of the directors
Jagdeo stated that government recognised the need for the development of the arts. The republishing of the Guyana Classics series is a testimony to the government’s commitment to reviving the arts. The president noted that the private sector does not have the resources to contribute to the arts because of the beating it took last year during the global financial crisis. However, he expressed hope that the private sector will eventually come around to contributing to the development of the arts and entertainment sector. Although Jagdeo announced the continuation of the project, he cautioned movie producers to ensure that their product is of high quality.
“We need to ensure that when we enter any global market, that we do so with exceptional quality and product, where the skill is being developed,” Jagdeo said to those who were part of the project. The president went on to say that while they should be proud of their work, they should be open to criticism, and use it to improve themselves.
The mission of the President’s Film Endowment Project was to start a professional film industry in Guyana. Brian Zham of Ohio University was tasked with training participants of the project.
An emotional Zham commended the president for his investment in the fledgling industry.
“The Guyana film making family that we created must grow… the talent here is amazing. The film making skills must be solidified,” Zham said.
Zham had to instruct 188 persons during a four-month period during which eight films were created. Training began with learning how to make pitches from concepts, and continued through the entire script writing process. All participants went through classes on cinematography, lighting, art direction, sound, and production. The team included interviewer and documentary producer Wadecia Donald, assistant producer Melize Crawford, and camera operators Clarence Brotherson and Lereto Hodge.
The President’s Film Endowment Project 2011 saw assistance coming from the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry; the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); the Universities of Guyana and Ohio; the Theatre Guild of Guyana, and several other private organisations.
“We are at the beginning of a developmental adventure planting and nurturing seeds for alternatives in artistic expressions and public entertainment,” the vice chancellor of the University of Guyana said of the project.
“The development of a film industry and wider media sector can be a positive driver for social and economic advancement.
“Towards this end, we will continue to play a supportive and facilitating role,” said Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy Thomas Pierce. However, Pierce pointed out that the development of the industry depended on an effective intellectual property rights regime, “so that the creative talent of artists can be sustained”.
Wonderful moment in Guyana’s history
Director of the President’s Film Endowment Project Dr Paloma Mohamed said the films that were created were a testamony of what Guyana and Guyanese can do when they put their minds to something.”
“What has happened here is nothing less than miraculous for Guyana and everybody who have been touched,” Mohamed, who heads the Centre for Communication Studies at the University of Guyana, said. She related that many of the participants lost sleep, and in some cases their jobs, as they worked tirelessly to create a product that Guyana can be proud of.
The films, which are a combination of drama, romantic comedy, cultural fiction and fable, are as follows: Hope, The Backyard, Three Cards, Firebrand Masquerade, Beached, Luck Beat Handsome, The Encounter, and The Bottle.
“Three Cards” was shot entirely in Linden with a Linden cast. “Hope” was the largest production, according to Mohamed. The films range in length from 12 to 20 minutes.
The films are of a quality that can mirror any international production, and illustrate Guyana’s potential to make movies.
The eight short films, which together are 90 minutes long (the length of a feature film) explore all genres and stimulate discussion and deep thought about many matters which are of importance to all Guyanese.
The films were shot on location, and in some cases, cast and crew were from the region.
However, the films are being held for at least two years before they hit television screens locally. “We want them to make the tour of film festivals around the world. Already, the films will be in the New York Film Festival, slated for July 31. We expect them to be shown in Dominica, Washington and Trinidad in September.” It is Mohamed’s wish that Guyanese see the films, but because the films would be disqualified if shown on national television, the director is appealing to the public for assistance to screen the movies across the country in small settings.
Many of the film makers stand to lose all their rights if any of the copies are made public in an uncontrolled way because of lax copyright laws.
CineGuyana Filming Showcase is one initiative developed to ensure that the films are shown throughout the country in free public spaces, and hopes to generate questions to filmmakers as well as garner responses to the films by the viewers. “I’m appealing to those people who have money … assist us in touring … so the rest of Guyana can see the films.” There was a free public screening of the short films at the Theatre Guild on July 9 from 15:00 to 17:00h and from 18:00 to 21:00h.
