West Indies ready for their own film industry?

[Shogun]

What you ppl think? you think that the caribbean region can get there act together to start a successful motion picture industry?

[New Era Outlaw]

Oh, HELLL no.
If there's anything that I've learned about us Trinis, is that we're notoriously AWFUL actors.
I'm dead serious about that.
It's like everytime a Trini appears on-screen, he must fake this God-awful English accent for the cameras. Not only does he NOT sound like a Trini, but he sounds pretty dumb, to boot.
Trini children pretty much ride that same boat.
If your stomach can stand it, watch the recent Dairy Dairy advertisement and the Lasco commercial to see what I'm talking about.

On top of that, Trinis can't fix their faces for the camera at all.
It's like they're all 'OMG!I'm on TV!LOL!!!' The LottoPlus! ads should give you a good idea of that.

To be honest, it sounds like a good idea, but finding good actors to put on the big screen down here is like finding a needle in a 20-foot tall haystack.

[Shogun]

but what about stories? don't you think within the region of the west indies there is a possibility for really interesting stories to be told?

[W1nTry]

Yeah man neo, yuh real buss down the local talent, and not even mention pplz from other caribbean countries... and btw not all trinis who have been in movies were like OMFG I on tv. A few friends on mine had dinner with one guy who was in the movie Amistad (if u doh know what that is look it up, it was critically acclaimed). I understand that the local productions or rather TV productions are not up to mark, HOWEVER the local talent pool is not without merit. Shows like Mary can Dance are widely recognised the world over (will have to check on the award it won recently, abroad). Abelit plays or stage performances, TV is just another evolution of the arts. Its a shame when ppl rather than support and promote positive thinking amoungst on the local talent prefer to condemn it without thinking. Daz meh 2c.

[New Era Outlaw]

@ Shogun.
No.
Unless you're Chris Riley, there's no way in heck movies based on our local culture would remotely succeed. Remember 'Flight of the Ibis'?

@W1nTry
That's fine and all, but know this.
I've based my observations on a whole 18 years of watching these jokers try to act their way out of a paper bag on TV. IMO, if they haven't even attempted to shape themselves up in all that time, then to heck with it. Don't forget, while a Trini may have had one or two cameos in good movies, there were movies that were almost purely Trinidadian and they went over like the Titanic.

[Crixx_Creww]

i remember ah show name no boundries.
No fake accents, real life ish ting. was very flikkin uber

might have been before yur time neo


And also, to date, de baddest show to ever come out of trinidad, was men in gray.(i think thas how it spell)

Bout de police men an ting, that show was sooo stinkin uber jeez an ages.


THere are wonderful stories to be told.

One unfolding right now. opposition leader in jail normal normal.

Instead of conversations rong de water cooler is conversations rong de doubles man.
(baww baww)

Doh take him on Shogy, you  keep doin that acting thing, bring us home a emmy!!

[TriniXaeno]

lol @ bring us home an emmy!

spoken like a true boss.

I don't have a clue about the region as a whole in regards to their readiness for film industry.

It is like Soca and Dub, it can only go so far in our own waters because of our small numbers. To really "make it" you need strong demographics. World Stage iwmc!

So I would say maybe focus less on a local industry and more on West Indian content on the World Stage.

Like crixx said, land a big roll and win an emmy and make waves with your caribbean heritage.

If we really lucky, in a few years, you will have enough clout in the industry to pave the way for others.

talant

[W1nTry]

Actually Baego they are soon to launch a MTv Caribbean. So I would say slowly but surely our caribbean vibe is filtering into mainstream, esp more recently with the more popular dancehall artists. And lets not downplay the fact that Legendary Artists like Bob have influenced music since their time. Look how Eric Clapton steal he song and make it big so? (I not sayin he wasn't big I refeering to how the song blow up). THe point is that there is a great deal of talent in the caribbean whether it be song, or acting and they just waiting to be found. Now that america is looking elsewhere in many repects for the next big thing, doh be surprised if a partna from south who living deigo now doh make it on Mtv and thing one day soon.

[TriniXaeno]

kick ass! that is wha I talkin bout

(although MTV wasn't the kind of stardom I had in mind, but say wha, fame is fame)

I especially liked the bligh Rupee got. Reggea and Soca videos need that sort of production value to take them over the top.

Remember Kisskadee Karavan? That was a good effort to get the local stuff out there and produce it in house. Pity that didn't remain wildly succesful. Damn good effort though.

Now it seems we will have to rest our faith in the hands of Sony, MTV and the other big players.

Lihixxxxxxxxxxxx in de world mc.

[New Era Outlaw]

...hopefully, it won't end up like Synergy.
Synergy is just UBER crap.
(God DAMN, now Crixx has me doing it.)

[Shogun]

anyways, like w1ntry says, and i believe it cuz i have seen it and lived it first had having lived and breath this industry for almost 3 years now, that there is a great talent pool within Trinidad and i'm sure the region. some have worked hard at it, some have and they don't even know. there lies a lot of potential for story telling within the region. we just have to let go of the north american standards of what is good and define our own good.

look at bollywood. LOL even though i don't understand them sometimes i love watching them man. its great!! but it is its own seperate from hollywood and defines their own people and way of life.

man i have so many ideas bouncing around in my head i wish i had the money to shoot a film in trinidad, because i belive that we lack inspiration and imagination. creativity is stiffled in our society. and in my mind and eyes thats one of the man causes of all the crime in Trinidad.

okay i done for a while. sorry i does just get too passionate some times!

[Shogun]

...hopefully, it won't end up like Synergy.
Synergy is just UBER crap.
(God DAMN, now Crixx has me doing it.)

oh yes by the way i need to address this. of course its uber, we are now starting out. the industry is slowly growing outlaw you can't expect everything to be the bomb right out the box. the fact of the matter is that the people that are doing these shows lack the equipment and the education to pull it off well!! and of course, the creative imagination. but what they have that we should respect and applaud is ambition.

[W1nTry]

but what they have that we should respect and applaud is ambition.

I like the way dis man talking. Oh I wanted to point out somethig about synergy. I have a partna who was working on the equipment they use at synergy.... or should I say the 1 old computer they were using at the time. When I hear it was running all its media from something like a PIII old @$$ machine with little ram and thing I was like NAH!!!, meh partna say he started working on it and moved the mouse over the screen and hear a man bawl "AYE THE MOUSE ON DE SCREEN" well boy I laugh. I jes reiterating that they really ain't have much. So I say even though things rough, men trying dey best... but in a seriousness they need to move up... I think they got a G5 actually, I cyah rem...

[Crixx_Creww]

LOLLLLL AT MOUSE ON DE SCREEN AHAHAHHHAHAHA

[Shogun]

dread i have this concept for a film that i wanna shoot. but the thing is if Trinidad ready to accept it.

[TriniXaeno]

rofl @ mouse on screen.

pressura for synergy. I heard they bought some sicko equipment but it all got stolen.

stress.

Shogun, what is dat script boy?

Girls Gone Wild TnT?

Sweat: Game Gringos Grand Slam?

WTMC!!! 2. The Return of mcmcmc.

[JAvid The Brave Warrior]

beago why not?
 how you mean ppl if barbados could steal we flying fish y not ?
we can do what sh** we want to do and that is just another obstacle in our country's path so we can do it (i think)

[Shogun]

lol@wtmc2!!! HAHA!!

nah for the longest while i been fightin up with a story about a group of friends and how the differences in culture class and standard of living affects their friendship within the turmoil which is Trinidad and Tobago

[TriniXaeno]

oh!! race and culture. touchy subjects!

I'll play the negroid south born shouter baptist from a family of 13 trying to make a living in the city.

Slick Rick could be the Jehova Witness, torn between selling Watch Tower magazines to his neighbours with his Father and sneaking off to sweat with his friends.

fuh real though, we have such a rich mix of culture and races here that such a story would have tons of meaty issues to build on. So much material.

Go for it!

yuh have  a draft script already?

[Shogun]

naaah just been bouncin around in meh head for a while now. i have real ideas that i need to start writing