KOBO TOWN

This weekend I had the pleasure of going to Kingston, ON where I was the production co-ordinator for a documentary we're making about the band "KoboTown" for Leda Serene's new series for Bravo!, on Canadian-Caribbean Musicians and Composers.

We spent two days in Kingston. The first location that we shot at was the Octave Theatre, a beautiful space, and a great room for a band like Kobo town. The acoustics were very clean, the stage was huge, with enough room to dolly back and forth to get the appropriate shots we needed, as we shot the band doing their soundcheck.

After that we moved over to the next location at Al Rankin's Bed and Breakfast. This was an amazing 18th century farm house located in Invery, about a 20 minute drive from the Octave. Al was also the promoter of the concert, and founder of the concert series "Livewire." This location was also amazing, and so quiet. A couple of the band members did an interview, and we were off again to the Octave.

The actual Performance: I had never seen Kobo Town live and was really excited to see what they were all about. Every seat in the theatre was filled and Kobo Town were taking the stage. Drew Gonsalves (band leader) was very interesting and fun to watch, often talking about his Trinidadian roots and giving some insight to what the songs were all about. The music has an oldschool Calypso sort of feel, very fun!! But most of Drew's lyrics also seemed socially, and politically conscious. This didn't take away from the fun vibe of the band at all, just made the music more alluring. The performance was excellent and the whole place was up on their feet dancing by the end of the set.

Back to the B&B, to shoot a few more interviews. They played a few tracks around the table, and talked over drinks while we continued recording. By the time we wrapped it was around 2am so we headed to our hotel to get some shut eye.

The following day we shot more interview footage, and some random stuff with Drew. We said good by and packed up and headed for Toronto. I was extremely happy with the way the weekend went. Being a music lover this shoot was great, I recommend everybody check out Kobo Town, I could go on and on, but don't want to ruin the Doc for you. All the people that put this production together were fantastic and very helpful, we couldn't have asked to work with better people. I would like to thank the Guys in Kobo town, Everybody at the Octave, Al Rankin, Safiya Randera (the director), Catherine Emmanuel (PA), Alberto Suarez (DP), and Brad MacIntyre (sound recordist) for making this experience possible.

For more info about Kobo Town check out, myspace.com/kobotown

(PHOTOS) 1st Photo: Kobotown sitting conversing around table at B&B, 2nd Photo: Drew Gonsalves rocking at the Octave

A Winter Tale @ ReelWorld: 7 Burning Questions

Everything you've been wanting to know about catching A WINTER TALE @ the ReelWorld Film Festival, AND MORE...

1. Our Website is live, and our Trailer is online now!

2. When and Where can I see A Winter Tale?

We are proud, honoured and excited that
A Winter Tale has been chosen to launch the
2007 ReelWorld Film Festival in April.

Screening Dates, Times and Prices are below:

Wed, April 11th, 2007 7:00 pm
Gala Screening
Scotiabank Theatre (formerly the Paramount)
259 Richmond Street West
T: (416) 368-5600
Tickets: $20

Sat, April 14th, 2007 4:00 pm
Rainbow Cinemas Market Square
80 Front Street East (@ Jarvis)
T: (416) 494-9371
Tickets: $9.00

3. Where can I buy tickets to the screenings?

Purchase advanced tickets on-line:

Reel World Film Festival

or at the Manulife Centre

5. What else should I know?

Leonie Forbes, who stars in A Winter Tale is being honoured by the Festival with an Award for Outstanding Achievement. She'll receive her award at the closing Ceremony on April 15th.

Leonie will be celebrated at the Festival's Brunch with Brilliance on Sunday, April 15th, 2007, 11:00 am. She will be interviewed about her career & life during an intimate 1hr "RealSpeak" on Saturday, April 14th at 6.30pm.

For details of these events, check out the ReelWorld website.

7. Anything else?

It's also wonderful that we've been nominated for an Award for Outstanding Canadian Feature (Frances-Anne Solomon), and for Outstanding Original Screenplay (Frances-Anne Solomon & Michelle Lonsdale-Smith). The Awards will be announced at the Closing Gala, April 15th.

See y'all there!

Hero

"You, the Queen, should be ashamed!"
Reprinted from Guardian Unlimited,
Tuesday March 27, 2007

All was solemn at the slavery service in Westminster Abbey ... until a bright-shirted demonstrator let loose, says David Smith who watched the drama unfold.

The Archbishop had just delivered his main address and the service had moved on to "confession and absolution". But the reading was stopped in its tracks by Mr Agbetu's outburst: "You should be ashamed. We should not be here. This is an insult to us. I want all the Christians who are Africans to walk out of here with me!"

In a deeply worrying sign in this supposedly terrorist-conscious era, the security guards near my seat were so utterly surprised that they only looked at each other, uncertain whether to intervene. Finally, they did. Seven guards and two ushers gathered around Mr Agbetu and a hand was placed on his arm.

"Let go of me!" he yelled, raising his arms like a suspect confronted by armed police. "I have no weapon! I have no weapon!"

The Queen, on a raised platform and out of Mr Agbetu's immediate reach, watched with pursed lips. The Duke of Edinburgh frowned. Neither seemed frightened for their safety. In the pews, Mr Blair watched with dismay as if already preparing a speech about this "regrettable incident". Mr Brown, whose eyes had been sleepy, was jolted awake. Kwame Kwei-Armah, the actor and writer, dressed in a glittering golden African robe, watched with sorrow in his eyes.

The more that the security men tried to manhandle Mr Agbetu, the more he resisted. Suddenly the interruption turned serious. There were pushes and shoves, even punches. Twice Agbetu and several bodies went crashing into the knees of appalled guests, who were wearing their smartest suits and dresses. All the while Mr Agbetu's bellowing was drowning out the now superfluous service, which had tried to resume.

By now many guests and journalists around me were on their feet, straining to look. There was a sense of danger and drama. It was clear Mr Agbetu would not go quietly. Possibly not without a fight.

After what seemed an eternity, Mr Agbetu was shuffled towards the quire, in the direction of the exit. But he pointed at the Queen and yelled: "You, the Queen, should be ashamed!" The monarch did her national duty by remaining icy calm.

Mr Agbetu was now directly beneath the prime minister. He turned to face him and Mr Blair glared back. The thousands of guests watched in hushed anticipation, wondering what would come next, wondering if Mr Agbetu might even leap on him. Instead the protester screamed: "You should say sorry!"

Mr Agbetu continued walking and shuffling, still resisting the hands being placed on him, still shouting his dissent. Hundreds more guests in the nave got to witness the spectacle. The abbey's ushers still looked unsure quite how to handle him. Finally, outside the building, Mr Agbetu was not bundled away as might be expected. Instead, he gave an impromptu press conference.

"I had always planned to make this demonstration," he said. "The Queen has to say sorry. It was Elizabeth I. She commanded John Hawkins to take his ship. The monarch and the government and the church are all in there patting themselves on the back."

Finally, two police officers took him away for questioning. The service continued to the end but the sepulchral calm had gone. When the guests emerged they were not talking about William Wilberforce.

· David Smith is a reporter on the Observer

Canada honours Leonie Forbes

Actor and Broadcaster Leonie Forbes will be honoured with an Award of Excellence at this year's ReelWorld Film Festival in Toronto on April 14th.

The award recognises a film artist who has achieved success in the Canadian and International film industry despite all challenges. Previous recipients include Bollywood star Shabana Azmi and famed Aboriginal actor Graham Greene.

Known as Jamaica’s First Lady of Theatre and Film, Leonie Forbes began her career training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. Her talent, drive, and dynamism have established her as one of the Caribbean's most respected artists.She has received many awards including: the Order of Distinction from the Jamaican government; the silver and bronze Musgrave (top awards of the arts, culture and science in Jamaica); and the Institute of Jamaica's Centenary Medal.

Ms. Forbes has graced the silver screen in major Hollywood pictures, performed in dozens of theatrical productions, and has worked as a radio broadcaster and programmer in Jamaica. Her selected credits include: "Old Story Time", "Arawak Gold", "Champagne and Sky Juice", and "Smile Orange". Her film and television credits include: "Shattered Image", "Milk and Honey", "Passion and Paradise", "What My Mother Told Me", and "Children of Babylon".

Ms. Forbes’ latest role is in Frances-Anne Solomon's "A Winter Tale", which will open the ReelWorld Film Festival on April 11th.

In 2003, Ms. Forbes starred in the Caribbean-Canadian sitcom "Lord Have Mercy" for which she was nominated for a Gemini Award in the category of Best Actress in a Comedy or Drama.

“Ms. Forbes has been an inspiration to actors and artists all over the world… especially black actresses and people of Caribbean decent. Her exceptional body of work is one of the key reasons we chose her this year,” says ReelWorld founder, Tonya Lee Williams.

Vote For Your Top Ten Caribbean Novels!

Writer Geoffrey Philp is inviting everyone to come on over and vote for your Top 10 Caribbean Novels.

Please join the fun and debate right here!

R.I.P. Lloyd Best

Lloyd Algernon Best, one of Trinidad and Tobago's most acclaimed intellectuals is dead.

Described as "economist, politician, publicist, political commentator, philosopher and 'doctor of doctor politics'", Lloyd Best developed an intimate relationship with the University of the West Indies, beginning his illustrious multifaceted career as a Junior Research Fellow in 1958 at the Institute of Social and Economic Research of the UWI in Jamaica.

This relationship solidified with his tenure at the St. Augustine Campus as a Lecturer in Economics.

Known for his radical non conventional philosophies, Lloyd Best was not the passive participant in the Region's status quo. He dared to disagree and advance cogent alternative viewpoints about the political, economic and intellectual realities of Caribbean society. Yet this by no means captures the brilliance, tenacity and fertile intellect of a great West Indian social philosopher and thinker.

Lloyd Best, in the 1960s, co-founded the New World Group of independent thinkers who theorised and philosophised about the economic, social and political systems of their time.

This intellectual giant of the Caribbean stimulated a rethinking of accepted models and practices in institutions of politics and economics and development as a whole, giving direction to the principles that support the establishment and continuity of the Caribbean integration movement.

He is said to have "bestrode the regional intellectual world like a colossus" and it was for his contribution to the Region's intellectual advancement that he was deservedly inducted into the membership of the prestigious "Order of the Caribbean Community".
(1) David De Caires, Publisher, Stabroek News, Guyana:

“…..Lloyd Best has for the last forty years been involved in making a symbolic statement of some kind, perhaps quixotic, often deeply flawed, marked by rhetorical excesses, marred by human weaknesses, sometimes almost incoherent, to the effect that we have not done enough, we have not achieved our potential, we have not aimed sufficiently high, we have not completely shaken off the shackles of the plantation, we are mediocrities, just not good enough.
……Yet if one looks at the body of Lloyd's work one cannot fail to see that it is always motivated by a redeeming hope that things could be better if only, as he would put it, the educational system were not so bankrupt or the validating elites took more responsibility for their conduct. It is this unquenchable optimism that has always made him a little larger than life, this conviction that a brave and better new world lies in the future if only we had the wisdom and the fortitude to get there…..”

(2) Lloyd Best: the 3rd Annual Jagan Lecture presented at York University, March 3rd 2001.

“….The thing about the Caribbean is that ….so many different people coming into the situation plus the business of dealing with the colonizer... Right from the start there’s a dimension of complexity that you’ve got to deal with. The Caribbean is the workshop of the world in that sense. Over the period of five hundred years, in a short period of historic time, in very intimate social situations, small island communities -- we’ve had to come to grips with a whole new reality in five hundred years. You have a short time in a small place, and all the problems that are posed of ethnicity in the whole world are dramatized four times over in the Caribbean so you can’t miss them. That is what we have to sell. What we have to sell to the world is that experience --because globalization is imposing that experience on everybody now. But we have lived it for five hundred years and we need to write it down ….”

Leda Serene Films presents the world premiere of Frances-Anne Solomon's "A Winter Tale", on the opening night of ReelWorld Film Festival.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Toronto – March 15, 2007

Award-winning filmmaker, writer and producer Frances-Anne Solomon kicks-off the Seventh Annual ReelWorld Film Festival opening night gala with the world premiere of her new film A Winter Tale. It tells an emotional story of "the bullet that shattered a community", with Toronto as a central character. The screening takes place at the Scotiabank Theatre (formerly the Paramount) on April 11, 2007.

Written, directed and produced by Frances-Anne Solomon, and featuring a talented ensemble cast led by Canadian stars Peter Williams and Michael Miller, and Caribbean icons Leonie Forbes and Dennis "Sprangalang" Hall, A Winter Tale offers a brilliant perspective on the timely issues of gun violence in this city set against the backdrop of a multicultural community’s unrealized hopes and dreams.

Shots ring out one winter night and a bullet meant for a local street dealer kills a ten-year-old boy. In the downtown Toronto community of Parkdale, grief and suspicion hang heavily in the air. While the nightly patrons at Miss G’s Caribbean TakeAway resume their ritual of beer and banter, six men make a pact to form a support group in hopes of salvaging their broken spirits and redeeming their besieged community.

Frances-Anne Solomon is an award-winning filmmaker, writer and producer whose credits as a writer/director include Lord Have Mercy! (VisionTV, 2003), Peggy Su! (BBC Films, 1997), What My Mother Told Me (Channel 4, 1995) and Bideshi (British Film Institute, 1994). She is the President and Artistic Director of the two companies she founded, Leda Serene Films and CaribbeanTales and has also worked as a film and television producer for the BBC.

Leda Serene Films is Frances-Anne Solomon’s film, television and theatre production vehicle based in Toronto. The company has produced award-winning cross-platform projects, feature films, creative documentaries and original theatre plays.

Recent projects include A Winter Tale, a feature film for Telefilm Canada and Chum Television; Literature Alive, the ground breaking 20-part documentary series that screened on Bravo!, Canadian Learning Television and OMNI, showcasing Caribbean Canadian authors; and Gemini-nominated Lord Have Mercy!, Canada's first truly multicultural sitcom, for Vision TV, Toronto 1, APTN and Showcase.

CaribbeanTales, a non profit organization founded by Frances-Anne Solomon, is Canada's premier multimedia company producing educational films, videos, radio programs, audio books, theatre plays and websites, drawing on Caribbean culture.

For media inquires, please contact:

Pennant Media Group
Kevin Pennant
kp@pennantmediagroup.com
T 416.596.2978