Reggae & Jamaican Film News

BOB MARLEY: THE MAKING OF A LEGEND - NOW AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD

2012-12-13T13:14:00.002+00:00

BOB MARLEY: THE MAKING OF A LEGEND

NOW AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD

Based on footage shot in the early seventies and lost for more than thirty years, NAACP IMAGE AWARD winner Esther Anderson takes us on a journey to Jamaica and into 56 HOPE ROAD, Kingston, to see and hear the young BOB MARLEY before he was famous. The film shows us the WAILERS' first rehearsal, when the idea of a Jamaican supergroup like the BEATLES or the STONES was still just a dream. We sit in on the launch of their international career with "GET UP STAND UP", "I SHOT THE SHERIFF", and the "BURNIN'" and "CATCH A FIRE" albums that brought to the world REGGAE music and RASTA consciousness together as one, starting a revolution that would change rock music and contemporary culture.

A Music Documentary by Esther Anderson & Gian Godoy. Jamaica/UK. 96 mins. 2011. Produced by Esther Anderson. With Bob Marley, Esther Anderson, Peter Tosh, Aston 'Familyman' Barrett, Carlton 'Carly' Barrett, Countryman, Mother Macky, Ras Daniel Hartman, Sylvia Richards, HIM Haile Selassie I and Marcus Garvey. Music by Chris Anderson, Aston 'Familyman' Barrett & Aston Barrett Jr, Bingiman, Francis Jocky, Formulla, Akila Barrett, Esther Anderson, Tim Hain, Singer Jah &. Sabo Khani, Irie Jam Productions, Ras McKoy, Jahmo Band and Lioness Fonts.

The Upsetter - Lee Perry documentary - Get's UK DVD Release.....

2012-09-15T10:27:00.003+00:00

Official UK dvd release date 8th October, 2012

The Upsetter is a captivating, unparalleled exploration charting 70 years in the life of the Godfather of Reggae and the man behind Bob Marley - Lee "Scratch" Perry.

Seven years in the making, the film features musical tracks and iconic archival footage selected from throughout Perry's extensive career.

Directed and produced by celebrated independent filmmakers Ethan Higbee (Red Apples Falling, The Anti-Fascist, Basedworld) and Adam Bhala Lough (Bomb The System, Weapons, The Carter).

DVD GIVEAWAY COMPETITION (***NOW CLOSED***)
We have a dvd copy of The Upsetter to giveaway to one lucky person....
To Enter simply email us the name of the films Academy Award Winning narrator, emails to: info@reggaefilms.co.uk
One name will be picked at random and the lucky winner will be announced on 1st October, the competition is also running via our facebook page.

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THE LUCKY WINNER WAS "Sven Schneider" FROM BERLIN, dvd in the post to you Sven.
Thanks to all those who entered and don't forget you can reserve your own dvd copy via the link below....

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The Upsetter tells the fascinating story of Lee “Scratch” Perry, a visionary musician and artist from poor rural Jamaica who journeyed to the big city in the late 1950’s with dreams of making it in the burgeoning record industry. Lee Perry burst on the scene with a brand new sound, inventing a genre of music that would come to be called Reggae while mentoring a young Bob Marley and gaining international recognition as a record producer and solo artist. Soon he was being called upon by musicians as diverse as The Clash and Paul McCartney to provide his unique sound to their recordings. In the 1970’s, he constructed his own recording studio in his backyard; The Black Ark studio became a hotbed for the production of Reggae and Dub music and made Scratch quite wealthy and famous. At that time in Kingston however, gang warfare driven by warring political factions was causing havoc in the streets. In the chaos that ensued, the gangsters and the police both extorted Scratch for unknown amounts of money, threatening his life on many occasions. Despite the disruption, Scratch and a Rastafarian band named, “The Congos,” managed to complete the album that would be considered by historians his single greatest artistic achievement. Surprisingly, Scratch’s label Island Records refused to release it, deeming it too experimental and overtly spiritual for mainstream tastes. Around the same time, Lee’s relationship with the Rasta community came to an abrupt end and his wife and the mother of his children left him for a studio musician. Shortly thereafter, The Black Ark mysteriously burned to the ground and Scratch fled to Europe. After a decade of alcohol, ganja and inhalant fueled artistic output in Europe, Lee banned all toxic substances from his body and adopted a strict vegetarian diet. With the help of his new Swiss wife, Lee spent the 1990’s putting his life back together piece by piece, reclaiming his position as an international superstar in the process. In 2006 at the age of 70, Scratch triumphantly embarked on a world tour to spread his message of peace and prosperity to his adoring fans in US, UK, Russia, Brazil, Japan and New Zealand.

The Upsetter charts 70 years in the life of Lee “Scratch” Perry in his own words through an exclusive interview given to American filmmakers Ethan Higbee and Adam Bhala Lough in Switzerland in 2006. It is equally a documentation of 30 years of Jamaican music and culture as it is a study of one of the most creative and inspiring human beings of all time.

The DVD will be released on 8th October 2012, Reserve your DVD copy below.....

JOURNEY OF A FILM MAKER

2012-07-26T15:03:00.003+00:00

by Amaziyah TheGreat on Thursday, July 26, 2012 at 1:29pm ·

Amaziyah The Great is pleased to inform the fans across the world that they should be on the look out for better quality film production for the year 2013 and further on.

This multi-talented entertainer/filmmaker, who's real name is Craig Kirkland, was very elated as he elaborated in recent conversation via phone about making links with Mrs. Marsha Davis and Mr. Robert Carty from the United States.

Later this year Kirkland will be directing a short film titled "RUNNER" written by Mrs. Davis. Shanna-Gaye Wheatley who is the lead actress in Camariah's Way will again play the lead role in this film. "The main location where the project gonna commence is Frazer's Content, Spanish Town, its a joy to know that Mr. Carty will be flying all the way from New York to Jamaica just to make this possible. Give thanks to Marsha for this great link because things can only get greater," he said.

Amaziyah The Great has been in the music business for quite some time now but he is known to many by his short amateur films on the worldwide web, films such as "The Voice" (90,498 views), In year 2010 he received an Honour Award at the Jamaica Reggae Film Festival for "Ghetto Visit" (37,669 views), with courtesy of Digicel, 2011 he was awarded with a BlackBerry Bold 2 for his short film "Stay Firm" which was created within 24hours.

Another film that most people are rapidly talking about is "Camariah's Way" a family drama where Sarge from comedic duo Apache Chief and Sarge plays the role of a perverted man wanting to molest his stepdaughter. "Wow! The interviews are now coming, earlier this year I spoke with Uncle Syd from Base FM in the United Kingdom and he is ready for an interview as me reach a England, previously Rich Davis from Florida (WLRN), Emiel Martens from Netherland, most recent is one is with Dr. Leahcim Semaj, thanks to Barbara Blake Hannah, Peter Gittens and all my fans, I Love you all, it would never be possible without you." Subscribe! www.youtube.com/GreatAmaziyah

Best of the Reggae film Festival at the ONE LOVE FESTIVAL 10th-12th August

2012-07-11T13:09:00.003+00:00

We're very pleased to announce that Reggae Films UK will be presenting a full program of Reggae films and documentaries in conjunction with the Jamaica Reggae Film Festival from 10th-12th August at The One Love Festival in Kent.

The One Love Festival is the UK's largest Reggae Festival and this year they have a super line up which rivals any of the largest International Reggae festivals, for any roots reggae fans this festival is just essential! as you will see form the line up below.. so don't miss it...

here is a list of just some of the main acts this year:

Lee Perry,
Johnny Clarke,
Cornell Campbell,
Tappa Zukie,
Bunny Lee,
Dawn Penn,
Dennis Alcapone,
Disciples,
Don Letts,
Dub Pistols,
Dub Syndicate,
Eccleton Jarrett,
Frankie Paul,
Freddie McGregor,
Jah Warriors,
Macka B,
Papa Michigan,
Miniman, Earl 16,
Ragga Twins,
Ras Kwame,
Rhythmites,
Robbo Ranx,
Ska'd 4 Life,
Soothsayers,
The Dualers,
Tony Tuff,
Troy Ellis(Son of Alton Ellis), Alpha & Omega,

sound systems include:
Aba Shanti,
Channel One,
Conscious Sounds,
Iration Steppas,
Jah Tubby's,
Sir Cosxone,
Saxon,
Mungo's Hi-Fi,
Nick Manasseh,
Overproof Sound System,
Sip-A-Cup,
Twighlight Circus,
Unity Hi-Fi,
University of Dub,
Youthman Promotion Sound Station,

The list above is just some of the many artists who will be attending this years ONE LOVE.

The Reggae Film Tent will be running throughout playing some of the best films and documentaries on the subject of Reggae, we have at least 9 UK premiers with films about DJ Derek, Kilamanjaro, Soul Syndicate, Congos, Count C, Oku Onuora, Rico Rodriguez, Studio One, Bob Marley, including the much anticipated "Bob Marley: The Making of a Legend" documentary which is Esther Anderson and Gian Godoy's new film about Bob which includes footage from the so so called "lost tapes" which features Bob and the Wailers up close and personal like you have never seen them before, so this is a great chance to get to see this rare film and Esther Anderson will be making a special appearence there with Gian Godoy for a Q+A session after the film so people will have the opportunity to ask questions after the film.

Don't forget to drop into the film tent to show your support if your there! we will have some dvds and other goodies on sale.

More details coming soon...

GET YOUR TICKET TO THE ONE LOVE FESTIVAL HERE

Be quick as they are selling out fast....

2012-06-10T20:17:00.001+00:00

Long time no post! been very busy.... but hope to revive this blog sometime soon, lots of news.... but just had to post up this announcement...

The long elusive "Marijuana Affair" 70's Jamaican feature film gets a rare screening at Stages cinema in Kingston on 21st June at 7pm so for all of you in Kingston i'm sure it's well worth a trip over to Stages to check it out, it's not been shown in over 30yrs.... and if you do please post us up a review!

Best of The Reggae Film Festival - Comes to Birmingham, UK - May 18th-20th

2012-05-10T15:14:00.000+00:00

The Jamaican Reggae Film Festival will showcase some of their best film festival entries later next week at 'The Drum' in Birmingham for a very special 'Best of' program. One of the highlights of the event will be the much anticipated Bob Marley documentary 'The Making of a Legend' by film maker Gian Godoy and Esther Anderson, with a wonderful soundtrack featuring some of The Wailers children.

Most of us will of heard about the new 'Marley' film by Kevin MacDonald, but how many of you have heard about "Bob Marley: The Making of a Legend"?

Both of these films have a common theme which is Bob Marley. One of the films was a big budget production which is probably the biggest Marley film production ever, and the other film a much lower budget, yet both films are equally important and relevant and i tend to think that 'Bob Marley: The Making of a Legend' is of greater historical importance than the big budget film, not that this is a competition but i want to highlight the fact that the new film we're showing next week in Birmingham is of great historical importance to all Bob Marley fans for a very good reason.

All Marley fans will be familiar with the black+white footage that we often see clips of in the numerous Marley documentaries that have been made over the years, we usually get a 10-30sec clip of Bob with friends or him and Esther in the Land Rover and thats it. Well the new Making of a Legend film shows all of this old footage which has never been seen before. For the first time ever Marley fans worldwide will be able to get an up close and personal glimpse into Bob's life just as his friends would see him rather than how a tv camera would see him. We've all seen the many public interviews Bob has done in documentaries and news reels but never before has there been footage of Bob with his friends doing day to day things(filmed by his freinds) available for us fans to view. Esther was very close to Bob at the time the film was shot and it gives the viewer a real sense of what Bob was like as a person, more so than any other Marley film and this is why "Bob Marley: The Making of a Legend" is such an important and significant film. It will be interesting to see how the 2 Marley films are reported on in the press with one being the clear winner when it comes to historical importance and the other being the clear winner when it comes to budget! I hope they both do as well as eachother because they both document a very special person who has really made a huge impact on world music and culture and i'm sure that both films will do a good job of highlighting this fact.

I hope that those of you who are able to make the trip down to 'The Drum' in Birmingham for this rare screening of the new 'Making of a Legend' documentary, which takes place Friday 18th May @ 10pm

'Bob Marley: The Making of a Legend' was designed as a very intimate portrait of
Bob Marley & The Wailers, including some of those who inspired a whole freedom movement
in Jamaica in the 70?s. The narrative is artistic in its approach to explore a reconstruction
of the past in post colonial Jamaica through Esther Anderson's lens as the storyteller.

More info on "Bob Marley: The Making of a Legend" below:

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bobmarleyfilm/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BobMarleyFilm
Website: http://bobmarleythemakingofalegend.com/
Website: http://bobmarleyfilm.com/
Blog: http://rastaleaks.wordpress.com/
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/bobmarleyfilm/
Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/28946652

BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-12748659

Friday 18th May:

8:00pm – Red, Amber, Green (Dir.Chris Byfield)(Jamaica)(2012)(25mins)EUROPEAN PREMIER
8:45pm – Fire Burn Babylon (Dir.Sarita Siegel)(UK)(2009)(53mins)

10:00pm – Bob Marley: Making of a Legend (Dir.Gian Godoy & Esther Anderson)(90mins)(2012)

Saturday 19th May:

3:00pm – Fire in Babylon (Dir.Stevan Riley)(2011)(95mins)(UK)

4:45pm – Rocksteady (Feature Film)(Dir.Mustapha Khan)(2011)(90mins)(USA)
UK PREMIER

Sunday 20th May:

3:00pm – We The Raggamuffin (Dir.Julian Henriques)(1992)(25mins)(UK)

4:00pm – Bad Friday (Dir.Deborah Thomas & Junior Wedderburn)(2011)(63mins)(USA)

Festival Pass ONLY £16 or £4 per film http://www.the-drum.org.uk/

'Drummie' Isaacs marches to own beat - New Documentary.....

2012-03-23T16:20:00.002+00:00

Cecelia Campbell-Livingston - Jamaican Observer - Friday, March 23, 2012

ON April 20, the Reggae Film Festival will present the documentary, Studio One Drummie and the History of Rocksteady Music. One of its stars is drummer Joe 'Drummie' Isaacs of the Soul Vendors band.

In it, Isaacs, who played on many classic songs at Studio One during the 1960s, speaks of his days working with legendary musicians including Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer of the Wailers, keyboardist Jackie Mittoo, Alton Ellis, Ken Boothe, Toots and the Maytals, the Heptones, Marcia Griffiths, Burning Spear and American singer Johnny Nash.

Studio One Drummie also sees Isaacs exploring cultures of the Nyabinghi Rastafarians and the Maroons.
Recently, the 63-year-old spoke to Splash about his time at Studio One, from his home in Florida.

"It was all about love, everything was done in love," he said. "No one knew where it (music) was gonna end, but it was a happy feeling to go there (studio) every day to create rhythms."

Joe ‘Drummie’ Isaacs

Isaacs, who hails from Bog Walk in St Catherine, was never formally trained as a drummer. He says he left school at age 15 and went straight into music.

"I had a calling to play drums and was never really academically inclined in school. Many are called but few chosen; I feel I was chosen for this mission," he said.

At Studio One, he played on many hits including I've Got To Go Back Home by Bob Andy and Fatty Fatty by the Heptones.

Isaacs is disappointed with the lack of recognition for him and many of his contemporaries in Jamaica.

"That is the greatest disappointment in my life," he said.

He is also not happy with the state of contemporary Jamaican music.

"The music that is going on today basically is not really good," he said. "The rhythms are good, but the vocals that are put on these rhythms is not all that good — disrespecting ladies, dealing with badness, slackness and murdering," he added. "We are using the most powerful weapon in the world to describe these different things."

He believes a change to more quality content can have a positive impact on Jamaican society.

"I would really say that the music has a lot to do with the violence and everything going on in the whole world," Isaacs said. Educate the youths on how important the music is. When you have good content, that's when you will see change."

Reverse Missionaries - BBC documentary

2012-03-15T20:20:00.001+00:00

Tomorrow night the BBC will air a new 3 part documentary series (BBC2 9pm 16th March, 2012), part one is about a Jamaican Baptist Pastor who travels back to the UK to the home town of his hero.

Jamaican Baptist Pastor Franklin Small is on his way to King's Stanley, a village in the Cotswolds. It is home to the oldest baptist church in Gloucestershire, which is now threatened with closure. It was also home to Thomas Burchell, a missionary at the vanguard of the anti-slavery movement in the Caribbean.

Pastor Franklin tries to bring some of his energetic Jamaican preaching style to the Cotswold community - but in the face of apathy, can he succeed in encouraging locals to embrace faith and take an interest in their church?

Inspired by the life of his hero, Franklin also undertakes a fascinating historical journey, meeting Burchell's great, great, great grandson and paying his respects on the spot that he was baptised over 200 years ago.

Thomas Burchell (1799–1846) was a leading Baptist missionary and slavery abolitionist in Jamaica in the early nineteenth century. It is not uncommon for Jamaican parents to name their children 'Burchell'; indeed it is almost as popular a Christian name as Manley.

Burchell, along with James Phillippo (1798–1879), William Knibb and Samuel Oughton was one of the group of early Baptist missionaries sent from England to respond to requests from pioneer African Baptists who had become free from slavery, for support in establishing chapels and education in Jamaica. They were representatives of the Baptist Missionary Society of London and followed the pioneering preaching of the African George Lisle.

Burchell's time as a Baptist missionary in Jamaica spanned twenty-two years, 1822–46; the most notorious years in the history of slavery abolition in the colony, which included the persecution of Burchell and other Baptists after the Christmas Rebellion or Baptist War of 1831. Burchell narrowly escaped death by fleeing offshore, but persecuted more seriously, was the Deacon in the Montego Baptist Church pastored by Thomas Burchell: Samuel Sharpe. Born in 1801 in Montego Bay of African parentage, Sharpe died for the cause of slavery abolition at the hands of the 'Planters' and their governing militia, being executed on 23 May 1832. Initially buried in the sands of Montego Bay Harbour he was later safely exhumed and given a hero's burial near the pulpit at Burchell Baptist church. He was made a national hero of Jamaica in 1975 and now appears on the Jamaican fifty dollar bill.

Baptist chapels as well as their members, suffered at the hands of the 'Planters'. The Burchell Memorial Church which was established in 1824 by Rev. Thomas Burchell, could however be rebuilt in 1834 after it was burnt down by an angry mob; unlike the loss of life. The Jamaican National Heritage Trust, founded in 1958, now looks after the building at number one King Street and the corner of Market Street, Montego Bay, in the parish of St. James, which was formerly the Manse of the Burchell Baptist Church.

Starting in the 1830s, in anticipation of emancipation, the Jamaican Baptist congregations, deacons and ministers pioneered the Caribbean concept of Free Villages, which was swiftly copied by other denominations. Many plantation owners and others in the landowing class made it clear they would never sell land to freed slaves, but provide only tied accommodation at the rents they chose. The aim was to prevent free labour choice and movement between employers, and keep labour costs low or negligible upon emancipation. To circumvent this, Baptist chapels' approached their Baptist financiers in England, who could instruct land agents in London to buy Jamaican land and hold it for establishment of free villages, not controlled by the planters. Sandy Bay was founded as a Baptist Free Village for emancipated slaves on the initiative of Burchell, and today its playing field is named Burchell Field. Several others, including the very first, were founded through Burchell's Baptist associate, Rev. James Phillippo.

Reggae film festival(Best Of) launched on February 18th, 2012

2012-03-01T09:13:00.001+00:00

Tuesday, February 28, 2012 - Article from Jamaican Observer

Selections from last year's award winners were shown including Mustapha Khan's Rocksteady, starring Grammy award winner, David 'Steel Pulse' Hinds. Rocksteady won Best International Feature Film in 2011. It featured BC Cook (Cedric Sanders), the son of Jamaican immigrants, who was left to support his mother in rural New York after the death of his father. In a unique coming of age story, his avid love for car racing provides lessons of patience, success, inner-growth and self-discovery.

‘ANIMATED’ DUO: Winner of the Digicel Animation Award, Reinardo ‘Mental’ Chung (left) and his brother Peter, are seen at the February 18 launch of the Reggae Film Festival at RedBones Blues Café. The latest episode of Chung’s film Dutty Bwoy was a part of the evening’s programme. The 2012 Reggae Film Festival runs April 17-21. (Photo: Paul G Slowley)

In keeping with the dynamic developments in film technology, Reinardo 'Mental' Chung floored judges with his eight-minute 3D computer animated film Bad Influence, which won the Digicel Animation Award in 2011. Chung's newest episode from his popular series Dutty Bwoy was shown much to the delight of the audience, receiving positive reviews all around.

"This is the next entertainment step for dancehall," noted Chung. "As animation deals with all the issues surrounding this genre in an interesting and entertaining way."

Selections from the RBC Bank sponsored 'Make a Film in 24 Hours' competition, including The Spirit of Life is in the Music by former Miss Jamaica, Regina Beavers, What If by Vanessa Phillips and Stay Firm by 'Amaziyah the Great' were also a part of the night's line-up.

The 2012 festival also promises the guest screening of an international film starring well-known Academy Award-winning actors and actresses. The Best of the Reggae Film Festival 2012 is a good opportunity to see films... that make you proud to be Jamaican" remarks Barbara Blake-Hannah, Reggae Film Festival Director.

For more info visit the official Reggae Film Festival website http://www.reggaefilmfestival.com/

Lee Perry documentary 'The Upsetter' released on DVD

2012-02-21T09:18:00.001+00:00

The Upsetter: The Life And Music Of Lee Scratch Perry (2011)

The new Lee 'Scratch' Perry documentary "The Upsetter" has recently been released on DVD and can be purchased via the links below this post.
Directed and produced by celebrated independent filmmakers Ethan Higbee (Red Apples Falling, The Anti-Fascist, Basedworld) and Adam Bhala Lough (Bomb The System, Weapons, The Carter ) and narrated by Academy Award-winning actor Benicio Del Toro, The Upsetter is a captivating, unparalleled exploration charting 70 years in the life of the Godfather of Reggae and the man behind Bob Marley - Lee ""Scratch"" Perry. Seven years in the making, the film features musical tracks and iconic archival footage selected from throughout Perry's extensive career.

BUY DVD BELOW
(UK & EUROPE)

FOR USA/CANADA USE LINK BELOW
Perry, Lee Scratch - The Upsetter: The Life And Music Of Lee Scratch Perry

New 'Marley' documentary - Premieres 12th+13th Feb.2012 at Berlin's International Film Festival

2012-02-11T10:31:00.001+00:00

The long awaited documentary by Kevin MacDonald titled "Marley" is to get it's European premiere in Berlin tomorrow night, all online tickets have now sold out. Director Kevin Macdonald, Rohan Marley and Neville Garrick, will be in Berlin tomorrow night to present the film.

Kevin Macdonald’s Bob Marley documentary is set for a North American and UK theatrical release on April 20th 2012 and has already been acquired by Magnolia Pictures and VH1 for U.S. rights and its first TV window respectively, has now been picked up by Universal Pictures International Entertainment for the UK and Scandinavia, while Lucky Red has secured the rights for Italy and Avalon Distribution for Spain.

In addition, international sales agent Fortissimo Films completed sales of Marley for South Africa’s Nu Metro, Portugal’s Lusomundo/Film & TV House, Germany and Austria’s Studio Canal Germany, and Poland’s Best Film.

Other sales were secured with France’s Wild Side Films, HBO Latin America, Australia and New Zealand’s Roadshow Films, Benelux’s E1, Middle East’s Front Row and Switzerland’s Elite Film.
The documentary, produced by Shangri-La Entertainment and Tuff Gong Pictures, is set for a North American and UK theatrical release on April 20. Director Kevin Macdonald, Marley’s son Rohan and long-time collaborator, Neville Garrick, will be in Berlin to present the film on February 12.

Marley is being billed as the “definitive” film about the music icon, and marks the first time his family has authorized the use of its private archives.

The Universal Pictures deal was brokered by Fortissimo’s managing director of international sales, Nelleke Driessen.

“Bob Marley is one of a very few true international icons,” Driessen said. “His image, music and messages of love and peace have crossed borders, boundaries and cultures and are as relevant in the world today as ever. We are extremely happy that the team at Universal share our passion for the subject matter and see the potential for this landmark project. There is no better company to bring this film to audiences across the UK and Scandinavia where Bob remains so popular.”

(Above taken from an article by Kelly Anderson of realscreen.com)

"The third album I ever bought, aged about 12 or 13, was Uprising," he said.

"I never got to see him live. I was too young. S one of the great things about making the documentary was I got the excuse to be really nosy, be a detective, and find out what who this man was."

Filming has taken MacDonald all over the world - from Marley's home in Jamaica to India, Japan, Uganda, Kenya and Uganda.

"Part of the idea is trying to look at the influence he's had all around the world," MacDonald explained.

"We filmed in Tunisia because Bob Marley was culturally influential in the recent revolution.

"People were chanting 'Get up, stand up' when they were demonstrating in the streets."

"My interest, in a large part, is why he speaks so much to people around the world. Why, unlike any other popular musician, his philosophy, his lyrical message continue to resonate with people."

Listen to more of Kevin MacDonald's BBC Radio 6 interview from May 2011 below.

eMedia Interactive launches online TV in Jamaica

2012-02-03T13:56:00.002+00:00

Friday, February 03, 2012 - Jamaican Observer

HAVING raised US$350,000 via a private placement with Pan Caribbean Financial Services to fund its expansion and launch of iVutv.com online TV, eMedia Interactive has announced a stellar six-member board to guide its 25-year-old President and CEO Tyrone Wilson.

A three-and-half-year-old new media company that was able to secure such investment, without collateral, was bound to turn heads; as eMedia did again when it also revealed in Caribbean Business Report that Richard Byles, Sagicor Jamaica CEO and President, and Red Stripe chairman, had joined the company as chairman. He is joined on the board by: Wilson; PSOJ CEO Sandra Glasgow; Sagicor Group VP for Marketing Tanya Miller; NCB General Manager for Marketing, Sheree Martin; and Sagicor Group VP for Information Technology, Karen Vaz.

Donovan Perkins, President and CEO of PanCaribbean Financial Services; Tyrone Wilson, President and CEO of eMedia Interactive Limited; and Richard Byles, President and CEO of Sagicor Life Jamaica and now also Chairman of eMedia Interactive.

While new media has been a hard sell to the private sector in the past, eMedia had assiduously built closer ties since it published its first digital magazine, Your Money eZine, in 2008. Then operating under the name eZines Limited, the company sought not just to pursue blue chip companies as advertising clients but also to produce dedicated eZine titles for them. Those with their own eZines now range from financial institutions (NCB and Scotiabank) to the PSOJ to the Long Mountain Country Club.

"To an extent, when we first launched, it really was if we were speaking a different language; and definitely it was a challenge to prove that our products could be relevant. However, it was extremely helpful to have the mentorship and financial support of corporate executives Chris Williams, then Managing Director of NCB Capital Markets and now President and CEO of Proven Investments, and Sheree Martin — both of whom helped to build the foundation and ensure survival in the early days," said Wilson.

"We have had to work extremely hard with a small, young team but always paying attention to the latest trends in markets that are more developed in terms of their familiarity with the Internet. So while the timing is great to have secured the investment, and to be launching iVu, it hasn't been an overnight process."

The timing he speaks to is the warming of the private sector to online, where once there were bad memories of the dot com boom and bust years, boardroom discussions are increasingly taking place on the pressing need to stay competitive and earn returns by investing in websites, social media and mobile applications. Wilson is also want to point to the survey conducted by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in 2008 that showed that 55 per cent of Jamaicans are using the Internet.

Journalist Ross Sheil, project manager of jamaicaobserver.com when it re-launched and grew into the most trafficked Jamaican-based website, is now also a part of the nine-strong eMedia team based at UTech's Technology Innovation Centre (TIC). The company is now driving aggressively to launch and expand its existing content offerings, including developing TV content for iVu, such as a documentary entitled, '50 Years of Entrepreneurship', a new eZine called 'the wkndr' — a concept similar to overseas leisure guides such as Time Out and Thrillist.com.

Critical to the future of eMedia and iVu will be its partnership approach to the media business by working with content producers, whom it welcomed to a recent introductory session at JAMPRO. While iVu will develop its own content, it will have to set the "bar high on the quality of content", noted Better Mus Come Director Storm Saulter at the event.

Jamaica's Film Commissioner, Kim-Marie Spence, who hosted the event, said that iVu would augment attempts by JAMPRO and others to market Jamaican-produced content on the world stage.

"This is the era that we're in, a very Internet (and) social media-centric, digital era and it's just the logical next step for us to move to an online TV network," said Spence. "I know that the demand for content in other markets is there."

Canadian Indie film to be shot in Jamaica

2012-01-24T19:51:00.000+00:00

By Kevin Jackson Observer Writer
Sunday, December 04, 2011

Home Again, a Canadian indie film by writer/director David 'Sudz' Sutherland is to be shot in Jamaica next February.

The dramatic feature film details the stories of three adults raised as outsiders from their childhood and are deported from Canada, the US and England to Jamaica, the land of their birth.

SUTHERLAND... want to shoot as close to the root as possible where the stories actually take place

In an interview with the Sunday Observer, Sutherland expressed his enthusiasm about the upcoming project.

"We're just getting ready to assemble the crew and doing casting as well and we're pretty excited about this film. Growing up you hear stories about people being deported," Sutherland explained.

Home Again was co-written and will be co-produced by Jamaican born Jennifer Holness who along with Sutherland, run the Toronto-based indie production company Hungry Eyes Film &Television. Don Carmody who produced Chicago and Resident Evil will also share co-production credits on the project.

Sutherland said his decision to shoot the film in Jamaica and Trinidad was strategic. 'We want to shoot as close to the root as possible where the stories actually take place."

American actress Tatyana Ali who starred as Ashley in the 1990's sitcom the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, and later scored hits on the charts with the gold-selling single Daydreaming has been cast as the lead in the film.

Sutherland hinted that additional casting was in the works and major names will be revealed shortly. Casting in Jamaica and Trinidad will take place once the crew visits the locations.

Pressed on the type of budget he was working with, Sutherland revealed it was a low budget production however, 'we're trying to make the budget stretch'.

Sutherland was born in Toronto to Jamaican parents. He studied at York University in Canada.

"My interest in film really developed around the time that Spike Lee was doing his thing in the late 1980's. I decided I was going to study film and video at University. But before that I wrote some plays and did some short films," said Sutherland.

His first feature film was 2003's Love Sex & Eating the Bones which won an award at the Toronto International Film Festival for Best Canadian First Feature Film Award. That film starred actor Hill Harper. "That film did quite well for us", said Sutherland.

His other film credits include Dooms Town and Guns as well as episodes of Da Kink in My Hair, Degrassi: the Next Generation and Wild Roses. He is also one of the creators of the forthcoming Canadian television sitcom She's the Mayor.

Home Again will be accompanied by a soundtrack album which will feature music from Jamaican and other Caribbean based recording artistes.

BAD FRIDAY: RASTAFARI AFTER CORAL GARDENS NOW OUT ON DVD

2012-01-23T13:03:00.000+00:00

Philadelphia/Amsterdam, January 23, 2012 – Oxumgirl Productions proudly presents the official DVD release and European premiere of BAD FRIDAY: RASTAFARI AFTER CORAL GARDENS, a compelling documentary that chronicles the history of violence against Rastafarians in Jamaica.

Produced and directed by John Jackson, Jr. and Deborah Thomas, along with Junior “Gabu” Wedderburn and Junior “Ista J” Manning, BAD FRIDAY focuses on a community of Rastafarians in western Jamaica who annually commemorate the 1963 Coral Gardens incident, a moment just after the island’s independence, when the Jamaican government rounded up, jailed and tortured hundreds of Rastafarians. The feature-length documentary recounts the poignant history of violence in Jamaica through the eyes of its most iconic community and shows how people use their recollections of past traumas to imagine new possibilities for a collective future.

For the film, Jackson, Thomas, Wedderburn and Manning interviewed Rasta elders who experienced the Coral Gardens incident. They convey what happened during and after the violent confrontation – and how they envisioned, and still envision, justice. The 63-minute long documentary, which was shot on DV, mini-DV and HD, also features archival footage and historical photographs, placing the interviews within the context of a longer history of persecution of the Rastafari movement. Junior “Gabu” Wedderburn, former drummer at the Jamaican National Dance Company and master drummer of Broadway’s The Lion King, has crafted the original BAD FRIDAY soundtrack featuring 14 inspirational songs.

BAD FRIDAY experienced its world premiere last year in the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston, Jamaica. Since then the documentary has been shown at various film festivals in the Caribbean and North America, including the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival and Hollywood Black Film Festival. On February 10, the film will receive its European premiere in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The film will be screened at Rootical Vibrations, a popular Rasta-related film and music event hosted by Caribbean Creativity (www.caribbeancreativity.nl) that is one-of-its kind in Europe. Two of the filmmakers, Thomas and Wedderburn, will specially visit Amsterdam to participate in this festive premiere.

Besides playing the festival circuit, BAD FRIDAY is out now on DVD. The documentary is distributed by Third World Newsreel and can be purchased by institutions through www.twn.org and by individuals through www.filmbaby.com or the film’s official website, www.badfridaythemovie.com. Individuals can buy the DVD for $19,99 and download the film for $14,99. The BAD FRIDAY soundtrack can be purchased through www.cdbaby.com ($12,97 for the CD, $9,99 for the download).

"Amidst the proliferation of films on Rasta, none have managed to fathom the Rastafari experience of their Jamaican Babylon like BAD FRIDAY. Now that Rasta is an increasingly co-opted global culture, this is as close as the untutored will get to understanding the meanings of being ‘Dread’ during the pre-reggae period when adherents were viewed as a ‘cult of outcasts’ and routinely victimized. A powerful and timely historical document that speaks to the ways that remembering-and-forgetting continue to shape Jamaica’s post-colonial identity."

Jake Homiak, Curator of “Discovering Rastafari”, Smithsonian Institution

BOB MARLEY: THE MAKING OF A LEGEND - New Website...

2012-01-23T10:22:00.001+00:00

ReggaeNews 24/7: BOB MARLEY: THE MAKING OF A LEGEND - IN PROCESS OF...:
"Soon to be linked up with an official website" Esther comments.. Yes you it here.. Esther & Gian want to create an official website for the film BOB MARLEY: THE MAKING OF A LEGEND... They have asked me if I want like to create and design the website I said "Yes" I thought it would be a great experience and I would love to help out.. As far as when the official site will be released onto the internet that date is still unknown... upon it's release though you will be hit with great info, photos, video and great fun! Although taking this site seriously will have to take effect. The goal is to attract the younger generation to visit and spend sometime on the site. Esther wanted me to create this site because she knows I am young and I am the perfect one to deliver the messgae to the younger people..

*STAY TUNED TO FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS SUBJECT* ..

Blind Shotta keeps it positive - New Jamaican Movie

2012-01-18T18:59:00.000+00:00

BY HOWARD CAMPBELL Observer senior writer
Wednesday, January 18, 2012

BORN and raised in the crime-ridden St Andrew neighbourhood of Admiral Town, Rayon Walker knows a thing or two about area dons. But not even in his wildest dreams did he envision becoming one.

For one month last year, Walker played a don in producer Diavallan Fearon's low-budget movie, Blind Shotta. The 28-year-old has the starring role of Father Blinds, a visually impaired area leader who runs a tough St Andrew inner-city community.

Rayon Walker (centre) with cast members Phillip Lee King (left) and Raneal Onfroy in the movie, Blind Shotta.

Though he had no acting experience, he was drafted into the project by Fearon, a musician/producer known in dancehall circles as 'Dia'.

"Him sey to mi, 'my youth, mi a do a movie an' yuh a right man fi it'," Walker told the Observer. "So, mi jus' tek it wid both hands."

Blind Shotta was largely filmed in the Grants Pen community of Kingston last summer. Its small cast includes several dancehall acts whom Fearon has produced, such as singjay Bridgez.

Walker says spontaneity was the most satisfying aspect of the movie which is expected to be released in 2012.

"We didn't do anything from a script. When we were filming, a lotta people come outa them house an' jus' start dead wid laugh," he chuckled. "That was the best part of the whole thing."

Like Fearon, Walker has a strong musical background, though their tastes are considerably different.

Walker says he is a committed Christian and member of the Apostolic church. He is also head of KGA (Keeping God Alive) Productions, which records and promotes gospel and cultural artistes.

To date, he has recorded three albums including the recently released Godman and Friends Revival. He sees nothing wrong taking on a character that is arguably the most vilified in Jamaica.

"Winston Bell is a Christian an' he's in Third World Cop. Tyler Perry is big in his faith an' look at the movies he does," Walker pointed out.

"This is a comedy, there's no killing an' I have no regrets."

With Blind Shotta completed, Walker says he will concentrate on promoting his new album and shooting a music video. He admits being stung by the acting bug and is looking forward to appearing in more films.

New Movie about Rose Hall + Annie Palmer

2012-01-16T08:57:00.003+00:00

An article taken from yesterdays Observer:
Sunday, January 15, 2012

THE story of Annie Palmer — the infamous White Witch of Rose Hall — could make it to the silver screen by next year if film and television producer Mark Kenny has his way.

Irishman Kenny was introduced to the story when he first moved to Jamaica and lived in Montego Bay. A tour of the majestic great house, which is now a popular tourist attraction, made him aware of Palmer and her reign of terror mingled with lust, the fight for power and tragedy — a fantastic story and the basic elements of a good feature film, he thought to himself.

Rose Hall Great House in Montego Bay, the former home of Annie Palmer.

"At the time, I was looking for projects to develop into feature films and this was perfect, so I got together with a writer friend of mine and we began discussing the possibilities," Kenny tells the Sunday Observer.

The project is now at the treatment stage and a script is set for completion by May of this year. Once this is done, Kenny will be making the rounds seeking financiers to fund what he expects to be a US$2-million budget.

"There is a company in the Dominican Republic — Indomina — which is already interested. But I will be taking the script to the Cannes film festival later this year to seek additional funding," he discloses.

If all goes as planned, filming should commence in the final quarter of this year.

And what of the treament of this Jamaican story, which has made the Rosehall Great House one of Montego Bay's major tourist attractions? Kenny says upon discussing the project with his business partners, it was realised that making a period piece would be to expensive. Therefore, the decision was taken to write a contemporary version of the story set in present day with historical references.

Film-maker Storm Saulter, who directed the 2010 gripping drama Better Mus' Come, has already been contracted to direct the White Witch film, and he is excited about the prospects of the project.

"This film is not going to be what everyone is expecting," an excited Saulter notes. "I am currently working with Mark on developing the story and it is truly a wonderful journey that we are on."

Both Kenny and Saulter are tight-lipped about their wish-list of actors for their film, but both did indicate that it is a mix of both local and international talent, in order to fulfil the balance of global appeal yet being authentic.

The authenticity of the final product is especially important to Saulter, who notes that he is keen on keeping the Jamaican elements true in the story and eliminate bastardisation, as sometimes happens when a director is brought in from outside. As he has done with Better Mus' Come, he is even willing to opt for subtitles in order to "keep it real".

Here in Jamaica, Kenny is known for his production work on the popular televised talent show Digicel Rising Stars and the boxing reality series, Wray and Nephew's The Contender.

Regarding The Contender, Kenny says the second season of the sports series returns to local screens in February. "The boxers have already been chosen and we are just sorting out some issues with the ring, and depending on what happens, we will begin airing either February 8 or 15," he tells the Sunday Observer.

The First Rasta - DVD Now Available

2011-12-29T19:41:00.000+00:00

Helene Lee's new documentary 'Le Premier Rasta' or in English 'The First Rasta' is now available to purchase on dvd via the official website. The dvd comes with some extra deleted scenes and interview with Helene Lee along with booklet, all priced at 18Euros including shipping worldwide.

The DVD version is approx. 30mins longer than the the French TV version thats been floating around...so buy the official dvd for the full version and help support this film genre.

BUY DVD HERE

New 2 part award winning Usain Bolt documentary to air on BBC

2011-12-28T19:19:00.004+00:00

A new 2 part documentary about Olympic and World 100 metre record holder Usain Bolt is scheduled to show on the BBC in february 2012.

The documentary trailer for "Usain Bolt: The Fastest Man Alive" (2x 60mins) has recently received a prestigious 'Golden Podium Award' for it's trailer at Sportel, the international Sports Convention for Television and New Media in Monaco. The trailer features the amazing and tension-building drama of the false start in Daegu’s World Championship.

For the 22nd year in a row, the Golden Podium Awards have rewarded the directors of the world’s best sports TV images. The best sequences were screened during the awards ceremony, presided by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco on Tuesday, October 11, 2011.

Producer/Director of the winning two-part documentary Gael Leiblang has secured exclusive access to Usain Bolt and has been filming up close and personal with Bolt over the last 12 months as he prepares for the biggest race of his life. The films have been produced for France 2 in France and presold to BBC One in the UK.

Produced by French production company Elephant Doc (part of Elephant & Co) for France 2, Zodiak Rights has presold Usain Bolt: The Fastest (1x60’) and Usain Bolt: The Legend (1x60’) to BBC ONE in the UK.

In the London 2012 Olympics Usain Bolt will try to retain his three Olympic titles and his three world records. On the night of the 100m final, over 4 billion viewers will watch him as he attempts to enter the history books by becoming the first man ever to retain the 100m gold medal.

The first film "Usain Bolt: The Fastest" is an intimate portrait of the fastest man on earth told by his relatives in Jamaica. Made with his complete cooperation it features Bolt in his home environment away from the cameras. It also features all the people who have helped get Bolt to the top of his profession – his first coach, his relatives, his best friends and the Jamaican national coach. (This film is available in Feb-March 2012.TBC)

The second film "Usain Bolt: The Legend", an in-depth account of his life during the 2012 Olympic Games will feature the build up to the 2012 Olympics and follow Bolt in a fly on the wall style through his preparation and then the games themselves as he tries to retain his coveted gold medal. This film will be available immediately after the 2012 Olympics August 2012.

At 25 years old, Usain Bolt is the quickestman on the planet. An extraordinary athlete. A legend. In 2012, he will try to become the first man to win the 100m gold medal on the track in two consecutive Olympic Games. But how can a man 6’5’’ tall and built like a rugby player be so fast?

Zodiak Rights holds worldwide rights to both documentaries excluding France, and will be launched to the international market at the forthcoming MIPCOM.

More info soon....

(not to be confused with the BBC documentary 'The Fastest Man who has ever lived' from 2011 or 'Why Do Jamaicans Run So Fast?')

SHOWTIME - The History Of UK Dancehall Live On Stage (DVD)

2011-12-28T11:52:00.001+00:00

A new 70 minute long Dancehall documentary has recently been released on dvd by Kudos Records here in the UK. The film interviews some of the UK's legendary dancehall artists and highlights how the reggae dancehall scene gave birth to many other music genres.

Synopsis:
"The Heatwave are known for throwing mad parties, and Showtime on 15th June 2011 was madder than most. But Showtime was more than just a party. It was an explosion of UK dancehall history, bringing together legends from every era of UK rave music to share the mic and spit lyrics over classic dancehall riddims.

In this feature length film, Rollo Jackson (Tape Crackers, Toddla T, Hot Chip) captures the magical live performances and takes us behind the bright lights and onstage hype, conducting in-depth interviews with pioneers of the UK bashment scene like Glamma Kid, Stush, Skibadee and Riko Dan. The result is an epic document of UK music culture and a vital piece of oral history, telling a story which is often forgotten or misrepresented by the mainstream."

BUY DVD HERE

National Library Of Jamaica Seminar - Legal Deposit & Building The Archives

2011-12-13T10:18:00.000+00:00

Just wanted to share this video with you of the National Library of Jamaica's open day they had not so long ago where Minister Grange spoke about the importance of donating films and music to the National Library and also about the new law which makes it mandatory for one copy of all new film and music productions in Jamaica to be deposited with the Library, this ensures that Jamaica's culture gets preserved properly so this is a really good step forward.
The Jamaica Film Academy is also actively involved in the building up of the NLJ's film archive and attended the event along with film makers from Jamaica and abroad to donate both films and music to the archive.

If anyone watching this video has Jamaican themed music, film or books and would like to help contribute then you can contact the NLJ directly for information.

Drinkers at Notting Hill Carnival contribute to Jamaica-inspired masterpiece..

2011-12-08T15:43:00.002+00:00

Just a short video i wanted to share....

Drinkers at the Notting Hill Carnival may have unknowingly contributed to a Jamaica-inspired art project. As part of this West London Caribbean festival, Red Stripe beer cans were collected from the festival for the ultimate recycling project: a DIY sound system. What better place to start a project using beer cans than a street festival attended by more than one million people each year?

After cleaning, drying and sorting, the collected uncrushed cans were taken to a studio where a design team, led by sound artist Yuri Suzuki, assembled them into groupings that eventually formed a 2.5 metre sound system. The blocks of cans were aligned to mimic stereo tubes and project sound.

Jamaican singer/songwriter Gappy Ranks and British DJ Al Fingers teamed up to test the sound system. The pair tested the range and versatility of the system using a variety of sound effects and vocal effects characteristic of reggae and dubstep music. System tests were a huge success, with sound from the system being well beyond the artists' expectations. Following initial testing, the system was taken to Village Underground for a launch event featuring dub artists MC Chunky, Ben UFO and others.

The project is a tribute to resourceful Jamaican culture and ‘do-it-yourself’ creativity. Musicians, artists and other creative individuals use the materials available in their environments to make something new, such as steel drums made from discarded oil cans. The project celebrates the brand Caribbean roots as well as making a great contribution to the recycled art genre.

Music Voyager - Made in Jamaica - New Documentary Series.....

2011-11-28T11:18:00.006+00:00

A new 3 part documentary series has recently been released titled "Music Voyager - Made in Jamaica", 3 episodes of 26mins each have been made about Reggae music, you can either rent or purchase the 3 films below:

MUSIC VOYAGER Made in Jamaica - Beyond Bob Marley
MUSIC VOYAGER visits with some of today's most popular reggae artists. Jacob travels to St. Thomas for an intimate unplugged performance with Tarrus Riley, journeys to the hills outside Kingston for a tour of reggae star Richie Spice's family farm and is treated to an acoustic set on beautiful Goldeneye ...
Directed by: Kelly Magelky
Runtime: 26 minutes

PURCHASE YOUR COPY HERE - Made in Jamaica - Beyond Bob Marley

MUSIC VOYAGER Made in Jamaica - Dancehall Marathon
MUSIC VOYAGER experiences the powerful dancehall scene first hand at the massive Reggae Sumfest festival. Jacob visits legendary producer King Jammy, gets a lesson on how to be a Jamaican DJ, tries out the latest dance moves, and meets two young dancehall talents, Chino and Steven MacGregor.
Directed by: Kelly Magelky
Runtime: 26 minutes

PURCHASE YOUR COPY HERE - Made in Jamaica - Dancehall Marathon

MUSIC VOYAGER Made in Jamaica: Roots, Rock, Reggae
MUSIC VOYAGER joins a drumming session with the Akwaaba Drummers, journeys to the town of Negril to meet Gilzene and the Blue Light Mento Band, heads back to Kingston for a studio session with guitar legend Ernest Ranglin and Sly Dunbar and ends with an intimate concert with musical icon ...
Directed by: Kelly Magelky
Runtime: 26 minutes

PURCHASE YOUR COPY HERE - Made in Jamaica: Roots, Rock, Reggae

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Collaborative Jamaican Documentary wants you to be a part of their film....

2011-11-26T16:31:00.003+00:00

OnePeople is a collaborative documentary that invites people worldwide to contribute footage to celebrate Jamaica's global reach 50 years after independence. We pose the question
"What does Jamaica mean to you?" with the aim that a global community of creative minded people will respond by uploading a visual representation of their answer.

We know this tiny island nation has touched many outside of our country, even beyond our diaspora, and with this project we will embrace anyone who has ever been moved by a reggae song, enjoyed a plate of ackee and saltfish, a Negril sunset, been inspired by the words of Marcus Garvey or simply has a point of view.

OnePeople will premiere in London, Toronto, New York, Miami and Kingston on August 6th 2012.

We hope we have given you all the information you need right here but feel free to contact us with any questions.

Submissions will close January 6th, 2012.

View The 8 EASY STEPS

www.onepeopledocumentary.com

Marley Africa Road Trip - STARTS TONIGHT....(2nd Nov.2011)

2011-11-02T08:32:00.007+00:00

The new Marley Africa Road Trip starring Ziggy, Rohan and Robbie Marley will air on TV across the world tonight.(Showtimes below this article)

MARLEY BROTHERS EMBARK ON SOUTH AFRICAN ROADTRIP (Discovery Channel Press Release)

Last summer Ziggy, Rohan and Robbie Marley travelled to Africa to embark upon an adventure, which has been captured for a new documentary, Marley Africa Roadtrip.

The series follows them while in South Africa, observing the brothers as they experience life in Johannesburg and travel to remote areas. Africa held Bob Marley spellbound but this film discovers it through his sons' eyes, as they share an exploration, keeping close to the heart of the country, meeting its people and encountering its wildlife. Between adventures on the road they relate the lessons they have learned from their father about family, moral righteousness and revolution.

The series captures their highs and lows with an intimate camera crew, encouraging the trio to film their thoughts, memories, unique humor and frustrations. The three brothers' interaction with new characters and each other is very engaging as they bring a sense of fun, charisma and thought provoking observations. They discuss returning to the land their father loved and seeking not only what had become Bob's dream of a unified Africa, but to find out what they themselves have done with their father's legacy. In 1980, thirty years before the brother's trip, their father Bob Marley performed at the Independence Concert in Zimbabwe. Ziggy was with him on that trip and it is something that he reflects on regularly, "One of my most memorable moments was being in Zimbabwe in 1980 with my father. It was life changing for me and it shaped my thoughts of Africa and knowledge of African struggles. What we're trying to do is keep one of the dreams that my father and the forefathers of African liberation had in mind, which is for real African unity", Ziggy said. The six hour series, set for release in 2011, the 30th anniversary of Bob Marley's passing, is produced and directed by acclaimed documentary maker, David Alexanian. Alexanian and his production company, Elixir Films, were behind Ewan McGregor's unforgettable motorcycle trips across the world in the popular series' "Long Way Round" and "Long Way Down". Alexanian said "The documentary will provide viewers with an intriguing look into a legendary musical family".

While on the trip Ziggy was motivated by the prospect of performing with African musicians and the series finale sees him planning and performing a concert in Soweto. The documentary will feature Ziggy teaching local musicians to play his own as well as his father's music and rehearsing for the spontaneous performance with new musicians, in record time. While on the trip Ziggy said "We are trying to perform a concert, for free, in Soweto because I want to show my respect to Soweto and the struggle. We are trying to do it on our own, guerilla style. Reggae music is free music. Like my father said nobody has ownership on it. It's like oxygen, like the wind, like the rain".

Ziggy Marley also recently released a new song, Africa Land to celebrate the occasion. He is a five-time Grammy winner and reggae icon, whose last Children's Album, Family Time, won the Grammy for Best Musical Album for Children. Rohan Marley is an entrepreneur and philanthropist, whose company, Marley Coffee, offers gourmet ital coffee to major gourmet food distributors worldwide. Robbie Marley is a motorcycle stunt rider who has appeared in several major motion pictures, and also owns a retail store in Miami, Florida.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE HERE

Episode 1

Wednesday 2 November, 2011 on Discovery World

AFRICA – @ 21:05 (Standard South Africa Time) on Discovery World
ARMENIA – @ 01:05 (Armenia Standard Time, Thursday Nov 03 2011) on Discovery World
AZERBAIJAN – @ 23:05 (Azerbaijan Standard Time) on Discovery World
BELARUS – @ 21:05 (Eastern European Time) on Discovery World
BELGIUM – @ 20:05 (Central European Time) on Discovery World
BOSNIA – @ 20:05 (Central European Time) on Discovery World
BULGARIA – @ 21:05 (Eastern European Time) on Discovery World
CROATIA – @ 20:05 (Central European Time) on Discovery World
CYPRUS – @ 21:05 (Eastern European Time) on Discovery World
CZECH REPUBLIC – @ 20:05 (Central European Time) on Discovery World
DENMARK – @ 20:05 (Central European Time) on Discovery World
ESTONIA – @ 21:05 (Eastern European Time) on Discovery World
FINLAND – @ 21:05 (Eastern European Time) on Discovery World
GEORGIA – @ 23:05 (Georgia Standard Time) on Discovery World
GREECE – @ 21:05 (Eastern European Time) on Discovery World
HUNGARY – @ 20:05 (Central European Time) on Discovery World
ICELAND – @ 19:05 (Greenwich Mean Time) on Discovery World
KAZAKHSTAN – @ 01:05 (Alma-Ata Time, Thursday Nov 03 2011) on Discovery World
KYRGYZSTAN – @ 01:05 (Kyrgyzstan Time, Thursday Nov 03 2011) on Discovery World
LATVIA – @ 21:05 (Eastern European Time) on Discovery World
LITHUANIA – @ 21:05 (Eastern European Time) on Discovery World
MACEDONIA – @ 20:05 (Central European Time) on Discovery World
MALTA – @ 20:05 (Central European Time) on Discovery World
MOLDOVA – @ 21:05 (Eastern European Time) on Discovery World
MONTENEGRO – @ 20:05 (Central European Time) on Discovery World
NETHERLANDS – @ 20:05 (Central European Time) on Discovery World
NORWAY – @ 20:05 (Central European Time) on Discovery World
POLAND – @ 20:05 (Central European Time) on Discovery World
ROMANIA – @ 21:05 (Eastern European Time) on Discovery World
RUSSIA – @ 23:05 (Moscow Daylight Time) on Discovery World
SERBIA – @ 20:05 (Central European Time) on Discovery World
SLOVAKIA – @ 20:05 (Central European Time) on Discovery World
SLOVENIA – @ 20:05 (Central European Time) on Discovery World
SWEDEN – @ 20:05 (Central European Time) on Discovery World
TURKEY – @ 21:05 (Eastern European Time) on Discovery World
UKRAINE – @ 21:05 (Eastern European Time) on Discovery World

Episode 2 Airs, Wednesday 9 November, 2011 on Discovery World