I first attended this yearly festival in 2009 and throughly enjoyed the evening. I am a great lover of filmmaking and all that it entails. It is such a fascinating and amazing tool for information and entertainment. Particularly in the last few years I have had a thirst for Caribbean films and documentaries. With Bollywood and Nollywood generating hundreds of reels per year, I yearn to see the Caribbean doing the same and producing quality productions that audiences will embrace. Well the Caribbean Film Corner is an excellent way to see both full length and short films, documentaries and animation created by people in the Caribbean diaspora. And the most amazing thing is that it is FREE!
So please check out the website http://www.caribbeanfilmcorner.com and their Facebook page and come to one of the programmes from the 14th to 17th Sept 2011. I promise it is worth a visit!
His voice is so distinctive. Yesterday ‘I cant stop loving you’ came on Sweet 100.1 FM here in Trinidad and though I had never heard it before it just took one sentence for me to identify Kem. It is equal parts mellow, seductive and caressing the way his voice translates those notes. This singer and songwriter first captured my affection with the song ‘Love Calls Your Name’ from his 2002 album ‘Kemistry’. He has released two more albums, the latest being the beautiful ‘Intimacy’ in 2010. He speaks about the complexes and his undying belief in love. If you have not fallen for Kem already, do yourself a favour and get his albums. For these songs below it is worth it
While I was doing my Alevels and was for the first time not in classes all day I took the opportunity to watch all the episodes of Dallas, Dynasty and Knots Landing. One of the cable channels (sorry but the name escapes me) made my life by showing a new espisode every week day and had an omnibus on the weekends. I was fulfilling a childhood curiosity. When these shows first came out in the 1980s, TTT (Trinidad and Tobago Television) showed them long after my bedtime. I was very aware of their existence but was not allowed watch it live due to the adult content and my strict bed time. The teenager in me so was so excited to finally see these episodes. I devoured all the seasons and ridiculous storylines and loved every minute. So it will not be surprising to know that I am looking forward to seeing the new, revamped, modernised Dallas. It stars my teenage crush ’ Bobby’ and the man we all love to hate “JR Ewing” plus all the new hot faces. Sure I expect it to corny as hell but I care not. Just like 90210 I will be watching it religiously
It is impossible to have grown up in the West Indies and not known about cricket. Love it or loathe it, it was a sport that could not be avoided. I have memories of the boys in my primary school playing during the lunch break, that unmistakable sound of the ball smashing into the bat. With only one TV channel test matches would bombard the screen for days. Even in taxis and private cars, radios would be tuned to hear commenters. Names like Vivian Richards and Clive Lloyd were the celebrities of the game. So much so that on a trip to Antigua a few years ago, when the taxi driver pointed out Viv Richards in a car park I was so excited that considered trying to get his autograph. Even today once West Indies is playing I can guarantee that most Caribbean houses in the UK have their TV and radios set on the match. Caribbean men have an undying love for this game and many have passed it down to their children.
So I am excited about the new documentary Fire In Babylon. Described as “ the breathtaking story of how the West Indies triumphed over its colonial masters through the achievements of one of the most gifted teams in sporting history” this feature promises 87 mins of cricket history in its heyday in the 1970s and 80s. I look forward to learning more about the sport and the West Indies team as a number of cricketing great from all over the world make an appearance.
It opens in UK cinemas today May 20th. I love nothing more than a good documentary! Anyone want to join me?
Carnival Monday and Tuesday in Trinidad and Tobago is March 7th & 8th and from the few days I was there last week I came back with a few addictions. You can not avoid it. The radio, TV, just driving around, all you can hear is soca and the 2011 tunes are big!
Kes The Band, who I have never associated with Soca, have two big tunes I can’t stop playing.
The naughty ‘Wotless’
and “I cant stop singing this” – ‘Ah ting’
Benjai – ‘Wine to the side’. Anyone care to give me a demonstration?
I am sentimental. It’s a curse and a blessing because in the simplest of moments I find a way to frame it like a portrait in my head. Driving that night with the lukewarm breeze and the 80s love songs on the radio I felt happy and free and a little nostaglic. Remembering those times as a girl when we did this same thing. You and I in a car driving along. Conversations steady with pauses in between to just look out the window. Always easy and comfortable and that night it made me happy that I could be a grownup and still love your company the same way. I wish now that I knew that I would never have a moment like that again. Because if I did I would have sat there longer, said more, laughed more and said I love you even though I did not need to. I would have painted that portrait on a bigger frame and held onto every scene like it was in danger to fading away. So now I hold onto my sentimental blessings and though they make me cry now, one day they will make me smile again. We wont be driving next time, just standing on the sea of glass hugging, no longer knowing what goodbyes feel like. Till then, sleep well. I love you.
Getting up is the easy part. Even the dressing and packing lunch bit is a cinch. The problem starts somewhere on the road. Then sleep starts to whisper its seductive chant in my ear and I need to drown it out. Yes it’s time for the morning music pick-me -up. On the radio I usually jump between Choice FM (for the new songs) and Magic (best for nostalgic Karaoke). But poddy has been my steadfast companion for the first 7 days of the year with Soca on constant repeat. Somehow I ended up picking road march winners from all over the Caribbean!
Go Dung – Lil Rick
Every time I go back home I come back obsessed with a tune and last year it was this. How can I resist Bajan Soca when I love the accent so!
Duracell – Skinny Fabulous
St Vincent represent! Tuneeeeee! “We wick k k k k k k k k k k k ed”
Palance – JW and Blaze
I don’t care if its 2011. This is still the song. Waiting to see what can touch it come February.
What I know about the 1970 riots in Trinidad and Tobago is based purely on what my father has told me. During the 1990 Coup are my first memories of Daddy’s recalling those days. He spoke about his soldier friends who hid in the hills, the strict curfew that was implemented and how he and his friends would out smart the police as they broke the deadline so they could play football As with all things “Trini” the facts are melded with humour. He spoke of a country I did not know where black people did not hold positions of power in the banks and other offices in Port of Spain and the black power revolution in the USA that influenced those protests as well as the young men in the streets where he limed. As the rest of the world experienced an upheaval our ‘little’ islands began to rumble as well.
This documentary will be shown on the Gayelle channel in T&T on Friday December 10th and Saturday December 11th (http://www.70themovie.com/). Foreigners like myself can watch it online at www.JumpTV.com and at www.GayelleTV.com (especially since Gayelle on Sky seems to be stuck on repeating shows from 5 years ago!) I hope to view it with Daddy to get his take on piece of history that he witnessed first hand.
Well the answer to that question is: home! Musings has been a Trini girl in Trinidad and Tobago and not good ole London. And in the process the blog has suffered Sad faces all around and a slap on the wrist for good measure. A trip home is never a bad thing so there are stories of lovely adventures and memories. But in the midst of it all my TV and movie watching did not falter. I am after all the girl who became addicted to a soap opera in Caracas, a serial in Paris and talk show in Spain. Holidays and TV are synonymous in my mind! At home I did not have to depend on the internet for my TV fix but got to enjoy it live and direct every night. T&T, like so many of its Caribbean counterparts, has American cable like Direct TV with a mixture of local stations as well as some Spanish speaking ones (we are after all right next to Venezuela and the rest of South American continent).
I got to enjoy my favourites but while visiting friends and family homes I got to partake of their TV preferences as well. That was fun. The Food Network, that I have successful avoided in the past, proved to be a popular choice. Who can blame them? I have been avoiding the UK versions because it would just fuel my love of cooking to gigantuan portions. From Soul Food, Italian, quick meals to elaborate concoctions and local Indian delights, as I feared, you really can just keep the TV on that channel allllll dayyyy longgggg. It’s a mixture of food porn and big personalities all loving the culinary arts with gutso. It is contagious and I have indeed caught the bug.
LMN (Lifetime Movie Network) was another favorite. One true-to-life, based on a book movie after another, often with familiar TV show faces playing the lead characters is an unbeatable combination. I have heard people talk about how easy it is to spend a day in bed watching LMN and from my experience just turning to the channel and stopping for a minute can be dangerous. Before you realise what has happened you get caught up in the melodrama.
Dancing with the Stars, the US equilivant to Strictly Come Dancing, is flashier and more ‘long winded’ that its UK counterpart. Results nights are frustrating as it takes a page from the X-Factor and packs an hour with too many guest singers and fluff before they hurriedly announce the week’s elimination. I shouted at the screen every Tuesday night and texted my cousin my predictions but every week I came back for more. The dancing is the key. I love to see the ‘stars’ struggle to learn new steps, perform, then wait for the judges dodgy criticisms. Len and Bruno are more over the top in the US than they are in Strictly but they are being paid a lot to fly over every week and appeal to the American audiences. It is a winning formula because the show tops the Neilson ratings every week. I wish it would go back to a simplier formula and concentrate on the beauty of the dance instead but that, it seems, does not help their ratings. I am hoping that Brandy, Jennifer and Kyle are in the final and would be happy with any of them winning the mirror ball trophy.
I discovered the excellent Detroit 1-8-7. Cases that keep me interested with realistic detectives and outcomes. Michael Imperioli has successful put his Sopranos character to bed and created a new quirky ‘n’ crotchety persona. The Good Wife has come back stronger and with a host of new individuals who have seamlessly fit into the show. And Friday Night Lights, in its fifth and final season is again proving why it is the best drama on American TV. When will they reach to the UK shores? Will let you know when I find out!
I kept my eye on the fabulous Downton Abbey from across the ocean and I was happy to realise that it will be continuing next year. Along with the excellent Sherlock and Luther. British TV dramas are with out question the winner. It beats the gloss and fast pace formula of the US serials.
Tonight ABC World News featured Sesame Street’s newest muppet – a little African American girl who sings about loving her hair. The message is as powerful for those of us who are now adults as well as little girls everywhere. The song is the work of head writer Joey Mazzarino whose Ethiopian daughter has often expressed her wish to have long flowing straight hair instead of her short puffy curls. He wanted to give her a positive message about her beauty and in the process the song has stirred happy images for black girls and women everywhere. I am an unashamed Sesame Street groupie. The show was an amazing educational tool and the source of great childhood memories that I hope to one day share with my children. It continues to inspire and educate with lovely little songs like this:
I first attended this yearly festival in 2009 and throughly enjoyed the evening. I am a great lover of filmmaking and all that it entails. It is such a fascinating and amazing tool for information and entertainment. Particularly in the last few years I have had a thirst for Caribbean films and documentaries. With Bollywood and Nollywood generating hundreds of reels per year, I yearn to see the Caribbean doing the same and producing quality productions that audiences will embrace. Well the Caribbean Film Corner is an excellent way to see both full length and short films, documentaries and animation created by people in the Caribbean diaspora. And the most amazing thing is that it is FREE!
Sad faces all around and a slap on the wrist for good measure. A trip home is never a bad thing so there are stories of lovely adventures and memories. But in the midst of it all my TV and movie watching did not falter. I am after all the girl who became addicted to a soap opera in Caracas, a serial in Paris and talk show in Spain. Holidays and TV are synonymous in my mind! At home I did not have to depend on the internet for my TV fix but got to enjoy it live and direct every night. T&T, like so many of its Caribbean counterparts, has American cable like Direct TV with a mixture of local stations as well as some Spanish speaking ones (we are after all right next to Venezuela and the rest of South American continent).
