Monday, 20 October 2014

The Shouters and the Control Freak on Demand

The Shouters and the Control Freak Empire movie is now available on demand on Vimeo's VOD platform.
Help us Spread the Word by blogging, tweeting & posting on Twitter, Facebook and other social media you use.



The Madonna Murti on Demand

The Madonna Murti movie is now available on demand on Vimeo's VOD platform.
Help us Spread the Word by blogging, tweeting & posting on Twitter, Facebook and other social media you use.


Wednesday, 1 October 2014

Caribbean Films on Demand

The Madonna Murti is now available on demand

After 3 years of hard work the directors of The Madonna Murti documentary film are very excited today to announce the launch of a Video on Demand rental service starting on 4th November 2014.

The Madonna Murti has gone through its theatrical release with several private and public screenings in many countries. 

During this period The Madonna Murti film won two awards: Best Shorts Competition (La Jolla, California) - 'Awards of Excellence', September 2012 and Indie Fest - 'Awards of Merit', October 2013

There have been numerous publications and reviews on this film.

We want to reach the many viewers who were not able to see the film and those who would like to see it again. 

You now have an opportunity to watch the film with this booming technology on the Internet thanks to our partnership with Vimeo.




The Shouters and the Control Freak Empire is now available on demand

The directors of The Shouters and the 'Control Freak' Empire documentary film are very excited today to announce the launch of a video on Demand rental service starting on 4th November 2014.

The Shouters and the Control Freak Empire has gone through its theatrical release with several public screenings in many countries around the world.

The film won the Best International Short Documentary award at the Columbia Gorge International Film Festival in 2011.

We want to reach the many viewers who were not able to see the film and those who would like to see it again. 

You now have an opportunity to watch the film with this ever evolving technology on the Internet thanks to our partnership with Vimeo.



Monday, 15 September 2014

For Love of Caribbean Films
  • There is a need to establish a taste for Caribbean films in the Caribbean community! 
  • This is very difficult since the standard in our communities, is still predominantly, Hollywood films.
  • Some people might argue that the films are of low quality or they are too short or the genre are not the mainstream or there are not enough films, etc...
  • However over the last couple of years I have definitely seen a push for higher quality, varying genre of different lengths up to and including features.
  • The number of film festivals around the Caribbean has increased; there are international partnerships and various programs aimed at creating buzz, promoting the Caribbean as a film destination, marketing the local filmmakers and creating an environment conducive for a thriving local film industry.
  • We are swamped with films from Hollywood and the local indie filmmaker is often overlooked, his/her stories are not even considered at times.
  • How else would the local indie filmmaker who has some great creative ideas to promote the rich cultural heritage of the Caribbean in film be given a chance if the people of the Caribbean and its Diaspora don't watch their films.
  • Until there is a demand for Caribbean films locally and internationally the Caribbean indie filmmaker has to do a lot for his/her film to be appreciated and even more for the people of the Caribbean and its Diaspora to want to pay to watch them.
  • There are many initiatives ongoing and the initiators must be applauded for their efforts!
  • The Caribbean indie filmmakers should also consider the various technology now available to help produce, market and distribute their films.

Sunday, 20 July 2014

Madonna Murti

Synopsis

Where else in the world is black beautiful, baffling and brings together East and West? In South Trinidad at the Siparia Roman Catholic Church in that "city of sand", a black female statue venerated by Catholics as the Virgin Mary and worshipped by Hindus as a black Hindu Goddess does just that! To Catholics who follow her in street processions, the statue is known as "La Divina Pastora", the Divine Shepherdess - to Hindus who charawe her by touching her arms and feet, she is hailed as 'Sipari Mai', (Mother of Siparia) "Siparee Ke Mai" or 'Mother Kali'. As such, she remains the only symbiosis of Catholicism and Hinduism in the Western hemisphere.

Mystery shrouds her origin and about her, legends and myths abound. Though barely three feet tall when fully clothed, this statue draws pilgrims from every creed and race and the social, cultural and religious rites which accompany her devotions continue to intrigue the world.

Well known to pilgrims and devotees who profess her numerous miracles of healings and answered prayers, she is particularly revered by barren women to whom she has given the gift of children and in turn, she receives many gifts of gold and grains, fabric and flowers.

The Madonna Murti features candid interviews with poojaris, pilgrims, pundits and priests as well as academic experts who have tried to understand her, artists who have tried to capture her illusive image and writers who have tried to tell her story, The Madonna Murti utilizes narrative, drama, illustrations and song to tell the tale of a statue who offers health, hope, help and happiness to those who come to her most in need of it.
 
Awards


The Madonna Murti won the Best Shorts Competition Awards of Excellence (La Jolla, California) in September 2012 -http://www.bestshorts.net/

The Madonna Murti won the 'Awards of Merit' from Indie Fest in October 2013 – http://www.theindiefest.com

Publications

“Religious Double Belonging” in Trinidad and Tobago

Pilgrimage to La Divina Pastora
‘La Divin’ pilgrims lead the way
The Madonna Murti and the Great Commission

Of Statues and Murtis

No other gods

‘Mother’ not Kali

That Statue in Siparia

A self-righteous attack

A review of The Madonna Murti –part 1

A review of The Madonna Murti –part 2

‘La Divin’ in a new light

Jesus Explosion: Revival Recap

What I watch


Video Trailer