Washington,
DC
The worldwide reggae music community is eagerly awaiting the theatrical release
of Lawrence Pictures’ “made in
Jamaica”,
as a growing number of reggae websites and other media continue to document the
film's development from location shooting in
Jamaica
, to movie screens everywhere.
Never before has a single feature film presented the leaders of the Reggae music
movement with the intensity that “made
in
Jamaica
” does.The film
featuresGrammy
Award Winner Toots, Gregory Isaacs, Bunny Wailer (Bob Marley’s brother), 2006
Grammy Award Nominees Third World, Shia and Cat Core, Beres Hammond, Sly Dunbar
and Robbie Shakespeare, Alaine Laugthon, Tanya Stephens, Bounty Killer, Blessed,
Elephant Man, Lady Saw, Joseph Current, Vybz Kartel, Brick and Lace, Dr.
Marshall, Capleton, Koolant, and Left Side & Esco.
The
production team will be at the Cannes Film Festival,hosting
private preview and full length screenings for film industry professionals.Plans are underway to enter the completed film as a competitor in
several film festivals, beginning with the Toronto
Film Festival.
“made
in
Jamaica
”
is on schedule for theatrical release by September of 2006.
Executive
producer Pascal Herold of Herold
& Family observes: “Today, having seen the first twenty minutes of the
completed film, I am certain that the raw, captivating intensity of this story
will astound audiences world wide.”
“made
in
Jamaica
” is a powerful portrait of
the leaders of the reggae music movement, and how reggae has become a worldwide
phenomenon.It presents the candid
life stories of these unique artists, captured in frank, personal interviews,
strengthened by their extraordinary musical performances, filmed entirely live
in the authentic backdrop of
Jamaica
. From their native ghetto to international fame, "made
in
Jamaica
" presents the individual stories of these artists who represent the
Jamaican Dream.
Reggae
music sprang into life in the 70’s. It is
Jamaica
’s blues: a music of both desperation and hope.The 70’s were the first time that a third world country had made its
voice heard on such a large scale.Instantly
recognizable, the reggae sound is a celebration of life itself.Now a new generation of reggae artists has emerged and its fathers are
still in
Jamaica
.
The
Dance Hall, emerging from reggae, is
drawing large crowds across the globe.At
its origin, the Dance Hall concept is heavily influenced by religious overtones.Like rap music, Dance Hall’s message is powerful andstraightforward, with lyrics about sex, violence, and social issues,
including much on women’s rights.
“made in
Jamaica
” Director Jerome Laperrousaz
Past
films include:
•
"Prisoners in the Street: Third
World" 1980 (
Cannes
Festival Selection)
•
"Human" casting Terence
Stamp and Jeanne Moreau, 1975
•
"Continental Circus",
1972
(Jean Vigo Award and Academy Award selection for foreign production)
Jerome
Laperrousaz has twenty-five years of family
history in
Jamaica
. In 1980 he directed "Prisoners in
the Street: ‘
Third World
’ ". The film highlights Jamaican reggae through the experience of
the group "
Third World
".
Jerome
has a special talent for exposing the sensitive and personal. In "made
in Jamaica", Jerome shows the magnificent beauty which is the Jamaican
landscape, from the renowned recording studios of Kingston, the pulsing sounds
of Ocho-Rios, the morning light of the Blue Mountains, the vendors lining the
narrows streets, the ghettos, and the creativity of Rasta and its inspired
fashions.
What
has reggae become today? "made in
Jamaica
" will expose two main themes present in reggae: the old school reggae
of the founders and that of the new generation.
"made
in
Jamaica
" Cast
Grammy
Award Winner Toots, Gregory Isaacs, Bunny Wailer (Bob Marley’s brother), 2006
Grammy Award Nominees Third World, Shia and Cat Core, Beres Hammond, Sly Dunbar
and Robbie Shakespeare, Alaine Laugthon, Tanya Stephens, Bounty Killer, Blessed,
Elephant Man, Lady Saw, Joseph Current, Vybz Kartel, Brick and Lace, Dr.
Marshall, Capleton, Koolant, and Left Side & Esco.
Grammy
Award Winner Toots
Frederick
"Toots" born in Maypen, grew up singing gospel music at church. The
lights of
Kingston
were his dream and arrived in Trenchtown barefoot and moneyless. He recorded
with Raleigh Gordon and Jerry Matthias, forming the original Maytals. In 1968,
their song "Do the Reggay"coined the phrase ‘reggae’. In 1973
Toots and The Maytals held their first concert in the
United States
. It was the beginning of a successful career managed by Bob Marley’s producer
Chris Blackwell. The band recently won the 2005 Grammy award for reggae for the
album "True Love". This album has some re-recorded versions of their
classics alongside popular and legendary musicians such a Bonnie Raitt, Willie
Nelson, Eric Clapton and Keith Richards.
Toots
performs “So Excited,” “Sweet and
Dandy,” and other compositions.
Gregory
Isaacs
In
the 60’s Gregory grew up in the ghetto of
West Kingston
. Reggae offers him a way out of a life that like many others is caught between
addiction and jail. In 1987 he issued the record that was to turn his career
around but he remains entirely his own man, with a unique style. For his
personality and eccentric English dress, he is popularly known as the
"Jamaican Dandy".
Gregory
Isaacs
performs “Night Nurse” and other
compositions.
Bunny
Wailer
He
went to school with Bob Marley and became his half brother when their parents
remarried with each other. In 1963, Marley, Wailer and Peter Tosh started their
group "The Wailers". After Bob Marley’s death and the assassination
of Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer is one of the only original fathers of Reggae still
alive.
Bunny
Wailer
performs “No Woman No Cry” and other compositions.
Third
World
Stephen
"Cat" Core learned guitar and violin as a child by his mother, a music
teacher. At 13 years old, he joined the prestigious Inner Circle Band and
started his professional career. Cat Core was invited to play with Stevie
Wonder, Cindy Lauper, Santana, etc…His group "
Third World
" founded in 1974, including Bunny Rugs Clarke and Richard Daley is a great
success.
Third World
’s current album “Black, Gold & Green” has received a 2006 Grammy Nomination for Best Reggae Album.
Third World
performs “96 Degrees” and other
compositions.
Beres
Hammond
Born
in
Annotto
Bay
in 1955, Beres Hammond grew up listening to his father's collection of American
soul music and jazz music. His career begins in the 1970s with his first
recording of "Wanderer". He reaches his greatest success in the 1990s
through the release of albums as well as several compilations, establishing
himself as one of the top lovers rock artist.
Bounty
Killer
Bounty
Killer was born in the Kingston Ghetto of Trenchtown where music is part of his
daily life. His recorded his first single "Gun Must Done" in 1990. At
eighteen years old, the maturity of his lyrics (condemning
Kingston
's lawless gunmen) and melodic vocal style, singled him out as a rising star.
His debut album "
Jamaica
's Most Wanted" is released in 1993. This album cements his reputation as
the most outspoken dee-jay of his generation.
Elephant
Man
Named
"Dumbo Elephant" at the age of 13, for having ears larger than
average, the name evolves later into Elephant Man. Elephant Man discovers his
talent at the age of 15 at school by using his desks to beat out rhythms and
rhymes. Despite threats from his mother who preferred him to "go look
work", Elephant knows that Dee-jaying would be his ticket to success. He
then formed his band, the"Scare Dem Crew" with Boom Dandimite, Harry
Toddler and Nitty Kutchie. Elephant Man is now producing and mentoring younger
artists in order to develop the music and assure his longevity.
Lady
Saw
Lady
Saw was born in 1972 in the small
village
of
St. Mary
. In 1994 she recorded the single” Want it Tonight” and established herself
as the First Lady of Dance Hall. With her attitudes and sex appeal, Lady Saw is
a Jamaican bad girl.
Tanya
Stephens
Tanya
Stephens is one of the few women who proved to the Dance Hall crowd that reggae
music is not just a man’s world. Her words are rebellious and authentic, while
her music is a mixture of Reggae, rock, pop, disco, and country and western.
Capleton
Capleton,
born
Clifton
, was a very outspoken boy with profound views on social injustices. He was
surnamed by his family after a popular Jamaican lawyer, Capleton. Today, he is
also referred to as the Prophet.Capleton
is one of the best reggae music deejays of his generation. With his numerous
Dance Hall classics, he is constantly topping at the billboard.
"made
in Jamaica" Production Company:
Lawrence
Pictures, LLC
Lawrence
Pictures
is an entertainment company that produces and acquires innovative film projects.
The company focuses on the marketing and domestic distribution of independent
films.
Lawrence
Pictures is the
creation of Charlotte Lawrence. The
two inaugural projects are "made in
Jamaica
" and a 3D animated film. Lawrence Pictures works in close
collaboration with the top 3D animation Studios in
Paris
,
France
.Charlotte
Lawrence is the CEO of Lawrence Pictures, LLC.On "made in
Jamaica
" Charlotte Lawrence comments: “Our
intention with ‘made in
Jamaica
’ is to reach an entirely new generation with the philosophies, the people,
and of course the music of the reggae movement.‘made in
Jamaica
’ is a great project for
Lawrence
Pictures, as well as all of our participating partners.”
HEROLD
& FAMILY Pascal Herold Pascal Herold founded DURAN-DUBOI in 1984.In 1997 DURAN-DUBOI became
a publicly traded company on the French stock exchange. Under his dedicated and
relentless leadership, DURAN-DUBOI became the unchallenged leader in
France
in 3D animation. The company’s spectacular R&D department lead DURAN-DUBOI
to win first class international producers' trust and loyalties.DURAN-DUBOI also became a leader in the TV post production market in
Europe
. Its "virtual effects" artists, "CGI" animators and
"sound designers" developed technical and artistic internationally
recognized expertise in digital special effects image and sound. DURAN-DUBOI's
abilities in the creation of SFX (“Amelie of Montmatre,” “Joan of Arc”,
“Alien, the Resurrection”), production of music video and films are now
recognized throughout
Europe
.
After
founding and leading DURAN-DUBOI for over twenty years, Pascal Herold recently
decided to focus all of his his energy on his personal passion for producing and
directing feature films, through Herold
& Family.
Information
on the film’s soundtrack will be available soon.
In
the 60’s Gregory grew up in the ghetto of 
He
went to school with Bob Marley and became his half brother when their parents
remarried with each other. In 1963, Marley, Wailer and Peter Tosh started their
group "The Wailers". After Bob Marley’s death and the assassination
of Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer is one of the only original fathers of Reggae still
alive.
