Ghett'a Life sets new template for local film financing

Actors Lenford Salmon (left) and Chris McFarlane (right) on the set of the new Jamaican feature film, Ghett’a Life. The film is set for release on Wednesday, July 27 in local theatres.

THE highly anticipated film Ghett'a Life is slated to be released this summer. Yet, the road between the writing of the film and its eventual completion and scheduled July 2 release has stretched across a decade, with the majority of that journey spent navigating the potholes, roadblocks, and hurdles of getting the venture financed.

"The thing about Ghett'a Life is it's been a journey of 10 years," a news release from the film's publicists quotes writer, director and producer Chris Browne.

Ghett'a Life is a tale of triumph over great adversity, and the film's own road to completion is one such story where the filmmakers realise that in order to bring their dream to fruition they must chart a new path. The result is that Ghett'a Life is Jamaica's first film to be financed via a private equity fund led by PanCaribbean Financial Services.

Without the big budget financing options of the Hollywood studios, and in the absence of government entities like the British Film Council, finding the funds to make a film is one of the greatest challenges, and the inability to raise financing from Jamaican investors has long been a cry among local filmmakers.

Ghett'a Life has gone several rounds over the 10 years since the script was written and on many occasions seemed to be nearing victory.

The big break seemed to have come when the film earned the prize for Best Script at the 2006 Hartley-Merrill International Screenwriting Competition run by RKO Pictures. The prize, which is awarded in Cannes, France, is often used to leverage films for financing, but even with this impressive notch on its belt, the money continued to prove elusive.

"Still, they didn't pick it up. It didn't go anywhere," said Peter Asher, associate producer. "It just created a buzz."

Asher explained that the film had received funding approval by the British Film Council after attracting the interest of British producer Rupert Harvey. But yet again, the funding did not materialise.

"Finally, I said PJ (Asher), the only way this is going to happen is if we do this ourselves," Browne explained.

He said that once PanCaribbean came on board, in a matter of six months the funds were raised. The road, he reflected, was long, but it was a sprint to the finish. So after years of waiting to be made, the film was shot in six weeks after just four weeks of pre-production.

Co-Producer Justine Henzell is confident that all investors in the project will be pleased. She is also proud that the film was completed on time and on budget due, she said, to the dedication of the all-Jamaican crew and line producer Natalie Thompson.

According to Henzell, Ghett'a Life can give Jamaican investors confidence in the feasibility of the film industry. "I really see Ghett'a Life as the start of a new phase in our film industry in Jamaica," she said.

Raising the requisite funds also hinged on leveraging product placement. Here again, Henzell pointed out that the film managed to change the landscape.

Ghett'a Life is raising a new standard in terms of product placement in film in Jamaica," Henzell said, explaining that they ensured that only products that fit seamlessly in the film were targeted. "The challenge was persuading the companies to pay for such subtle exposure," she said.

The cast features newcomer Kevoy Burton as well as Carl Davis (Dancehall Queen, Almost Heaven, and Royal Palm Estate), Teddy Price (Small Island, Glory to Gloriana, and Royal Palm Estate), Winston 'Bello' Bell (Third World Cop, Royal Palm Estate), Karen Robinson and Actor Boy awardee Christopher McFarlane.

Director Chis Browne (seated at centre) with his film crew on the set of his highly anticipated movie, Ghett'a Life. The film is written, directed, produced and funded by Jamaicans and features an all-Jamaican cast.

Film director Chris Browne (left) and Bobby Bokowski, director of photography, at work on set of Ghett'a Life. The movie is the first Jamaican film to be fully funded by Jamaicans and features an all-Jamaican cast.

Actors Lenford Salmon (left) and Chris McFarlane (right) on the set of the new Jamaican feature film, Ghett'a Life. The film is set for release on Wednesday, July 27 in local theatres.


Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Ghett-a-Life-sets-new-template-for-local-film-financing_8949424#ixzz1OEIZOcW8