Welcome to the TTFC’s third quarterly newsletter for 2009 your source of news from the Trinidad and Tobago Film Industry. Please send us your comments, contributions, feedback and suggestions. Contact us at info@trinidadadandtobagofilm.com

Rose Calypso Diva scores big at Hot Docs!
“Rose, Calypso Diva” a musical documentary in production by Maturity Music Ltd. and Dynamo Productions, was pitched at the Toronto “Hot Docs” Documentary Forum (TDF) from May 4th – 8th. Jean Michel Gibert, the Executive Producer of the film, was accompanied to the festival by the CEO of the Trinidad & Tobago Film Company (TTFC), Carla Foderingham where they made a compelling pitch that attracted positive reviews and interest from broadcasters, producers and the Hot Docs organizers.

US Film Crew Scouts Trinidad and Tobago
On April 5th, 2009 representatives from Los Angeles based Stick N Stones Productions visited our shores to scout the suitability of Trinidad as the location for an upcoming production. The TTFC’s Marketing Manager, accompanied by location scout Asha Lovelace took producers Mickey Barold and Stone Douglass on a four day tour of fishing villages, beaches, streams, bridges, schools, and courthouses covering Santa Cruz, Blanchisseuse, Maracas, Couva and Chaguaramas. Danielle Dieffenthaller escorted our guests to local production houses and showed them the spectacular views in Paramin. Suitably impressed, Stick N Stones productions are hopeful to commence principal photography on the film by early 2010.

TTFC Supports Local Producers to attend Caribbean Tales Film Festival in Toronto
Well known Trinidadian producer and director Frances Ann Solomon, is the person behind the annual Caribbean Tales Film Festival, staged annually in Toronto, Canada. This year, the TTFC provided assistance to three local producers to attend the festival. Well known local film and animation stalwarts, Christopher Laird and Camille Selvon-Abrahams respectively, attended the festival and they both received rewards and accolades from their peers. Mr. Laird received a well deserved Lifetime Achievement award and Ms. Abrahams was the recipient of an award for Innovation. Awardee in the TTFC’s Production and Script Development Programme, Mr. Andre Johnson, also journeyed to the festival where his film “The Caged Bird” was screened. The TTFC provided assistance by way of airline tickets to these individuals to enable them to be showcased and recognized for their talent and achievement.

Getty Shoots in Tobago
New York based, Trinidadian photographer, Colin Williams was instrumental in bringing a Getty photo shoot to Trinidad and Tobago during the period May 16th to 22nd . The shoot featured both local and international models and was executed in Tobago. Karen Tighe, the photo shoot producer, had the following to say about Trinidad and Tobago,

“…we also had a wonderful experience with ALL the locals that we hired…they were not only extremely professional but went way beyond the call of duty. We also loved all the food in Trinidad and Tobago. We had a very successful shoot.”

2009 Film & Animation Festivals coming soon….
The date has been set and the anticipation is growing for the fourth annual Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival - TTFF (2009) and the eighth installment of the Animae Caribe and New Media Festival. The TTFF will run from September 16th to 29th and the Anime Caribe from September 28th to October 3rd.

The TTFF will feature some new material from the TTFC’s Production Assistance and Script Development Programme in addition to work produced by graduates of the UWI’s BA Film programme. The Animae Caribe will feature its annual animation competition which attracts entrants from all over the world. Students of the UTT’s Diploma in Animation are also expected to have their work showcased.

Movie Towne will also be staging its fourth Secondary School’s Short Film Competition, which encourages the nation’s youth to learn about film production and to dabble with making short films. This year’s themes are “Stop DVD Piracy”, “Only in T&T...” and “The Buck Stops with Me”. Over 22 schools are registered, representing a total of 29 different groups. Movie Towne’s video and production workshops for the participating students took place from July 13th – 15th and catered to 200 – 250 eager and excited students. Nadella Riley from Caribbean Media Arts works with the students to bring them up to speed on the basic nuances of film making. Details about the competition can be found on the TTFC’s website, Facebook and Movie Towne’s website.

Men of Gray 3 – “The Midnight Robber” to start production soon
Fans of G. Anthony’s Men in Gray and Flight of the Ibis, the first two installments in his Men of Gray feature films will be pleased to know that production of MOG3 – Men of Gray 3 will commence in 2010 with a view to theatrical release in June 2010.

Focus on Film
Since our last update, our editorials featured G. Anthony Joseph – Los Angeles based Trinidadian Film Maker, Renee Pollonais and Nalini Akal, students in UWI’s BA Film programme and Christopher Laird on the History of Film, Full editorials are archived on the TTFC’s website.

Schools Outreach
The TTFC’s school outreach continues to be a huge success among primary and high school children who learn about the industry and critical social issues such as teenage pregnancy and HIV through the medium of film. For the period July and August the TTFC will be shifting its focus to Summer Camps and homes for the under privileged in society. Among others, the TTFC will host Holy Name Training Centre, Sophia House, St. James Church of the Nazarene, Reading Development Centre, Nelson Street Boys Summer Camp, Camp Essentials and Rhonda’s Vacation Camp among others, during the vacation period.

Communities and groups interested in coming into the TTFC can contact Mrs. Marissa Burke, program coordinator at the TTFC, telephone number 625-3456 ext. 36.