Cherine, Silvera expose worlds on Travel Channel Int'l

Mel Cooke, Sunday Gleaner Writer

The leading edge of the rain dampened bodies and spirits across the island did not stop Cherine from providing Travel Channel International with an inroad into her musical world at The Deck, Trafalgar Road, New Kingston, last Wednesday. Neither did it prevent journalist Janet Silvera from meeting her date with the crew filming the Jamaican leg of It's a Woman's World - even though that included riding rolling waters in boat heading into the mouth of the Black River.

Both are part of the Europe-based Travel Channel International's four-country documentary on outstanding women. The other three countries are South Africa, Turkey and the Phillipines. For Jamaica, the series' Facebook page also shows host Camilla Anderson interacting with the Sunshine Girls in Kingston and Ren Serenity in Portland.

In an email interview, Cherine told The Sunday Gleaner that "the Travel Channel team contacted me through my manager, Patrick Lindsay. As I understand it, they were interested in featuring me on one of their programmes as one of Jamaica's many inspirational, intriguing and empowering female talents".

Silvera says after an Internet search turned up her name she was contacted through the Jamaica Tourist, a publication of Palmyra Resort and Spa, and also The Gleaner.

shock and awe

"I was shocked. I was in awe," Silvera said. "I couldn't believe that the Travel Channel wanted me. It was fantastic. It was a great feeling, to be selected by them."

On her multi-location shoot, Cherine was filmed at locations chosen by herself and her management team, Zlink Entertainment.

"We worked very closely along with the producers from the Travel Channel to give them a peek into my world. With most of these types of projects, the details are normally kept secret until the programme airs, but I can say that the venues were across Kingston, and we did go back to my roots, Rockfort. As we understand from Julia Cornes, a producer for the programme, they were interested in filming me as real as possible so by going back to Rockfort, as well as meeting and interviewing some of my family members, they felt that would give them a different side of me, my world beyond entertainment," she said.

"It was very important to me that the Travel Channel was interested in filming the 'real' Jamaica, the way a lot of us young people live, where we eat and hang out on a day-to-day basis. There was nothing pretentious for the camera; even them drinking bag juice," Cherine said.

"There were definitely many aspects of the interview that involved Cherine the person, not just Cherine the musician. Overall, the interview was broader than just music," she said.

However, music is key and so she says, "We spent some time at Grafton Entertainment Complex in rehearsal with my band, as well as working with the legendary Sly Dunbar at Anchor Recordings on one of the key tracks from my upcoming album. They were even able to interview Sly about the whole process," Cherine said. And, of course, there was that concert at The Deck.

great experience

Thoughts of taking a watery plunge crossed Silvera's mind as she headed into the mouth of the Black River by boat to Sister Lou's on the Black River. "We went by boat from Idler's Rest. For a non-swimmer it was an experience," she said, remembering the waves rolling under the boat as it crossed the sea en route to the river's mouth.

"They went to Kingston Pon Di River (the literary, art and music festival which debuted on May 29 and Silvera co-organises) to watch me work for half a day," Silvera said. She said that an interview with University of the West Indies lecturer Dr Sonjah Stanley-Niaah, author of Dancehall: From Slave Ship to Ghetto, was included in that filming at Boone Hall Oasis, St Andrew.

Journalism came into play with filming at an editorial meeting discussing a sports-related story, Silvera pointing out that it was off her accustomed tourism beat. In a follow-up to that meeting, she was filmed interviewing a coach at the Mico University College. "We also went to Wolmer's Boys' School to talk to someone, which fell through. We still filmed that aspect of me not finding him," she said.

Cherine was in accustomed waters, but in slightly different from normal circumstances, at The Deck concert. She said, "The set at the Deck was produced with the Travel Channel in mind so it was not a full-length show. It was the first in a series I call 'Rockfort Live'; these are shows that I will do from time to time with my band. It was a very intimate show and I could feel the love from all the dancehall-SOULdiers (fans) who came out to support us in the rain".

"With the tremendous rain, it was also a challenge to put the whole thing together but my team, which included public relations manager and Sancia Gordon, road manager Peter Gayle, as well as my band made sure that everything ran smoothly. I had a really good time and from the audience participation I can tell that they had a good time too".

It's a Woman's World is slated to air in October and Travel Channel International has an audience of 60 million viewers worldwide. Cherine puts the exposure in the context of a changing media environment. "I am a firm believer in positive promotion and as you know we are in a very challenging business for women. However, I would say that the music business today is very different than even five years ago with the changes in technology, so film, radio, reality TV as well as online magazine/blog exposure is now mandatory. I believe this programme will not only be good for me but also Jamaica, and I am sure the producers were able to film many aspects of our beautiful country, so shine on Jamaica."