Film-maker falls in love with reggae story

Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

Building on a gripping and exciting story he was told by The Heptones, United States-based film-maker Bruce Wayne Gillies has embarked on a journey to make a fictional movie called Rude Boy.

Speaking with The Sunday Gleaner, Gillies explained how the journey began.

"I was given the story idea by The Heptones, who I met a few years back. We got talking and they gave me a great story about how reggae music came about. I researched it and found this amazing story that nobody knows about," Gillies said.

He explained that the movie is not a documentary but a fictional movie that will start in the 1960s. Nonetheless, it will showcase Jamaica's music styles like mento, ska and reggae.

"It's a composite character that we drag through Trench Town, and becomes a big reggae rock star," Gillies told The Sunday Gleaner.

Fictional story

"It's all fictional. It relates to the period, but everything is different, kinda like a parallel universe. You will hear the music of the day, but you will not see them (artistes) perform it."

The main character, who will be called Winston Brown, will bring to life the stories of many Jamaican musicians like Bob Marley, Toots Hibbert, The Heptones and Don Drummond, whose musical roots began to grow in Trench Town.

So far, Gillies said preparations have been going well.

"I am talking to so many people that are so excited about this project. We (will) start filming in January (2012), but there is a lot of work to do before then," he said.

Gillies said he will be in Jamaica in November to find locations for the film and hold an open audition to decide on the cast. Although there will be an audition in November, he said there is also an online audition process, where people can upload their videos.

The lead actor is yet to be decided, but Gillies said popular American actor Danny Glover has agreed to play a role.

However, "I want to cast the whole movie out of Jamaica. I am not worried about movie stars. This is also very Jamaicacentric. The story is so powerful that I want to find the right actor to fill the role. I am very interested in an all-Jamaican cast. It's just a matter of how it all comes together," Gillies said.

"Winston Brown plays the lead, but there's his nemesis who is also a singer. There's people singing everywhere in this movie. It is a tremendous opportunity for Jamaicans to showcase their talent."

In addition to filling the roles, Gillies said 10 original songs will have to be created for the lead character.

And, funding has already been doing well, as he has been raising money for the film outside of Jamaica. In addition to that, he said persons have been pre-ordering the movie on kickstarter.com. This method, Gillies said, is also being used as a way of raising awareness about the movie.

Aiming for European market

The film-maker is excited about telling the story, but he also wants the film to be ready in time for the annual Cannes Film Festival that will held in France in May 2012.

"It's the biggest and most prestigious film festival. It happens in May, so I have to get a rough cut to them in March. It's in Europe and that's the largest market for reggae, and this movie has a European appeal more than an American appeal. Hollywood doesn't understand the story of reggae, Europe has always appreciated it. The Cannes Film Festival will be a great place to open the project to the world," Gillies told The Sunday Gleaner, noting that he is confident that the film will be accepted and eventually shown at the festival.

Gillies also said he has very high expectations for the film and the impact that it will have on audiences.

"I expect to make a very good movie because I know the story and it has very interesting elements. When I spoke to The Heptones, they just wanted respect, that is what this whole movie is about. They just want to be respected for having created this music. I expect it to raise the consciousness of the world to reggae music and where it really came from," he said.