Lights, camera ... ACTION! - Chance experience leads Jhomoi to new passion
Published:Saturday | October 1, 2011 | 12:00 AM
André Gordon, Gleaner Writer
SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth:
LOOKING AT this lanky 18-year-old, one could not imagine that he already has nine years of experience as a cameraman.
At age nine, while attending a wedding, Jhomoi Baccas got the request that every boy his age dreamed of: he was asked by the camera operator to man the camera for a few minutes. That chance encounter has led the Black River High School graduate on a journey, which he hopes will result in him travelling the world.
After that encounter, Baccas was asked by a friend at church to assist with the camera for the production of the Santa Cruz Apostolic weekly church service production, which is aired on local cable. "I mostly did weddings and funerals in the early days, and I learnt a lot," he said, adding that video production is about learning and new experiences.
The Braes River native, who grew up in the Church and spent the first eight years producing videos for the Church, suddenly felt a longing for more. He yearned to work in secular entertainment making music videos or shooting for prime entertainment shows such as those on cable TV.
His break came earlier this year when a new cable television station, Best of Jamaica (BOJ) TV, started transmission in the Breadbasket parish. The station is an entertainment, sports, and news outfit with head offices in Santa Cruz and studios in Kingston. Baccas immediately sought out Simone McLeggon, sales and marketing executive, at the TV station.
Uncharted territory
The encounter at a popular fast-food restaurant in Santa Cruz with the BOJ TV executive has led the quiet Christian into uncharted territory.
"I have been to shows such as Reggae Sumfest, ATI, Hype 2k11 stage show, and the Little Ochie Seafood Festival."
He said this revelation might startle his brethren in the Church, however, the young videographer is not daunted.
"I still maintain my Christian upbringing. This is just my job," he said with a smile.
Though Baccas is committed to projecting his work on the global stage through the production of music videos in the near future, he also has his sights set on higher education. He intends to attend Northern Caribbean University next year.
With BOJ TV ready for an islandwide foray, Baccas is set to start living his dream as his work will now be available for a wider Jamaican audience.