A Dolphin Tale hits theatres!

Released on September 23, 2011, A Dolphin Tale is a film inspired by the true story of dolphin named Winter who had to be outfitted with a prosthetic tail after being badly damaged by a large crab trap. 11 year old Sawyer (Nathan Gamble) discovers him near his Clearwater, Florida, home and he is rescued by marine experts who take him to a treatment facility.

Opening underwater scenes were filmed here in Cayman this past January. See trailer here.

CARIBBEAN FILMMAKERS SCHOLARSHIP FUND LAUNCHED!

TORONTO (July 29, 2011) - Filmmakers across the Caribbean region can apply for scholarships to attend this September's CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution Toronto Film Showcase and Market Access Program in Toronto.

Announcing the CaribbeanTales Scholarship Fund at a Toronto press conference last week, Frances-Anne Solomon, CEO of CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribition, said the new fund will allow filmmakers from the region and the Caribbean Diaspora to attend the festival.

But more importantly Solomon pointed out scholarship winners would have access to the highly effective Market Access incubator Program which teaches skills in the all-important packaging and marketing of films.

"The Fund supports the development of a vibrant world-class Caribbean film industry, by assisting filmmakers to create dynamic, distinctive and commercially viable films that will stand tall in the international marketplace," Solomon declared. She added early donor commitments to the fund had been "extremely encouraging" and validated the program.

The sixth annual film showcase, which is being held from September 7 to 17 and will run alongside the Toronto International Film Festival, engages families, youth, community groups, and the celluloid industry in a program which includes workshops, screenings, networking sessions, and other activities celebrating the burgeoning film and television sector in the Caribbean.

Solomon said she had received interest from filmmakers in Antigua, Barbados, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Martinique and the United States; and thanked Camilio Antonio, Carl Thorpe, Charlotte Rose, Fil Fraser, Jean Sheen and Selwyn Rouse for making contributions to the fund.

This year's showcase, to be headquartered at the popular Harbourfront Centre, will feature the launch of some exciting films, docu-dramas, and CTWD's 2011-2012 catalog of films.

The Toronto showcase, among other goals, aims to raise the profile of Caribbean filmmakers and their products, support the growth of a vibrant world-class Caribbean film and television industry, and serve as a platform for promoting the Caribbean as a premier warm weather travel destination and location for film production.

CTWD, a member of the BIM Ventures family of entrepreneurs, has hosted two film festivals in Barbados, another in New York, produced training workshops for filmmakers, and now has scores of films in its catalog.

Interested parties may email caribbeantales@gmail.com or visit www.caribbeantales-events.com.

About CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution

CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution is the first full-service film distribution company in the English-speaking Caribbean, and aims to become the go-to solution for producers and buyers of Caribbean-themed content. The company holds marketing events through the CaribbeanTales Film Festival Group, and provides co-production services to producers. CTWD was founded by award-winning filmmaker Frances-Anne Solomon, and its principals include creative industries expert Dr. Keith Nurse, economist and businessman Dr. Terrence Farrell, media personality and producer Lisa Wickham, and filmmaker and writer Mary Wells. CTWD is a member of the BIM Ventures family of entrepreneurs.

For further information, visit www.caribbeantales-worldwide.com. 

Source: CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution  

Contact: Bevan Springer + 1 201 861-2056

              bevan@marketplaceexcellence.com 

Lights...Camera...Action!

http://www.cayman27.com.ky/news/item/8332

Dolphin Tale production crew in Cayman!

Scenes for Dolphin Tale, a movie about the story and a shy boy named Sawyer played by Nathan Gamble, will be shot in Grand Cayman over the next few days. A small production crew will be arriving this week-end to work with local dive shops to get the footage they need.

Ashley Judd co-stars as Sawyer's mother, and Oscar winner Morgan Freeman plays the inventor of Winter's prosthetic tail. The film's release is slated for fall 2011.

Cayman Islands participant wanted for global media event!

One Day on Earth, a global media event taking place on 10/10/10, is very interested in a finding a Cayman Islands participant to submit footage for their project. People from all over the world are being asked to film an important topic in their lives and share it as part of a global online video archive.

By working closely with the United Nations, Red Cross and dozens of non-profits One Day on Earth's goal is to establish accessible global communication and improve worldwide media literacy. With the footage collected from 10/10/10, a public video archive and feature-length documentary will be created. A unique means of international interaction, the archive will allow users to download any participant's footage and craft their own vision of One Day on Earth, for non-commercial use.

To date, the One Day on Earth community represents over 176 countries but there's no one from the Cayman Islands.  Do you want to be THE ONE? Visit http://www.onedayonearth.org / for more details.

New movie in the works!

Wide Awake in Cayman

By: Bret Love [Article published in Cayman Skies Magazine]

Brian Braggs, who was born and raised in the city of George Town on Grand Cayman, is currently hard at work on Waking The Sea, which follows a Wall Street executive who returns to Grand Cayman after a long absence when his mother dies. Filmed in New York, New Jersey and Grand Cayman, the movie was inspired in part by Caymanian history and culture. Braggs recently sat down with us for an interview to discuss his background, influences and dreams for the future.

At what point in your life did you realise you wanted to go into show business?

I've always wanted to be an actor from a very young age, but I thought it would never be possible.

Were there any particular actors whose careers influenced you?

I really appreciate the craft of actors like Samuel Jackson, Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman and, more recently, Jeremy Piven. I particularly like the success story of Harrison Ford [who was 35 when Star Wars came out], which goes to show that you can be a successful actor regardless of how old you are. Once you're focused, anything is possible.

There aren't exactly a lot of internationally known celebrities from the Cayman Islands. How did your family respond when you told them you wanted to go into acting?

I guess they initially thought I was a bit crazy, or maybe a bit of a dreamer. But I guess they were right about the dreamer part, and sometimes dreams do come true! But nevertheless they still believed in me and encouraged me to go for it.

Where did you go to learn your craft?

I learned quite a bit just winging it on the stage in Cayman. I taught myself at first, trying to get as much stage time as possible. I eventually started to travel to L.A. quite a bit to get proper training, taking private lessons and group classes with Howard Fine Studios, Bobbie Chance and David Kagen's School of Film Acting. All in all, I learned some very valuable traits.

What advantages and disadvantages have you experienced in your career as a result of your Cayman background?

Accents have never been a problem for me, so I guess having the ability to either blend in or stick out by switching accents at the right time could be a plus. But the Caymans' geographical distance from Hollywood is quite a challenge: It would obviously be much easier to pursue a proper acting career if I actually lived there.

How would you describe your character in Waking The Sea?

Charles is a bit of a recluse who finds himself caught between two worlds while trying to figure out what's right for him. He has a whole lot of soul searching to do as he battles with several issues from his past, which he's been avoiding for some time. Playing the role has definitely been a challenging but adventurous experience for me, as I've had to dig deep to conjure up an intense mix of emotions to bring the character to life.

Your director, Tim Kelly, also has ties to Cayman. How would you describe Tim's approach as a director?

It's very different, yet very effective. He's really creative, and isn't afraid to think outside the box. He didn't even tell me I had the lead until months into talking with me about my character. He's all about the research — books, past movies, YouTube clips…. You name it, he's got it in his arsenal. He's very thorough, and he wants to ensure his actors are well prepared and have a full understanding of what he expects from them. I truly respect his way of thinking.

You recently did some filming in New York and New Jersey. How does shooting a movie in the U.S. compare with filming in the Caymans?

Other than the weather, it's probably a little more hectic filming in the U.S. just because filming in Cayman can be so laid-back and hassle-free. For one, there are less people to get in the way in Cayman, so the sets can be more controlled. The experience [of shooting in the U.S.] was great though, and I really enjoyed working with Tim and his crew.

How do your friends back home feel about your efforts to 'go Hollywood'? Do you get any good-natured ribbing?

My friends think it's cool and are all rooting for me. In fact, they're telling me to hurry up and get famous so they can quit their jobs and we can hang out like the guys on "Entourage"! (Laughs.) I've been given the nickname "Hollywood," so I've gotta make something out of this movie business in order to keep that name.

What do you miss most about the Cayman Islands when you're working away from home?

I'm never really away that long, but when you film in cold places like New Jersey in February, you start missing the sun just a bit. Other than that, and family and friends, and good food, and the beach and my mom's fish stew... nothing! (Laughs.)

What are your goals for the future, both for this film and for your career?

I would love to continue acting and make a career of it, but we all know that's not an easy task. It's one of those 'easier said than done' situations. Right now I'm going to focus on Tim's film and see where my projects this year take me, then go from there. I'm very fortunate to have these opportunities and I'm going to give them everything I've got! At least then I can always say I did my very best when I was given the chance.

Film workshops planned for June 12th and 13th!