Now what?

So now that the course is about to end I wonder what have I learnt? Well I know it pays to be early to Mr. McDaniel's class as you get lots of free snacks. But seriously has the course been beneficial?
    I must answer this with a resounding yes. I think that this course is timely as the UWI pushes to create more distinctive graduates. With the state of Caribbean economies and more students graduating and looking for jobs, it is time that we help mold job creators rather than job seekers.
    I was impressed by Uncle Gerry's (yes we call him Uncle Gerry in class sometimes) network and how it has proved useful for us in class. From David Mullings whom I followed on Twitter since my 1st year at UWI to Skyping with Alison Hinds to trips to the Jamaica Stock Exchange and the Bob Marley Museum, this network has afforded the students of this course a great opportunity to not only learn but to grow their own network.
     I am also pleased with the model of the course. It is not restrictive as we were allowed to tweet in class, take pictures and of course blog. This should equip us with some good multi-tasking as well as social media use skills that we can take out in to the working world. Imagine being asked by a company to cover an event via Twitter for their customers  This  should be easy now as we have done it in class.
    I think the most important lesson though was taking an idea and making it into a reality. We have been given articles, tips from real life entrepreneurs and have even pitched ideas to potential investors. All we need now is the courage to go do it in the real world. Now I know we may be afraid but what the reward with out  the risk. So here's to becoming an entrepreneur!

Home Again shines as hope for Caribbean stories to be told

In my research about Lisa Wickham for my Comm 3248 assignment I came across her latest film project where she worked as the supervising producer. The film entitled "Home Again" explores the issue of deportation from the USA, Canada and England of three 'nationals' to their homeland of Jamaica. 

Marva, Dunston, and Everton grew up in Toronto, New York and London, respectively but are deported 'home' to Jamaica. Once in Kingston they discover every day is a fight for survival where family support, friendships, and shelter are elusive. They embark on a journey that pushes their endurance beyond measure and forces them to discover who they truly are. A searing, fast paced drama Home Again asks the question, "How would you survive?". Never before has the story of deportees been told cinematically. This powerful, visually stunning political drama by award winning director Sudz Sutherland stars Tatyana Ali, Lyriq Bent, CCH Pounder, Stephan James and singer songwriter Fefe Dobson in her debut feature film role. (Taken from Youtube Trailer Video)

The film was shot in Canada and Trinidad with a few scenes shot in Jamaica where the story of the film takes place. The production of such a movie shows that there are stories to be made by filmmakers in the Caribbean and it is time for us to forge ahead and take our place in the World Film Industry. 

Home Again will show in Trinidad & Tobago and Palace Amusement is exploring the possibility of a showing in Jamaica.

Watch the trailer: Home Again 2013

THE CARIBBEAN’S RENNAISANCE WOMAN IN COMMUNICATION

            In a communications industry dominated by men, it is a rarity to find a woman who has produced a highly successful entertainment show. It is even rarer that the woman is the Chief Executive Officer of her own entertainment media company. Yet if we are to use these two things to judge Lisa Wickham, it is only the tip of the iceberg. This successful entrepreneur has been making strides in the communications industry in Trinidad and Tobago as well as the regional and international markets. Her name is synonymous with entertainment reporting throughout the Caribbean and as of 2013 with film. But who is this woman and why is she making waves in the industry?

            Lisa Wickham is a household name in Trinidad. Her work spans decades which is why she is loved by both young and old. Wickham started at the tender age of six in television on the weekly children’s TV show Rikki Tikki. This was to open up the industry to her and lead her down a road of success to the woman she is today. She would go on to star in her own segment on the same show. With her star on the rise Wickham was selected to host ‘Party Time’, a weekly Teen talent show. While enjoying this success Wickham stayed focus seeing education as a compliment to her roles on television. She successfully graduated Holy Name Convent and then went on to study at The University of the West Indies St. Augustine campus. Her ambition to be successful in both areas saw her receiving numerous hosting gigs while she continued her studies. She would graduate with a Bachelors of Science degree in Management with First Class Honours. This same ambition she applies to all her pursuits and would take her into the industry even further.

            On completion of her degree Wickham applied for several jobs. In an interview with Caribbean Belle magazine, she recalled how she would turn negatives to a positive. “Many years ago,” she recalls, “I had a job interview where the interviewer condescendingly asked how I planned to reconcile my Party Time image with a serious career in HR Management.” This would discourage her for a while and her question herself. Yet it would be one of her mentors who recognized her talent would make her adapt and excel. “One of my mentors at The University of the West Indies, Dr. Gwendoline Williams, who noticed my despondency, advised me to merge an academic/corporate career with a creative one. I had to find something that allowed me to excel at both.”

Lisa (left) with Sir Richard Branson and co -host of E-Zone Jason Williams 

http://caribbeantales-worldwide.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/ezone3.jpg

            Wickham ensured that in her career she created a network of persons who could mentor her in the communications industry. Her network of mentors and benefactors included Russell Winston, Barbara Assoon, Allyson Hennessy, Merlin Hernandez, Dominic Kalipersad, Eddison Carr, Linus Pitt, Curtis Drayton, Benedict Joseph and Hazel Ward. With such an extensive array of contacts, she was able to learn more about the communications industry and begin charting a way for her.             

With a vision of what she wanted and not averse to taking a risk, Wickham founded her company in 1999. She maintains that it wasn’t an easy undertaking but she was not expecting it to be. She continued working in television hosting several shows including morning shows on Trinidad & Tobago Television (TTT) as well as guest appearances on Mornin’ Barbados, the prime time television show on the  Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation between 2002 and 2005. During this time she would co –produced and this would begin her strategic move from just hosting to producing and eventually content creation and directing.

 With her skills sharpened, Wickham launched E-Zone television show which she produced, directed and co hosted. The show which focused on entertainment throughout the Caribbean became a syndicated show in over 20 Caribbean countries. The show was picked up in both the US and Canadian television markets and aired on Omni and BET J. The show is unique in its scope as it is one of the only shows that look at entertainment from both a Caribbean and Diaspora perspective. Lisa has produced E-Zone shows on Caribbean carnivals as well as the largest Diaspora festivals including Caribana and Notting Hill Carnival.

As extensive as her professional resume is Wickham has an academic resume and work record to rival it. In addition to her degree from The University of the West Indies, Wickham graduated from Warwick Business School in the UK with a Masters in Business Administration with Distinction.  She also attended Wirschaftuniversität, Vienna, Austria, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, India, University of Oxford, Said Business School, Executive Development and the London Film Academy. Wickham’s experience encompasses from where she served as General Manager of the University of the West Indies, Institute of Business (IOB) to being Head of the Global Quality Exchange, a World Bank Project for Business Expansion and Industrial Restructuring for Trinidad & Tobago. With such qualifications Wickham is not only accomplished academically but has also written for several newspapers as well as business journals. Her qualifications have given her the advantage of combining her creativity with her business background to ensure a formula for success.

Wickham admits that her first foray into the world of production was not easy. “Some of the projects I’ve had to produce required me to read and internalize a sixty-eight page budget speech in one day, and produce an exciting four-minute vignette that both encapsulated the speech and captivated the interest of the average viewer.” Yet this did not deter her in her work and served to make her more determined. 

With her qualification in film and her past experience, Wickham was curious about the film industry in the Caribbean as well as in the Diaspora community. While she had produced for local and regional TV as well as several music videos, she was entering a new realm. She started producing and directing films.  Among those that were critically acclaimed, she produced and directed a 50-minute documentary that looks at the economic contribution of the multi-cultured members of the Caribbean Diaspora to their countries of origin. “It was based on research conducted by Dr. Keith Nurse and his team at the Shridath Ramphal Centre, UWI Cave Hill, Barbados. I was the producer-director and in one month I had to set up the filming of locations and interviews across several languages.” This has opened several doors for her including her latest film endeavour as line producer to the big budget film “Home Again” which was filmed in Trinidad and opened in North America. It continues to receive critical acclaim and has tackled the sensitive issue of deportees and their readjustments into their birth country, of which many do not know the culture and customs.

Wickham however is not restricted in the use of her talents to television and film. In 2007 and 2008, she was the Artistic Director and Producer (for both stage and television) of the highly acclaimed Annual COTT Music Awards, including the COTT Foundation Awards Dinner. She has also been a contributor to BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC 1 XTRA showing her versatility.

And in all of this Wickham has found the time to grow her company to become one of the largest media companies in Trinidad. Imagine Media is the company of which Wickham is the Chief Executive Officer. She has taken the E zone brand and grown it to become E Zone Magazine, E Zone events, E Zone Entertainment and the Caribbean Film and Media Academy. The company’s mission is based on the attributes of integrity, innovation and value for money, some of the same ideals that Wickham herself live by.

And she has not forgotten where she is from and ways to help. In addition to mentoring several up and coming filmmakers, Wickham continues serving in the community. She sits on several boards including the UWI Development & Endowment Fund as well as served in several NGOs including as President of the Upper Belmont Lions Club and as a Board Member of United Way Trinidad and Tobago

So what is the future for Lisa Wickham? She looks forward to continue innovating in her company and in the industry. She expressed her hope to develop the necessary training and acquire more equipment to help the Caribbean film industry contend with our Northern neighbours and especially Hollywood. She stresses however that there has to be an effort by most of the stakeholders to make such a dream a reality and she hopes that this will come about since Caribbean writers have so much to offer.  As a mother she is inspired by nature and revels in her alone time. “Silence, in a space filled with natural energy, sends my mind crazy with ideas.” she noted in an interview.

With entrepreneurs like Lisa Wickham to work and train others whether directly or through inspiration, the Caribbean film industry can look forward to growth and the emergence of a new type of Renaissance in the creative arts.