Led by Jamaican-born Junior Hart, Collywood, this new phenomenon has taken over the creative industry in Caribbean and spreading fast to the other Caribbean Islands such as Dominica.
Over the last 12 months Collywood is much like Bollywood movies, or the Caribbean version of Hollywood. Collywood Productions is a division of Renk International, a United Kingdom-based record label which was founded by Hart in 1989.
After dubbing the company Collywood, the Caribbean Hollywood, Junior Hart has made Caribbean his home for the last two years and has been shooting movies and developing the local film industry inclusive of film animation and global digital distribution.
Junior Hart is investing in talents from other Caribbean Islands, his first big artist to break is Germina Jno Baptiste from Dominica. She is being well sort after by major companies for endorsements,
Hart’s Caribbean heritage had always weighed heavily on him, and over the years he had made a ritual of returning to the islands annually. So after returning from Africa, Hart made the bold step to leave his life in the UK to pursue his dreams of becoming a film producer.
The Caribbean potential for successful cinema was what drove the decision, he said. He identified a global billion-dollar industry in Caribbean and Caribbean culture and yearned to reproduce it properly for local and international markets.
“I have always looked at Caribbean and thought that if we had a genuine movie industry we could harness the creative energies of the people and provide employment,” said Hart in a recent interview with The Jamaican Sunday Gleaner.
“We need a constant flow of material to satisfy the growing needs of the international market, especially in Africa, Europe and Asia where a serious fascination with Caribbean culture exists.”
“We at Collywood are concentrating on building our catalogue at the present but we will be launching our cinematic tours early in the New Year,” Hart explained, kicking off in Dominica.
When asked for specific dates Hart would only divulge that Collywood had already had talks with a major venue in Dominica to launch the local leg of the cinematic tours.
Following closely on the local tour, the Collywood team will hit the Caribbean circuit before heading off to Africa and Europe.
At the centre of the Collywood project is digital distribution and this is where Hart believes he has a competitive advantage in the international marketplace, having already inked a deal with a global leader in digital distribution. “This is the business end of what we do,” he stated.
“We intend to help other local film-makers to market and distribute content in a manner in which is beneficial to all parties. People want to see Caribbean content and we have the means to distribute to the furthest reaches of the world,” Hart said.
Collywood will also be investing in a pay-per-view feature on its website. That feature allows viewers from around the world to pay and view the various movies, cartoons and soap operas that are being produced by Collywood.
While tight-lipped on the company’s foray into the mobile market, Hart did say Collywood was already in talks with one of the giants in the mobile market to offer pay-per-view content much in the way one downloads ring tones.
“Local video content has not been introduced in a sustained way to the Caribbean market and we are ready to lead that charge,” said a smiling Hart.
Good luck Mr Hart. Continue. To hold. Your head up high.
What ever happened to the Dominica Film Commission, and what are they doing for our island on this front. Why is it we have a film commission and it takes someone out of the office to actually work towards this goal, or is the Film Commission involved/responsible ? DNO please let us know.
I agree 100%. I can assure you that the Dominican film commission has no part in the Collywood objective. Although it would be nice for them to work together and help our young people and home grown talents.
Hart is a great self promoter, if nothing else! Pity he is let down by poor copy writing. The first time I read “sort after” (instead of:”sought after”) in one of his press releases I put it down to a typo but to see it repeated again tells me that whoever crafts these releases has a poor command of English. Junior, you deserve better! Do something about it! By the way, why should your “Caribbean heritage weigh heavily on you”?
From all accounts it is not a burden but a source of joy and inspiration to you and I guess that is what your copy writer really had in mind.
This person is majoring in minor things. Who cares that there is a small error in a press release. Atleast these people are doing it and not just sitting on the wall observing and picking out negativity in another person creativity, we are not all perfect. I have been to some of Junior Hart/Collywood events in London Stratford and I have to say that Collywood is one of the best Black entertainment organization around. I am not just saying that, I really enjoyed myself with my family at the cinema show. I WOULD SAY TO THIS PERSON, WHY DON’T YOU APPLY TO COLLYWOOD FOR A PRESS OFFICER JOB? YOU NEVER KNOW YOUR LUCK, MR HART MAY EMPLOY YOU. I just get a feeling that you are a little Jealous of this Black Brother doing his thing in his own way. First you stab him with your comment on command of the English langauage then you try to boost it by recommending that he gets another PR. JEALOUSY WILL ALWAYS RAISE IT’S UGLY HEAD. Keep up the great work ma bradda Junior and big up Collywood u doing a great job for our Caribbean people. ooops,oh no, sum baad asss pelling mistaks..surry.
BIG UP AND TRY TO ENJOY LIFE INSTEAD OF TAKING THINGS SO SERIOUS whoever u r.
ANYBODY WHO WANT TO GET INVLOVED WITH COLLYWOOD, YOU CAN CONTACT THEM DIRECT AT
http://WWW.COLLYWOODCINEMAS.COM
I know they are looking for good Caribbean story tellers who can write, and actors/actresses of all ages. Hope this helps.
ganja and gansta movies. welcome to jamaica’s dominica!!!
My friend. I have had the pleasure of seeing the Collywood productions/films. If you check their website http://www.collywoodcinemas.com you will see that their movies are not about guns and drugs. We must stop it! stop stereotyping our own. I am aware that Jamaica has been producing movies about guns and drugs for years. Junior Hart company Collywood is not on that level. I have researched and have been following their progress from Africa in Uganda where they have been developing their Gaurrilla working model. BEFORE YOU MAKE IGNORANT COMMENTS, DO YOUR HOME WORK. IT IS FREE GO TO THE COLLYWOOD WEBSITE AND VIEW THEIR WORK. I did it so can you. Peace up.
HERE IS A LINK TO ONE OF THE COLLYWOOD MOVIE TRAILER. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFeo9-3Xedg
Now after viewing it, please can you tell me where the Guns and drugs are in this Jamaican/Dominican movie. SOME PEOPLE ARE FULL OF RUBBISH COMING OUT THEIR MOUTH
good luck collywood
I too need to audition link me
Link them at http://www.Collywoodcinemas.com
great move my bro, wish you all the best,
Great idea, but a shame that the article didn’t mention Nollywood and it’s massive influence, as the Caribbean is closer to Nollywood then the other two.
Additional fact: Did you know that Nollywood is the 2nd largest film industry behind Bollywood. Google it if you don’t believe me
Why should we as Caribbeans keep mentioning other nationals. We must now start building and creating our own thing..not keep looking at other countries and praising them. The Caribbean needs a good movie industry so that our people can relate and enjoy each others stories. NOLLYWOOD IS TELLING AFRICAN STORIES, BOLLYWOOD TELLING INDIANS STORIES, HOLLYWOOD TELLING AMERICAN STORIES, NOW COLLYWOOD WILL BE TELLING CARIBBEAN STORIES, SUPPORT THE TING AND STOP WORSHIPPING OTHER CULTURES AND BUYING INTO IT. BUY INTO OUR OWN AND BE PROUD. R.e.s.p.e.c.t
where can I audition?
Me to i what to audition
you need to be a competent actor and not over the top acting which i witness time and time over here. directors and actors in dominica are under the misconception that shouting conveys good acting skills. do they not watch and study good actors i.e denzil washington, angela bisett etc.
Who are you talking about we have great Actors and Actresses her. People like you only support certain people with big names but the little wayside names in th arts you all do not support them. They do not shout
Link Collywood at http://www.Collywoodcinemas.com
You can contact them direct through their contact page on the website. Just send over your full details and they will get back to you.
Bless