Boyce Voice mentioned Mr Antonio ” Boo” Rudder yesterday and as if on cue I looked in the newspaper and see him associated with an interesting entertainment development.
“Rudder heads new Copyright Group” stated the headline, the article announced a new copyright organization had been formed entitled the “Barbados Copyright Industry” (BCI).
The list of directors were given and the fact it had been incorporated since December 19th 2007.
The formation of this new copyright group makes interesting food for thought, most performers and song writers are already members of the long standing rights collection agency in Barbados COSCAP (Copyright Society of Composers Authors and Publishers Inc)

Does this new entity BCI compete against COSCAP?

Maybe COSCAP CEO Erica Smith and staff Gail and Paulette are quaking in their boots? (Not that I have seen them wearing boots that’s just an expression, I would like to see Erica in boots though those tall black ones that…. sorry I digress, lets get back to the point..)

This new agency BCI deals ONLY with the collection of reproductive rights as it pertains to books and other publications.
COSCAP is known for collection of music royalties but by virtue of the “authors and publishers” in their name I would assume maybe they collect for books too, of course “I could be wrong and I usually am” (Quote from COSCAP director Smokey Burke)
So poet khaidji should be looking to join up and collect some royalties on those excellent pieces he has written, Asiba writes some pretty long comments he could publish them as a book.
It also still means that maybe Boyce can join and benefit as I write, see what you are reading here…? That’s writing yuh idiot, therefore I can de deemed a writer.
Hence when I am finish here I will print off a couple stories from Boyce Voice staple them together  mek a book and bram! I joining up.
Question is as a writer which organization do I join, COSCAP or the new collection kid on the block BCI ?

Yesterday I blogged about “Nothing” today it is “Something”.
The challenge of finding “something” new….

This is a Herculean challenge that our tent managers and calypsonians face on a yearly basis, producing new material in order to feed that voracious entertainment monster we call Crop Over.
Krosfyah releases a great album this year and regardless of how good it is by the next Crop Over it is expected that they go back into the studio and release “something” new. In contrast our international counterparts would release an Album and then over a period of the next 2 to 3 years release several singles from that same album, giving the material more longevity.

Let’s look at shows, Bacchanal Time produces a quality show with dancers and special effects etc and by the end of Crop Over regardless of its excellence it is deemed dead and we must go back to the drawing board and produce ’something” new.

“Cats opened on Broadway in 1982 had 7485 performances and closed in 2002

Internationally now, we have Broadway musical shows that have been running for years.
Productions like “Grease” “Cats” Phantom of the Opera” and the longest running production ever “Les Miserables”, this production has been running for 21 years and is still going.

So all like now we should still be running our 1995 Bacchanal Time featuring triple crown winner Edwin doing his “Obadele” song.

But no, Crop over is again upon us and the question people are asking is “when you gun bring something new?”

So Edwin RPB Kidsite, Asiba and Bacchanal Time are all busy trying to find “something” new to be readily consumed by the coming 2008 Crop Over monster.

Now that’s “Something”!

“Why are we allowing our young event planners and tent managers to hit a glass ceiling because government wants to manage Crop Over events…
When we can contract them out and demand what we want in return and also earn something from them and give them the opportunity to be involved in large event management.
we need to give those persons with ideas in our cultural industries an opportunity to execute them”

Those are the words of Prime Minister David Thompson when he debated in parliament last week, they lifted the spirits of this event planner and tent manager aka P.Boyce, and indeed all of cultural industries should rejoice and embrace the PM’s comments.

Finally a Prime Minister who speaks of truly developing the industry and creating opportunities for us instead if the flawed exploitive policy which was transmitted from the previous administration.

I am not saying so just because government has changed, I have expounded this criticism of the BLP government several times in this blog when they were in power.
That’s one of the reasons why Boyce or Madd Entertainment was never given work from the previous Government and why our entrepreneurial efforts to do our own projects i.e. “Euphoria” were always met with opposition from the authorities.

I have always remembered ex PM Arthur making the statement at a consultation I attended, “there is nothing wrong with the government being entrepreneurial!” indicating how it was the prime objective of the government to make money “off” of the cultural industries.
In contrast to that flawed Arthur statement, we should be elated to hear the words of PM David speaking of removing the “glass ceiling” that stood in our way, now giving entertainment entrepreneurs the opportunity not only to make a tangible contribution to our national festival Crop Over also but to benefit from that contribution.

I am really looking forward to the Gale Theatre of London and Barbados production of Macbeth opening next month, like Lil Rick I “cann wait”.

From the time I studied Macbeth at Combermere School it was one of my favorite books.
I started out forcing my self to like Macbeth because I needed it to pass my CXC exam and ended up loving it.
So much that since I left school I have read it several times.

I love the story of the rise Macbeth and the part Lady Macbeth played in his quest to be king and his ultimate demise, there is a lesson to be learned in this play for each of us.

When you hear me expounding quotes like “there’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face” and “life is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury” people mistake me for being intelligent and say “ooh so you read Shakespeare” the truth is I have only read one book, I just make good use of it.

The Macbeth production will feature an impressive and diverse line up of stars Alison Sealy Smith, Varia Williams, Levi King, Jherad Allyene, Anderson Armstrong, Patrick Foster and top British actor Peter Temple as Macbeth.
The thought of seeing a quality production with these local thespians* bring the “political thriller” Macbeth to life at the Frank Collymore Hall next month, fills me with great anticipation…

”I Cann Wait, Cann Wait, Cann Wait!”

(Lyrics compliments Lil Rick)

*thespian; fancy word actors become when they start to appear in big up productions at Frank Collymore Hall, its like the differnce between a “movie” and a “film”

I always keep my promises except for when I don’t.
Last week I mentioned how lia deserved her own write up, and here it is.

                                    This is Lia

I first met Lia Gajadhar back in 2004 when Madd was working on a dance idea to the song “Hard Ears”.
It came to me that we could use an idea similar to “Thriller” with ghouls dancing with our lead singer Eric Lewis and choreographer Trevor Priddie recommended Lia and told me she was good, just returned from studying make up in the States.

So Lia came to the Madd office and told her I wanted her to make up dead people to dance with Eric, so she asked exactly how intense to I want them to be as she can do some pretty gruesome stuff.
And I was saying to my self “yeah right” who is this lil girl claiming she can do make up gross people out?”
Well I could not have been more wrong, look at this picture…

Here is Eric with the Trevor Priddie and his dancers made up by Lia, she did some make up that was so horrific that patrons actually scampered from the dancers in horror when they went into the audience.
Even Eric’s own daughters became afraid of him after seeing him performing with the “duppies”.

Lia used a technique where she started with one level of horror make up effects that intensified as the season progressed, so you ended up with the dancers looking like accident victims with chunks of flesh hanging from their body.

I remember once being back stage when lia was finished working on the “dead people” and they looked like bodies that had started to decompose. “It was freaked me out and I had to leave. It reminded me of seeing Ingrid with out make up once.
 

Because of the excellent make up effects from Lia and effective choreography by Trevor Priddie and his dancers “Hard Ears” became one of the most effective live presentations Madd has ever had in Bacchanal Time calypso tent, my only regret was that I was in it as an undertaker and didn’t get to sit in the audience and enjoy the spectacle of it.

Lia making up Soca Queen Alison Hinds

We are always talking about the front line performers and not enough on the talented people behind the scenes, Lia Gajadhar is one of those people.
The ultimate testimony to Lia’s talent how ever is what she did with Ingrid Holder, a make up person that can make Ingrid look beautiful has got to be good!

Boyce is leaving the computer before Ingrid finds me ….

Guyanese Timeka and our Rihanna in Jamaica

Here is a bio on Timeka Marshall hailing from Guyana, she is one on the artistes represented by Pyramid Entertainment which is managed by the irresistible Santia Bradshaw. With the coming of CSME we need to know about our regional neighbours, so read on, you are not busy ..

Who would have thought that a simple jingle for a local company would be the start of a music career that seems destined for success? Well that is exactly how young Guyanese singer Timeka Marshall got her break. In 2006
a local telecommunications company staged a competition for their new jingle. Timeka entered and won. This became the springboard for recording her first R&B Single “We Should Separate”, which was released and quickly followed by the music video. Produced by Muzikmedia and shot on location in Jamaica both the track and the video gained popularity on the Caribbean music scene and held their own in heavy rotation on radio and television stations across the region.

Yet there was much more to unearth in the way of Timeka’s talents. Timeka After performing “We Should Celebrate” on the Guyanese entertainment circuit to appreciative audiences,Timeka was keen to cultivate her songwriting talents and attended the Barbados Music seminar and Showcase in February 2007. There she blew regional and international music executives away with her obvious talent and enticing sensuality. With just one performance of the gritty dancehall track “Nothing At All”, Timeka was immediately signed to a developmental deal which would see her working with some of Jamaica’s top producers.Timeka’s commitment and hard work in the months she spent in Jamaica has paid off, with the release of two singles – “Free” and “Ice-cream Boy” (a fresh taste on a classic) produced by international reggae producer
Clive Hunt and his team of talented musicians. Her relationship with Jamaica and the treasure trove of musicians, directors and producers there continues to grow. As soon as the two singles were in heavy rotation on Guyana’s airwaves, Timeka returned to Jamaica to continue recording. This dedication is a clear indication of her intention
to take her music throughout the region and beyond and add to the growing list of Caribbean artistes who now rank among the international superstars of the entertainment industry.

Barbados based company Pyramid Entertainment Management Inc. has once again created history during the festive period of Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival celebrations, by being the first foreign entity and entertainment company to put a music and performance truck on the road for T&T Carnival.

This comes following the successful 2007 venture between Pyramid Entertainment and Sesame Flyers International (New York’s largest Carnival mas band), when the Pyramid music truck was a very visible element in the New York Labour Day parade and celebrations.

In 2008, they aligned themselves with the big mas band Tribe, consisting of over 5,000 eager revelers to present the Pyramid “All Star” music truck. Complete with a performance stage, music by Dawg-E-Slaughter and Xcaliber and fully equipped by Tank Sound Systems, the truck was a literal media magnet, attracting not only spectators with cameras but also crews from local, regional and international media houses (who took opportunities to interview the truck’s featured artistes).

Pyramid had broken boundaries last Carnival when Biggie Irie (an artiste featured on their talent roster) became the first non-T&T national to win the International Groovy Soca Monarch Competition.

Biggie Irie was also a featured artiste on the 2008 “All Star” truck; along side 2007 Barbados Road March winner and peoples choice award winner Mr. Dale, 2007 Barbados Soca Monarch finalist Peter Ram and regional soca star Problem Child.

Also sending the crowd of masqueraders into frenzy were the performances by invited Trinidadian guests 2008 International Soca Monarch winner Bunji Garlin and his wife, the newly crowned 2008 T&T Road March winner Faye-Ann Lyons, as well as Road March contender Blaxx and Umi Marcano.

 Pyramid’s billboard in Trinidad…..Biggie Irie, Lil Rick, Peter Ram and Mr. Dale

In addition to the music truck, Pyramid Entertainment also made a promotional impact for their company, their artistes and for the general festival culture of Barbados by erecting a 20′ X 8″ double sided billboard on the east/west corridor of the Churchill Roosevelt Highway which reads “From Carnival to Crop Over” and features images of four of the Barbadian superstars on the Pyramid roster, Biggie Irie, Lil Rick, Mr. Dale and Peter Ram.

Pyramid Entertainment’s management team Santia Bradshaw and Ruel Ward, express their sincere gratitude to all of the artistes who performed on the truck, the radio stations which continue to promote the music of the Barbadian and regional artistes, the promoters who were responsible for booking the artistes over the Carnival season and the Barbados Tourism Authority (BTA), whom they invited to come on board as a co-sponsor, in an effort to promote the Barbados Crop Over Festival and encourage the participants of T&T’s carnival experience, to join them in Barbados for their festival in August of 2008.

More Exclusive Pictures from T and T Carnival coming tomorrow 

It is hilarious! You will laugh till yuh we wee yuh self, which could be pretty embarrassing if you happen to have a date with you… What am I blogging about? Laff It Off 2008 “We Still Hey” comedy show now on every Saturday at St. Gabriel’s School. Laff It Off features stellar performances from Jherad Allyene, Simon Allyene and more.

You have got to see Chrispen Hackett as PM David Thompson and Marcia Burrowes as CBC’s Derri Bowen. Speaking of CBC, see Peta Allyene in her famous “Mia” role locking off the neck and sharing some blows in “Owen”. See the hilarious characters on David Estwick, Patricia Inniss and of course Clyde Mascol.

You have got to see the Barbados Top Model sketch. I especially liked the characterization of Ishiaka McNeil as judge Kingsley Thorne, it is to die for.

It would be remiss of me not to mention there seems to be a skit that features a little creative piece set in Roman times which mentions Boyceus and Estwickus. They seemed be referring to me Boyceus as a bulla. Ishiaka who played the bulla part already got in trouble for charactering a certain local singer in a gayfull manner last year, and the said singer had brief conversation with him and threatened to lick him up. Unfortunately for me I have no such skills but I do plan to call Cecily Spencer Cross the producer and buse her silly.

What is touching and effective is the footage of the late Wendell Smith doing some comedic scenes; he continues to make a contribution even though he has passed on.

So don’t miss Laff It Off 2008. Its so funny. You might experience some involuntary urination. It will not be so cool when your date sniffs and asks “wha is da that smell so pissy?” and you have to say it is you….

With out doubt it can be stated that elements of the entertainment industry were a crucial factor in the election of David Thompson as Prime Minister of Barbados.

Let’s discuss this with particular focus on “The lil Rick Factor”. Rick with his Guinness radio Rush hours and popular DJ and calypsonian status is known to have a great influence on Bajan youth. You therefore cannot underestimate the impact of Lil Rick singing the political jingle “I wid David and Dem” on the youth. The same young people who uncharacteristically participated in the voting process in full force this year. You should not underestimate the impact of Lil Rick’s photo which appeared in the press proudly sporting a “I Wid Dem” t-shirt.

Also Rick performed at major DLP events and personally introduced and endorsed David on stage to thousands of young people as his choice of leader. There was a certain awareness among the youth as it related to campaigning activity. I heard the boys on the block out by me arguing politics in a most prolific and vociferous manner under their liming tree in my neighbourhood. My seventeen year old son Ramon told me what manifesto promises had caught his attention and who he would vote for if he could.

When the question is asked what made the young people come out to the polls? What made those young people vote for David Thompson? Could the answer be no more than board face Hypa Dog Lil Rick himself!!

Coming Soon; More Political Entertainment Factors

Does political victimization exist in our entertainment industry? According to some people it is alive and well and kicking violently. I worked for the opposition Democratic Labour Party putting together the entertainment for their new year’s day launch which was so successful. During the course of sourcing the talent for that event I was astounded at the number of entertainers who were petrified with fear that they be branded as supporting the opposition.

I spoke to persons who were convinced that if they were to voice an ad that there would be a backlash of vindictive action that would be unleashed against them that would ultimately destroy their careers.

To hear them talk one would get the impression we were living under a government dictatorship and not in a free democratic Barbados. “Srew your courage to the sticking place”* I say, for it is not you who should fear politicians but them who should fear you. They are the ones who need your vote and it is more you who can victimise them by where you put your x.

So Boyce Voice says fear not political victimisation. I don’t think our government is so petty any way. Of course I could be wrong. If you are right since it has circulated that I worked with the DLP entertainment launch and it is now said I am a “D”, I guess I should be in for some victimisation, I’ll be waiting…

*That is Shakespeare yuh idiot, don’t let the screwing mention throw you off.

Tomorrow:Entertainment and Politics #3:PM Entertainment Attack