Digging Your Scene

A Film By Jerome Laperrousaz

Starring Gregory Isaacs, Toots, Bunny Wailer, Elephant Man, Sly & Robbie

Lapperousaz and the featured performers repeatedly define reggae by cutting straight to its emotional core, and pay unbridled tribute to the culture and nation that produced it.

NewYork Times

Never before has a single feature film presented the leaders of the Reggae music movement with the intensity that Made In Jamaica does.

Reggae.com

Synopsis

The murder of one of the leading artists of the Dancehall Music movement (Bogle) kicks off this raw, passionate and compelling documentary on the history and evolution of the Reggae and Dancehall music scene in Jamaica.

The unfortunate occurrence also puts the whole movement firmly in context: it is the voice of discontent, the angry, the youthful and the zealous. Its sound is very much from the ghettos where, very often, people are left without much prospect for the future and much desolation in the present; it tells of the hopes and dreams as well as despair of the people of Jamaica.  Reggae is, indeed, Jamaica’s blues.

This film explores the meaning of Reggae and Dancehall through the island’s leading contemporary artists both young and old including Elephant Man, Lady Saw, Toots, Gregory Isaacs, Bunny Wailer and Sly and Robbie.

A must-see film for anyone interested in Jamaica’s vibrant music culture.

Story

It is the story of how a small island nation of only three million people took their pain and misery and turned those emotions into songs that resonate around the world. Reggae is Jamaica’s blues: a music of both desperation and hope.

Reggae music sprang into life in the 70’s. It was the first time that a third world country had made its voice heard on such a large scale. Instantly recognisable, the reggae sound is a celebration of life itself. Now a new generation of reggae artists has emerged and its fathers are still in Jamaica.

The Dance Hall, emerging from reggae, is drawing large crowds across the globe. At its origin, the

Dance Hall concept is heavily influenced by religious overtones. Like rap music, Dance Hall’s message is powerful and straightforward, with lyrics about sex, violence, and social issues.

Cast

Toots Frederick

Grammy Award winner Toots Frederick “Toots” born in Maypen, grew up singing gospel music at church. The lights of Kingston were his dream and arrived in Trenchtown barefoot and moneyless. He recorded with Raleigh Gordon and Jerry Matthias, forming the original Maytals. In 1968, their song “Do the Reggay” coined the phrase ‘reggae’. In 1973 Toots and The Maytals held their first concert in the United States. It was the beginning of a successful career managed by Bob Marley’s producer. Chris Blackwell. The band recently won the 2005 grammy award for reggae for the album “True Love”. This album has some re-recorded versions of their classics alongside popular and legendary musicians such a Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton and Keith Richards.

Gregory Isaacs

In the 60’s Gregory grew up in the ghetto of West Kingston. Reggae offers him a way out of a life that like many others is caught between addiction and jail. In 1987 he issued the record that was to turn his career around but he remains entirely his own man, with a unique style. For his personality and eccentric English dress, he is popularly known as the “Jamaican Dandy”.

Bunny Wailer

He went to school with Bob Marley and became his half brother when their parents remarried with each other. In 1963, Marley, Wailer and Peter Tosh started their group “The Wailers”. After Bob Marley’s death and the assassination of Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer is one of the only original fathers of Reggae still alive.

Third World

Stephen “Cat” Coore learned guitar and violin as a child by his mother, a music teacher. At 13 years old, he joined the prestigious Inner Circle Band and started his professional career. Cat Coore was invited to play with Stevie Wonder, Cindy Lauper, Santana, etc…His group “Third World” founded in 1974, including Bunny Rugs.

Beres Hammond

Born in Annotto Bay in 1955, Beres Hammond grew up listening to his father’s collection of American soul music and jazz music. His career begins in the 1970s with his first recording of “Wanderer”. He reaches his greatest success in the 1990s through the release of albums as well as several compilations, establishing himself as one of the top lovers rock artist.

Bounty Killer

Bounty Killer was born in the Kingston Ghetto of Trenchtown where music is part of his daily life. His recorded his first single “Gun Must Done” in 1990. At eighteen years old, the maturity of his lyrics (condemning Kingston’s lawless gunmen) and melodic vocal style, singled him out as a rising star. His debut album “Jamaica’s Most Wanted” is released in 1993.
This album cements his reputation as the most outspoken dee-jay of his generation.

Lady Saw

Lady Saw was born in 1972 in the small village of St. Mary. In 1994 she recorded the single ”Want it Tonight” and put herself as the First Lady of Dancehall. With her attitudes and sex appeal, Lady Saw is a Jamaican bad girl.

Elephant Man

Named “Dumbo Elephant” at the age of 13, for having ears larger than average, the name evolves later into Elephant Man. Elephant Man discovers his talent at the age of 15 at school by using his desks to beat out rhythms and rhymes. Despite threats from his mother who preferred him to “go look work”, Elephant knows that Dee-jaying would be his ticket to success. He then formed his band, the “Scare Dem Crew” with Boom Dandimite, Harry Toddler and Nitty Kutchie. Elephant Man is now producing and mentoring younger artists in order to develop the music and assure his longevity.

Tanya Stephens

Tanya Stephens is one of the few women who proved to the Dancehall crowd that reggae music is not just a man’s world. Her words are rebellious and authentic, while her music is a mixture of Reggae, rock, pop, disco, and country and western.

Capleton

Capleton, born Clifton, was a very outspoken boy with profound views on social injustices. He was surnamed by his family after a popular Jamaican lawyer, Capleton. Today, he is also referred to as the Prophet.Capleton is one of the best reggae music deejays of his generation. With his numerous dancehall classics, he is constantly topping at the billboard.

Also starring:

Nadine, Bogle, Vybz Kartel, Joseph Current, Alaine Laugthon, Brick and Lace, Dr. Marshall, Shiah and Cat Coore, Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare and Blessed

Discover more about the film at www.madeinjamaicamovie.com