Local filmmakers explore Jamaican culture with ‘Origins’

After nearly four years of dedication, local filmmakers are hoping to tell authentically Jamaican stories on a global stage through Origins.

Written and directed by Kurt Wright, Origins tells the story of Jamaican historical and mythological figures like Three-Finger Jack, Nanny of the Maroons, Annie Palmer and Anancy from the pre-Independence era through fantasy, drama and mystery.

Wright told THE STAR, "It is a story full of our historical and mythological characters who have all come together in a brand new adventure. So there's time travel, there's magic, there's monsters, there's all kinds of stuff but it's all based on Jamaican culture and history."

First launched as a short film in the JAFTA Propeller programme in 2016, producer of the project and Wright's fiancee Noelle Kerr, said the idea stemmed from Wright's desire to fulfil her media appetite.

"He asked me one day what would I like to see, like if I could see a story out of Jamaica. And I said 'well I'd love to see those very people, our heroes, our mythological figures, but translated into a modern way so that the younger generation finds a way to connect with it'. I just had so much of it growing up and I felt like it was so absent now, that I was like 'Kurt if we could do this, if we could find a way to ...' and he took that and he ran and came back and said here you go," she said.

Among the cast are Christopher 'Johnny' Daley, Shantol Jackson, Wesley Hylton as well as the late Chris McFarlane and Leonie Forbes. Wright and Kerr gushed over the talent and dedication of the cast and crew, especially McFarlane and Forbes.

"I was incredibly proud of the work that Chris did with Taku (a character who is held captive by Annie Palmer). Like, he forever will be my Taku. He brought magic to that character for me and I mean, Leonie is Leonie," Kerr shared solemnly. "I grew up with her and to be able to be in a space where I was a part of creating work that she was in, is a gift I will cherish till the day I die."

Wright added, "Everyone in Jamaica rightfully has her [Forbes] on this massive level and I think she was the only person who did not hold herself at that level. She was one of the most humble people I've ever worked with. She was one of the most open and giving actors I've ever worked with and at the same time she was just so grounded and just so cool, just as a human being."

While they are "absolutely proud" of the pitch-pilot that they made with the help of grants and a dedicated team, Wright shared that the goal is to get the series on a platform that will catapult Jamaican stories into the stratosphere.

"All of these projects and all of these streaming services are coming to Jamaica and they're seeing what we have to offer. They're realising how strong our crews are and they're realising how hard we work and how capable we are. What they're not aware of are the stories that we have to tell here. So what we want to do is, we really want to be on the equivalent of a Paramount set or Hulu set or a Netflix set and this is our story," he said.

"This is our people. If we have to fly in a couple heads of department to show us how certain things are done and that sort of thing, that's fine. We're not Hollywood yet but doing our best to tell our stories at a quality that when you present them to the world, they can stand alongside anything else that you will see on these people's platforms," Wright added.