Trench Town anticipates Marley movie will boost community

For 53-year-old Marcella Stewart, who secured her role as an extra in the movie Bob Marley: One Love, which premieres today, she was elated at her chance to grace the big screen.

"Me feel nice me nah lie, me do me thing and me get fi eat a food weh me coulda put back inna me own business. The people dem [producers] say the way me move, it just look so real, like me play the part so good, yuh couldn't believe say a act me a act," Stewart said proudly.

As workers from a local entertainment company prepared for a mini celebration at the Trench Town Culture Yard Museum on Monday, the founder of the property, Michael Smith, looked on in amazement.

"Bob Marley told me in 1973 that people ago come and ask about him and we affi tell them his story. He said dem ago tired fi see him face and that's what the whole concept of the movie is about. This is going to be the biggest movie because the whole world accept him; he is more than an entertainer," Smith shared with THE STAR.

Smith, 68, grew up in Trench Town, rubbing shoulders with Marley in the same yard that now serves as a historical site for the reggae legend. Smith recalled when he was first approached by producers seeking to make a movie about Bob Marley's life, and smiled at the thought of preserving history.

"This ago help establish Trench Town more. Me feel good 'bout it; it a let people from the community 'eat a food' inna a way and why not? It ago give the community a highlight and Jamaica on a whole a get a feature," said Smith, who is also known by his stage name Knowledge. He added that he gave permission for the producers to use artefacts from the culture yard in the movie.

"They didn't film here because we want people to come here and experience the culture for themselves as well," he said.

Oswald Comrie, who dubs himself Trench Town's cultural and spiritual ambassador, said that the movie is an awakening for Trench Town.

"It is a spiritual vibration that Bob Marley's presence is still around. It captures Bob Marley's story and it will have a big impact on the culture and the country. It is a big milestone," Comrie expressed. He added that from the trailer of the movie that he has seen, the producers are to be credited for the research they have done.

"It looks so real, the background everything was captured properly. The history of the 70s, the violence and crime, the ... fire burning in the streets, when police used to trim Rastas and beat them, everything was in there. They did a good job," he opined.

Smith chimed in that "it is important now, more than ever to preserve the cultural legacies" of Marley and other cultural icons.

"This movie just show that people are interested in knowing about Jamaica, our heritage and our people. I think more can be done for the culture," he said.