by Curlan Campbell
- Grenada folklore preserved through storytelling, has not yet been fully explored in films
- “Don’t Blink” is a 90-minute film on mythical character “Mama Glo”
- Film team initiated fundraising campaign to raise around US$20,000
Local film producer and creative Teddy Frederick is taking the lead in bringing local folklore to life on the big screen with his feature film “Don’t Blink.” This 90-minute film aims to transform the mythical character “Mama Glo” into a cinematic experience.
Frederick’s film concept is inspired by a local folklore character often depicted as a mermaid, a snake charmer, or a combination of both. This character bears a striking resemblance to the West African sea and ocean goddess “Mami Wata,” a diety in West African Vodun spiritual practices prevalent in areas of Benin, Togo, Ghana and Yoruba peoples. The term “Mama-Glo” or “Mama-Dlo” is said to originate from the French phrase “maman de l’eau,” which translates to “water mother.”
“So we wanted to take that step to tell the story in a contemporary way,” Frederick said.
Grenadian folklore has been largely preserved through storytelling, handed down through generations. Local authors have also captured these tales in recent years in illustrations and publications. However, this rich tradition has not yet been fully explored in Grenadian films, a task Frederick and his team are eager to take, but the production company requires significant funding to realise their film project fully. As a result, the team has initiated a fundraising campaign to raise around US$20,000.
“We are currently trying to reach a mark of US$20,000 to work on the special effects for the film, and the timeline can be adjusted based on how soon we raise these funds, but ultimately, we would love to show it by the end of the year,” he said.
Grenada Film Company, collaborating with King Rep Productions, is bringing this new feature film to life in the community of Grenville. Frederick indicated that the feature film seeks to bridge that gap, bringing these legendary tales to a wider audience in a visually stunning and culturally significant way.
“The film is designed to promote Grenada and the stories that come out from here, with a special emphasis on some of our folklore. I wanted to tell a story that I think most Grenadians would be able to resonate with. I thought it makes sense to bring to the big screen some of the folklore that we grew up hearing about,” he added.
Frederick stated that his film directly addresses the environmental impact of overfishing. He aimed to tell an authentic story by incorporating oral testimonies and documented research, weaving together his impressions with a creative interpretation for the screen.
His feature film “Don’t Blink” is set to include an array of local cast to play several characters within the film, including the likes of social media influencer and comedian Dondrè Sandy (xo king Dre), main actor and co-director alongside Alex Marcelle, Joshua Laurell John, Serena Peters, Summerz Victory, Piankhi Toussaint and Camille Mann.
Frederick is focused on starting his feature film by raising the necessary funds to complete and market the project islandwide. “It comes with challenges, but we are persistent to make it a viable something that we can continue to work in while we tell the stories that we want to tell.”
Recently, the Grenada Film Company screened the “Carriacou String Band & Music Festival Documentary.” Frederick mentioned that the audience’s feedback was very positive: “Most people in the audience agreed that the film was a bit too short, but overall, they loved it.”
Frederick further explained, “I see this as a good indication of the growing demand for more Grenadian-based cinema and for more products coming out of our country that tell stories that matter to us. Regarding the artistic style of this particular film, we aimed to keep the storytelling authentic and immersive, allowing the characters themselves to help shape the narrative. This approach stays true to the event and the intentions behind why the people came together.”
“I think there was a lot more we could do with the film, but it will come when there is more of an interest to investing in projects like this that it gives us this peace and the flexibility to expand on the narratives and not just make these short versions of the full story,” he aded.
The young filmmaker hopes that as the local film industry evolves, industry players will have more opportunities to access direct investment. “Since our industry is still new and emerging, there is much work to be done. Our vision can only be realised through direct investment in larger-scale film productions, particularly in genres with high marketability, as consistently demonstrated by global box office trends. These films will not only showcase Grenada to the world, boosting tourism and creating industry opportunities, but they will also serve as invaluable cultural archives, preserving our stories and traditions for future generations. Now is the time to invest in the power of film to shape our national identity and creative economy,” he explained.
Frederick directed “Taste of Grenada,” which was filmed by the Grenada Film Company and produced by Randall Dolland, Chair of the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA), and Petra Roach, CEO of the GTA.
Anyone wishing to donate to this project can do so through direct deposit at the Grenada Film Company Inc. Republic Bank Grenada Ltd account number 200000176638.
