New York, USA
- Pan man and
steelpan historian
Dalton Narine
was in town
recently in
his capacity
of film maker
and director.
Narine
(pictured at
pre-reception
with poet Mervyn
Taylor)
was invited
to attend and
present at the
private screening
of ‘Mas
Man,’ his
critically-acclaimed
film celebrating
the work and
life of internationally
renowned cultural
icon and carnival
artist and designer
Peter Minshall
of Trinidad
and Tobago.
Mas Man the
movie is
a documentary
that has been
seen by audiences
worldwide including
the USA, Europe, Egypt
and South Africa.
It was first
screened in
New York
in April
at Medgar Evers
College.
Narine’s lauded
film work was
chosen as the
first to be
screened by
ICAD-FTL
(International
Caribbean American
Diaspora Film
Theatre & Literary
Festival, Inc.)
for their season
showings.
Located
in New York’s
posh Gramercy
Park, National
Historic Landmark
The Players
was the prestigious
venue that hosted
the event which,
despite the
persistent rain
drizzle, drew
famous personages
such as artist
Geoffrey Holder,
cast members
of the Broadway
hit ‘Fela!’
and Grenada’s
Consul General
Derek James
(pictured above).
Succulent Caribbean
morsels and
delicate and
full-bodied
wines complemented
the pre-screening
reception in
the Players’
Great Hall,
as specially
invited guests
mingled and
chatted with
film maker
Dalton Narine,
poet Mervyn
Taylor who appears
in Mas Man,
and others on
hand.
Soon, the famed
and deeply resonant
voice of Geoffrey
Holder filled
the room as
he called to
order the gathering.
Holder’s
role included
welcoming everyone
and thanking ICAD-FTL’s industrious
founder and
director, Misani
(pictured),
for organizing
the evening;
ensuring that
Players’ Executive
Director John
Martello was
left in no doubt
as to how appreciated
it was that
he had opened
the doors of
the establishment
to facilitate
the screening,
and; briefly
but delightedly
regaling of
his own fulfillment
and pleasure
as an artist
himself.
Holder also
made a presentation
of the first-ever
“Geoffrey Holder
Trinity Award
- Guiding Light”
to
Jean Alexander
for her exemplary
work as a beacon
in the Caribbean-American
community.
Finally, flanked
by three beautiful
and very gracious
young ladies
from the cast
of
Fela!
- Nicole
Chantal de Weever,
Elasea Douglas
and Oneika Phillips
- Holder introduced
the man of the
moment and whose
film work on
Mas Man has
captivated many
around the world
- Dalton Narine.
The screening
was then officially
preceded by
Fela!’s
Oneika Phillips’
introspective
introduction
as she shared
her thoughts
and appreciation
of Mas Man.
After all these
affairs were
in order, it
was time to
repair to the
Players Dining
Room which,
for that evening,
pleasingly accommodated
the film screening.
Mas Man has
been picking
up awards on
its journey
around the world
including the
Best Documentary
prize at the
Trinidad and
Tobago Film
Festival in
October 2009.
But among the
more recent
honors was that
for
Best Short Documentary
Award
at the New York
International
Film Festival
when the movie
was publicly
screened in
July.
Narine is now
expected to
make his way
to Los Angeles
for the Awards
ceremony to
be held on November
11. For
its latest accolade,
Mas Man has
been hailed
as
Best Documentary
for Cinematography
at the Chagrin
Falls International
Documentary
Film festival
in Northeast
Ohio, USA.
And so, the
recognition
continues for
the work of
this Pan Man
about the Mas
Man whose work
has been, literally,
larger than
life.
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