A Green Screen Screening

I am what you can call a “movie buff” but I’ve never been to a screening of any kind of movie before so when Shiv suggested we do a collaboration I was excited.  My understanding of a movie screening is where you get to see the movie and provide feedback before it’s released to the rest of the world! 

Shiv’s blog focused of the various film festivals that takes place throughout the year, such as UWI Festival of Plays, Green Screen Film Festival and TnT Film Festival to mention a few. At the time of our collaboration a movie called “A Better Place” was being screened at the Green Screen Environmental Film Series 2015.

I learnt that the Green Screen Film Series was created by Sustain T&T, an environmental and sustainability education non-profit organization. There mission is to educate the public about local and global environmental issues that we face through the powerful medium of film.

Directed by award-winning filmmaker Miquel Galofré and produced by Sustain T&T’s own Carver Bacchus, “A Better Place” takes the viewer to five communities in T&T where people are doing great things, charting their own course and inspiring others to do the same. Each of the featured organizations are also supported by UNDP GEF SGP. The film also features musical performances from home- grown talent. Check out the trailer here.

This experience opened my eyes to the reality of some of the communities’ right here in Trinidad and the challenges that they face. I was not aware of that the current fishing methods practiced in T&T lead to the accidental killing of critically endangered sea turtles; or that ERIC, the Environmental Research Institute, Charlotteville, Tobago existed or that they are working with community groups to educate local residents in managing natural resources.

Viewing this film opened my eyes to a new Trinidad and Tobago, it gave me an appreciation for the community in which I live and inspired me to look at how I can improve it in some little way.  I was blown away by the dedication of the different faculties of the University of the West Indies (UWI) who came together for this project, the togetherness of the community and the wealth of information and innovation that resided in these communities.

Thank you for opening me to a whole new world of film Shiv! 

You can check out Shiv's Blog here FILM 'n' TT