Chiney Wine- The Movie

Writing and speaking about myself has always been a difficult task; as is too many I would assume.
I would choose to start about my life in the entertainment industry and media from St. Mary’s College, as this is where my passion for entertainment was discovered. I must say it was partly due to my love for music.
My love for music was discovered at a tender age but soon erupted into a passion for dancing, sparked by my former Arts teacher Ted Sandiford. Aside from supplying us with the latest tunes at the time, he in 2002 encouraged a group of us to form a dance group to participate in the islands first ever cheerleading competition. He also handed down the mantle from his previous dance group made up of former college students. We would then be awarded the task of becoming the new age “kixx offs”, appropriately named “Kixx Off Kru”. Our reign would last throughout our years at St. Mary’s, also leading to the birth of something which has to date become one of the most popular secondary school shows; Talfest. On our departure from secondary school life, St. Mary’s College showed their appreciation by awarding all four Kixx Off Kru members with an Outstanding Drama award. This would also be a first for the school.
My three year run at St. Mary’s gave me more than just exposure. It would give me a courage that would lead me to the big screen.
In 2008 I got the idea for a TV show which would benefit and influence young talent in St. Lucia. The idea was encouraged from seeing talented friends all around; who I figured needed an avenue to show it off. One name in particular is that of rap artist Philbert “Kayo” Salton.
The show did its first season in 2008 for two and a half months, with the assistance of a small number of young and talented individuals like myself. I was able to accomplish ten 15 to 20 minute episodes while doing an 8 hour shift a Lime’s call center in Sans Souci. The task was no easy one but at that time I realized I had stumbled upon something with potential, which I loved. Appropriately dubbed “Lucian Vybz”, the amateur TV show did fairly well on youtube.com, attracting much attention from locals and foreigners.
After the end of that season I decided to continue along the lines of camera work until that day where I would be ready to hit off a second season. Alongside my business partner under the name Movielink Entertainment, we would move onto recording a number of local productions featuring big named regional artistes. Among this names are Konshens, Lady Saw, Cecil, Demarco, Jah Cure, Munga, Machel Montano and the HD Family just to name a few. But before I could hit off another season of Lucian Vybz, a new page would unfold as I got the opportunity to delve deeper into the world of media.
In 2010 my dear girlfriend and mother informed me of an advertisement of a job opening at HTS for a junior reporter, and influenced me to apply. The application was made but would unfortunately sit in my car for roughly 6 months before I would eventually find the courage to hand it in. This would soon follow a call from a familiar voice, Carmy Joseph, requesting I come in for an interview. It would not be the first but probably the most intense. I was grilled by the two famous ladies of news at the time, Carmy Joseph and Valerie Albert-Fevrier. A call would then follow from Carmy Joseph again informing me that the job was mine.
Since then I have had the opportunity to write stories from political, to crime, to entertainment, just name it. The name would become popular to avid followers of the news and other persons in the media. The opportunity also gave me a medium to delve deeper into the world of entertainment through Carmy Joseph herself. Soon after, the second season of my tv show would come to life. The second season would not only run on youtube this time, but on local TV. Bernard Fanis of Calabash TV would agree to assist me in fulfilling my passion the second time around and air Lucian Vybz for free. It would this time run for a period of 5 months from November 2012 to March 2013, airing a new episode fortnightly.
Writing stories on the local entertainment industry would over the years become my thing, introducing me to a whole new light. With that strength coming to light, HTS would then influence me to create a new segment in their news strictly for entertainment. Hence, the Entertainment 411 was born.
With the assistance of a team like I’ve never experience before, the Entertainment 411 would unfold like no one would expect. The show would not only bring me to fore, but would give HTS a Friday and Saturday night viewership like no other.
Although the show continues to expose the talent that my team possesses, my role is to also ensure the show meets its purpose of exposing St. Lucia’s entertainment industry through writers, singers, poets, dancers and whoever may have something along the lines to offer.
I don’t believe I have come close to fulfilling my role here in St. Lucia as an Entertainer. I currently manage two artistes from the Dennery Valley community and assist in marketing many more. Along with my business partner Daniel Lester, we continue to thrust the Entertainment and film industry in St. Lucia through music videos and short films.
My heart remains and will possibly always remain in media and entertainment, as I believe I have successfully assisted in bonding the two. At the moment I hold the title of camera operator, reporter, manager, host, producer, script writer and video editor.
And in spite of my current passion, I have always been a self motivated individual. Hence my varied fields of work. Since my departure from Secondary School in 2005, I have worked as a camera operator and on air technician at Think Caribbean Television, a Playmaker at Sandals Halcyon, a waiter at the Royal St. Lucian Hotel and Sandals Grand, a telesales agent at Lime and KM2 Solutions, then to reporting and camera at HTS/Radio 100.
I have had the opportunity to work on major productions such as St. Lucia Rising, Main Stage Jazz, the Campari Poster Girl search shot in St. Lucia and a number of live shows.
As long as I have the strength, support and access to a working camera, I will continue to strive for a better Entertainment sector in St. Lucia.