Under the auspices of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority—Canada (ABTA—Toronto Office), a two-person writing team has been selected to be the inaugural participants of ABTA-Toronto’s short film development project, ‘Cinematic Connections’.
Nyriah Browne and Myah Ward, both 17-year-old attendees of Antigua State College, submitted a winning story submission during a call for short stories/screenplays open to secondary and tertiary education students in Antigua and Barbuda. Browne describes her excitement as being “elated to be granted this opportunity to work alongside professionals in my future career. I am excited to learn more about writing and the process of developing a story from paper to screen.” Ward further explains that “when I wrote this story alongside Nyriah, I had no idea it would put me in this position. It validates the efforts I’ve made and encourages me to keep giving my best going forward.”
As a result of their story’s selection, the duo will be mentored by Canadian actor Gil Bellows and other members of the Cinematic Connections team as they develop their story into a screenplay for a short film.
Gil Bellows is a Canadian actor, producer, screenwriter and director. He is well known for his standout performances in films including The Shawshank Redemption, American Gods, and Ally McBeal. As a producer, Bellows has several notable accomplishments, including Mick Jackson’s HBO biographical drama Temple Grandin, which earned him both a Primetime Emmy Award and a Peabody Award.
In January of this year, while vacationing in Antigua and Barbuda, he witnessed Antigua and Barbuda’s youth storytelling talent during a school workshop visit and engaged with other creatives on the island. As a result, he has partnered with the ABTA-Toronto Office to launch the Cinematic Connections project.
“My time in Antigua and Barbuda inspired and excited me about the opportunity to collaborate with young artists and the creative community at large,” says Gill Bellows. “This is a first step to what we hope will be an ongoing and burgeoning relationship between Canadian artists and those who reside in these islands.”
“Antigua and Barbuda is home to so much untapped talent, and our young people continue to prove just how remarkable their creativity is. This project gives them a platform to share their stories in meaningful ways, allowing others to connect with our culture through their voices,” says Tameka Wharton, Director of Tourism, Canada Region.
As Browne and Ward’s screenplay develops, the Cinematic Connections initiative will involve casting, film crew selection, and location scouting to bring the story to life as a short film. The finished product will then be submitted to film festivals regionally and around the globe, starting with Canada.