By Theresa Goodwin
Trinidadian-born award-winning actress Rhoma Spencer is set to travel to Antigua from her Toronto base to celebrate with local production company HaMa Films at the upcoming premiere of their film Deep Blue.
The March 25 event also marks 30 years in film and television production for HaMa.
Spencer, who plays the character of Mama Sheba, says she is excited for the couple who she first met in 2011 when their fourth film The Skin premiered at the CaribbeanTales International Film Festival in Toronto.
Spencer said she is looking forward to attending the premiere of HaMa’s latest creation.
“Yes, I am in the movie but more than that it is about being present to celebrate 30 years of filmmaking in Antigua and Barbuda, 30 years of filmmaking from this side of the archipelago. To me that’s the piece de resistance,” she said.
The Trinidadian-Canadian actor, director, playwright, comedian and documentary filmmaker has a number of movies under her belt. As an actor she appeared in the award-winning Canadian movie, Scarborough (2021), the groundbreaking Canadian TV sitcom, Da Kink in My Hair for Global TV, and was also one of the pioneering actors in the popular Caribbean TV sitcom, Westwood Park, in the 1990s in Trinidad.
Her many theatre appearances as an actor, director and playwright span more than four decades and she isn’t about to retire.
Deep Blue tells the story of a marine biologist who clashes with a developer as she attempts to help a fishing community maintain their way of life.
It was written and directed by Howard Allen. Producer Mitzi Allen said just as compelling as the story is the music from Grammy Award-winning Maurice Gregory, formerly of Third World, and the score by musician and music producer Andrew Dorsett of Smilus.
Deep Blue also features songs from Antiguan artists Kiyode Erasto, Causion, and Vince McCoy. The latter two musicians also appear in the film.
Tickets for the premiere cost EC$150 and are available at Best of Books in St Mary’s Street, St John’s, or by calling 776-3339. The event is being held at the Bizjet-to-Yacht hangar in Coolidge.