Xenophobia is a growing problem in the Caribbean society. Diaries explores women in

the Caribbean society, as well as Xenophobia and how it affects them. Over the years women

have always been considered second class citizens. Although times are changing we only see a

few women being able to climb ladders and move boundaries in the Caribbean. We still see a

higher concentration of women living under the poverty line. Women come from many

different islands to seek better opportunities; however, they are discriminated against and

subjected to violence. A group of immigrants in particular, Guyanese, suffer the most when

they enter Barbados.

If the Caribbean is looking to become one integrated unit we have to behave as one unit.

By discriminating against each other and carrying on selfishly we will never get there. I think it

is important to continue this discussion which Annalee Davis began in “On the Map.” She

brings up the discussion in her documentary about Xenophobia in Barbados and how it disables

the mobilization of an integrated Caribbean.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

DIRECTOR SATYA COLLYMORE

With aspirations to become a Caribbean filmmaker/producer, capable of capturing the Caribbean with an organic aesthetic, Ms. Satya Collymore has nurtured this dream from her inception of interest in the arts. She was first thrust into this world by her father, a lecturer of visual arts at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus. This introduction was further nurtured as she took up ballet which served as an outlet for her natural inclination for artistic expressions.

Her interests were spurred into many other arenas of art as she excelled in endeavors taken up in this area, particularly in visual arts where she maintained and acquired highest commendations in her IGCSE (equivalent to O’ Levels) exams. Rather than diminishing, that intrinsic desire to work with the arts expanding into theatre and moved eventually into what she considers as her niche – film.

Ms. Collymore has recently completed her BA in creative arts at the Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination in 2013 an is now pursuing her MA in creative arts entrepreneurship. Although all the areas available as study opportunities at the centre interested her - and she did dapple in the three areas, markedly theatre, dance and film – she eventually settled into film. Ms. Collymore saw in film that ability to channel every art form that she has dappled in from childhood, working through, adapting, manipulating and drawing inspiration from them as she learned to develop her own sense of this genre of art. Her fascination with this medium lies in telling a story that can be evocative and compelling with the capability of effecting change on a wider scale.

Her hope in years to come is to be a viable force as a contributor to the nurturing of the currently slowly developing Caribbean film industry. Her stance is such that the vibrance of the Caribbean should be portrayed within films with their own unique language, developing an aesthetic that is notably specific to the region. She continues, through her films to challenge the status quo as she moves towards her vision.

BIOGRAPHIES

CINEMATOGRAPHER/EDITORJASON RUSSELL

A Graduate of Full Sail University in Florida, Jason Russell has served in a variety of positions, from a Production Coordinator on

one of Barbados’ first feature film Sweet Bottom to working as a Production Intern at WKMG Local 6, a CBS affiliate. In 2008 he served as a Technical Coordinator for CMC’s coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Recently, Mr. Russell has been working in different capacities on documentaries. Fantasy Shot (2011), an iRebel Production where he served as a Creative Director, Camera Operator and Editor on n-ID (National Identity) (2012), one part of the recently concluded Youth-IN Communications workshop which was a joint partnership amongst the Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination, United Nations Development Program, The Italian Government and RAI3 Italian television.

At present he employed as a Technical Officer/Equipment Manager at the UWI’s, EBCCI.

CREW

SECOND C.O/MAKE-UP ARTIST

LIA GAJADHA

Lia was born on 21 July 1983, a Barbadian through and through. A past student of The Lodge School she was introduced to the Fashion world at the age of 13. Lia began in the intense pageant industry and made a

name for herself, having won numerous awards outside of Barbados and capturing 2 titles on home soil. In 2003, then a second year student of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave hill Campus, doing a psychology major, Lia made a decision that would definitely define her character to many people. Lia enrolled at the Complexions International School of Make-up in Toronto Canada; where she studied Fashion, Film, TV, Photography, Special Effects and Prosthetics.

Since her return to Barbados Lia has earned herself the title of The Make-up Artist , emphasis on Artist, to work with in Barbados. Her creativity has not been limited to fashion publications even though they are very few where you won’t find her work, she has worked locally on several Barbadian films including Russell Watson’s ‘A Hand Full Of Dirt’ and Professor Gladstone Yearwood’s ‘Sweet Bottom’. She’s worked with Trinidadian Soca superstar Machel Montano on his hit video ‘Jumbie’, Patrice Roberts Trinidadian road march winner and rising mega star, Brick and Lace, Etana, she was the brains behind the revamped image of Bajan Soca Queen, Alison Hinds and remains the make-up artist of choice to Universal recording artist Shontelle Layne.

These days she can be found at the Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination (EBCCI) developing her artistic expression. In 2012 she took part in the innovative Youth IN workshop a collaboration with UNDP the Italian Government and the EBCCI and got the opportunity to travel o Rome with the workshop.

To date she had worked on three documentaries and is in the process of producing a pilot for a commercial series filling various rolls; production manager, camera operator, editor and journalist.

Lia Gajadhar key makeup artist and filmmaker.

LEAD ACTRESS Nikita Akasha Kunar (Alicia)

Nikita Akasha Kunar was born within, the beautiful island of Barbados January 8th 1993.With a great love for the arts and the sciences, it could be said to be, not a normal combination. However Nikita has married her love for the arts and the sciences

with her passion and drive to be successful in them both.Within the arts field Nikita always wanted to work in the music industry, after writing her first song at age of seven. In 2011 Nikita decided to take a big step and audition for the female talent show case known as Honey Jam Barbados. Which was a way to get her feet wet, in the world of performing, being her fist big performance outside of church. Honey Jam was a great stepping stone to finding herself as the artist Akasha Kunar. Since Honey Jam Akasha has played a star role within a short film “Girl’s Tea Party” written and directed by Annette A. Allenye .In addition she wrote and sang her song entitled “Amazing” produced by Jimmi Senya Haynes with Minim as sound engineer. She has also released her first single “So Right” and is moving on to other projects with a music video on the way and new musicAkasha has modeled for the band fantasy, and now to date, has had, the opportunity to model for Bajan designer Kesia Estwick for her “Kiss + Girl” clothing line and Cassandra Mottley swimwear line. When Akasha is not in the studio, acting, modeling or song writing, she is at UWI pursuing a Bachelor degree in Biochemistry. Akasha Kunar is a fun loving, hardworking individual, with a passion to help others and the environment. Akasha Kunar has started her journey to fulfilling her dreams and with hard work and sticking at it, she knows she can achieve all she puts her mind to.https://www.facebook.com/AkashaKunar

CAST

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

JERELLE AURELIA JOSEPH(Makeeba)

Jerelle Aurelia Joseph was born on April 7th 1989 in the beautiful island of Dominica. Growing up she was a very

active individual; competing in several sporting activities, namely netball,

basketball and football, both locally and regionally. 

Jerelle has been a straight A student all her life. Last year she graduated from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus with a bachelor of science in chemistry

and mathematics (first class honours) and was selected to deliver the valedictorian

address. Her passion for theatre and the stage has been a lifelong one. From a young age she took part in numerous pageants and plays at school. She represented her country in

the regional secondary schools arts festival and captured a best actress award. She is also

one of the characters in the upcoming film “Sweet Bottom” directed by Professor Gladstone Yearwood. To date her favourite stage piece, a monologue called “Will you

remember Haiti?” is tribute to the people who lost their lives in the 2010 earthquake in

Haiti. Her life so far can be characterised by great success in the midst of great tragedy.

For despite having distinguished academic accomplishments, she has suffered great losses – losing both parents in January and December of 2011. They remain her greatest source of motivation.

She is currently an MPhil graduate student conducting research in the field of computational and theoretical chemistry at UWI- Cave Hill. She loves music, nature and

photography.

Kim Weekes(Mrs. Nelson)

An aspiring Filmmaker/ Director with

an interest in Documentaries as a result

of being a part of a training course at

the International School of Film and

Television EICTV, Cuba, a Graduate

with a BFA in Creative Arts at the

Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Arts,

UWI Cave Hill, Kim made a decision

that would change her life forever, she

took an introductory acting class which

peeked her interest and which led to her enrolling in the Acting for stage and Screen Class since

she believed it would assist her with knowing how to motivate her actors as a director, but also

because she was bitten by the acting bug. Having participated in number of theatrical

performances since taking a step towards the stage, the first as Ashby a slave in the production

“Passages” for Research Day UWI Cave Hill, directed by Miss Sonia Williams, also as Sandra a

lesbian mother who pimps her daughter out, She in the play “Pretty Daughta”, written by Mathew

Murrell and Directed by Levi King for the Tallawah theatre competition in November 2010, held

annually at Mona Campus. Kim walked away with the Best Actress Award for her debut

performance. She also played as Na Na in the play “Windchimes of the Labryrinth” written and

directed by Keisha Griffith, Madam in “Looking Back at Sodom” Directed by Winston Farrell,

“The Angry Black Boy Tantrums and “Demons in Me” by Matthew Murrell and most recently in

the short film “Diaries of an Immigrant” Directed by Satya Collymore. Kim is eagerly looking

forward to gracing the stage or the screen with her presence for many more performances to

come.

CAROLYN BRATHWAITE(Susan)Carolyn is currently holding a B.A in Fine Arts from the University of West Indies with a major in Dance and a minor

in Theatre. She has been a dancer for the past 32 years since she started at the age of 7 with “The Country Theatre Workshop”. She also started modelling at the age of 14 and continued some

freelance modelling in New York. During this time, she won the Ms. Barbados /U.S.A title in 1994.

On her return to Barbados in 1997 she continued modelling and entered the

“Roots Experience show” and claimed victory in 1998. She also represented

Barbados in the “Ms. Carnival” show in St. Vincent in that same year and in each show, her winning talent has been dance.

Her acting career began during her studies at UWI EBCCI under the guidance and

lecturing of Ms. Sonia Williams, one of her mentors. Her knowledge of stage presence allowed her to produce confidence during performance, but there was/is still a lot she had to learn when it came to being a good actress.

Since she graduated with second class honours (upper division) from UWI, Carolyn has been acting for current students presenting their thesis and other productions.

Carolyn has danced with almost every aspiring dance group in Barbados and has choreographed multiple dances for crop over events and other annual showcases. Her preferred choice of genre is West African dance, afro Caribbean, Folk, Contemporary, Afro Jazz and Modern.

Toni-Ann Johnson(Hot Gyal Trani)Toni-Ann is a young actress who fell in love with theatre the first time she stepped foot on

stage and has never looked back

since. Her acting career began in

2003 when she first applied to

the Barbados Community

College where she completed

her Associate Degree. She has also developed a strong interest in film and is aspiring to be an

editor.

Toni-Ann has appeared in

productions such as "Rise up

My Children" playing the role of Tugce, "The Amen Corner"

as Sister Moore, "Precious", in the role of Ifie (the maid) and as Elmina and various other characters in "The It So Happened Suite". In addition to stage, she has also appeared on

the screen as Dr. Paula Mitchell in the 2010 series of "Secrets", and on National Geographic's "Locked up Abroad" as a prisoner. Toni-Ann has always had the desire to

become a part of the Laff-It-Off cast from as young as 10 years of age. She made her Laff-it-Off debut in 2008.

She thanks her mother Catherine Joseph-Ferdinand for supporting her throughout the years. She also extends a special "thank you" to Cecily Spencer-Cross for giving her the opportunity to live her dream and for all those who have believed in her.

PRODUCTION STILLS

SYNOPSIS

Diaries of an Immigrant tells a story of a young Guyanese mother setting out to find a better life in Barbados. She is forced into a life of danger and vice when she can no longer see a way out. Although this is a life she never wanted, she must for the sake of her family.

CONTACTS & SOCIAL MEDIA

Satya Marie Collymoresatycollymore@gmail.com +1(246) 232-6731

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diariesofanimmigrant

Lead actress Nikita Akasha Kunar: https://www.facebook.com/AkashaKunar

CaribbeanTales: http://caribbeantales-events.com https://www.facebook.com/caribbeantales?fref=ts

SCREENING

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH, 9pm – HARBOURFRONT CENTRE

Please be advised that content maybe offensive to sensitive viewers.

MORE INFORMATION

A SUMMARY