THE call has gone out for members of Jamaica’s creative industries, particularly music and film, to band together in order to extract maximum benefits.

Film producer Darrin Holender, whose credits extend to the recently released feature-length documentary, RiseUp, notes that only with networking and lobbying of organisations such as the US-based Academy of Motion Picture, Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) which decides the winners of the yearly Oscars, and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) for the Grammy Awards, can there be any positive results for the country on the international stage.

Holender, who was recently in Jamaica for the local premiere of RiseUp, noted that the recent upsurgence in the local film industry is a good thing, but explains to the Sunday Observer, that based on the rules established by AMPAS, a Jamaican film can never win an Academy Award in the category of Best Foreign Language Film.

He explained that in researching RiseUp’s Oscar potential the producers were told that only foreign-language films can be nominated in that category, and English language films, such as RiseUp and other Jamaican films, can only compete in the Best Picture category.

“We argued that, for the most part, the characters (Jamaicans) in our film speak in a creole language, and that subtitles were necessary for every film festival we attended and even for our BBC broadcast version in the UK. To no avail, Jamaican Patois is considered by AMPAS to be English, despite the fact that no one in America would understand without subtitles,” Holender says.

“Even though it is not out of the realm of possibility for a Jamaican film to win Best Picture, this is going to be difficult considering that the category is filled with films that cost over $100M to make,” he adds.

The film producer points out that through lobby efforts, the local players can possibly get the Academy to view the local patois as a foreign language, especially since they insist on sub-titles, or broaden the category so that it becomes Best Foreign Film.

He also called on Jampro to get together with the filmmakers to form alliances with other countries which are faced with similar challenges, as there is strength in numbers.

Holender says the same extends to the Grammy Awards. He notes that voting helps in winning awards, and having greater visibility is always going to increase chances at these international awards, therefore, forming alliances is key.

Turning to his own film, he noted that it is his hope that RiseUp will breathe some fresh positive air into a Jamaican film culture. Music is a way of life in Jamaica, and Jamaica is diverse, so we feel that RiseUp successfully delivers both messages.