VETERAN film-maker Lennie Little-White premiered his latest production, It’s a Family Affair, at Carib 5 cinema in Cross Roads, St Andrew, on Tuesday.

The 93-minute-long feature film was an all-Jamaican production — from acting to post-production.

Little-White said It’s a Family Affair, which was shot over six days and had a post-production time of six weeks, was done in an effort to create a profitable family-oriented film.

“We did it in a whirlwind,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

He said he used the Nigerian model of making low-budget feature-length films.

“It is the work of the Nigerians that inspired me to make a new template for indigenous Jamaican productions that we can make here, complete here, and hopefully make a profit in the domestic market,” said Little-White.

“Last year when I announced this ambition to create low-budget films, the purists among us, the 4-K specialists, all told me I could not make a feature film with minimal amount of funds… I want us to grow. I know that it’s not perfect, but I want the young film-makers who are graduating from university and from other training institutions to use this template as something that they could follow and make films locally, and something that can employ Jamaicans, that go on Jamaican screens, and put a little money in their pockets before they try and show the diaspora,” he continued.

It’s A Family Affair tells the story of Winston Chambers (played by Ian “Ity” Ellis), an overworked and underpaid policeman who dreams of picking all nine winners on the racehorse circuit to make life better for himself and wife, Bertha (played by Dahlia Harris). When this dream comes true, the couple invite their family members from New York and London for an all-expenses-paid trip to Melia Braco Village to witness the renewal of their vows. Needless to say, there is much drama when the family comes together, which makes for a humorous and entertaining watch.

The cast members include Emprezz Golding, Bertina Macaulay, Brian Brown, Tony Hendricks, and a special guest appearance by Leonie Forbes.

After its run in the cinemas, the film will embark on an all-island tour to bring it to small towns, according to the director.

Little-White said, so far, he’s been receiving good reviews on the flick.

“Going into [the premiere], I was a bit nervous. You know when you cook food at home and people are coming over and you’re not sure they’re going to like it. You just want to see their plate clean. And based on who I spoke to after the show, it was all positive feedback,” he said.

Proceeds from the premiere went to the Jamaica Cancer Society.

Little-White is an executive producer of the popular television series Royal Palm Estate and its offshoot The Blackburns of Royal Palm Estate. He is the director of the films Children of Babylon (1978) and Glory to Gloriana (2006).