Good Vybz and red carpet - Cornelius Grant brings Hollywood flair to Jamaican movie première

Actor-turned-director Cornelius Grant brought pure cinematic magic to The Summit last Friday night with the premiere of his first official film productions under Good Vybz Entertainment.

The evening featured a power-packed "three films in one night" format-- Everything Gone Wrong, THE L.O.V.E, and Trance--serving up a heady mix of suspense, drama, and romance.

Determined to give his cast and audience a red-carpet-worthy experience, Grant spared no detail. From a glamorous photo backdrop and 360 photo booths to the buzz of camera flashes and excited chatter, it was clear--this wasn't your typical local movie night.

"Being at the Bob Marley movie premiere and getting that Hollywood experience was supm that mi always waah duh, suh I just did it. I wish I had got a full house for each show but mi satisfy wid wah mi get," Grant told THE STAR.

But it wasn't just glitz and glamour. Grant flexed his technical skills, especially with the suspense-packed short film Everything Gone Wrong, in which he showcased ADR (Audio Digital Recording) to elevate sound quality and train local talent in international-grade film techniques.

"...This was to give aspiring and even established talents a chance to experience what it's like to literally engage in this technique through acting; suh if dem even nuh get the opportunity fi go star in a Paramount [Pictures] film or an international experience, they'll get the chance to say 'I brought that experience to them locally,' even though it was on a local scale with much simpler equipment," he said proudly.

With a cast brimming with Jamaican star power, the night had an extra buzz. Dancehall names like Gaza Sheba (making her acting debut), Pamputtae, Razor B, and 'Magnum Queen' Suspense were among the entertainers showing off their acting chops. They were joined by veteran talents like Justin Awn--known for his role in Royal Palm Estate--who took the lead in Trance, alongside comic legend Joshua 'Brother Desmond' Tomlin and emerging stars Chantel Cooper, Stacey Ann Maxwell, Neil 'Stanhype' Wallace, Stephan 'Babyice' Ledgister, and Donovan Facey.

"This is definitely a success from where I've started to where I am right now... and it's a good feeling," Grant reflected.

He praised students from the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts for their behind-the-scenes brilliance.

"The theatre/film industry don't get that strong support locally suh any support wi get, wi affi give thanks...," said Grant, admitting that he was in awe watching the reactions of persons to the offerings.

'A bawl mi waah bawl when mi see dem reactions and get di feedback but mi jus hold it," he shared.

"This support is very vital because you are helping to build a foundation that is also gonna be something great for Jamaica like music and sports."

Actor Justin Awn described the work as "well-produced," applauding Grant's vision and the raw talent of the Jamaican cast.

"Jamaica is full of creative, very talented people...We just need to market, advertise and promote in order to help them to grow because at one point I was in their shoe..." said Awn, whose resume includes roles in Law & Order: SVU and Blue Bloods.

"We definitely need more investment," he added, while calling for a better structured system to push local films to the global stage.

Akeria Gardner, known for her role in Chronixx's Skankin' Sweet music video, attended the event as part of the media team but couldn't hide her excitement.

"The productions here tonight were very interesting to watch - there was a lot of excitement around the Trance movie but my favourite was THE L.O.V.E," she said.