Author: Andrea Leland

Blackfish June 3, 2014 / 7:30 pm St. John School of the Arts, Cruz Bay  Gabriela Cowperthwaite, Director and Co-Writer| 2013 | 83 min. Many of us have experienced the excitement and awe of watching 8,000 pound orcas, or “killer whales,” soar out of the water and fly through the air at sea parks, as if in perfect harmony with their trainers. Yet this mighty black and white mammal has many sides – a majestic, friendly giant, seemingly eager to take trainers for a ride around the pool, yet shockingly – and unpredictably – able to turn on them at a moment’s notice.  BLACKFISH unravels the complexities of this dichotomy, employing the story of notorious performing whale Tilikum, who – unlike any orca in the wild – has taken the lives of several people while in captivity. So what went wrong? Shocking footage and riveting interviews with trainers and experts manifest the orca’s extraordinary nature, the species’ cruel treatment in captivity over the last four decades and the growing disillusionment of workers who were misled and endangered by the highly profitable sea-park industry. This emotionally wrenching, tautly structured story challenges us to consider our relationship to nature and reveals how little we humans truly know about these highly intelligent, and surprisingly sentient, fellow mammals that we only think we can control.

One Lucky Elephant May 6, 2014 / 7:30 pm St. John School of the Arts, Cruz Bay  Lisa Leeman, Director and Co-Writer| 2010 | 84 min. Ten years in the making, ONE LUCKY ELEPHANT follows the poignant journey of circus producer David Balding as he tries to find a nurturing and permanent home for Flora, the 18-year-old African elephant that he rescued as an infant, raised as his “daughter” and made the star of his circus. David’s love for Flora is put to the ultimate test when he realizes he made a terrible mistake keeping her as a solo elephant, and decides to retire her from the circus after 17 years of performing. Knowing Flora will outlive him, and with his health and finances becoming an issue, David sets off on a quest to find a home for Flora can live freely with other elephants. This complicated task begins with Flora’s final circus performance in St. Louis and takes us on an emotional trek across America, then to Africa and back. We follow David’s journey as he discovers just how difficult it is to find a proper home for an elephant in a world that reveres these animals for their majesty yet slaughters them for their ivory, adores them as cuddly Dumbos yet brands them “rampaging creatures”. ONE LUCKY ELEPHANT raises critical issues about the well-being and future of the hundreds of thousands of endangered and exotic animals kept in captivity, the over development and destruction of their natural habitats, our intense and often damaging relationship with wild animals, and how all these issues have impacted the life of one very lucky elephant.  

Yurumein: Homeland Andrea Leland, of St John Film shares her 2013 documentary April 1, 2014 / 7:30 pm St. John School of the Arts, Cruz Bay Yurumein: Homeland Andrea Leland | 2013 | 50 min. The Caribs of St. Vincent, a new documentary from independent filmmaker Andrea Leland, recounts the painful past of the Carib people on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent – their extermination at the hands of the British, the decimation of their culture on the island, and the exile of survivors to Central America. But the Carib story does not end there.. The film also captures the powerful moment of homecoming for descendants of the St. Vincent Caribs, when members of the National Garifuna Folkloric Ballet from Honduras makes an official pilgrimage (organized by both governments) to St. Vincent. The trauma and painful dislocation that the returning Garifuna dancers experience, especially when they visit Balliceux (the site where over 3,000 Caribs were massacred in 1793), becomes a celebration of reunification, and incites the beginnings of a movement among Garifuna people to revitalize their traditional language, music, dance, and rituals. As Garifuna from around the world come together to remember and celebrate the lives and resilience of their shared ancestors, they also begin to discover possibility and hope for the future of Garifuna culture and community. In 2001, UNESCO (United National Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization) awarded the Garifuna community the title: “Proclamation of Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.” YURUMEIN includes a SURROUND SOUND soundtrack with Garifuna music by Andy Palacio and Rhodee Castillo and additional music by Abuza from St. Vincent & the Grenadines. Andrea Leland is an artist and independent filmmaker. She has produced and directed a number of award winning documentaries focusing on Caribbean and Latin American cultures. Her filmmaking experience covers a span of over twenty years.  In 1998 Ms. Leland co-founded and co-directed REELTIME, a monthly screening series in Evanston Illinois (www.reeltimeevanston.org). Currently Ms. Leland spends most of her time in the Virgin Islands   For additional information about Ms. Leland, see www.andrealeland.com.

Las Carpetas (The Files) Maite Rivera Carbonell, Visiting Filmmaker March 4, 2014 / 7:30 pm St. John School of the Arts, Cruz Bay Las Carpetas (The Files) Maite Rivera Carbonell | 2011 | 75 min.  Color Documentary, Country: Puerto Rico & Spain, Language: Spanish with English Subtitles Puerto Rico’s secret police, supported by the FBI, spied and persecuted those who disagreed with the government for decades. All collected information was classified in archives known as “the files”. An entire network was set up so that this “subversives”, were denied certain jobs through which they could exert some influence or authority (police, university, journalism). On the jobs they were hounded till they resigned. Many citizens had to emigrate since they could not find jobs in Puerto Rico. In some families they even followed the children. When the existence of the files became known in 1987, the practice known as “the carpeteo” was declared unconstitutional. It wasn’t until 1992 that 15 thousand files were officially returned to the persecuted citizens, opening a Pandora’s Box of painful memories. At present, we have Pupa, Miguel, Ismael and Norma. None of them is a political leader. They are ordinary citizens, workers, and heads of household. All were persecuted for defending causes that ran counter to the interests of the government. Through their testimony the public will see the humane side of a political story that will expose the extent of this persecution on families, workers, professionals and students. Through their personal stories, the documentary exposes a collective history. Maite Rivera Carbonell is a renowned Puerto Rican sound editor. She is a two-times winner of the Goya Award for Best Sound for her work in the feature films The Others by Alejandro Amenábar and Tres Días by Javier Gutiérrez.  Writer and director of the short film La Nota Final, which has won international awards. She graduated from the International Film and Television School (EICTV) in Cuba, where she annually works as advisor.        

The Rican-ing of White Boy Jeff Rodriquez, Visiting Filmmaker February 4, 2014 / 7:30 pm St. John School of the Arts, Cruz Bay Rican-ing of White Boy Paul Louis | 2012 | 56 min. What happens when a 47  year old paternally adopted Schmuck from Queens, NY , sets out for the first time to meet his long lost Puerto Rican family, after being raised by a tribe of white people?  Actor/writer, Paul Louis (Gonzalez) comically documents his journey, with no short supply of anxiety, culture  shock, religious jokes, and a surprisingly touching lessened learned on family, and the bond which connects us. “The Rican-ing of White Boy” won the Audience Choice Award at the 2013 Rincon International Film Festival – thanks in no small part to cinematographer and supporting actor, Jeff Rodriguez.  Jeff is part of the dynamic duo behind the production of the award-winning comic documentary shot on location in Rincon, Puerto Rico.  Jeff also lent his effortless comedic persona to the film as he made his screen acting debut and played comic sidekick to the film’s star and director, Paul Louis. Produced, Directed & Edited by Paul Louis. Filmed by Jeff Rodriguez & Paul Louis. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Jeff Rodriquez  was born in NYC on October 1964 to Puerto Rican parents who had emigrated to the states at an early age. Jeff had the complete opposite experience as Paul growing up because his family moved from Manhattan to Massapequa Park, Long Island when he was just 5 years old. He grew up in suburbia where most of his friends were Irish, Italian or Jewish. Although both Paul & Jeff had a different upbringing, they both were minorities in their own neighborhoods.  He now lives between Amityville, NY and Rincon, Puerto Rico and is a property manager in Rincon.  Jeff’s life experiences have taught him to enjoy the present to the fullest, be grateful for what you have and most of all Live, Love, & most of all Laugh.