This report from the Antigua Observer on the screening of Hush 2: End the Silence offers a glimpse into the Barbadian movie’s reception across the Caribbean region.
Screening of the award-winning Barbadian film everyone’s talking about, Hush 2-End the Silence, will begin showing at Deluxe Cinema today. The film, described as a riveting and suspenseful depiction of the reality of many of our Caribbean youth has been handpicked for viewing by the nation’s youth especially.
The movie deals with sexual abuse, drug abuse, and gang violence, among others. It has been endorsed by the Ministry of Education in Antigua and Deluxe has been secured as the venue for secondary school children to see the film, Marcia Weekes, writer and producer of the film told OBSERVER Entertainment.
“They will do that at 10 am and 1 pm each school day (beginning today),” she said.
Weekes and her husband Dave, who are on island promoting the film, co-own the company Step by Step Productions.
“Step by Step Productions has created three feature length movies to date, including Hush 2-End the Silence,” Weekes said. “The other two productions are Hush 1 and Hush 3-Twisted Innocence. Each of these action dramas, takes a look at some of the social issues revolving around the youth in our region and suggests solutions in ways which are exciting and appealing.”
Referring to today’s screenings of Hush 2, she said the message intended for the young viewers is, “One: if you’ve been sexually abused, it’s important that you speak up; speak to someone about it and seek help. Also, for those young people who might want to choose gangs, violence and drugs (the film) shows that it doesn’t work.”
Shot in Barbados, the second part of the sequel zeroes in on the lives of a 15-year-old girl and her 23-year-old boyfriend.
“As the producer of the film we wanted to get as many young people to see the film,” Weekes said. “We had shown it in Barbados … It showed in Jamaica as well and was endorsed by the ministries of education in both countries.
“We thought it would be a great idea to get it into as many Caribbean islands as possible. So we approached Antigua and the Ministry of Education and they watched it and thought that it was great for the children to see it and the entire Antigua, really.”
All Saints Secondary School students will be first to view the film this morning at Deluxe. Meantime, the permission slips seeking parents’ consent for the field trip to the movies continue to go out from the schools, which have been targeted by the Ministry of Education.
Following the screenings, there will be question and answer sessions facilitated by the film makers.
“And we have a special thing for our school children where we are saying to them that after you’ve seen the movie, we’re having an essay competition and the winner will get a free ticket to Barbados along with their chaperone to have a cameo appearance in the next film,” Weekes said. “We’re working with the Ministry of Education and details will come about that.”
The movie will be showing both to the students and to the general public at Deluxe up until April 3.
Part 1 of the Hush sequel has been airing on ABS TV, CTV and Karib Cable.
For the original report go to http://www.antiguaobserver.com/?p=56263
