Roots Archives Forum

Also disappointing how the 80s and later were skipped through in a few minutes, concentrating (bizarrely) on Soul II Soul. Should have had a good few minutes of Jah Shaka in action and Adrian Sherwood didn't get a mention. Good as far as it went, but...

Hi,

I would like to share my pleasure at watching the bb4 programme last Sunday eve on the Rocksteady revival concert held in Jamaica. I only got into this era,much later late 90's but the passion and feel of the artists is great. I loved seeing Derrick Morgan singing 'tougher than tough'. It was also very touching as you heard about life stories etc and families being uprooted due to job migration etc. Excellent series from the BBC.

On the Edinburgh footage, Was that Pama's Inner Mind Band playing with the Pioneers?
I couldn't make out what Judge Dread introduced them as, I heard Malaca or something?

Nice documentary IMO

I have the full link to show
I hope it is no problem to post it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdfvUohzY3g

blessed

Review - Reggae Britannia: Documentary & Concert BBC 11/02/11.
With the sad decline of general interest in reggae in the UK over the past 10-15 years and continued problems in the domestic industry, here was a rare and welcome opportunity to highlight this still vibrant and creative musical force and remind the wider public of its rich heritage on national TV. I've been moved to comment.

The documentary started well enough though it soon became apparent that the format was to be (the now well over-used) music-historiography. The programme narrates the development of UK reggae from its earliest beginnings as imported by the West Indian communities, through its growing popularity in general society, to its direct influence on the homegrown ska and urban genres that followed and centres around interviews with various reggae, ska and rock luminaries. Despite some great footage, the music is sometimes given too little opportunity to tell the story itself with a predictable over-emphasis on narration.

[read more](http://siamrootsical.blogspot.com/2011/ ... 10211.html)

@Karim: Are you referring to Rocksteady or Reggae Britannia? and did you say you watched this program in Jamaica?

In Reply to Joe, i agree with many of your commenst but in defense of Jerremy Marre, it is very difficult to please everyone. With this being a BBC production i don't think they set out to make a film just for us reggae fans but they wanted to make it appeal to the wider audience which is why i think they have included many of the mainstream artists. The last 3rd of the doc wasn't to my taste but the BBC probabbly give the director some guidelines and tell them that they must include artists that where in the charts and that the uk public will relate to.

You'll never find a 90min doc fit in everything, i think each genere needs it's own program although i agree it's a great shame that those great artists who have kept the reggae flame burning did not get a mention.

I hope that some of these comments on this thread inspire someone to make a film about UK reggae and include all those greats who where missed out.

I think if the film where made by Jerremy exactly how he wanted it then you would have seen some more artists included, remember his other great reggae films and he is a pioneer. He deserves great credit for his work with reggae and film. Beats of the Heart - Roots Rock Reggae was am amazing docuemntary that would have helped turn thousands of people onto Reggae music.

The only way we're going to see more films like this on TV is if the BBC get some good feedback from the reggae season so lets bare this in mind also and give thanks for what little coverage this genre gets. We will all be able to pick holes in any film we see and it's good to discuss this but at the same time all us reggae fans need to try to promote this kind of stuff being shown on TV by writing good reviews on the bbc website, write them a letter. If the bbc where to get 100 positive letters about that reggae season then i'm sure this would help to bring more.

Next year is the 50th Anniversary of Jamaican independance, if you remember the 40th Anniversary i think Channel 4(or bbc???) did the "I Love Jamaica" season and this was the biggest Jamaican/Reggae season the UK has ever seen on TV, so i'm hoping that the 50th Anniversary will prompt an even bigger and better season on TV so if anyone wants to help please write or email to the BBC, Channel 4 and ask them what they have planned for 2012.

great post bwoyrough, keeping it positive.

I've never been his biggest fan but yeh those camera phones, there are many film festivals taking entries of fils shot on camera phones! These days it's so easy for someone to go and make a film althought wouldn't reccomend using a camera phone! Those flip camera's are good tho. They are HD and size of a mobile phone.

I want one of those new Cannon EOS 5D Mk2, i think thats what u call them, they look just like a normal photo camera but have the technology inside of a 50 thousand dollar hollywood movie camera. Many people have shot full feature films on these tiny things, one of these latest US drama series was filmed entirely using one, i'm sure these things will revolutionize filming and make film making much more accessible to the average joe. About 2 grand a pop tho!

You get the idea tho for £2,000 you can get the technology to compare with the big boys and make a decent film with the right skills.

There's many more new reggae/rasta docs i've heard about being made right now,
One on yellowman, Eek-A-Mouse, Joe Higgs, Hugh Mundell, Leonard Howell, Peter Tosh, all in the pipeline....