Paula Lindo – Our histories, stories, present, future.

Queen of Soca producer Christopher Din Chong said he has envisioned as pan as an integral part of the upcoming movie Queen of Soca. He is pleased to welcome Methanol Holdings Trinidad Limited  (MHTL) Starlift as a strategic partner in the film.

Din Chong’s Forward Ever Foundation (FEF) held discussions with several steelbands and MHTL Starlift was selected after much deliberation. Din Chong said “MHTL responded positively to our vision. MHTL and FEF are excited to unveil the visionary projects in our planned approach which will not only highlight Caribbean content but also bring numerous benefits to the people of T&T. This provides an ideal vehicle for exposure/export of Caribbean culture internationally and for creating our own Caribbean genre.”

Queen of Soca is one of three films chosen to represent T&T and premiere at Carifesta 2019. Produced by Din Chong and written and directed by Kevin Adams, the film follows the story of Olivia, a girl down on her luck who uses soca as a means of lifting the family out of squalor, in defiance of her mother. It is a sequel to Adams’ 2012 short film No Soca, No Life.

MHTL CEO Dennis Patrick said there was no hesitation in saying yes to Din Chong when the band was offered the chance to be a part of Queen of Soca. “This ground-breaking film is a celebration of music and the best of Trinidad’s unique culture, and we are hugely excited for the opportunity for MHTL Starlift to be featured. Hopefully Queen of Soca will be a platform to bring T&T’s stories and our Caribbean culture to the rest of the world, and for MHTL Starlift to have a role in this is a wonderful opportunity for the band to showcase our local talent.”

He said MHTL sees its partnership with Starlift as an investment in social development through culture. “MHTL has a long and proud history of supporting initiatives to help raise the profile of pan around the world, such as when we sponsored the St Margaret’s Youth Steel Orchestra’s trip to Carnegie Hall when they were selected to perform at the 2015 New York Sounds of Summer International Music Festival. From Starlift’s early days under its first captain Jene Peter, to the leadership we are seeing from current captain Marius Caballero, this band has continued to welcome both young and seasoned players from all over Woodbrook and St James in an effort to create deft musicians and share a cultural craft across many generations.

Patrick said FEF does laudable work by “their ongoing initiatives at encouraging young persons in all aspects of filmmaking and providing them with the much-needed platform, mentoring and practical experiences to be able to grow and develop their skills. This is hugely important not only for the personal development of these budding young creatives, but because it represents an investment in T&T’s filmmaking skills bank. We are currently looking at different ways that MHTL Starlift can support this initiative, including using our Panyard as the venue for some of FEF’s workshops for the benefit of the young filmmakers and in broadening the range of creative opportunities available for our band members and our local community.”

He said “all of FEF’s efforts contribute to the development of the local film industry in T&T, which MHTL is fully supportive of, and which I see as an area of real potential for this country. It is one of the most promising avenues for the diversification of our economy – bringing employment opportunities and harnessing the skills and creativity of our people, as well as potentially providing a potential boost for foreign exchange earnings and placing T&T on the global map as a leading film production destination.”

Patrick said pan is an integral part of not only our local Trinbagonian culture, but also our national identity. “MHTL Starlift, over the last sixty years of its history and as a three-time Panorama Champion, has played an important role in the growth and development of this art form. As such, we feel a real sense of pride for the band and its members to be able to build on this historic legacy and take part in something as prestigious as CARIFESTA. I hope this opportunity will not only boost the confidence of the band, but also help to build the MHTL Starlift brand beyond our shores.”