By: Fabian Ledgister, Staff Reporter

Left: Summerfest Productions' Robert Russell (left) speaks with Red Stripe's managing director Mark McKenzie at the launch of Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest 2006. - Winston Sill.   Right: Robert Russell (left) poses with deejay Elephant Man. - winston sill

Business Profile

He is a successful business-man and an astute events promoter, but the passion of Robert Russell will forever lie in film.

Born in 1948, a young Robert was raised in Kingston, Jamaica. Although he began his secondary education at Calabar High, he soon transferred to St. George's College, during which he was first introduced to the film industry.

"There was a film being made in the early '60s called Confessions, and myself and some cousins got passes to the film. We were given jobs as extras ... Seeing the whole art of filmmaking, I was fascinated, especially with the special effects," said Russell.

From there on, he began to pursue a career in film, and in the late '60s began working with a film production company called Vista Production Ltd. The company was then headed by prominent director/producer Perry Henzell.

Although his desires were set on feature film, Russell and the group began making commercials, making good business from these ventures. However, all agreed they wanted to make a feature film, and by the '70s the company began working on a film that, to this day, is arguably Jamaica's best film to date.

HARDER THEY COME

"Working with Perry Henzell, I was the assistant director for The Harder They Come ... I was basically responsible for finding locations and scouting talent for the film," outlined Russell.

The film, which went on to gross millions worldwide, was just the beginning for the young filmmaker, who, from his experience in this film, saw the immense potential Jamaica had for a vibrant film industry.

Although a filmmaker at heart, Russell was also a true business-man, and while he was filming the local blockbuster starring Jimmy Cliff, he was already running a real estate company on Duke Street.

When the movie was just about to be released, Russell moved to Ocho Rios, where he started the first all-inclusive hotel in Port Antonio, called Little Madness. After a few years, Russell moved to the cool western town of Mandeville. There he began the operation of multiple business entities, each of which garnered success in its own right.

Among other entities, Russell opened a nightclub called Tunnel 10, a jerk centre called 'The Den', a Chinese restaurant called Feeding Tree, and a newspaper called Central Express.

He spent approximately a decade in the Manchester town, where he also got married.

SUPER-STUDIO DENIED

By the mid '80s, Russell's true passion of film gave birth to a grand scheme that if instituted, would change the entertainment landscape in the island and the Caribbean.

Russell's dream for the island, with all it's natural surplus of pristine scenery and vivacious talent, was to establish the Caribbean's first major production and entertainment facility.

"This would have the Caribbean's first major studio including modern sound stages, hotels and which would not only attract a host of filmmakers, but investors and tourism as well ... because among other things, a casino would be included, the Government (Jamaica Labour Party was in power) decided against it," lamented Russell.

If this complex were instituted, Russell believes the country would have not only been better off economically, but would by now be a major player in the television and film industry. Despite this setback, Russell still managed to uplift his country, with yet another venture.

In the early '90s, after purchasing and developing the Pier 1 venue, he and other persons in the Montego Bay community became aware that they were about to lose the annual Reggae Sunsplash event, on which the second city's economy depended highly.

"A group of friends and associates got together and decided that the city's economy was geared toward the event, so when it was confirmed that there would be no Sunsplash in 1993, we decided to create our own," said Russell.

"Since then it has expanded to become the largest reggae festival in the world, attracting some 4,000 -5000 overseas visitors to Montego Bay yearly," he added.

Russell says although his passion for film has taken a 'back-burner' in all his business entities, a miraculous event took place that has now brought Russell back into the film industry.

"About two years after we did Harder They Come, my second movie with Perry was called No Place Like Home, but the negatives got misplaced, or so we thought," said Russell.

lost

It seemed, however, that the film had been sent to the offices of Chris Blackwell, who somehow did not get hold of it. The film was forgotten for more than 30 years, until about two years ago, it was found.

"It was found in Chris Blackwell's office, and is now scheduled to be released next month at the Toronto Film Festival on the 11th, 12th, and 15th ... Harder They Come will also be shown," said Russell.

Russell's simple yet sensible advice to anyone looking to enter the local film industry to work hard and get qualified.

"Get the proper training, set your goals, and pursue your dreams with all your heart. It may seem impossible, but just keep focused and remember there is no quick fix in film," said Russell.

Montego Bay businessman Robert Russell (right) shows off his culinary skills during the bird feast at the start of the bird shooting season. He is assisted by chief/cook of all social occasions, Lloyd Irving. The feast took place in Irwin, below Kirpatrick, in St. James. - Janet Silvera