By Andrew Clunis,
Freelance Writer
HAITIAN-BORN WYCLEF Jean is easily one of the most talented artistes to have emerged from the Caribbean. As the main force behind the super successful group the Fugees, he has created opportunities for people of the region by using his resources to expose the region's talents to mainstream markets.
Now he's making his film debut in Shotta, scenes of which are being shot in Jamaica.
Although this is his first film, Wyclef has acting experience. He appeared in several Broadway Productions in the early days of his career. He has been approached numerous times by the big wigs of Hollywood, but has never been interested in what they have to offer.
"It's always about the contract with them. It's not about the talent any more. That's one of the main reasons I am doing this flick because this is about us as Caribbean people," he said.
"The whole Caribbean is mine. I believe we are all from the same place and I got involved with this film because it's important to me. Here you have a young director coming up from the Caribbean trying to do his own thing and I am fully supportive of his efforts," he told The Gleaner.
Wyclef plays the character, Richie Effs.
"It's something of a cameo role and I want everybody to know that I'm not really a bad man... it's just acting. It's been an incredible experience working with all the guys on this film. Initially my job was just to ensure that the sound track is really tight and that the score was right. I want when people see this film they can feel the energy coming from the music. This soundtrack will be real epic stuff," he added.
Wyclef appears on a new song Dance For Me from Beres Hammond's latest CD Music Is Life. He said it was an honour working with the Jamaican singer.
"Beres is one of the greatest in the world," he said. He commented on the fact that Beres has not been able to make it in mainstream America.
"Mainstream is a weird division. It's pure politics," he told The Gleaner.
The talented artistes laid to rest rumours that the Fugees, which also features the superb talent of Lauryn Hill, had broken up.
"The Fugees still exists. It's just about the scheduling and as soon as time allows and God's willing we'll be doing more stuff," he told The Gleaner.
