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‘Dawg wid too much massa sleep without suppa’.

That’s the Jamaican proverb the formed the inspiration for amateur film-makers Akeem White and Wesley Hylton top prize winning entry in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission’s (JCDC) FI WI Short Film Competition.

It’s a hilarious but instructive tale of how quickly a blessing can disappear when you try to please too many people.

Lesson learnt – if you’re thrown into new and exciting circumstances, think before you act.

The team’s film, titled Too Much Massa, took home the trophy and cash award, as well as sectional awards for Viewer’s Choice, Best Director, Best Story and Best Editing, with a cash prize of $15,000 for each category.

Best Cinematography and second place overall went to the film, Consequence, based on the proverb ‘Nuh hide yuh tick an lick a man’, by Naceve Blackstock. He won $100,000 plus an extra $15,000 for his sectional prize.

Third place was awarded to Bad Timing, based on the proverb ‘Hat needle bun tred’, which copped $60,000.

The nine finalists in the competition received gold medals with the top three getting trophies along with their cash prizes. The entries are available for viewing on the JCDC’s YouTube channel.

Speaking at a virtual presentation ceremony held on Thursday (September 2), Dr Lisa Tomlinson, adjudicator and lecturer at the University of the West Indies, Mona, praised the work of the finalists, stating that they were able to create quality pieces, despite budgetary and scheduling challenges, as well as the added difficulty of production during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Tomlinson, who assessed the completed films, said the entrants played multiple roles of writer, director, actor, even cinematographer.

” If you look around now in Jamaica and the Caribbean, there are film festivals, competitions and we now have access to training in films in the form of degree programmes at the UWI Mona campus.”

Dr Lisa Tomlinson, adjudicator and lecturer at the University of the West Indies, Mona

She said the competition is testament to the vibrant local film industry that continues to grow daily.

“This initiative is timely and a relevant addition to Jamaica’s growing film culture… . If you look around now in Jamaica and the Caribbean, there are film festivals, competitions and we now have access to training in films in the form of degree programmes at the UWI Mona campus,” she added.

She said the amateur filmmakers were linked with mentors who guided them along the production process of the films and that the judges were looking for authenticity, creativity, plot, characters, cinematography, direction, audio, theme, entertainment value and quality of production.

THe JCDC’s Drama and Theatre Arts Unit conceptualised the competition which was open to Jamaicans from 17 to 45 years old and who have never made a film or had a screenplay produced.

The entrants were required to examine one of five selected Jamaican proverbs and create a short film based on their interpretation.