“Transcend” means to rise above or exceed normal limits, a definition that reflected the atmosphere at Caribbean Cinemas on Tuesday, April 28, during the premiere of “Transcend: Moonlight Mas: The Final Crew Clash.”
The short film follows competing crews racing to capture a flag at a secret location in Castries and finish with it by night’s end. Directed by Virgel “Director V” Joseph, the production supports promotion of the annual Transcend fete, scheduled for July 14.
The free event gathered members of the creative community, many of whom are qualified critics. Their nods of approval and applause signalled appreciation for the production.
The film was funny but not silly, serious but not stiff, making for a wonderful experience for all involved. It offered a glimpse into a budding film ecosystem in Saint Lucia and the wider Caribbean. Cast members included figures from the local entertainment fraternity who added acting credits to their résumés.
Sedale Simei, creator of the Deeper Than Soca brand, was a key contributor. He wrote the screenplay, starred as a crew leader, and serves as the Transcend event promoter. In a post-premiere interview, Sedale explained that the film was intended to enhance promotion of the annual event.
“We’ve taken a more cinematic approach when promoting our events. We’ve been doing it for the last three years, and this year we decided to really improve on the production quality and the magnitude of the production, and we decided to shoot a full mini-movie, which we premiered at Caribbean Cinemas…We didn’t want to promote our event in the regular way. So we definitely are a group that tries to push the envelope all the time.”
“Director V” said the creative vision behind the project inspired his willingness to collaborate and make it a reality.
“When the concept was brought to my attention through Sedale, I realised it was something I wanted to be a part of because I saw how exciting and engaging it would be. I figured with my creative skill set, I’d bring some value to it, so I decided to join the project.”
The movie will be released to the public in three parts on social media in the coming days.
