‘Legends Revisited’ Connecting young people through creative history

For the director and creative advisor Joanne Haynes, Legends Revisited is her way of connecting with young people through what she calls creative history. Creative history has many dimensions - from the story itself and how it is told, to the teller and the receiver of the story.

“This idea of a creative history and connecting youth to it, through it and with it, began many years ago when I was a teacher. My first teaching appointment took me to Moruga Composite, where I was assigned to teach history. The nine SBAs required for history was daunting for me, far more for my students who saw very little, if any connection to the textbook and the reality of their lives,” Haynes said. “It was a challenge far beyond the skills of a new teacher, but it taught me that I was the type of teacher who wanted to inspire, not merely to teach, so I kept trying different things to bring some light into my students’ eyes.” One day, she said, she stumbled upon the power of storytelling in teaching as her students entertained her with their re-enactment of Columbus’ arrival, an annual event in Moruga.

“I saw that much desired light in their eyes. I recognised what this re-enactment meant to them as opposed to the chapter in the textbook, and I understood a people’s need to be connected to their history, if history is to be relevant to them,” Haynes said.

This lesson from Moruga is the core inspiration for all of Haynes’ other work under her company Pepperpot Productions. The film was a life-changing experience as it gave me insight to the processes involved in making films, but also exposed me to our cultural history that too often gets forgotten in today’s Trinbagonian society.

Just as the creative history presentation in Moruga, the young people involved in the film did more than acting in the movie. Rather, they were involved in making a movie.

The film features youths from seven educational institutions covering primary, secondary and tertiary.

Legends Revisited is a collection of stories which include those of Pepperpot’s short story competition winners, Lorissa George and O’Neil Lima Samlal. Just as significant is the film’s 99 percent youth cast. The other one percent is the seasoned Errol Fabien. In addition to acting, youths with other talents were given the opportunity to express themselves.

Among them were her 21-yearold son, Ka’en, who made his directing debut; writer, Javid Siddique Ali and musician turned actor, Chryston Floyd.

Ali, who was approached to write about Siewdass Sadhu and his determination to build the now famous Temple in the Sea, said the experience made him appreciate the value of creative freedom and education.

“Two things have stayed with me from the experience of making this film, the first is that when I did the research, I was really blown away by the amount of hardship endured to build this temple. It made me appreciate the man and his dream and our possibilities as one people,” said Ali. “The second thing, Ms Haynes did not limit my thinking and expression.

This film gave me the space to be free.” Floyd, who is a composer, performer and producer, said the film allowed him to expand his capabilities as an artist. In the role of Mr Memory, the young musician admitted it was the first time he listened to calypso.

“Certainly, my respect for calypso as a people’s history, or as a people’s creative history, as Ms Haynes says, is now permanent,” he said. “Growing up we hear soca at Carnival time, my generation hardly hears or listens to calypso unless our parents play it at home. For me it was just old-time music, but when I played Mr Memory, I came to understand the value of calypso in telling our stories.” Haynes said despite the ages of the cast and crew, she was pleased that they worked with a professional collective mindset that went a long way. “Long days, dozens of takes and months in post-production never diminished the interest of the cast and crew,” she said. “So often we hear older people criticise youth, but this experience shows that young people have fortitude and focus to see the job through and do it well. My dream is to one day direct films of my own, after finishing my law degree.” Legends Revisited: A Creative Documentary made its World Premiere at the prestigious Cannes Pan African Film Festival in April. The film is nominated for a People’s Choice Award at ttff Legends’ cast: Errol Fabien, Mikayla Almandoz, Chelsea John Williams, Deneille Guiseppi, Chryston Floyd, Javid Siddique Ali, Izayah Haynes, O’Neil Lima Samlal, Sarah Bullock, Cassandra Williams, Amit Stefan Raghunanan and Kavita Ramadhar.

For TTFF screening dates and all details on Legends Revisited: A Creative Documentary visit www.joannehaynestt.com