Local film director Ras Kassa. - contributedAN INTERNATIONAL WINDOW has opened up for local film director Ras Kassa.
The director, who has worked on several of our more popular music videos, told THE STAR that he has signed contracts with agents in the United States who will act as scouts for projects on which he will work.
The agents, he said, were people with whom he has worked in the past and who were familiar with his capabilities. "These are people who have been in the business for a while and who know companies, know people, and can make things happen," he stated.
"It's been roughly a month now since we have been in dialogue. I sent them some of my favourite videos and they chose some to make a showreel. They will use these to send to companies like Rockefeller etc. who can look at my work."
Ras Kassa, along with Kevin Lee and a closely knit team, have worked on scores of music videos and several other video projects, shooting both with film and digital video.
Among the earlier music videos he has worked on are Traffic Blocking by General Degree, TOK Medley by TOK, I Go Crazy by Yogie, and more recently Harder Dayz by Julian Marley, Girls Gone Wild by Assassin, and Dude by Beenie Man and Miss Thing.
Door opened
With the possibility of a Jamaican music video director working on multiple projects in the U.S., some feel this will create opportunities for other directors and producers.
"Definitely a door has been opened up, but it can only come with your work," cautioned Kassa. "People have to see the quality of the work before they use you. Yes a door has been opened up but we have to pressure ourselves to match [produce] in quality stuff...What will make your work good is your ideas. Try to come up with good and different ideas. That is what people will sign you for."
According to Kassa, in order to take the film business in Jamaica up another level, local players have to step to the plate with fresh and innovative ways of doing things.
"We got this business from our elders at a certain level, but we need to move it up another notch. This can't happen just so, you have to have a certain amount of mind power. You can have all the money in the world but it takes a certain amount of mind power."
He added that he has completed the script for his first short film, and has already started working on the script for a full length feature movie.
