2001. Late evening, somewhere in London:

[me watching TV] "ah man, this is terrible!"

[dad sitting at his bureau with back to TV] "What's wrong son?"

"there's nothing good on TV"

"Okay...so why don't you just make the type of telly YOU want to watch" 

That was my dad. All about the common sense.  

Fast forward 5 years and I bought myself a video camera and never looked back. Problem was, by the time I made my first film, cancer had already called time on my dad's 51 years of existence and there was so much about his fascinating life before my birth I had yet to learn. 

The Story

'iD' will showcase Dominica’s history and beauty through my personal journey of self-discovery, as I visit my fathers' birthplace for the very first time to commemorate the 10th anniversary of his passing. My hope is that the documentary will educate and inspire young people to do something similar, whilst maintaining a cross-generational appeal.

As well as delving into my family history, I will explore the island’s natural landscape and social history; our team aim to have contributions from Dominican sports stars, musicians, historians and politicians. This film will discover the REAL Dominica and the people who create the culture of this beautiful island as I go about putting a small, uncelebrated country, firmly on the map.

 Roseau, Dominica

So where exactly is Dominica?

Good question. 

Okay...so where are you up to now?

Just to fill you in with where we're at currently, the lovely people at Invest Dominica and the East Caribbean airliner LIAT have jumped at the opportunity to become Official Supporters of 'iD' and have been helping us finalise interviewees and organise shot locations and permits.

However resources are limited and we need to raise funds in order to cover the logistics. Your donation will help cover the cost of flights, mainland transport, communication and kit hire. 

Wait...did you mean Dominican Republic?

Nope. Totally different place.

...and this is another reason why we can't wait to get this film out ;o)

The Team

Richard - Director/Writer

Everything I have learnt about film-making over those 5 years has brought me to a place where I feel ready to tackle a project on the scale of 'iD' as it takes me halfway across the world (4121.9 miles / 6633.6 km to be exact) to the birthplace of my father and extended family in the hope of making something truly moving for all watching. My team and I welcome you to be a part of something special. 

Ben - Assistant Director/Editor

Freelance media producer currently working with Pioneer DJ. Guitar and steel pan player in Nostalgia steel band. I love story-telling through film and all things West Indian!

Kelly - Producer

I have been working in television production for the last 8 years.  I work on documentaries, entertainment programmes and live shows for major broadcasters in the UK.  I have a special interest in arts, music and culture and I've worked on projects featuring some of the best British talent. 

Raphael - Design

Graphic Designer/ Brand Manager based in North London. I love nothing more than creating new and exciting designs to build and develop a person or brands' story. 

What we want to achieve

We aspire to make this film 45 minutes long. The genre is Factual Documentary. With your money, we want to add as much production value and quality as possible. We are going to be using a variety of top-end equipment and the end result should be one of professional standard.

So, where does all the money go?

A great deal of the money will go towards film equipment and transportation because in order to make a film about Dominica, we’ll need to see lots of Dominica and the mountainous terrain deserves to be tackled in order to show you guys the true beauty of Dominica.

We have the bare necessities but there are some small but expensive pieces that would go a long way towards making this thing the best it can be - specifically: 2 new lens, shoulder rig, a zacuto viewfinder and DSLR body with a sensor large enough to film content viewable in cinema.

Flights - Dominica is a very small country so there are no direct flights from the UK. We would have to fly to nearby Barbados and get a charter flight across.

Other costs include: Film permits.

Remember, no amount is too small and by supporting us you instantly become a BIG part of this project and we’d like to extend a huge thanks to you all!

Our Gift to you

This project really is a make or break if we don't get the money, so we are so thankful for everyone that chips in. So as a show of gratitude every single donation gets a reward. Yayy!!!

Risks and Challenges

Filmmaking is by nature a very difficult task, and to pull it off you need time, dedication, and experience. Fortunately for us we have an amazing team who are highly experienced and well-travelled, ensuring the film will be the best it can be for you and everyone involved.

We will be travelling to Dominica at a very busy time in their calendar with the World Creole Music Festival (which Bob Marley’s son Damien Marley is headlining) and National Day of Independence within days of each other, so the big challenge will be to capture as much of it all as possible. Funds raised for car hire will definitely help in this regard.