My name is Shea Best and I’m the technical operations director of the Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival that opens tomorrow.
I grew up in Arima and still live there but I consider myself to be “from” Tunapuna/St Augustine. My primary school, Windsor Pre-Secondary School, no longer exists. Secondary was NorthGate College and undergrad, UWI, St Augustine. All three are in a one-street radius from each other.
I don’t believe in religion in its definitive sense because I firmly believe we are continually growing and maturing physically and spiritually. I believe in an interpersonal relationship with my God and in living by strong principles and standing by them regardless of outcome. If you have to put it into the box of definition, I guess you can say I’m Christian. I do believe in an afterlife but my morals and values aren’t guided by the reward of heaven.
I fell in love with Michael Jackson’s music in 2002 at age nine and really got into his discography and history, especially since most of his best work was done before I was born. I begged my parents to see MJ’s This is It tour. Finally convinced them and started booking tickets and then he died. It was devastating.
Stick to your guns. And, if your barrels are empty, go down in a blaze of glory.
My ideal weekend off would be in the Forest of Kyoto, near a waterfall, with loved ones. But a beach house with my buds and good vibes will more than suffice.
I am a filmmaker and love any movie that’s masterfully crafted, whether through directing, performance, cinematography, writing, sound or a combination of all. But my favourite genre is War/Action. I would say Spielberg is my favourite director, but that’s because of Saving Private Ryan. Coppola would be the strongest contender for me, the Godfather Trilogy, Apocalypse Now and Dracula. Locally I’d say Yao Ramesar.
With regards to my day job, I volunteered as an intern for ttff12 and worked my way up to the managerial position. Basically anything that goes up on a screen, whether movie, presentation or slideshow, has to come through the technical department. Tasks include downloading, converting, sorting, managing and figuring the most efficient methods of output with available resources. I have to go to each venue to do an examination to know the limitations and then, alongside the programming committee, liaise with filmmakers on the format in which their films should be presented or convert them to suit hardware and software requirements, though I prefer not to interfere with filmmakers formats.
My team includes myself, overseeing all operations daily, two projectionists at MovieTowne, one in Little Carib theatre and one technical assistant/rover. Operations aren’t limited to the theatres but all venues. Each projectionist is responsible for collecting film from me and doing a double test. This involves quick troubleshooting [and perhaps implementing] backup systems; if the problem goes beyond their capabilities I have to rush to the venue; which rarely happens.
When I leave T&T, I remember the world isn’t on our level, where a Muslim, Hindu, Orisha, Christian, atheist and Buddhist can understand each other, have a couple doubles and be friends. Last time I left the country, people from Pakistan were taken aback that I understood East Indian culture. Some Israeli girls and a Pakistani girl had conflict, where I had to intervene and speak to all of them in the same room. Trinis are generally tolerant and accepting and, if it’s not the universal language of LOVE that resonates amongst most if not all Trinis, then it must be the universal or mostly Trini language of LIME.
The best thing about my job is the flexibility in working hours. The worst is when the moving parts of the festival engine don’t function in the best way possible. But in most cases, we still function and the public hardly ever sees the smoke…with the occasional flame.
A Trini is everything! You could be half-Black, half-Indian, half-Chinee, half-White (yes all those halves), love curry, love to lime, the best host, the best vibes, the best and worst everything and, like salt, we are everywhere! I guarantee there’s a Trini in North Korea liming with Kim Jong Un right now.
I don’t need to work here but, when I wanna vibe and chill. Trinidad and Tobago is the best place to be.
• Read a longer version of this feature at www.BCRaw.com
