“Be bold. Be beautiful. Be CaribBeing” is the motto for CaribBeing, an organization committed to the uplifting and empowerment of Caribbean culture and heritage through film and art. CaribBeing aims live up to its slogan by bringing the freshest Caribbean-based events to Brooklyn, particularly in the Flatbush community.
CaribBeing’s most recent event took place on Saturday Sept. 6, 2014 at the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush on the corner of Church and Flatbush Avenues. The itinerary for the evening was a demonstration by artist and painter Shakespeare Guirand from Haiti, a CaribBeing Pop-Up shop with T-shirt vendors, a photo booth with the organization’s resident photographer Tiana Woods, a cultural visual presentation by Jouvet performers Pagwah, and a screening for the feature film “Masquerade,” produced and directed in 1992 by Dalton Narine.
The film was a tribute to Peter Minshall during his time away at the Olympic Games. Minshall’s band decided to do a band portrayal called Barcelona with costumes done in the Olympic colors of Spain while in that country done in tribute of their absent band leader. At that same time, Wayne Barkley, Minshall’s band rival did a band portrayal called Titanic commemorating the history and tragedy of the doomed vessel. Wayne Barkley’s band ultimately won the title of best band that year. Much of movie records Carnival done on the streets and not on the judges stage. According to Narine, Carnival recorded on the streets with the dancing and singing was visually more sensual, raw and immediate.
CaribBeing has been doing this event at this location for the past three years. For Worrell, it is important to be in the heart of the community with culturally relevant programming that is truly and authentically Caribbean. Furthermore, the organization has a great relationship with the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush and they offered their venue to CaribBeing for indoor and outdoor events.
Looking forward into the Fall, Shelley Worrell wants to relaunch the Flatbush Film Festival in a venue that can serve the community. Also, there are plans of launching an online store because people have been asking about the merchandise seen at their events. CaribBeing is constantly looking for ways to evolve.
