Details:

Jamaica | 16 Mins | Narrative Short

Meet The Makers

Director, Writer, Producer: Tanya Taylor

Producer: Letitia Guillory

DOP: Ayana Baraka

Lead Actor: Kyvon Edwin

Director’s Bio: Tanya Taylor

A multifaceted Jamaican director who has produced over 400 hours of content during her 18-year career . 

At her core, she’s still the 5-year-old sitting on the terrazzo tiled floor, too close to the black and white television. Grinning as the station identifier cross dissolves into the Jamaican flag billowing in the wind to the national anthem. The beginning of transmission of the island’s only television channel. Her love affair with the escapism promised by the screen began then and has intensified over the decades. 

She made her transition to television after a three-year tenure in Advertising. That experience inspired her to get behind the camera and embark on directing commercials and long form content. 

In 2002, Tanya founded Anyhoo Productions, a boutique company that specialised in creating branded content from concept to completion. During her time overseeing Anyhoo, she co-created and directed the nine season kids' series the KFC Quiz Show and a DJ competition reality series, Heineken Green Synergy. She also produced and directed several other series including the international game show (Digicel’s) Deal or No Deal. 

In 2015, Tanya relocated to New York to continue developing diverse content for the global market. She continues to write, produce and direct in the Jamaican commercial world. With her work securing 7 Caribbean Addys and a Jamaican Chamber of Commerce award. 

In 2019 she wrote, directed and produced her first independent narrative short, WINSTON. Garnering a nomination for best screenplay and 2 best actor awards for the titular character thus far. Tanya is currently developing the docu-fiction feature Jamaican Pride, and the docu-sketch series How to be Jamaican.

Directors Statement 

Jamaicans are a proud group of people. Not to say other  nationalities aren’t. But Jamaicans take their swagger to a whole  other level. Jamaica has long been considered one of the most  homophobic societies in the western hemisphere.  

All my life I’ve been surrounded by a group of people that I never  knew had a label. I never saw it. Maybe because I didn’t care. 

I’ve realised that many have escaped their idyllic island home just  to save their lives. When they do, they become “their truest true  it’s true”. They thrive away from the stigma and shame associated  with homosexuality in Jamaica.  

Where, many have escaped to more accepting territories, some remain  on the island. And while not closeted, though they may have carved  a place for themselves in society, they still don’t live openly.  Never displaying affection in public for fear of prying eyes. Many  engaging in down low gay for pay relationships. 

In my Docu-fiction feature Jamaican Pride, I explore the impact  that the Jamaican homophobia continues to leave on our psyche using  interviews with LGBTQ Jamaicans and short narrative fiction pieces.  

Winston is one of the short narratives. Exploring what happens when  a gay for pay relationship goes wrong.