BackStory

In the fall of 2016, producer Cedric Scott approached me to direct his voice over (VO) narration for a feature documentary film about the legendary Sidney Poitier. Sidney would be turning 90 the following year and the Bahamian government wanted to honor and pay tribute to their native son with a blow-out event. Cedric’s vision was to combine documentary film + live performances by Bahamian singers, dancers and poets. Cedric knew Sidney well and wrote a beautiful script capturing Sidney's remarkable journey from son of poor tomato farmers to Oscar-winning actor, activist, and Hollywood icon.

Shortly after recording the VO narration, I was enlisted to direct the documentary, and flew to Nassau, Bahamas where I collaborated with the talented Bahamian-born director Maria Govan and editor Champ Robinson. Against a turquoise blue ocean backdrop, we worked around the clock, shooting, editing, and mixing. We delivered the film the night before – maybe even the day of (!)-  the event.  It’s all such a blur. The tribute was filmed and later nationally broadcast to great fanfare, as Sidney Poitier is a national hero.

Between the gorgeous beaches and fresh seafood, talented, kind Bahamian people and the “rake and scrape” bands performing Goombay, this was hands-down the most fun project I’ve worked on. It was an epic celebration honoring an epic man.