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Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM |
Actor, writer, filmmaker Moya Thompson, CEO of her own Production Company C2it Productions recently wrapped production on 8 shows for her family comedy series "It Takes A Village" which is set to air on Cable 12 in January 2013.
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TheBahamasWeekly.com has randomly selected 10 Bahamians to canvas their opinions on highlights of The Bahamas over
the year 2012, as well as ask about the upcoming 40th year of independence for The Bahamas, and the direction of the country.
It is our way of highlighting Bahamians in our community, as well as sharing a wide variety of opinions.
Our first feature is with actor, writer, filmmaker
Moya Thompson, CEO of her own Production Company C2it Productions.
1) What event/s do you feel was the most important for The Bahamas in 2012?
The Election (the actual event and not so much the outcome) was big. This year we had a third party running in every constituency and that was a huge historically.
The 4 x 400 Men's Relay team winning a Gold Medal at the Olympics was also an important milestone for not only athletes, but for the country as well.
2) Who passed away this year that you feel will be 'most missed' and why?
For me personally, I would probably say Pastor Mark Bethel. He was the praise team leader at Bahamas Faith Ministries (BFM), but he was also well known and respected in the Bahamian community at large. There was also the death of singer Terez Hepburn - that was major. Both were battling illnesses for some time.
3) Who was the 'most inspirational / influential Bahamian' in 2012 and why?
Perhaps I would have to say Branville McCartney, for stepping out on his own several years ago, standing up for what he believed in, then establishing and putting together his own Electoral Party. While they did not win any seats in this year's election, it takes a lot to make a move like that and follow it through.
4) 2013 is the country's 40th anniversary of Independence. What should we be most proud of in the past 40 years?
One of the things we should be most proud of is that we have our own College - The College Of The Bahamas (COB) - that is moving seamlessly to a University status with a good balance of national and international lecturers.
A lot of things have been done for us by foreign investors and outside sources that have resulted in changes and advancements to our infrastructure (communications, road works, Atlantis, Cable Beach, The Airport, Princess Margaret Hospital) but we should be proud primarily of things we have accomplished as a people to build our own selves up and establish our identity, while advancing the name of the country. I'm probably most proud of what Individual Bahamians have accomplished - we've won more Olympic Gold Medals in recent years which means we're getting better athletic training opportunities and worldwide attention, we have a National Youth Choir that is winning top international awards, and our own National Dance School. There's the fact that we have progressed from having only one radio/TV station to numerous radio stations and presently 3 TV stations. On the political front, we have had a female Deputy Prime Minister, and a female Governor General - which are significant steps for women in politics.
5) What/who do you feel is a Bahamian National Treasure and why?
Jackson Burnside was one - as an artist and sculpture he was also a pioneer in the world of Junkanoo - one of our nation's major cultural expressions (a national treasure in and of itself) . I think the Junkanoo world misses the talent he brought in terms of the caliber of the costumes he created.
6) Looking forward, where do you feel the country still needs to improve and why?
SO many places... But first and foremost is our legal system that needs some serious looking into. Our dependence on the Colonial system that we claim to be independent of makes absolutely no sense to me. On a personal note - I think we should also be further along in showing and investing in our own independent scripted television shows. Despite the fact that we have 3 television stations and tremendous talent here, we are still a nation of talk shows.
7) Is there an 'unsung hero' you feel should be recognize? If so, who and why?
I feel there are a lot of unsung heroes - Pauline Gibson to me has never been honored the way she should have been for the work she put into Track and Field. She has medalled more than perhaps any other Bahamian - with a bronze medal, a silver medal and two golds. If another athlete has a street named for them, then surely she should have her own street or sports' complex or something. Mr Cleophas Adderley does a lot to promote the Bahamas internationally through the Bahamas National Youth Choir and I feel that his work with the choir gets overlooked and the singers as well. Kayla Edwards (now deceased) was a trailblazer in Culture and Arts. And finally I would say Cecil Wallace Whitfield. I know he is featured on one of our bills but he is still by and large not truly recognized nationally. Sir Durward Knowles - is another great Bahamian hero who I feel should receive more recognition while he is still alive for the work he did as a sailor and since then - his work with charities and different organizations.
8) Do you have a Personal Highlight for 2012?
My personal highlight was finalizing the shooting of my Bahamian comedy series, "It Takes A Village". The challenge now is, although we have 3 television stations - none of them are interested in original Bahamian programs enough to invest into such programs, so the struggle continues in hustling to find sponsors. I am proud of the final product, seeing the completed episodes and in terms of what I was able to accomplish and to learn. I am proud of the talented team I was able to secure and work with. The entire process really began early in 2011 and so its been a 2 year project for me.
ABOUT MOYA:
Moya Thompson grew up in Nassau Bahamas. She got started in acting and
performing while attending college at the College of The Bahamas and
while also becoming a part of the Bahamas National Youth Choir. She has
travelled to perform in various countries including the United States,
Russia, Paris, Scotland, St Kitts, Guyana and Trinidad; and has also
performed in numerous stage and film productions in The Bahamas. She has
written and directed her own 17 minute short film "Full Circle" (c)
2007 and a five minute short film "First Impressions" (c) 2009. She
directed and co-wrote a stage production called "Das A Wibe" that played
in December 2007 at the Diplomat Center and April 2008 at the National
Center for the Performing Arts, and most recently wrapped production on 8
shows of her family comedy series "It Takes A Village" which is set to
air on Cable 12 in January 2013. Through her Production Company - C2it
Productions - she also hosts a film and drama camp for kids in the
Summer that teaches kids/teens the basics in acting and filmmaking.
Moya
Thompson grew up in Nassau Bahamas. She got started in acting while
attending the College of The Bahamas as a part of a comedy improv group
called Dramatic Force. She later ventured into filmmaking and embarked
on studies at Colombus College Chicago in 2003. In 2005, she continued
with comedy improv work as a part of a local group known as Da Spot,
which was a Bahamian version of Saturday Night Live. She has performed
in several local stage productions such as "Olemi's Passage" (1992), You
Can Lead A Horse To Water (2006) and The Children's Teeth (2008) all
directed by Philip Burrows for Ringplay Productions; She also did a
Bahamian take on the Christmas story in "If You Were Joseph" (2002)
directed by local playwright/poet/author Michael Pintard and in
September 2010 played the lead character Beverly in the highly-esteemed
Bahamian play "Woman Take Two" written by Telcine Turner .
Along
with her film group BIFG she directed, her first 17 minute short film
"Full Circle" (2007) and also cast for the group's hour long film
"Changes" (2008) which currently runs on the local tv station ZNS and
"Missing Maggie" which premiered late last year. Her film acting credits
include the aforementioned "Changes", the feature film "Rain" (2007) by
Bahamian filmmaker Maria Govan (which presently runs on Showtime), the
film "The Incident" by playwright/lecturer Ian Strachan (yet to be
released) and "Windjammers" by Bahamian filmmaker Kareem Mortimer.
She
is the CEO of her own Production Company C2it Productions which also
hosts a film and drama camp for kids in the Summer and teaches
kids/teens the basics in acting and filmmaking. Through her company she
also directed and produced a stage and filmed production "Das A Wibe"
that opened in December 2007 at The Diplomat Center and then later in
April 2008 at the National Center for the Performing Arts. She most
recently wrapped production on 8 shows for her family comedy series "It
Takes A Village" which is set to air on Cable 12 in January 2013.
She can be reached at: moyathompson@hotmail.com
RELATED:
Bahamas 2012 in Review with Youri Aramin Kemp
Bahamas 2012 in Review with Joseph Darville
Bahamas 2012 in Review with Azaleta Ishmael-Newry
Bahamas 2012 in Review with Kedar Clarke
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