Filming begins on ONE LOVE starring Ky-Mani Marley, Cherine Anderson and Vas Blackwood

8 November 2002 - London

One Love Films, Exposed/Euromax Productions, the UK FILM COUNCIL and Baker Street Media are pleased to announce the start of principal photography on ONE LOVE, a contemporary Jamaican 'Romeo and Juliet' starring Ky-Mani Marley, son of the late Bob Marley, Cherine Anderson and Vas Blackwood. Co-directed by Rick Elgood and Don Letts, the original screenplay was written by Trevor Rhone based on a story by Yvonne Deutschman. ONE LOVE is produced by Yvonne Deutschman, Shelaagh Ferrell and Bjorn Eivind Aarskog with Nik Powell, Paul Trijbits, Finola Dwyer, Bill Allan and Emma Hayter of Baker Street Media Finance, and Bjorg Veland serving as Executive Producers. ONE LOVE is shooting for five weeks in Jamaica until 2 December 2002.

A UK/Norwegian co-production, ONE LOVE will be distributed in Norway and represented internationally, by Norway based Bjorg Veland of BVI (A Bronx Tale, Brassed Off, Lock Stock, Once Were Warriors, The Pillow Book, The Virgin Suicides) and distributed in the UK by Blue Dolphin Films and in Germany by Legend (Chopper, Dog Soldiers).

ONE LOVE tells the tale of young Rasta reggae musician, Kassa (Marley) who falls in love with Serena (Anderson), the gospel singing daughter of a Pentacostal preacher, when they are brought together through their mutual love of music.

One of the younger sons of the late Bob Marley and a rising singing star in his own right, Ky-Mani Marley released his debut album Like Father Like Son in 1996. This is soon to be followed by his second album The Journey. Marley's debut film role was the lead in Cess Silvera's Shottas alongside Wyclef Jean.

A gifted actress and natural born singer, Cherine Anderson made her stunning acting debut as the sexually abused teenage daughter in Dancehall Queen. Since filming Dancehall Queen she has embarked on a solo singing career and is currently working on her debut album with R&B legends Sly and Robbie.

In 1998 Vas Blackwood was nominated for a BAFTA for his performance in Tight Trousers. His other film credits include Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels, Mean Machine, Babymother, Romeo Error and Nine Dead Gay Guys.

Rick Elgood commenced his career as a Film Editor for Frank Roddam, Derek Jarman, Tina Turner, Bryan Ferry and Simple Minds to name but a few. In 1989 he directed his first 'gangsta rap' music promo I'm Your Pusher before getting together with co-director Don Letts to make the Jamaican hit Dancehall Queen which on a budget of £350, 000, was the first full length feature to be shot entirely on DV.

Don Letts worked as a DJ before directing his first feature The Punk Rock Story that introduced Reggae to a generation of punks. From here he went on to direct over 300 music promos and documentaries as well as the feature film Dancehall Queen alongside Elgood.

Trevor Rhone wrote Jamaica's cult hit The Harder They Come, which recently enjoyed a re-release in the USA. He also wrote and directed the feature, Smile Orange and his original screenplay for the film Milk And Honey won him a Genie Award at the Canadian Academies. Rhone has also written numerous plays that in addition to having been performed in London, Paris, Toronto and New York, have earned him the Gold Musgrave Medal for work in Jamaican Theatre and the prestigious Living Legend Award at the National Black Theatre Festival.

Yvonne Deutschman worked for 12 years at the BBC as a Producer and Director on drama and documentaries including the long running Afro Caribbean music and arts series Ebony for which she was Series Producer. Founder of the Arts Opportunity Theatre in Bristol, she wrote and produced the stage musical Freedom City, on which ONE LOVE is based, which went on to tour the UK, Germany, Kenya and Jamaica.

Shelaagh Ferrell's background is as an actor/singer/presenter, having worked with Simon Callow in Carmen Jones and Trevor Nunn in Porgy And Bess. Ferrell has also been involved in reading and directing new screen plays for TAPS (Television Arts Performance Showcase) and in 1998 worked with leading screenwriter Sam Snape to co-ordinate the first full time screenwriters' laboratory at BBC Wales.

Alongside Richard Branson, Nik Powell founded Virgin Records before selling his stake and joining forces with Producer Stephen Woolley to form Palace Pictures and Palace Productions. Together Powell and Woolley made a series of successful films including Company Of Wolves, Mona Lisa, Shag, Scandal, The Big Man, A Rage In Harlem, The Crying Game, Backbeat, Fever Pitch and Little Voice. Powell recently produced Last Orders as well as the forthcoming films Black And White and Leo, both of which premiered at The Toronto Film Festival and will screen again this month at The London Film Festival. The Night We Called It A Day, starring Dennis Hopper and Melanie Griffith, is currently in production.

Paul Trijbits is the Head of the New Cinema Fund at the UK FILM COUNCIL. The fund has £15 million over three years to invest in films that illustrate unique ideas and innovative approaches. It has an especially strong commitment to supporting work from the nations and regions and from black, Asian and other ethnic minorities. The fund also encourages digital technology in the production, distribution and exhibition of films. To date the New Cinema Fund has co-funded among many others, Peter Mullan's The Magdalene Sisters (winner Golden Lion - Venice Film Festival), Paul Greengrass's Bloody Sunday (winner Golden Bear - Berlin Film Festival), Metin Huseyin's Anita & Me, written by Meera Syal and Bille Eltringham's digital feature This is not a Love Song, written by Simon Beaufoy.

Award winning producer Finola Dywer's feature film credits include The Lost Son and Me Without You as well Hollow Reed, Welcome To Woop Woop and Backbeat alongside Nik Powell.

PRESS INFORMATION:
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Anna Raynsford
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