A FINAL SEASON highlights the contributions, and experiences of the Jamaican men of the governments H2-A Program. It challenges America's pre-conceived notions about immigrant labor and investigates the symbiotic relationship between the Jamaican men who pick the apples in New Yorks Hudson Valley and the orchard owners who grow them.
JANUARY 2004: After two years of production in the USA, the New Year brings to a close the principal photography on this important documentary film. Director/Producer Adam Matalon and Emmy Nominated Director of Photography Kevin Burke will lead the final leg of production on the Island of Jamaica to interview government officials and the men of the H2-A Program before beginning postproduction on the project. The production has support from NYSCA, NYFA, Air Jamaica amongst others.
(PRWEB) December 17 2003--CHATSBY FILMS announces the final portion of principal photography for A FINAL SEASON. Against the onslaught of economic globalization, the Apple, an icon of the American experience is under siege. A FINAL SEASON highlights the contributions, and experiences of the Jamaican men of the governments H2-A Program. It challenges America's pre-conceived notions about immigrant labor and investigates the symbiotic relationship between the Jamaican men who pick the apples in New Yorks Hudson Valley and the orchard owners who grow them.
JANUARY 2004: The New Year brings to a close the principal photography on this important documentary film. Director/Producer Adam Matalon and Emmy Nominated Director of Photography Kevin Burke will lead a two-week trip to Jamaica to interview government officials and the men of the H2-A Program before beginning postproduction on the project.
About The Project:
Chatsby Films recently celebrated the release of the 10-minute trailer for A Final Season at an industry screening in Manhattan and have secured substantial interest in the finished product including letters of agreement with both of the major Jamaican Television Networks CVM and TVJ.
Since March 2002, film crews have descended on the Hudson Valley in New York State documenting Russell Holtzes last season growing apples at Sunny Crest Orchards. At least thats how it started. I became fascinated by the interdependent relationship that had grown up between Russ and the Jamaican workers he brings north each year under the governments H-2A program." said Adam Matalon, of Chatsby Films and Executive Producer/Director of A Final Season. There was clearly a larger story here. Most of the Jamaican men have come back to the same orchards for fifteen, twenty, sometimes thirty years. The governments Adverse Wage Rate guarantees that workers receive salaries substantially higher than the minimum wage and they are able to build a better life for their families back in Jamaica. The relationship between the farmers and the men seemed very symbiotic. Its an extended family." Matalon added, on a personal note This has also become a way to give something back to Jamaica. My grandfather moved to Jamaica from Palestine in the early years of the last century and although I grew up in New York, my father never forgot the Island of his youth. The house always reverberated with Jamaicans and their music." He explained.
This close working relationship between the farmers and the Jamaicans is now threatened by the decline of the apple industry in the Hudson Valley. In the last 20 years total apple acreage under cultivation has declined to about 11,000 acres from 23,000 acres in the 1980s. The consolidation of the supermarket industry, U.S. farm policy and foreign imports have all contributed to difficult times for the farmers and the Jamaican laborers that depend on these jobs.
This may be a final season for a lot of guys, not just Russ," says Douglas Minard of W.G. Minard and Sons, one of the larger apple producers in Milton New York. Robert Minard considers all their Jamaicans part of the family Ive known a couple of these men for over thirty years. Theyre just a great bunch of guys!"
Robert Morganthau the Manhattan DA and long time Hudson Valley farmer describes the situation in the Hudson Valley as Benign neglect More and more farms are going on the block as real estate prices rise. Pataki wants to help but he hasnt got a lot of support from the legislature."
As filming continues, the personal stories of these men stands out in sharp contrast against the backdrop of U.S. farm and labor policy. Weve been to Jamaica and seen the tangible results of the hard work these men do in the States," explained Randolph Treu, co- producer on A Final Season, These are the men building a new middle class in Jamaica. The work allows them to better educate their children and assures a more stable financial condition. The number of Jamaicans working under H-2A in the States has decreased by almost two-thirds over the last fifteen years as the apple farms have declined. Thats tough on the farmers, the men, and the Jamaican and Hudson Valley economies."
As the farmers of the Hudson Valley try to hold on, so do the Jamaicans with equal tenacity, however, the future is cloudy and it looks like theres a storm on the horizon. I dont know if theres anything we can do to stop it," shrugged Joe Russo Sr., Executive Vice President of the Valley Growers Apple Cooperative.
A Final Season has the support of New York State Council for the Arts, New York Foundation for the Arts, Air Jamaica, Jamaican Film Commission, The Gloucetershire, Trident Properties.
About Chatsby Films.
Chatsby Films is a new and ambitious full service independent production company based in Peekskill New York approximately 50 minutes North of Manhattan. The company was formed in 2003 by: Director Adam Matalon, and Emmy Nominated Cinematographer Kevin Burke. Combined they have over thirty-five years of professional production experience in live Theatre, Television, Film and other recorded media in a variety of positions.
Chatsby Films currently has That Pet Show! in development for a major cable network. Forrest For The Trees, a short feature --Screenplay by Burke, Directed by Matalon -- is currently in production. They are presently producing short films for the film department at Sesame Street. Jane Tuesday Private Kid, an exciting new live action character will make her debut during the 35th Anniversary Season of the multi Emmy Award winning show. Our recent co-production with Coleman Productions Making Relationships Matter" is currently on sale. We are developing several upcoming projects and control the rights to three feature scripts.
For further information about A FINAL SEASON or a copy of the full promotional package including the 10-Minute trailer and project narrative, please contact:
Peter Benson / Adam Matalon
Chatsby Films
WWW.CHATSBYFILMS.COM
info@chatsbyfilms.com
Phone: 1.845.736.6161
Fax: 1.845.736.1032
###
|
