She believes that it is time for the creative industry to step outside of the box and shatter the comfort zone.

Unless this is done, Chantal Graham, a veteran player in the industry, sees stagnation in the development of theatre arts.

“People tend to want to stay in the box that they have created about what type of things we can make. We would watch any type of [international] film in the theatre, but if a local person wants to make a film and it has in violence it would be [denied],” Chantal told the MIDWEEK NATION.

She said that the pushback would focus on the potential ruining of a brand, though the international ad would carry more longevity in the mind of consumers because the envelope is pushed “a little more”.

“I think the risk would be rewarding for the local industry. We need to stop portraying what I call the tourist brand.”

The veteran artiste, in citing double standards, said that too often though the stories are real life events, the industry still tends to shy away from their production.

“If it has in sex or drugs it’s frowned upon, yet it is the reality we live daily. It’s an image that we paint and only want to be seen as [prim and proper].”

From secondary school, Chantal was drawn to being a lawyer. She saw it as her calling, so too did those around her.

She pursued the associate degree in law and accounts at the Barbados Community College as she worked towards making her professional dream a reality.

Film and television production

Chantal then went on to the University of the West Indies (UWI) where she did a bachelor’s degree in philosophy before pursuing a Master’s in creative arts entrepreneurship, later gaining a certificate in film and television production from the New York Film Academy.

While at UWI, she entered the Cave Hill Theatre Workshop, there the case she was building to enter the legal profession started to look shaky.

As another opportunity arose, this time in Columbia, for her to gain more exposure to theatre, Chantal knew that it was “case closed”.

The pull of the arts was so intense that the prospective legal luminary, saw stage lights that so illuminated her soul that her final ruling was unquestionable – theatre arts.

“From there, I directed my first play and my thinking was that I was going to be a director,” Chantal said.

On return from Columbia, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles’ play about Nation Heroes, directed by Clyde Walcott, was about to start and she yearned to be a part of it.

However, to her disappointment, there was no acting room left, but Sir Hilary compensated for that by offering her the opportunity to be an assistant to him.

For five ensuing productions, the multidisciplinary practitioner played an integral part and that further solidified her position about a future in the arts.

Film had intrigued her from the outset and the creation of catchy ads was of paramount importance as she intended to shatter glass ceiling.

In her books, operating within the box is a misnomer because as a creative it’s all about having the necessary flexibility to showcase one’s true worth.

She was effusive in her praise for CARIFESTA XV, saying it was a moment of tremendous pride to see Barbadian and regional artistes showcasing excellence.

Chantal recalled an inspiring moment that gave her great impetus to press on.

It was being awarded a silver medal at NIFCA for fashioning a film around a true event and titling it Deadly Decisions.

The production event manager and art director in film and theatre had immersed herself in the writing and production and was moved by the outcome.

She has gained invaluable experience by the exposure she has had working with art and set directors from around the world and aspired to use it for the development of the arts here.

“In a lot of ways they trusted me to pull the pieces that would bring together the set and this opened doors for me.”

Those doors have led to a stage where Chantal sees room for creatives to display their ingenuity outside of the box, but she describes it as a controlled space in which artistes are operating with serious limitations.

“Give us the freedom to create because we are ready. If we really want to go somewhere, let the creatives create and don’t be so restrictive with the sponsorship. I have high hopes for Barbados.” (JB)