TOP: (l to r) Manece Ferrier, Representative of Bahamas Film Commission Robyn Ferrier, BMOT Communications Representative Mikala Moss, Earlin Williams, Descendant of Bert Williams, Minister of Transport and Aviation Glenys Hanna Martin, General Manager of Bahamas Film Commission Clarence Rolle, BMOT Public Relations Coordinator Kendea Smith, Director of Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Dr. Kevin Tinker and BMOT Videographer Kevin Kemp.
Bottom left: A vintage snapshot of Bahamian Actor Bert Williams
Bottom right: (l to r) Descendant of Bert Williams-Earlin Williams, Minister of Transport and Aviation Glenys Hanna Martin and Director of Antiquities, Momuments and Museums Dr. Keith Tinker pose after observing the Bert Williams exhibition at the Museum of Modern Arts (MOMA) in New York City.
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New York, NY- An
exhibition at the Museum of Modern Arts (MOMA) in New York City on the late
Bahamian actor Bert Williams, which has gotten rave reviews, may be duplicated
in Nassau soon.
The exhibition at MOMA titled “100 Years In Post Production:
Resurrecting a Lost Landmark of Black Film History” began on October 24,2014
and will continue until March 2015.
Williams is the
first Bahamian actor ever to be captured on film.
Williams along with
his partner George Walker, pioneered integrated silent films and Broadway
musical comedies in the early 1900s.
His performances
earned him a Tony Award.
The exhibit includes screen shots, a film showing of a lost film and a
behind the scenes look at the film in which Williams is seen working with
Caucasian directors at a time when integrated films were almost non-existent.
After the first public screening of the untitled film on November 8,
Minister of Transport and Aviation Glenys Hanna Martin described the film as
“stunning.”
“It was absolutely stunning because it was 100 years ago, almost an
all-black cast and you saw a degree of creative freedom, which was not
consistent with the era,” she said.
“Bert Williams though an incredibly gifted actor faced struggles. He was
an all-around artist- he acted, he wrote plays, he recorded and he was an
incredible comedian. No one hardly knows his name but in watching the film what
you do see is that he had an incredible influence on comedians coming after
him.”
She added, “It highlights the necessity that we have to record our
history to make a record of our achievements or otherwise they may get lost. I
think that whatever we can do to ensure maximum access of our people to view
this piece of work I would encourage it.”
Director of the Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Corporation (AMMC)
Dr. Keith Tinker said he would make a special effort to bring Williams’ story
to Nassau.
“I am very fascinated by the story of Bert Williams. It’s almost
inconceivable for anyone to imagine that a Bahamian could be such a trendsetter
in the film industry,” he said.
“Most Bahamians don’t know about it. Part of my job as director of the
national museum is to hopefully bring that story back to The Bahamas. It could
be probably in the area of a travelling exhibit or if we can bring exerts of
the entire exhibit back that would be perfect. Bahamians have to know the story
because it is on the shoulders of Bert Williams that the African American film
industry lies.”
General Manager of The Bahamas Film Commission Clarence Rolle agreed
that the story should be told in The Bahamas.
“We have known about Sir Sidney Poitier but even before him – four or
five decades before – Bert Williams was re-charting a course and making a way
forward for what (Poitier) would do later on,” he said.
“What we have to do is make sure that our stories are known and our
stories are told. Because Bert Williams, as important as he was, is not a very
well-known figure and so Bahamians should capitalize on this film now coming to
life and we should let the world know that this man who impacted us in arts and
entertainment had his beginning in The Bahamas.”
Earlin Williams, one of the desendants of Bert Williams, spoke to what
this film meant to him and his family.
“As a Bahamian, it is a wonderful feeling. As a family member it is a
fantastic feeling. I would like the Bert Williams legacy in Broadway, theater
and film to say to young Bahamians, there is an opportunity. There is a chance.
Become good at your craft. Get excellent at it. Mediocrity has no place.
Believe in yourself and you could be the next Bert Williams,” he said.