MUST-SEE: “Charlie’s Records” Film Debuts At BAM On Nov 6th!

On Wednesday, November 6th, 2019, CHARLIE’S RECORDS will premiere in Brooklyn at BAM Rose Cinema, in the final edition of The 2019 Caribbean Film Series.

Rawlston Charles migrated to New York from Tobago in 1967. Living in Bedford-Stuyvesant and nostalgic for the music of his homeland, Charles made it his mission to promote calypso music and its artists in the US and around the world. In the process, he opened the world-renowned record store Charlie’s Calypso City and, with his music label Charlie’s Records, single-handedly put calypso and soca music on the map. CHARLIE’S RECORDS (110min) is his remarkable story. (BAM)

UPDATE: Charlie’s Records Packs BAM At Caribbean Film Fest Series Finale

Directed by WNBA all-star athlete, newbie filmmaker and his daughter, Tina Charles, CHARLIE’S RECORDS pays homage to the living legend that is Rawlston Charles. This film transcends generations and serves as Tina’s ultimate gift to her father by telling his story, as well as, preserving part of our Caribbean history.

Join me tomorrow as I moderate the post-screening Q&A with Tina Charles and Rawlston Charles.

Charlie’s Records Film Debuts At BAM

According to Luminal Theater:

As much of a homecoming as it is an amazing film screening, #CharliesRecords tells the story of Rawlston Charles, the pioneering Soca, and Calypso music producer. After migrating to Brooklyn from Tobago in 1967, his love for his ‘home’ music became a mission to put Calypso music on the map and helped lead to the creation of Soca. ⠀
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Katie Barnes of ESPNw states it beautifully: ⠀
“The triumph of “Charlie’s Records” is that it is more than just Charlie’s story. The film is a story of a Brooklyn community and how it has grown and changed over time. As Calypso gave way to hip-hop, so did Charlie’s Records. Charlie built [his studios] on Fulton Street above the shop where several influential early hip-hop tracks — such as “La Di Da Di,” released in 1985, by Doug E. Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew featuring M.C. Ricky D (now known as Slick Rick) — were recorded.” ⠀

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 You’ve seen that Tina Charles (@tina31charles) is the director of our upcoming  #CaribbeanFilmSeries screening of #CharliesRecords, but you may not have realized that in addition to being the daughter of title subject Rawlston Charles, she is also is a pro basketball player for the New York Liberty of the #WNBA, a five-time All-Star, and so much more! Originally from Jamaica, New York, Charles was drafted 1st overall in the 2010 WNBA Draft by the Connecticut Sun. In 2009 and 2010, she helped lead the UConn Huskies to two undefeated national championships, and she has won two Olympic gold medals with Team USA. She has played for the Liberty since 2014. Still, like so many of us, Tina didn’t know the extent of her father’s personal history, and a storied one at that! "I didn't know my father was a pioneer for this genre," Charles said. "I thought I was just doing something for my family and friends to have, but then I realized I was doing something for the culture of Trinidad and Tobago because there's not [much] documented on Calypso and Soca music [a genre of music that originated within a marginalized subculture in Trinidad and Tobago]." (May 6, 2019, Barnes,K. - espnW.com) When it came time to make the film, Charles first went to #SpikeLee, but instead “He told me, words I would never forget...you have to make your own movie and figure it out. Nobody else will have the passion or drive to tell your father’s story the way you would.” Lee then took two DVD’s of films he directed from his shelf, 4 Little Girls (on the African-American girls killed in the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Church in Birmingham, Alabama) and Kobe Doin’ Work (on the NBA Los Angeles Lakers champion), and signed them with the reminder for her to “Make ya Film.” And what a must-see film. See Tina tell this story, and others, live on Nov. 6th at the post-screening Q&A for “Charlie’s Records” alongside her dad, moderated by @realJayblessed Tix available at BAM.org - click the profile link for more. #TinaCharles #CaribbeanFilm #CharliesRecords #CharliesCalypsoCity #rawlstoncharles #WNBA #blackwomenfilmmakers #filmmakers #blackfilmmakers #bedstuyfilms #luminaltheater #caribbeancin
 
A post shared by  Luminal Theater (@luminaltheater) on Oct 31, 2019 at 1:58pm PDT
 

CHARLIE’S RECORDS will preceded by the award-winning short film, FLIGHT, directed by Kia Moses & Adrian McDonald (2018, 13min).

This screening is part of The Caribbean Film Series, which presents feature films made by Caribbean filmmakers that highlight the richness, uniqueness, and viability of Caribbean cinema to Brooklyn, home to the largest population of Caribbean nationals in the United States, and to all New York City residents and visitors. For more information visit the Caribbean Film Academy website.

For tickets, CLICK HERE.

(Cover Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival)