Spoken Word from Kleon in TT Film Festival

Spoken Word artiste Kleon McPherson in a scene from his Back in Times video which he has entered in the 2018 TT Film Festival.
Spoken Word artiste Kleon McPherson in a scene from his Back in Times video which he has entered in the 2018 TT Film Festival.

Spoken Word artiste Kleon McPherson has entered a four-minute rendition, Back In Times, in the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival 2018.

"The piece shows a drastic comparison between the past and the present using local acts. The video shots were done in both Trinidad and Tobago. Even though it is short, it has impactful visuals,” McPherson said in an interview.

“I showed Scarborough back when, and how it has evolved over the years. The video is to show how much we have progressed or digressed, it also shows how we value certain things.

“At the end, the message I pushed to promote was while it is good we live in a technological age, we still must cherish human interaction."

McPherson said he was confident viewers will enjoy his short piece, his first contribution to the Film Festival.

“I'm looking to take things to a different side where I can get that exposure not only for me, but more exposure for local acts and artistes as well. That’s why in the video, you will see many Tobagonians being highlighted, the intention to bring a certain Tobago flavour towards it,” he said.

Painter Shonari Richardson paints a portrait of Calypso Rose in a scene from Back in Times, a video by Spoken Word artiste Kleon McPherson

“What I'm trying to do is put Spoken Word and Tobago on the map to a certain extent. I'm just in the stage of experimentation because persons have grown accustomed to the Spoken Word, so I'm experimenting sounds and visuals tp o bring it to life, making it more dramatic and film-like."

A pre-show of Back in Times will take place at Movie Towne at Gulf City mall, Lowlands this Saturday from 6:30pm. Th event will also feature performances by various Spoken Word artistes as well as artistes in other genres - Gerard Balfour, Adana, Xperience, Kashiff Wilson, Royann James, and Aliyah Akili. Paintings by talented artiste Shonari Richardson Paintings will also be on display at the event.

McPherson has been involved in Spoken Word seven years now, and has appeared in such diverse events as Machel Monday, Tobago Jazz Festival, performing original pieces on tour to other Caribbean islands, as well as winning numerous awards and competitions.

A scene from a video by Spoken Work artiste Kleon McPherson, Back in Times, which he has entered in the 2018 TT Film Festival.

As he continues to grow as a Spoken Word artiste, he has taken the time to share his talent with aspiring young artistes.

‘I have done various spoken work workshops. What I teach is not only from the technical aspect of Spoken Word - in terms of how you craft a piece and utilising the various devices, but also placing a focus on the administrative side. I do this because a lot of young artistes these days are robbed of the value of their talent,” he said.

Tickets to Saturday’s event are priced at $40,

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"Spoken Word from Kleon in TT Film Festival"

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