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Residents and nationals on Nevis score roles in MSR Media film

CHARLESTOWN, Nevis — MSR Media is gearing up to start filming “One Year Off’ on the island of Nevis, and several residents and nationals have scored prominent roles in the film.

The film’s producer, Philippe Martinez, has confirmed that some well-known locals including Llewelyn “Sunshine” Caines, P. Clayton Huggins, and Charmaine Howell have been cast for speaking roles in the film.

Martinez said more than 200 persons responded to MSR’s casting call for speaking and supporting roles.

“The response we had for the casting was amazing,” said Martinez. “We had over 200 people on the island contacting us.

“I think that next time we will do even more advertising because there are many more people who could have come to the casting, but we have 168 people for the film, which is quite amazing,” he said. “We had an overwhelming response. For the next film we’re going to expand the advertising for the casting so that more people can come.”

Martinez said they found locals with raw talent who could be trained for future roles.

“One thing that really amazed me is the fact that we found some people that have real potential to do several films with us, so that’s really, really exciting,” he said.

Martinez pointed out that trained actor and local businessman, Winston Crooke, assisted MSR Media with casting 168 persons as supporting artistes.

Martinez plans to begin filming during the last week of February. The production crew has already decided on various locations in Nevis that will serve as scenes in the film.

“We have already started to do location scouting…and we have visited a big part of the island,” said Martinez. “We have finished that part of the job because we begin shooting a week from today. We have secured all the locations for the film.

“We have beautiful locations at the Chrishi Beach Club, at Golden Rock Inn, at Sunshine’s Beach Bar and Grill and at sea. So we’re very excited.”

According to Martinez, most of the leading cast is already on island. He said some have completed quarantine while others are scheduled to complete quarantine next week.

The comedy film, ‘One Year Off’ is the first of a two-film production deal between MSR Media and the Nevis Island Administration.

The post Residents and nationals on Nevis score roles in MSR Media film appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.

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Brisbane streets remain in lockdown as siege continues

Streets in south Brisbane remain in lockdown, as police negotiate with a man inside a Sunnybank home.

Heavily-armed specialist offices were stationed outside the Dyson Avenue property from 11am yesterday, as experts attempted to talk to the man and bring an hours-long stand-off to a peaceful resolution.

It is believed the man is armed and a woman and a toddler are also inside the house.

An exclusion zone remains in place with residents asked to follow the advice of police.

Sources have told 9News the situation began when police went to the property to talk to the man, and he met them at the door with a gun.

It is understood police are not sure if the weapon is real or a replica.

Acting Inspector Mick Ackery said yesterday the man inside the home had a weapon and police were working towards a peaceful resolution.

"We're prepared to deal with the situation for as long as it takes to ensure the safety of the community and anyone inside the house," he said.

The tactical crime squad, detectives and other specialist police are assisting police on the scene.

Residents in nearby streets were forced to shelter inside their homes for much of yesterday, as police issued an emergency declaration just after 11am.

Hyperlink here https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f

The declaration under the Public Safety Preservation Act is bounded by Dyson Avenue, Geddes Place, Beenleigh Road and Ganda Place.

Members of the public were urged to avoid the area.

Trains on one of Brisbane's busiest routes, the Beenleigh line, were also delayed.

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Two charged, convicted for quarantine breaches

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — Guiseppe Macon-Goudeau, a citizen of the United States of America, and Amanda Chang, a national of Jamaica who resides at Church Ground, Nevis, pled guilty to their charges for quarantine breaches.

Macon-Goudeau was charged on February 15 for the offence of Breaching his Quarantine Conditions and Chang was charged on February 16 for the offence of Visiting a Quarantine Site. Macon-Goudeau arrived in St. Kitts and Nevis on January 31. Later that same day, he left his room to meet Chang at the site’s fence.

They both appeared before the Magistrate Court on February 17 and were ordered to pay $5,000 each forthwith or, in default, spend six months in prison. They paid the fine and were released from Police custody.

The post Two charged, convicted for quarantine breaches appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.

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Country labels Facebook 'schoolyard bully' over news ban

Facebook is facing backlash in the UK and in Europe after it suddenly banned Australian news sites from using its platform.

Politicians in both the UK and Europe are currently considering new laws similar to those being introduced by Australia that sparked the social media giant's shock move on Thursday.

Henry Faure Walker, the deputy chairman of the UK News Media Association which advocates media companies, said Facebook's ban in Australia showed why new laws were needed.

READ MORE: Morrison labels Facebook 'arrogant', refuses to back down on media code

He said a blanket ban on news during a global pandemic was "a classic example of a monopoly power being the schoolyard bully, trying to protect its dominant position with scant regard for the citizens and customers it supposedly serves".

"The recent deals struck between Google in Australia and news publishers are a welcome acknowledgement of the principle that independent journalism has to be paid for," Mr Faure Walker said.

"However, Facebook's actions in Australia demonstrate precisely why we need jurisdictions across the globe, including the UK, to coordinate to deliver robust regulation to create a truly level playing between the tech giants and news publishers."

Facebook recently struck a financial deal with publishers and news outlets in the UK by creating a Facebook News tab on its mobile app.

The licensing agreement allows Facebook to use headlines and article previews from the news outlets it penned deals with.

READ MORE: Emergency Facebook pages returning after 'inadvertent' bans

Mark Zuckerberg has been criticised for the decision to ban all Australian news content from Facebook.

The move came after widespread concern tech giants were draining revenue from news sites and running them out of business.

The UK government commissioned an independent review into the future of journalism in 2019 which found tech companies like Google and Facebook should have a "news quality obligation".

British MP Julian Knight backed the Australian Government's move to tighten laws on tech giants.

"Australia's democratically elected government is democratically elected. And they have the right to make laws and legislation. And it's, it's really disrespecting democracy to act in this fashion," Mr Knight, who chairs a media committee, told Sky News UK.

"It is one of the most idiotic but also deeply disturbing corporate moves of our lifetimes."

EU and UK eyeing similar new laws

The EU's executive Commission has proposed new rules aimed at taming the biggest digital "gatekeepers". Proposals working their way through negotiations among lawmakers from the 27-member bloc's parliament could be amended to include elements of Australia's model.

Britain, which recently left the EU, is planning similar digital reforms that include shaking up the relationship between online platforms and news publishers.

"There's definitely an influence" from Australia, said Angela Mills Wade, executive director of the European Publishers Council, a lobbying group for media companies. "It is being closely monitored by all who have a stake in the outcome."

READ MORE: How to follow 9News on digital and social media platforms

The EU has already laid out a way for publishers and news companies to strike licensing deals with online platforms under revamped copyright rules. France was the first country to adopt those rules into national legislation but Google initially balked at payments. However, a court ordered it into talks with a publishing group that resulted in a framework for negotiating individual deals.

One part of the Australian model that has caught attention in Europe is the requirement for binding arbitration if payment talks don't lead to an agreement, which Google has resisted because it would give the company less control.

Mills Wade said several leading EU lawmakers want to add an arbitration mechanism to the digital regulations.

"Given that Google and Facebook have been undermining the scope of the publishers' right it is clear that regulatory measures are needed, especially the final arbitration mechanism," said Mills Wade. "Otherwise the majority of publishers won't have the negotiating power to reach agreements."

Hyperlink here https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f

Google has reached pay deals with more than 450 publications globally since it launched News Showcase in October.

Google has been striking other news payment deals, including a multi-year agreement with tycoon Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.

Mills Wade welcomed that deal, saying it shows Google puts "enormous value" on news content.

"However, regulators in Australia, but also in Europe, should not be misled into thinking that single deals, especially just before comprehensive laws come into effect, are the answer to ensuring the fair remuneration due to all publishers large and small, whose content is used by Google," she said.