Better Mus’ Come – a chant of yesterday for today

Better Mus’ Come – a chant of yesterday for today

Better Mus’ Come is a drama/suspense film that is geared at exploring the root of many of Jamaica’s post-independence problems. Directed by Storm Saulter, the film is one that will definitely open the doors for social commentary about the 1970’s political atmosphere in Jamaica.

An explosive drama set in 1977 against the backdrop of political gang rivalry that shook Jamaica to its core, Better Mus’ Come follows Ricky (Sheldon Shepherd), a leader of the Skulls gang based in the southside slums of Kingston. The story charts his journey to the event that has come to be known as the Green Bay Massacre.

The storyline was brought to life with the added talent of the exceptional and dynamic Nicole Grey, Roger Guenveur Smith (American Gangster, Malcolm X, Do the Right Thing), Everaldo Creary, Ricardo Orgill and Dwayne Pusey.

“Through reading about the political tensions in the seventies, I wanted to use this film to explore the root of many of our post-independence problems,” commented an enthusiastic Saulter. “I became fascinated with the violent culture that was born with the arming of certain groups which has created a culture of violence that has stayed with Jamaica, and is identified with Jamaicans worldwide,” he also said.

Producing any film will of course present its challenges and Better Mus Come had its own. “It was very hard to get proper special effects material and props into the island ie exploding blood, blank shells, fake movie guns. The people we were renting from in Hollywood thought it was too dangerous here, and that someone would steal the guns and start a militia or something - a militia with fake m16's.”

“The Government needs to work out an easier approach for us filmmakers to get the right tools to do a world class job, safely. However the JDF and the JCF came through for us and provided our prop guns and blank shells, and security. They were excellent and I give them the highest respect and ratings for being so professional and helping us get the job done,” Saulter also commented.

Better Mus’ Come premieres at the 2008 Flashpoint Film Festival on Saturday, June 7 at Fort Charles, Port Royal.

“I'm not aiming to show violence for the purpose of action entertainment, but to expose the cause and effect and how we are all affected in some way or another, no matter the 'class',” Saulter asserted.

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