By Kassandra Sharma
Recently CTFF 2020 audiences experienced the viewing pleasure of the pilot episode of The Agency. Directed by Rick Elgood and written by Paul O Beale, the episode was charged with charming characters, sly villains and a powerhouse female lead which made the drama and cliff-hanger all the more delicious to consume.
The episode kick started with a few quick-paced scenarios, allowing for the introduction of a few key characters and various situations that lead our manager superstar Ellen (Camille Davis) to where she stands. We see opening shots of a fun club night; Ellen watches happily, as her son and client Junior (Glenaldo Gayle) performs to the energetic crowd until the club’s owner shows up and it causes Junior to stutter off stage. We see Junior having disagreements about his contract with the club owner - then coming home to find his girlfriend, cheating on him. Things keep adding on and weighing heavily on Junior until one day Ellen gets a call and Junior is in the hospital. Perhaps, he was struggling deeper than we could see. Ellen makes a vow to not let another artist with so much potential, fall through the cracks of the industry.
Hence The Agency is born - an organization that will aid in areas of counselling, dealing with legal issues, management, performances and so on.
Also promising to dig deep into her clients’ development and delivery, Ellen quickly scoops up Medz (Kadeem Wilson) at a local club where she sees him mistreated by the owner and Lucious (GiHRL/Shannique Brown).
Ellen explains to the two that the contract, once signed, will allow her authority over much of their careers; from bookings, use of their music, royalties to even deep into their wellbeing such as control over their associations. Both artists are excited to have someone who seems to care about them.
© Facebook | The Agency
The journey is not struggle free - from getting a loan, to being hassled by previous associations, and lack of support by her boyfriend all while dealing with her son’s medical state - Ellen never fails to show us how strong she is. It is not hard to find yourself rooting for her and her one-woman army. With the cliff-hanger ending (NO SPOILERS HERE!) I wish I could have dived straight into the following episode.
The Agency is an entertaining show; well paced and executed - packaged together with the sweet delights of the Jamaican music scene.
*Editor’s Note: The Agency premiered at the CaribbeanTales Film Festival 2020.
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