Spragga Benz gets his 'Green Card' in new movie

BY CECELIA CAMPBELL-LIVINGSTON 

VERY soon there will be a new Jamaican flick lighting up the big screen featuring dancehall deejay Spragga Benz.

Jamaican-born director Cleon James tells Splash that an official release date hasn't been set yet for the movie as he is now the process of securing premiere venues in different parts of the United States.

Green Card is based on Caribbean people making their way to the United States all seeking the American dream.

The story explores the decisions they make and how they get to their goals -- following the ups and downs and misconceptions that can be formed in a bid to obtain that Green Card.

"The movie is based on true events," James shares, adding that before penning the script he interviewed several immigrants who shared their stories.

In zoning in on Carlton Grant, aka Spragga Benz, James says he is impressed with the artiste's portrayal of Ricarlo -- a 'moorish' Rastaman who has a Caucasion girlfriend, but is not very keen about getting married for the papers.

In commenting on his role Spragga says, "I think the role it portrays is a new way of seeing the system."

Acting is nothing new to the dancehall deejay as he has been featured in Shottas and Brooklyn Babylon where he starred as himself.

Director James, who hails from Montego Bay, says the dream of doing movies started when he was a little boy watching television.

"I used to see the characters on screens and wondered how they got there. I knew that one day I would do it." He is now on his third film and looking to do a fourth -- the first two being Facing Reality and Bloodshed.

He is already looking ahead with his next film Ruthless which also stars Spragga Benz along with fellow dancehall acts Twin of Twins and Erup, and is now in the post-production stage.

The director is not the only one looking ahead, Spragga Benz also has a project in the works with Top Notch Vision, as well as his own documentary which he says is in the final stages of editing.

On the recording side he has released Get That Dough, Queen's Highway and Consequence. He has also shot a video for Call Upon Jah with Sean Paul, this he says is being edited.