Jamaican actor Paul Campbell visits city youths

The film festival opens tonight. More than forty films will be shown in the next few days. On Thursday, Jamaican actor, Paul Campbell, known for his roles as Mad Max in Shottas and other films such as Dancehall Queen and Return of Fire, touched down at the P.G.I.A. And while he is here for the festival, his first line of business was to meet with representatives from the Conscious Youth Development Program in Belize. News Five caught up with the actor in the area of the Mosul Street.

Paul Campbell, Jamaican Actor
“The movies that I do and the roles that I do—the thug and all ah that, I want especially these people to understand, I know it’s a part of life, but I am just mimicking, I’m acting and even within acting the part of a thug, one still has to show commitment and devotion. And it is these contributing factors that they can add to anything in their lives. And listen if it is gonna lift them out of a crime matter of any kind, mi wah help, simple. It doesn’t matter what part of the world you are from geographically, you know. Many instances if you are a quote unquote “third world people” you are treated very much in the same way. As I drove through the town earlier on today, I said look there Scotia Bank, Canada send they bank down yah too, and I’m starting to identify the same places that are in my country, Jamaica. So in many ways we have similar things going so hey man there isn’t many things different. So, my people uplift—Barack ah show me how.”

Lt. Eric Neal, Youth Programs Coordinator, C.Y.D.P.
“What he called us about was to have a little talk with the young men and talk to them about sparking an interest in the arts—especially movie making. However, he also wants to draw a distinct line between reality and fiction. As is observed in the meeting right now, most of the youths know him as Mad Max or Capone. And he wants to distance himself from that role. Let them understand that it is simply a role and not who he is as a person. And that is in line with what we at C.Y.D.P. are trying to do. We are trying to allow our clientele to understand that everybody can make a change and we can’t take movies and all of these fantasies for reality.”

According to Neal, Campbell and the CYDP will be working towards creating a small movie studio in Belize City.