Meet Gemmar McFarlane | Filmmaker & Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gemmar McFarlane and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gemmar, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Well firstly, I have a unique situation, having been diagnosed with Bipolar Type 1 disorder near the end of high school, it became increasingly difficult to conform to the path society had laid out for what is considered “success”. I realized that in order for me to achieve any kind of success, I would have to chart my own path, one that not only surmounts my “disability”, but also turns that disadvantage into a super power. It was clear that if I took the traditional route of a 9-5 job, I was not going to be afforded the pivoting flexibility necessary for me to truly blossom. Starting my own business was the only option due to the fact that I decided to maintain a ridiculous level of ambition and tenacity despite my illness which i simply would not accept as an excuse to wallow in mediocrity. Even if I decided to get a job, it would only be for a time, in an effort to support my business.

Further, I had seen what working the traditional route looked like in my mother and how it affected her quality of life. I decided I wanted to make a living in a way that allowed me a certain freedom and fulfilment. There had to be more to the dream that the education system and society has been selling than just graduating, finding a steady job and spending 50+ years at a company that would chew you up and spit you out with the bare minimum pension possible. It’s not enough that I am alive or that I survive, I needed to thrive.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Mainly I create 2 forms of art, Film and music. Although music was my first love and what I believe to be my most potent/visceral form, I mainly focus on film because of it’s higher earning potential, job security and economic stability. When I’m in a more comfortable position i can re-align and give music more of my attention.

In regards to my main profession as a filmmaker though, I think what sets me apart is my unique storytelling perspective and attention to little details and subtext in story and character rather than gear and cool shots. With film, technically we can all achieve the same images with the same resources but it is the stories we choose to tell and the tactics we employ to tell them in a special way that make each filmmaker different. For me, I start with story and character. No matter what we’re shooting, from commercials, to films to music videos, there is always a character in a story that dictates the technical choices I make, not the other way around. From sound design to camera placement and lighting style, all of those are just boring tools on their own, they’re not the focus, the character and story that demands them are. It’s why a film with a gazillion dollar budget with all the new toys and hundreds of crew members can still flop. At the end of the day the audience is watching characters in a story. If that sucks it doesn’t matter what camera you used or how cool the lighting is, that only takes you so far. Also maybe being an indie filmmaker often challenged by low budgets and short timelines kind of forced me to think more efficiently about what really matters so that’s a challenge and a blessing in one.

I got where I am today professionally by being tenaciously stubborn with my dreams and making bold decisions like dropping out of university and pitching to people who most wouldn’t even think to approach or applying for jobs and grants that only veterans would dare try. Most importantly, I lean on a solid team and built a firm foundation out of my relationships. Film is a people business and it’s all about how you connect and work with people to get a project not only started but successfully finished because it’s also a long, technical process with many moving parts championed by different people of different backgrounds to create 1 vision.

It was very difficult at the start because in Jamaica it’s all about links and who you know and there I was some new kid with no pre-existing popular connections. Even now I’m still not quite in the position I want to be in the industry. I’m probably honestly just at the cusp of breaking into that upper circle where I can consider myself a respected industry member because of the more recent work I’ve been doing in the past 2 years creating actual films and not just corporate videos. So I’ve had to prove my value and build my connections from scratch by going out to the different events like conferences or festivals and joining local communities like the Jamaica Film & Television Association (JAFTA). I’ve had to really step out of my comfort zone as mostly an introvert and actually learn to network and connect with people beyond business.

I think some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is persistence/steadfastness, the importance of soft skills and business savvy as well as adaptability. Rarely will you get exactly what you need much less want and you have to know how to pivot with the cards that you’ve been dealt in order to get to the same place as the competition and my competition isn’t local it’s international. My dreams are ridiculous, I want to win an Emmy or an Oscar for my country somehow so I don’t have the luxury of complacency. Good enough isn’t good enough. I want to wrestle with the big boys so it’s all or nothing.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Ok so admittedly I’m a bit of a hermit so I’m not the best in terms of knowing all the ins and outs BUT, with a week long trip? In the daytime we may head up to a river up Stony Hill side to wash off any likkle bad vibes they may be coming with, stop and get some of the best Jerk in the island at Chateau 7 Jerk centre. We could get a drink and hang out at TGI Fridays in the evening or go to Kaya across the street. We’d definitely catch a movie (because of course the filmmaker wants any excuse to go to the cinema). And as for nightlife we may go to JANGA’s bar, if it’s a Friday there’s always a party there. If they’re feeling for that friskier nightlife there’s always Taboo night club *winks* There’s also salsa Tuesdays at Holy Smokes lounge which also doubles as Jo Jo’s Jerk pit where they have a karaoke night depending on the day of the week. But to be honest when it comes to Kingston city life, it’s mostly about the parties or drink ups at someone’s house. Whatever we’re doing, once there’s rum it’ll be a good vibe. Lick some dominoes, listen some music and give joke. Paradise. Of course, we end the week on a high with some Sunday afternoon football too. You being the visitor most likely will be locking off the goal and unless you’re really good, don’t fight it.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost, I am nothing without the support of my parents. I can only imagine how they felt when I told them I wanted to drop out of university, where I was studying marketing, to pursue film independently. However, they decided that they’d rather their son be happy and healthy than be “qualified” but depressed and shifted their support from school financing to helping me jump start my business in any way possible. Without their support, I’m not sure where I would’ve ended up. I’d also like to give a shout out to Ian “Ity” Ellis and Owen “Blakka” Ellis of Ellis International who decided to take a chance on me as a young screenwriter. They hired me to write for their sketch comedy show and further, their sitcom, despite me being wet behind the ears at the time. Trusting me with their crown jewel had an immense impact and helped to really jump start my career in the film industry in Jamaica. I’d also like to shout out Conrad Mathison of It’s Pixel Perfect. I did a lot of unique learning and growing at his organization, not just at a career level but on a personal level when I was working as a video editor there.

Instagram: @gem_dreamchaser

Twitter: @gemjamgym

Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLolfxsGccYUEo0KlCHkFu9mSjLVhvOAGI

Image Credits
Horace Freeman