ABOUT DEMBOW….
Dembow: The Birth of Reggaeton is a documentary focusing on the external influences that have made what reggaeton is today. It covers the historical significance of West Indian and Jamaican culture brought to Panama and Central America by migrants who came to build the Panama Canal and Railroad in the 20th century; the influence of Panamanian pop culture in Latin America through its versions of Reggae en Español, Pasa Pasa, Dancehall, etc.; finally how Panama’s culture influenced an underground music scene in Puerto Rico to where it was finally exported to mainstream U.S. and world pop culture in the 1990s.
PRESS, GRANTS & AWARDS
In February, 2022, Dembow received a development grant award from the Knights Foundation in collaboration with the Miami Film Festival and IF/Then Shorts.
TEAM
Akiel “Ajani” Griffith is a director, songwriter & multimedia producer. Founder of Ajani Media, he aims to help tell the stories of musicians and entertainment brands through music and film. He has been a music supervisor for the Oscar contending films “Power of Movement” and “Iron Temple.” In February, 2022, Mr. Griffith was awarded and named a Knights Hero by the Miami Film Festival in collaboration with the Knights Foundation and IF/Then Shorts for a development grant for the documentary.
Director & Executive Producer
Jessica Joseph is a director, producer and script supervisor. A graduate of Miami-Dade College’s Film, Television and Digital Production program, she has worked on various shorts including Spooky Uber, Naomi’s Afro Mermaids, As I Promise You and many others. Bringing her diverse skillset in film-making, her goal is to make this film a piece of history that will transcend through generations.
Producer
Why Your Support Is Needed
The story and the richness that Reggae, Reggae En Español and Reggaton has to offer transcends generations. From the migrants who came to Panama in the beginning of the 20th century to pop sensations of Daddy Yankee, the genre is a collection of different cultures colliding together to tell a beautiful story through music culture.
To help bring this story your contributions will help us procure resources, such as:
- Transportation and travel to Panama, New York, & Puerto Rico.
- Food and lodging.
- Renting and sourcing locations.
- Purchase and rent equipment like: computers, tablets, lighting, props, drones, etc.
- Hiring a crew (line producers, production assistants, etc.)
- License music and archive footage.
- Distribution.
- Marketing.
Filmmaking is expensive!
Our goal is to raise funds to raise resources to support this worthy production but also build a grassroots community through social media. Whether it’s a few dollars or $1000 every amount matters.
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