Jamaica Motel
Encyclopedia
In 2006
, Enlight Films produced a short film entitled, Jamaica Motel. The film was written, directed, and produced by the Enlight Films team which consists of director Aaron J. Salgado and producer Jaydee Freixas.
's Little Havana. Set during one night, three rooms in this motel consist of undercover cops executing a prostitution sting, two gang members awaiting the other half of a drug deal, and two cheating lovers. Jamaica Motel tells the story of an undercover cop who catches his cheating wife and her lover in a motel room next door to gun-packing gang members.
film program. Salgado and Freixas would collaborate on the script which would later be chosen by faculty at UM to go into production. Producing promotional videos for local real estate companies, the duo put up half of their $10,000 budget. Filming commenced in November 2005 with a 2 day shoot on location in Dania Beach
and Miami Beach
. Politics and “true to life’ script material would force the duo off Calle Ocho by all motel owners and managers who were contacted for a shooting location. Editing was completed in the Spring of 2006. As Jamaica Motel neared its private crew and press screening, owners of the real Jamaica Motel contacted Enlight Films with a message: “Change the name, or face a lawsuit.”
. The festival would bring Enlight Films the “Committee Award,” for Jamaica Motel. A Miami Short Film Festival after party hosted by Enlight Films would be featured as part of Channel 7 News’ Deco Drive show.
, or better known as “Miriam” in the short film was hired as the host of the “Good Night Show,” which is aimed towards Pre-school children. PBS had a conflict when Lepe’s role in Jamaica Motel was discovered, considering they had fired the previous host for a similar situation. Numerous parental blog sites would be formed across the country regarding Jamaica Motel, Michele Lepe, and PBS. The New York Times eventually ran the story in the Arts section. National coverage would lead film industry agents to contact Enlight Films regarding a feature film version of the short film.
2006 in film
- Highest-grossing films :Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top-grossing films that were first released in the United States in 2006...
, Enlight Films produced a short film entitled, Jamaica Motel. The film was written, directed, and produced by the Enlight Films team which consists of director Aaron J. Salgado and producer Jaydee Freixas.
Synopsis
Jamaica Motel tells a story set in the criminal underworld that exists in MiamiMiami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
's Little Havana. Set during one night, three rooms in this motel consist of undercover cops executing a prostitution sting, two gang members awaiting the other half of a drug deal, and two cheating lovers. Jamaica Motel tells the story of an undercover cop who catches his cheating wife and her lover in a motel room next door to gun-packing gang members.
Concept
Director Aaron J. Salgado developed the concept for this short film during the time when producer Jaydee Freixas was still enrolled at the University of MiamiUniversity of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
film program. Salgado and Freixas would collaborate on the script which would later be chosen by faculty at UM to go into production. Producing promotional videos for local real estate companies, the duo put up half of their $10,000 budget. Filming commenced in November 2005 with a 2 day shoot on location in Dania Beach
Dania Beach, Florida
Dania Beach is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 29,639. It is part of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010 census. Dania Beach is the location of one of the largest jai alai frontons in...
and Miami Beach
Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter which separates the Beach from Miami city proper...
. Politics and “true to life’ script material would force the duo off Calle Ocho by all motel owners and managers who were contacted for a shooting location. Editing was completed in the Spring of 2006. As Jamaica Motel neared its private crew and press screening, owners of the real Jamaica Motel contacted Enlight Films with a message: “Change the name, or face a lawsuit.”
Reviews
Upon the premiere of Jamaica Motel, the Enlight Films team received glowing reviews from the local media. An excerpt from the Miami Herald reads, “The 10-minute short film serves as a surveillance tape of one night in three consecutive rooms of a motel.” The Miami New Times proclaimed, “a dark and raunchy realm where clandestine adulterers, prostitutes working their johns, and drug dealers on the grind can rent rooms by the hour." A feature piece in "Ocean Drive" reads, “a stylish, gripping mini-movie that brings together the occupants of three separate rooms at the motel.” The short film would go on to be selected as an official entry in the 2006 Miami Short Film FestivalMiami Short Film Festival
The Miami Short Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Miami, Florida, USA. The festival was established in 2002 by William Vela and takes place around the second and third week of November...
. The festival would bring Enlight Films the “Committee Award,” for Jamaica Motel. A Miami Short Film Festival after party hosted by Enlight Films would be featured as part of Channel 7 News’ Deco Drive show.
Controversy
With all the local publicity and success, more controversy was right around the corner. In the fall of 2006, an article about Jamaica Motel and one of the cast members would be written by the ombudsman at PBS, Micheal Getler. The article was titled, “A Tale of Two Actresses.” Getler went on to address a situation regarding an actress from Jamaica Motel and one of their shows. Michele LepeMichele Lepe
Michele Lepe , is a Hispanic actress who spent her early childhood in England and grew up in San Antonio, Texas. She became the new permanent host of PBS KIDS Sprout's The Good Night Show playing the role of "Nina" the Goodnight Guide....
, or better known as “Miriam” in the short film was hired as the host of the “Good Night Show,” which is aimed towards Pre-school children. PBS had a conflict when Lepe’s role in Jamaica Motel was discovered, considering they had fired the previous host for a similar situation. Numerous parental blog sites would be formed across the country regarding Jamaica Motel, Michele Lepe, and PBS. The New York Times eventually ran the story in the Arts section. National coverage would lead film industry agents to contact Enlight Films regarding a feature film version of the short film.
External links
- http://www.myspace.com/jaydeph
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0889197/
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MILsAa5pRzo
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJOVgokX2p8