Renowned Filmmaker, Natalie Thompson, Dedicates National Award to Local Industry

When Natalie Thompson received her national award at King’s House on National Heroes Day, Monday, October 16, she saw it as a win, not just for herself but the local film and television industry, with which her name is synonymous.

Ms. Thompson has contributed to the industry’s development for some 50 years and for that she was conferred with the Order of Distinction in the Rank of Officer (OD).

Reflecting on the achievement, she tells JIS News that she received the award on behalf of the entire industry.

“It’s for the recognition of the film industry and what we do. You know, Lennie (Little White) has already received an award for his work. But I want this award to be recognised on behalf of the entire film industry, to see that we have come a long way and we have a long way to go,” Ms. Thompson says.

Her passion for film and television started on the theatre stage as a teenager, taking a sharp turn from her initial plan of becoming a doctor.

“In fifth form, I did the sciences because I had the grand intention to be a doctor; but I could not pass chemistry to save my soul. Then I decided I would be a lawyer or get into politics. But after I did my A levels, I got into theatre and it was an eyeopener,” she explains.

The theatre bug bit Ms. Thompson, opening her up to the endless possibilities that existed in the creative space.

She copped Best Actress in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Festival of Arts Drama competition, which aided in laying her foundation in the industry.

“I got a bursary for winning best actress to my future studies. I used it to attend Edgecliff College in Cincinnati at 17 years old. I then went to the University of Windsor in Canada where I did a double major in drama and communication arts, which was film and television,” Ms. Thompson shares.

On returning to Jamaica, she got a job within the film industry, which she described as being very small and male dominated at the time.

“I got into a company at the time known as Noble Films, then I acquired the equipment from Noble films and started my company Cinecom in 1975. It was my parents, my father Paul Thompson, who went to the bank with me to get the loan to purchase the equipment,” she recounts.

At 23 years old, Ms. Thompson was now at the helm of Cinecom, assisted by cinematographer, Philip Chavannes. She credits renowned industry guru, Paul Noble, for guiding her start.

“I had already been directing commercials when he threw me in the deep end at Noble Films. I did an animated commercial that even won an advertising award. I felt that I had established myself as a director, even though no other women or even Jamaicans were doing it,” she explains.

Ms. Thompson noted that, at the time, most film and television producers were from England. So she was charting new territory, while sharing some of the challenges she experienced during her journey.

“There was David Ogden, Paul Noble, Perry Henzell, Phil Harvey and me. I knew I was ready when I went on my own. But as a woman and as a black Jamaican, it was hard. One client actually told me that they can’t work with me because I was a woman and this was not a woman’s business. It was a black Jamaican who said that to me,” she reflects.

Undaunted by the critic, Ms. Thompson continued to work her way through the industry, receiving support from other filmmakers like David Ogden.

“He backed me and supported me and told me not to pay attention to the noise, and told me I could do it. I moved forward, and little by little, I got work. The first 10 years were very hard because of the competition and because, I mean, there were not that many clients,” she explains.

Ms. Thompson was able to create her own niche market and became a specialist in producing and directing commercials for liquor companies, her unique style making her services a much sought-after commodity.

“I work better with the women, obviously, and I got into Vodka commercials. I did vodka commercials (Smirnoff) for years, which were very sort of avant-garde and different, and I love that kind of style. That was dramatic and not just the normal. But back in the day, nobody else was doing that,” she recalls with a smile.

Then the opportunity arose for her company to work with an overseas production house from Spain.

This became the gateway for her to work as a line producer or production manager with several other international film and commercial corporations that did their shoots in Jamaica.

“This company from Spain wanted me to do production services for a commercial they were doing. This was a moment that proved [that], as local persons, we could do it. Then my first international film was ‘Piranha 2: The Spawning’, made by renowned ‘Titanic’ filmmaker, James Cameron,” Ms. Thompson informs.

Some of her proudest achievements include producing and directing a commercial for the launch of Jamaican soft drink ‘Ting’; the extended Cable and Wireless commercial which became a household favourite, and Red Stripe’s Pa Ben’s Christmas’.

“I did several Red Label Wine commercials, Smirnoff Vodka, Appleton, Maybelline. But the Ting and Pa Ben’s really stand out to me, and actually getting that gold medal for best actress, starting my own company – I am proud of those to this day,” she tells JIS News.

Ms. Thompson’s other film credits in production include ‘Milk and Honey’, ‘Treasure Island’, ‘Cocktail’, ‘Cool Runnings’, ‘How Stella Got Her Groove Back’, ‘Knight and Day’, ‘Third World Cop’, ‘Ghett’a Life’, ‘No Time to Die’, ‘Sprinter’, the Marley documentary – ‘Bob Marley: One Love’, which is the new biopic to be released in 2024.

Looking back at her 50 years in the industry, Ms. Thompson says she has learnt patience and how to manage her role in making productions successful.

“Making a film is not easy… you have people working 12 hours a day. What you have to do as the production manager or the production line producer [is] you have to be the calm person to resolve issues. If there is an issue, you don’t start pointing fingers immediately, you solve it,” she tells JIS News.

She still harbours the hope of having more Jamaican stories being told on the big screen.

“Make it real, do not copy, find our own genre. In other words, don’t copy America or England. I see Korean stories being told and they are winning Academy Awards. We can do it here in Jamaica, because our life is not that much different. But make sure that it says Jamaica; we need to see ourselves on the screen,” Ms. Thompson states.