'Scratch' film hits snag

GERMAN film-maker Volker Schaner is seeking additional funding to complete his documentary on legendary Jamaican music producer Lee 'Scratch' Perry.

Schaner, 45, placed Vision Of Paradise (the name of the project) on the kickstarter.com website - an online platform for funding creative projects - hoping to attract investors.

To date, the director says he has achieved a quarter of his US$20,000 target.

"We are very close to the finale, there are a lot of cool people supporting it. There is no way that anybody or anything can prevent us from finishing it. It's a must," Schaner told the Jamaica Observer.

According to the 45-year-old Schaner, the concept for the film came 13 years ago.

"The first time I heard Lee Perry's music I felt there was a bigger secret behind him. A secret that I had to explore and understand," he explained.

"The movie can be seen as a guide how to change the world with music," he added.

Perry, now 76, is arguably reggae's greatest producer. He is responsible for directing the music's top artistes on some of their biggest hit songs.

They include The Wailers (Mr Brown, Small Axe), Junior Murvin (Police And Thieves), Max Romeo (War Ina Babylon) and Junior Byles (Curly Locks, Beat Down Babylon).

He also worked with a number of European and American bands including The Clash and the Beastie Boys.

(from Jamaica Observer)