Quickies

Sophia Brown single out today

Sophia Brown releases the single, So You Lie, from her upcoming album, today.

"In the past four years, this is the hardest I have worked on the promotion of a new single," she said. "This is the year of the ladies. Adele exploded globally in 2015 with a big album and a successful hit single, Hello. Rihanna is doing her thing in a big way with her new platinum album, ANTI. These two females have inspired me to work harder with this new project."

So You Lie, written by Brown and Arnolique Kelly, is produced by Akeem Bowen. It is being released on the Di General record label with international distribution being handled by Zojak Worldwide.

For her album, Brown has worked with some of reggae's finest producers. "Clevie from Steelie & Clevie fame is on board. So, too, is Sly & Robbie and Hopeton Lindo," she noted.

Brown is set to do a US promotional tour in early March. The first stop is Yonkers, New York at the Venue, where she will be backed by the Linkage Band. Prior to heading to the US, she will perform at Margaritaville in Montego Bay as part of the Reggae Month celebrations.

Record entries for KingstOOn

Over 900 entries from 93 countries have been received for the KingstOOn Emerging Animators Content Competition (KEACC) and the KingstOOn International Animation Film Festival (KIAFF).

"This is an amazing achievement when you consider that this is only the second staging of KingstOOn," said Julian Robinson, minister of state in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining. "The incredible response to our call for entries is validation of our vision that Jamaica can be recognised as a hub for animation in the region."

A shortlist of 44 entrants will be selected for the KingstOOn Emerging Animated Content Competition KEACC. The aim of the KEACC is to unearth new talent and showcase the excellence of the content created by the Caribbean's animation practitioners. The entries have been submitted in the categories of Storyboard, Character Design, Caribbean Short Film and Concept. Submissions have been received from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Martinique, Haiti, St Kitts & Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba and Guadeloupe.

The 840 submissions for the KIAFF have come from the Caribbean, Europe, North, South and Central America, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Oceania. Of these, 49 have been shortlisted, to compete for awards in the categories of Student Film, Short Film and Full Feature Film.

"The films from around the world will be screened at venues around Kingston during the week leading up to KingstOOn, giving anyone interested in animated films a unique opportunity to view the work of artists from around the globe," Robinson said.

The KingstOOn Animation Conference and Film Festival takes place on March 12 and 13 at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, St Andrew.

Int'l writers for Poetry in Motion 2016

Poetry in Motion will have international writers for its 13th annual staging, slated for Sunday, February 28, at the Manchester Golf Club, Mandeville. Onesty from Belgium and Shauntay Grant from Canada will perform.

From Jamaica Barbara Gloudon, saxophonist Dean Fraser, comedian Dufton Shepherd, Mutabaruka, Yasus Afari, Dwight 'Lt Elmo' Samuels, AnnMarie Wilmot, Jodian Harvey, Collette Kerr and Britton Wright will be on stage, along with a special guest performer.

Friends in Need, which cares for the street people of Mandeville, and the Gilbert and Georgia Allen Educational Trust, which supports financially challenged students, are the 2016 charity beneficiaries.

Tickets are available at Fontana Pharmacy Mandeville, Manchester Golf Club, Heavens Texaco, Villa Gardens, Mandeview, Wint's Pharmacy (Junction) and VW Investment Cambio (Christiana).

Petites go against taller models

Model hopefuls have set their sights on grabbing top honours in this year's edition of the Pulse Million Dollar Model Search. For the first time in the competition's history, the elites from the CMS petite category will be up against the fashion set for the million dollars in cash and prizes.

Although the hallowed halls of fashion have been the exclusive domain of the 5'10" lanky stunner, times are changing. A host of petite celebrities espousing high fashion and glamour have become de rigueur and lead an unspoken charge for the women of a smaller stature.

The CMS Reality TV series 2016 will capture the fierce, competitive spirit and grit of these two sets of contestants looking to make their mark on the fashion landscape.The petite contestants in this year's show are Kamara Belnavis, Christina Boswell, Celine Deidrick, Nastassia Faloon, Kara Fong, Kamaria Johnson, Sara Dee Palmer, Christina Robinson, Tia Tate, Cleopatra White and Christal Williams.

Their taller rivals are Sasha Lee Bent, Latania Blackwood, Shamoy Brown, Daneica Clarke, Abigail Dillion, Georgia Gentles, Harianna Hutchinson, Kayla Ennis, Mackella Moo Young, Tia Robinson, Susan Walker and Natalie Prout.

Viewers will be able to experience the challenges and thrills of the series, scheduled to air on TVJ in March.

Magnum judges ready for ninth season

Each week, the 'Fluffy Diva' Ms Kitty, veteran entertainer Professor Nuts and in-house producer at Downsound Records Skatta Burrell add their spunk and charisma to the 'Magnum Kings and Queens' competition, aired live on TVJ at 9:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

Ms Kitty says viewers can expect "louder" energy from her the show's ninth season.

"They can expect high energy. They can expect me being frank, up-front and keeping it real," she said.

Professor Nuts says the trio does not lay out what they are going to do. "Spontaneously, that's how we do it. It's not something that we plan," he said, referring to the camaraderie between himself and his judging colleagues, "We try to keep as energetic as possible. As judges. I don't see any replacement for them (Ms Kitty and Skatta)."

This year, 28 contestants will vie for the prizes. While not underestimating the competitors, Kitty admits she is unsure that they will be able to live up to the high standard of talent the competition has unearthed so far.

"I see some potential, but I am still worried that the talent in Jamaica still needs to be honed and unearthed," Kitty said.

Nuts is more optimistic about the group.

"We have a good crop of contestants this year. They are spitting more fire than last year. We might find that they start a little shaky, but with grooming, throughout the competition, they will get better," said Nuts.

With a mandate to support Jamaica's popular dancehall culture, 'Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall' airs on Saturdays at 9:30 p.m. on TVJ, with repeat shows on Tuesdays at 11:30 p.m. and Thursdays at 11:00 p.m.