‘Escape to Last Man Peak’ for film - D’Costa’s novel to be made into motion picture

Local film production company Have A Bawl Productions Limited recently optioned film adaptation rights for the beloved Jamaican novel, Escape to Last Man Peak, written by Jean D’Costa. Analisa Chapman, intellectual property and entertainment law attorney and producer of the hopeful feature film, believes the story has the strength to attract audiences locally, regionally and globally. Testament to her belief, the script was submitted to the Sundance Screenwriters’ Development Lab, where it passed the first selection round.

“Just getting selected at the second round of scripts that they are looking through is – in my book – a big win. There are just two rounds, and it is one of the most prestigious screenwriting labs in the world,” co-producer and screenwriter Tanya Batson-Savage told The Sunday Gleaner.

“Independently, both Analisa and I wanted to do Escape to Last Man Peak for years – even as we were just starting out on our journey into film eons ago. It was one of the works we identified as something that we would love to pursue. We’ve actually been working on getting the rights for about five years now. It’s been a really long ­process for us to get this option,” Batson-Savage said.

The five-year journey was no fault of author, Jean D’Costa. In fact, she was immediately on board. “The minute we approached her, she loved the idea. We met her and we are mutual fans of each other. She is a delightful woman. I met her when she came for the Jean D’Costa Award in 2013-15. But the challenge was, the book has changed ownership in terms of publishers,” Batson-Savage explained.

D’Costa said: “ Escape to Last Man Peak was born as a vivid dream in which I was the silent witness to the children’s ordeal. A movie made by Jamaicans for Jamaicans completes the children’s final order, ‘This is our story. Please make it.’ Here is their ultimate wish, and mine. I could not ask for more.”

“Now that we have got the option, we’re at the point of scripting and just talking with potential directors and we are looking for investors – which is the major hurdle to go forward. And we are happy to make this happen. We have loved Escape to Last Man Peak since we were children and it is one of those stories that celebrate our strength as Jamaicans. This is a project and story that many Jamaicans have longed to see transition from the page to the silver screen,” Batson-Savage said.

But as the script develops, there is a lot more work to do. When a screenplay is optioned, the producer has the ‘exclusive right’ to purchase the screenplay in the future, if they were successful in setting up a deal to actually film a movie based on the screenplay. During this time, often referred to as ‘development hell’, the producers must create a package that should include a complete screenplay and informal agreements with the directors, the talent and financiers.

Since it was first published in 1975, Escape to Last Man Peak has been treasured by Jamaicans, subsequently becoming a staple in the curriculum for Caribbean secondary schools. The story follows 10 young orphans forced from their home to escape ‘the sickness’, who set off on a dangerous cross-country journey to find refuge at Last Man Peak.

kimberley.small@gleanerjm.com