The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

COLLAGE Entertainment can educate and entertain a wider audience now that the group’s VAT (Value Added Tax) video hit the big screen at Galleria Cinemas.

Nearly two weeks ago Galleria Cinemas solicited the group’s approval to screen the video that weighs in on controversy surrounding the implementation of VAT expected to come into effect fewer than five months from now.

“We wanted to know about it and we got a lot of information from a website Citizens For A Better Bahamas and they had a lot of thorough information on VAT as well as different resources. We did not want to take a side because we didn’t know exactly what was going on. So we decided to ask the question first because no one else was really doing it,” Tyrone J Burrows of Collage Entertainment said.

The video is originally 8 minutes long and feature segments such as “VAT and My Girl”, “VAT and Crime”, “VAT and Da Popo”, VAT and the Move”. However, a more condensed version of the video with only “VAT and the Move” segment is being screened in theatres.

The latter will soon become a full movie, Tyrone told Tribune Entertainment.

“Some of the scenes were based on life experiences. We know that there is a crime issue and we thought what would happen if VAT affects crime the same way that it affected St Kitts because they had cut backs. And so we had the question do criminals have cutbacks? I figured they have a budget to.

“Persons in relationships have budgets too because VAT is something that would be implemented across the country so we know that everyone will be affected by it. We decided to take it from that angle. What would an immoral police officer do with the implementation of VAT?” he said.

Collage Entertainment has used comedy to spark reflection and educate their viewers since their inception.

“We wanted to get people thinking. Throw out the laughter and get that ‘muddasick dread’ moment out. When you sit down and think about it. We do not really have that many industries; in countries where they have [many industries] they have a lot of other things to draw from. But with us, like we said in the movie, we only have banana and salt. So we do not have much by way of sustaining ourselves as a country. That is why the guy said in the movie, I believe in our government and I really believe they will ask the other leaders what their experience with VAT was,” he said.

Collage Dem is well known for its viral video sensation “Stop Likin Man”, and has become a trend setter when it comes to Internet videos. They have grown tremendously since the video.

The group intends to continue creating video and movies that address some of the pressing issues facing the country.

“We realise that with the video, people are not only laughing but they are asking important questions. We took an informational stance, not one that necessarily bashed the government but it asks questions. We intended to approach Galleria Cinemas about putting PSA’s in the movies. So far we have been getting a lot of positive feedback and a lot of people have said they appreciate it,” he said.