The Honorable Shyne made a splash at the Princess Cinema on Sunday evening, earning rave reviews from moviegoers. This biographical documentary delves into Shyne Barrow’s journey to superstardom, his conviction and lengthy prison sentence, and his eventual deportation to Belize. Although the documentary premiered on Hulu on November eighteenth, many Belizeans don’t have access to the streaming platform. To bridge this gap, Barrow teamed up with Play Chune to host a special screening at the Princess. With two theaters opened up, Belizeans flocked to watch the film. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano with the story.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Belizean moviegoers were in for a treat on Sunday evening as the much-anticipated film documenting the life and times of Shyne Barrow premiered at the Princess Cinema. The audience was captivated by the story of this public figure, brought to life on the big screen. Before the first showing, we chatted with some of the attendees to get a sense of their excitement and expectations for the documentary. It was great to hear what they were looking forward to as they headed into the screening.
Bernard Panton Jr., Moviegoer
“I think it’s a historical moment for Shyne and I’m really curious to understand the full story, you know, from beginning to end. I love documentaries and I think, a Belizean documentary, first and foremost, is something nice. Secondly, a Belizean documentary on a politician is even better. So I’m just looking forward to seeing the storyline, understanding more of what Shyne and his journey is all about and just feeling out the vibe.”
Shyne’s journey from rags to riches, which includes a significant stint in a US prison, is a well-known story. His shift from the world of music and entertainment to the political arena in Belize is also widely recognized. While he may have his critics, his story is not just a cautionary tale but one that many can relate to.
William Neal, Moviegoer
“You know, one of the things that, in Belize, the zero degrees of separation make you see people in their humanity, their full humanity. But I think that lessons can be learned from anybody and I approach it, you know, we may not be hangout buddies, but you can learn lessons from anybody. I think this is a great opportunity to just see his lessons and see how they can extrapolate into the ordinary Belizean life”
The bio doc, produced by Disney in collaboration with Andscape, runs for an engaging hour and forty-three minutes. The audience was completely captivated, soaking in every detail of Shyne’s incredible life story. Meanwhile, we had the chance to catch up with Shyne himself on the red carpet. Here’s what he had to say at the event.
Isani Cayetano
“What do you think, amidst this cautionary tale, is perhaps the lesson for the average young Belizean who’s watching this documentary for the first time?”
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“Never give up, it is never too late and you can do absolutely anything, but the cost of admission, the cost of success is one of great pain and sacrifice and consistency and determination and if you’re prepared to give every single thing that you have, every ounce, every fiber of your being to what it is you are trying to accomplish in life, you will succeed. It takes time, it doesn’t happen overnight and sometimes it seems as if it won’t happen any at all, but I believe my life story is proof that it does happen. It might not happen when you want it to happen, but it will happen if you remain consistent and committed.”
Just after eight p.m., moviegoers streamed out of the theaters, many with a fresh perspective on Shyne Barrow. They reflected on his incredible journey from Curassow Street to rising star at Bad Boy Records, his time at Clinton Correctional Facility, and his eventual deportation back to Belize.
Devon Gabriel, Moviegoer
“Anybody who is a Belizean who has known what it is to struggle, to grow up in a world where people have limited you and have said that you are going to amount to nothing and to actually overcome that, to laugh in the face and to actually Shyne, literally, I thought it was a good documentary, well done.”
Fidelis Bermudez, Moviegoer
“It was very interesting, I loved it, and it shows you that whenever people go through obstacles and bad things in life that they can improve themselves and Shyne has done a good job on it. I loved it, I love the documentary.”
Isani Cayetano
“Does that perhaps change your perspective on who Shyne Barrow is?”
Fidelis Bermudez
“No, I have always had a soft spot for him because I know that he’s been through a lot in life. So seeing the movie helped me know who Shyne really is and what he went through.”
Despite the early success and rave reviews of the bio doc, embattled music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has stirred up some drama from prison. He’s issued a cease-and-desist letter, aiming to stop Shyne from talking about the events of that fateful night in December 1999 that forever changed Shyne’s life.
Isani Cayetano
“Sean Combs has sent out a cease-and-desist letter for certain parts of the story that you have been telling, particularly in respect of what happened on the night of December 26th, 1999, at Club New York. The fact that you’re saying you’re a fall guy for him, so and so forth, how do you respond to that?”
Shyne Barrow
“I didn’t see it, I don’t even know if it exists. That’s just a rumor. Did you see it?”
Isani Cayetano
“So you have not been in receipt of that cease and desist?”
Shyne Barrow
“No. Not at all. At the end of the day, my life is my life, and, you know, I’ve done unprecedented things in my professional career and there is nothing I can do about that but thank God, fall to my knees and praise the father that I was able to sell over forty million records. I was able to do several multimillion dollar deals in the entertainment industry, and there is nothing I can do about that but thank God and fall to my knees and praise the Father.”
Isani Cayetano for News Five.
