The Bahamas Department of Tourism hosted a “Welcome to the Bahamas” reception Friday night for Ride Along and Think Like A Man filmmaker Will Packer to kick-off a weekend celebration of the Hollywood producer’s 40th birthday in Nassau, Bahamas April 11-13.
Joined by his fiancée Heather Hayslett, nearly 200 of Packer’s family and friends including Kevin Hart, Taraji P. Henson, La La Anthony, Michael Ealy, Angie Martinez, Tika Sumpter, DJ Drama, Kandi Burruss & Todd Tucker, David Banner, Affion Crockett, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, , BET President Stephen G. Hill, E! News Anchor Terrence J, Directors Tim Story (Ride Along, Think Like A Man), Jeremy Garelick (The Wedding Ringer) ,Rob Hardy (Criminal Minds, Bones), Phillip Thorton (R&B Divas LA & Atlanta), Magazine execs Vanessa Bush (Editor In Chief, Essence magazine) and Mitzi Miller (Editor In Chief, Jet magazine), Terrinee Gundy, Angie Beyince, Jerome Bettis, Nephew Tommy, Po Johnson, Oronde Garrett, Terri Vaughn & Karon Riley,and Will Packer Productions executives Barbara Dreyfuss and Korin D. Huggins, traveled to Nassau for the big weekend celebration.
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The festivities began on Friday at the Atlantis resort’s Cain Pool at the Cove Tower. Guests were then whisked, first by police escort and then by private boat charters, to a private island soiree hosted by Prime Minister Perry Christie, Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchombe and Consul General Randy Rolle.. Guests were treated to a seafood feast including grilled lobster tails, live entertainment and then surprised by a traditional Bahamian Junkanoo parade. The birthday celebration continued at Aura Nightclub inside the Royal Tower at Atlantis that evening.
“I indicated to you that you are a defining personality and you can influence the thinking of people,” said Prime Minister Christie. “I am the son of a taxi driver and a taxi driver through this same tourism industry was able to cause himself and my mother to have a life that led his children to go to university and that kind of life would tell you that the waiter and the waitresses over on this island serving you- their aspirations are no different. They intend to give their children the best opportunities,” said Prime Minister Christie.
“This weekend is about celebrating life and if there is anything that I can pass on to you is to live it to the fullest,” he said. “The Prime Minister’s dad was a taxi driver, but he had a dream and a vision and I know that there are a lot of dreamers here and no matter what, keep dreaming. Let’s embrace love and life and live every single moment, ” said Packer.
On Saturday, legendary baseball great Gary Sheffield, who started his career with the Milwaukee Brewers and retired from the New York Mets in 2009, hosted Packer’s family and friends at his Bahamian mansion for a day-long beach party sponsored by Ciroc and Crown Royal.
Packer’s Los Angeles-based Will Packer Productions will release of the highly-anticipated Think Like A Man Too in theaters on June 20. Also in 2014, Packer is expected to begin production on Ride Along 2 and his untitled ‘girl’s trip’ film that will be directed by Malcolm Lee and later, No Good Deed, a thriller starring Idris Elba and Taraji P. Henson hits theaters on September 12.
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