Prudence N. Barnes, Gleaner Writer
A 'reasoning' in Forward, one of the films screened at the Flashpoint Film and Music Festival in Negril, Westmoreland, last weekend. - CONTRBUTED
JAMAICA'S FILM industry is on track to meet its target for the year, seemingly not affected by the slowdown in the tourism industry with which it enjoys a symbiotic relationship.
Film Commissioner, Del Crooks said the industry is on track to meet its target of some $600 million this year, a 50 per cent increase in the projection over the $400 million targeted for last year. The 2004 financial year was a a record one, with over 1400 local film professionals being employed as a result of some major still film projects and music videos. Earnings from the film industry are calculated based on the spending or spin-offs to other areas of the economy from production companies selecting locations in Jamaica.
Updating on the figures so far for this year, Mrs. Crooks explained that so far for 2005, the film industry has earned some $70 million. She said there was no cause for worry, because the figures for this year are in line with where they were last year at this time. "At July last year we were at some $75 million," she said.
SLOW PERIOD
Furthermore, "summer is usually a slow period, with the peak period for filming being October to February," she explained, adding the film year runs up to March each year.
Jamaica's film sector comprises feature films, still shoots, commercials, documentaries, television series and music videos, adding that a significant part of the work being commercials and still shoots.
So far this year, Jamaica has been the location of choice for some major international shoots. Mrs. Crooks disclosed that these include photo shoots involving Glamour, Brides, Self and Conde Naste magazines, among others as well as a still shoot for Sean-Paul's album covers. Among the notable music videos filmed on location in Jamaica, have been two music videos for Willie Nelson - his collaboration with Jimmy Cliff and Toots.
In addition, four feature films are slated for filming on location in Jamaica before the end of the financial year, Mrs. Crooks disclosed.
Caribbean Manhunt I and II out of Los Angeles are two of the programmes scheduled to be filmed on location in Jamaica. The other project is the Harrold Family out of France which is set around Jamaica music while the fourth film is a US$3 million Jamaican feature film, the details of which are being kept confidential. An additional three films are awaiting the signing of a co-production treaty between Jamaica and the United Kingdom, which the head of the Film Commission noted is to be signed by the end of the year.
The co-production agreement is a reciprocal arrangement that will among other things, allow Jamaican film producers to access funding from British sources through partnerships with UK producers for filming in Jamaica, and access to resources from other countries with which the UK has signed treaties.
"The great thing about the co-production treaties is that all the countries that have a treaty signed with the UK will automatically be a partner with Jamaica. We will automatically benefit from the treaty that is signed with France or Ireland, South Africa and India."
Jamaica's treaty will be the only one in the Caribbean, and CARICOM partners could also have access to the UK treaty by partnering with Jamaican and UK partners, she said.
JAMPRO's Film Commission was established in 1986 to market Jamaica as a location for filming and to facilitate the process. The Film Commission currently assists both local and overseas companies to navigate the film production process in Jamaica, Mrs. Crooks said, adding that the commission's "facilitation goes beyond the granting of permits to include everything associated with filming.
Films shot on location in Jamaica are a tremendous boost and provide priceless exposure for the local tourism industry and JAMPRO's Film Commission works closely with the Jamaica Tourist Board to market Jamaica, the former focusing on selling locations and attracting investment, the latter marketing the tourism sector. But the country has received tremendous exposure from films being shot on location here.
"Sometimes it is not about the earnings, it's the promotion," she said.
