In photography, as in real estate, the three most important words are…location, location, location. And ever since Christopher Columbus first described Jamaica as “the most beautiful island he ever saw,” the word Jamaica has been synonymous with romance, tropical passion and beautiful scenery. It is therefore no wonder that in recent years it has become a highly desirable location for film and print photography, with productions including fashion shoots, commercials, documentaries, music videos, feature films, and recently, reality TV shows, have flocked to the island.
Three decades ago, the Jamaican government recognized the benefits of supporting the country’s burgeoning film industry. The math was simple. Film productions have the ability to make a substantial contribution to the economic prosperity of a small country. They provide jobs for the skilled workers, training and experience for the less skilled, and generate substantial income for many ancillary businesses ranging from lodging and catering for the often sizeable cast and crew to crew transportation services. and personal. In addition to this direct income, the product of their work, whether it be scenes from a major movie, a video, or a fashion shoot, serves to further promote Jamaica as a vacation destination. The Jamaica Film Commission was established in the 1980s within Jpro (Jamaica Promotions Organisation) as a one stop shop to address the requirements of film producers, simplifying the process and enhancing the attractiveness of Jamaica as a location.
The process is simple. For commercial films, scripts must be submitted to the Film Commissioner, Ms. Dell Crooks, for approval before shooting begins. Naturally, Jamaica is very protective of its brand. The local links are then recommended and approved by the Film Commission. The Commission then helps eliminate any red tape related to work permits, licenses, tax exemptions, and access to public buildings and support systems, including Jamaica Defense Force helicopters. The success of this cooperative effort, along with Jampro’s direct role in promoting the “Jamaica location” to Hollywood studios and international production companies, has been evident in the large number of overseas productions using Jamaica as a location. major.
Jamaica offers a wide variety of terrain, from white-sand beaches to lush rainforests, waterfalls, and mountain peaks. This allows geographically disparate scenes to be shot in one location, saving time and money. Areas of Jamaica have been filmed for Africa, Southeast Asia, the US, England, and of course the greater Caribbean. Jamaica has been a prime location for a number of Hollywood movies over the years including: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Dr. No, The Harder They Come, Papillon, Live and Let Die, Return to the Island Treasure, Cocktail, Mighty Quinn, Cool Runnings and how Stella got her groove back. Taxi drivers and other guides are usually eager to point out locations from past movie shoots, so just ask. Many of the major fashion houses and magazines use Jamaica for their summer and cruise catalogs and editorials, including Brooks Brothers, Teen Vogue, Ann Taylor, Self Magazine, Glamor UK and Madame. Recent commercials shot in Jamaica include uma, Slimfast, Carnival Cruise Lines, Clairol and Herbal Essences.
In recent years, competition within the Caribbean has intensified, particularly for Hollywood projects, with several islands willing to pay cash incentives for the privilege of hosting a big-budget production. Last summer, Jampro announced that it would refocus its efforts to attract more television and commercial business, in addition to feature films. These smaller productions have the ability to provide a steady stream of business for the local film industry and the strategy has already produced some recent successes.
Maxine Walters is a line producer promoting Jamaica as a location from her base in the United States. Contact: [email protected]. The Jamaica Film Commission website is located at http://www.filmjamaica.com. Contact: (876) 978-7755 or email [email protected] Rent, Rent, Rent
**For more information visit http://www.jam-boree.com, Jamaica’s visitor website, the complete source for travel and tourism information featuring carefully selected deals on vacation packages, hotels, villas , flights and car rentals**
