LIONS DAILY NEWS
FRIDAY / JUNE 24 / 2016
commercials, stills shoots, reality TV, travel shows and documentaries, plus some feature films — including 1994’s The Shawshank Redemption. Other commercials shot there include T Rowe Price, Pottery Barn Kids, Nordstrom, Seagram, Izod, Alloy Apparel and Princess Cruises. As Wheatley says, there is a wide choice of locations on the islands: “Greece, Key West, Brazil, Mexico, Afghanistan, uninhabited islands and vast farmed estates, are just some of the unexpected looks available in the US Virgin Islands.” The US influence in Puerto Rico and the USVI extends to the quality of the crews, which are conversant in English and Spanish. There are also incentives in both locations. In the case of the USVI, the incentive scheme is new and applies to commercials producers. Subject to a minimum spend of $250,000, “we’re offering up to a 17% transferable tax credit and up to a 29% cash rebate. That’s 46% for producers who meet key criteria.” Wheatley adds: “We are looking forward to the incentives allowing us to work with more productions. Anyone can benefit as long as they meet the criteria. Local lawyers and our Economic Development Authority can help facilitate the application process. It’s important to point out that the incentives apply to the music industry as well.” The British Virgin Islands (BVI) have been welcoming productions for over two decades. “Through these productions we have established a set of location service providers who can co-ordinate the crews and production services you need per island and location,” says Clive McCoy, head of the BVI Film Commission. “In the event that we may be short on crew, we
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FOCUS ON THE CARIBBEAN
work closely with crew from the USVI, which is only 55 minutes away by ferry.” The region is film-friendly, especially when projects offer significant promotional value to the islands. And the BVI Film Commission also provides assistance with obtaining work permits so the process is easy. “We assist with obtaining special rates on accommodations and other services. The BVI also offer different forms of incentives for productions hosted on the island. It ranges from assistance with work permits, clearances, negotiating special rates on accommodations, boats, and ground transportation. It is not a one-size-fits-all model but we work closely with each production company to ensure it works within their budgets.” Commercials shot in the BVI include The Johnny Walker Blue Label ‘Gentleman’s Wager’ commercial. “Billabong also used our locations for their 2016 women’s line; Bulouva Watches and Aveda Skin Care also captured content here for their brand. The United States is our largest market,” McCoy says. Jamaica, the third largest island in the region, doesn’t boast such strong links to the US. But its unique look makes it a popular destination for producers. A key attraction is that it has the full range of Caribbean-style geography — mountains, forests, plantations, caves, cliffs and beaches. This is reinforced by Kingston, Jamaica’s vibrant capital city with its mix of colourful markets, Spanish colonial and Georgian architecture. Many commercials and feature films have shot there and the island has the region’s oldest Film Commission, which has existed since 1984, which means permitting is relatively straightforward. The
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commission estimates that around 150 productions are shot on the island every year, ranging from features to music videos. This has created a healthy crew and equipment infrastructure. Other Caribbean locations where producers can be assured of good infrastructure include The Bahamas, part of the British Commonwealth. Although it doesn’t have a formal connection with the US, the fact that it is just a 55-minute flight from Florida and a two-and-a-half-hour flight from New York makes it an easy trip for producers. Movie projects to have visited in recent years include an episode of the Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise and Casino Royale, while TV and commercials producers are regular visitors to the Bahamas, which has around a dozen inhabited islands. Because the Bahamas is the ultimate in Caribbean cool, it is especially popular for fashion shoots, with Elle magazine a recent visitor. The status of the Dominican Republic (TDR) has also been enhanced in recent years by the arrival of Pinewood Studios. With around six-to-10 feature films a year being produced in TDR it’s no surprise that the country has also built up one of the best production services sectors in the region. TDR also has a 25% tax credit. Although it doesn’t extend to commercial productions, it does at least help sustain the wider production infrastructure.
Siesta in the Grenadines
As a general rule, the depth of production talent and infrastructure is better the closer you are to the US. But it’s worth noting that some of the islands at the far end of the chain from Miami are also popular, well-organised locations. Barbados, the most easterly island in the Caribbean, is famous for its white sand beaches, turquoise water and coral reef
23/06/2016 9:58 PM