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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
hot right now
The Dominican Republic became one of the hottest destinations in the caribbean in 2020. Well set up for international productions in terms of locations, studios and incentives, the destination saw a huge increase in the scale of productions choosing to shoot there.
Image: Old - Phobymo/Universal Pictures © 2021 Universal Studios.
he Dominican Republic is one of the most established production hubs in the Caribbean. As one of the largest and leading economies in the region, the country is ready to welcome incoming productions with a base of crew, leading facilities and a solid tax credit.
In 2020 the size of productions increased exponentially. “To give you an idea, we would usually average between USD25 million and USD35 million (at most) in foreign budgets. In contrast from July 2020 to July 2021, we’ve hosted foreign productions with aggregate budgets exceeding USD200 million,” says film commissioner Marianna Vargas Gurilieva. This increase was down to the conditions in the locations, and the fact the country was able to provide a safe environment for shooting during Covid-19.
“as one of The largesT and leading economies in The region, The counTry is well seT up To welcome incoming producTions wiTh a base of crew, leading faciliTies and a solid Tax crediT.”
These productions included M. Night Shylaman’s Old (pictured above) for Universal, which utilised the island’s beaches for the story of a family on a tropical holiday who discover that the secluded beach is causing them to age rapidly. Other large shoots included Mark Wahlberg’s Arthur the King and Jennifer Lopez comedy Shotgun Wedding for Lionsgate and Paramount’s The Lost City of D.
As well as beach settings, the country offers a range of locations including colonial architecture, wildlife and tropical landscapes.
lOcaTiOn HiGHliGHT
Basilica of La Altagracia, Higuey The city of Higuey is 40 minutes from the resort town of Punta Cana. Mostly famed for the Basilica de Nuestra Senora de la Altagracia, or La Altagracia Cathedral, visitors can also visit the nearby markets and streets of the less touristic cities. The basilica was built in 1956 to house a religious icon, and was visited by Pope John IV who declared it a Minor Basilica in 1970. Its distinctive arch and contemporary appearance has made the Basilica a tourist destination. Interested visitors can see the art inside, while filmmakers may be captured by the shadows cast by the unique arch and bell tower. 1977 thriller feature Sorcerer from William Friedkin used the basilica. Based on George Arnaud’s novel Le Salaire de la Peur the film follows four outcasts of different origins who meet in a South American village where they must transport cargoes of unstable dynamite.
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