JAMPRO Seeks Greater Share Of Int’l Film Industry

Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) is seeking a bigger share of the lucrative international film industry pie, estimated to be worth billions of United States dollars. Michael McMorris, JAMPRO’s Executive Director of Marketing, told JIS News recently, that discussions were being held with Canadian and British film councils to develop co-production treaties to allow for increased investments in film production locally.
He explained that JAMPRO’s involvement would enable Jamaican filmmakers to access funds for local-based movies and create a raft of employment opportunities for Jamaicans in varying professions. The initiative, he pointed out, was also designed to bring increased exposure to the country as an ideal location for filmmaking.
The effort to bring greater exposure to the country should be reinforced by the work of the Film Commission, which was set up to bring overseas production personnel to the country to do film, video shoots and advertisements, and interface with foreign professionals to facilitate the movement of services outside of Jamaica.
He said the Film Commission had achieved a number of successes including facilitating the use of Jamaica as a double for countries such as Africa, as was the case in ‘Legends of the Fall’, a period-based film that starred well-known actors, Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins. Mr. McMorris said in other instances, Jamaica had even been used as a double for southern American states.
Meanwhile, JAMPRO Chairman, Joseph Matalon, told JIS News that last year, the country earned some $400 million from the expenditure of overseas-based film and photographic crews that shot pictures for magazine editorials, in addition to screen and television productions, and music videos.
He said that many Jamaicans benefited from the projects as the crews utilised not only the country’s natural resources but its human capital as well. “The people who come to Jamaica use local cameramen, local venues, caterers, carpenters and transportation workers,” he informed.