Local Film Industry Significantly Benefits Jamaican Economy During 2017-18

KINGSTON, Jamaica, August 29, 2018 (CMC) – The local film industry contributed a record J$1.2 billion in expenditure to the local economy, during the fiscal year 2017-18, the Film Commissioner at the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Renée Robinson, has said.

Film production expenditure, which relates to the value of the production budget that comes into the island to offset the services rendered, shows that for the 2017/18 fiscal period, an estimated J$1.2 billion was allocated, up from J$745 million in the previous year.

Robinson said this was the first time the figure had exceeded one billion dollars, and that the expenditure is the value of the budget that international productions spend in Jamaica.

“So, this would be to hire cast, crew, drivers, rental of equipment, anything that is part of the production process that is being spent in Jamaica,” she added.

According to the official, 124 international film productions took place, over the period, and generated 2,781 jobs.

She said the Commission is able to differentiate and segment the types of productions that are shot on the island, by tracking through the film registration process.

“Documentary productions led the genres, with 35 documentaries, filmed in Jamaica over the period, up from 17 in the previous year, and TV productions followed with 24, up from 15 in 2016/17,” Robinson said.

Three feature films were shot on the island: ‘Yardie’, directed by Idris Elba; ‘Like Father’ and ‘The Intent 2’ and for the first time, a webisode production was filmed in Jamaica.

“We also had some high-profile productions filmed in Jamaica over the period, including ‘Caribbean’s Next Top Model’, and we were fortunate enough to shoot the entire season. We also shot an episode of ‘The Amazing Race Israel’ and an episode of ‘Marvel’s Luke Cage’,” Robinson added.

She said other prominent productions included the ‘Pretty Bird’ music video for Beyoncé and Jay-Z; ‘Perfect Places’ music video by Lorde; and ‘Candice Patton’ by America’s Next Top Model celebrity guest judge, Kelly Cutrone.

“So, there has been quite a bit of activity in the local film industry, as we tracked the various international productions that come into the island and the local personnel and services that they utilise for their projects. We are committed to improving our tracking and monitoring strategies,” Robinson said.