Aspiring actors, directors, producers and other Bahamians interested in filmmaking were told Monday that ethical and professional attitudes would enable them to find a place in a growing local industry.
Speaking during the inaugural meeting of the new Bahamas Film Society at the British Colonial Hilton hotel, Bahamas Film Commissioner Craig Woods warned the local filmmakers against culturally accepted habits such as excessive tardiness and failure to reply to contacts.
“We don’t reply,” he said. “We simply brush people off. We must be prompt and on time.”
According to Mr Woods, the government was working expeditiously to promote the growth of the local film industry in The Bahamas. He revealed that legislators were in the process of establishing film incentive laws to attract filmmakers.
He also noted that Government had engaged The Bahamas Film and Television Consulting Agency to promote the country to filmmakers in California and elsewhere.
Pointing out that Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe viewed the film industry as being able to promote tourism, while providing revenue of its own, Mr Woods said eight percent of tourists travelling to Ireland went as a result of seeing a movie. “That’s the kind of influence we want to have in our marketplace.”
While the local industry would receive a boost as a result of the movie studio presently being constructed in Grand Bahama, Mr Woods said The Bahamas had even more potential to attract “runaway” projects, which are done outside California. “The same things that work for us in The Bahamas in tourism works in film making.”
Mr Woods announced that The Bahamas had recently joined the London Guild of Location Managers and had begun inviting British filmmakers to view the country when they travelled to the U.S. for projects.
In order to make The Bahamas as marketable a location as possible Mr Woods said Mr Wilchcombe was exploring the possibility of opening all state facilities available for production, at no cost.
Conceding that Bahamian film makers have technical challenges, Chairman of the Bahamas Film Makers Society Steering Committee Celi Moss opined that Bahamians are highly talented. The combination of talent and the new opportunities would soon create new high paying careers for them in various sectors of the industry, he said.
He announced the organisation’s plans to fully fund 10 new Bahamian films over the next 12-18 months. The society’s next meeting is scheduled for May 2.
By Raymond Kongwa, Nassau Guardian Staff Reporter
