As did the movie, The Silence of the Lambs, the romantic comedy, starring Jennifer Lopez and husband Ben Afleck, will feature a glimpse of The Bahamas in its final scene. This time it is the beaches of Harbour Island, Eleuthera.
A favourite spot for commercials and fashion shoots, Harbour Island has earned the Bahamas Film and Television Commission $250,000 as the star-packed flick, which was filmed in May 2002, showcases the island as the place to be this summer.
Gigli, directed by Martin Brest (Beverly Hills Cop and Midnight Run), is an unusual romantic comedy about a low-level gangster Larry Gigli, played by Affleck, who is given an assignment that gets him in way over his head.
Ricki (Lopez), a gorgeous free-spirited female enforcer, is sent in to assist him. Gigli finds himself falling for the unavailable Ricki and goes to great lengths to win her affection. Yet the harder she resists him, the more determined he is to win her.
Bahamas Film Commission senior manager Angela Archer explained that the Harbour Island beach scene might not have happened after an unforeseen tropical storm ruined the beach and delayed production for a week.
Additionally, money had to be “pumped” into the project, as islanders and the Commission banded together to restore the beach in time for the production crew to set up and film.
The Commission, she revealed, is always negotiating with agencies and groups interested in staging photo shoots, still photography, television, movie and commercial shoots in The Bahamas.
Upon returning from a meeting and tour with New Line Cinemas, Ms Archer said The Bahamas is constantly being scouted by filming and photography crews. Not willing to reveal any details from her meeting with New Line Cinemas, she said if the “deal” goes through, a film starring some “big celebrities” would be shot in Nassau.
The Commission is also negotiating with a production crew of the hit television show CSI-Miami, who are interested in filming a scene in Bahamian territorial waters on board a Royal Bahamas Defence Force vessel.
And, a Defence Force officer may have a small speaking part in the scene.
Asked what influence present and future projects will have on the country’s tourism industry, Ms Archer said because films, televisions shows and sometimes commercials feature celebrities, viewers often associate the area they were in with stardom. This, she said, is a big plus for the industry.
“Often celebrities are associated with the name. When people see Jennifer Lopez and Ben Afleck in The Bahamas, they will think of The Bahamas when they go on summer vacation this year,” she said.
Stressing that the Commission’s main objective is to “showcase The Bahamas,” Ms Archer said The Bahamas must maintain its image as a beautiful, yet unique destination for tourism and the film and photography industry.
By Khashan Poitier, The Nassau Guardian
