While a “significant number” of Bahamians are working on the new Pirates of The Caribbean films now shooting in Grand Bahama, and others are being interviewed for the “Casino Royale,” the new James Bond film that begins shooting there this month, the film industry in The Bahamas will only grow when Bahamians get involved, according to an official of the Bahamas Film Commission.
“Bahamians need to tell their stories,” said Craig Woods, who heads the Film Commission. “That’s the way the industry is going to grow.”
Mr. Woods said recently that The Bahamas as a film destination has been busy over the last few years, and that filmmakers coming to The Bahamas are seeking to hire Bahamian crewmembers where possible.
Since October 2003, major motion pictures including “After The Sunset” and “Into The Blue” have filmed in The Bahamas, as well as independent films like “Three,” currently in limited release in England, and a not yet released film called “Eye of The Dolphin.”
“I would think that says we were busy,” Mr. Woods said.
Mr. Woods echoed a statement recently expressed by Rick Bodge, vice president of Kerzner International Development, noting that it is to the advantage of the person coming to work in The Bahamas to hire a local crew, as it cuts down on expenses and time.
Mr. Woods believes that The Bahamas needs to design a major tax incentive plan for filmmakers, however, if the industry is to grow on a larger scale.
To that end, the Commission has drafted a set of suggestions that are being reviewed before being submitted to the government for consideration.
On the commission’s website, Mr. Woods said in his “Commissioner’s Corner” that he hoped the incentive package would be in effect by the second quarter of this year.
“That may not happen,” Mr. Woods said on Friday, though he did point to the possibility that the incentive package might be in effect by the year’s end.
The Bahama Journal
