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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: TrinInfinite on February 11, 2007, 08:37:38 PM

Title: Next Clint Eastwood Film to be shot in Trinidad and Tobago...
Post by: TrinInfinite on February 11, 2007, 08:37:38 PM
Making movies

Film Co markets T&T as ideal location
 
US attorney Mark Smith, in Trinidad to develop the film incentive programme.
Photo: Karla Ramoo

By Lisa Allen-Agostini

The next indie hit could well be shot on location in T&T.

The T&T Film Co, a Government agency headed by CEO Carla Foderingham, is intent on making a splash on the international film scene by touting this country’s various landscapes as potential settings for movies and TV shows.

“We’re not interested in being better than Jamaica or the Bahamas,” Foderingham said, in an interview at her Bretton Hall, Newtown, office in January. “Can we take work from New York?”

New York and California, both in the US, are the top two filmmaking locations in the world. But other cities and countries are fighting, like T&T, for a piece of the the pie.

Mark Smith, a US-based consultant brought in to design a package of incentives to woo foreign filmmakers to this country, said the plan could work. An attorney who was behind Louisiana’s thrust to become a viable film location, he is in T&T to prepare a rebate package for filmmakers. Under the proposed plan, Foderingham said, filmmakers investing between $200,000 to $500,000 would receive a rebate of 12.5 per cent. Spend between $500,000 to $1,000,000 and get back 15 per cent of it; budgets over $1 million would attract a rebate of 30 per cent. (This is subject to review, she said, as really big-budget films could spend many millions—in US dollars—and it wouldn’t be feasible for the Film Co to give them such high rebates.)



‘T&T suitable for any type of film’

Rebates alone aren’t going to convince Clint Eastwood to shoot his next feature film in T&T. The Hollywood legend recently shot a movie in Norway based on that country’s incentives. In conjunction with rebates, locations need to offer skilled crews, production facilities and a friendly government, Smith said.

“Those are the kinds of things filmmakers look for. We need to find the best practices that would fit with your situation.”

What kinds of films would T&T suit? Just about any kind, Smith said. He pointed to the blockbuster hit Ray, starring Jamie Foxx as the troubled musical genius Ray Charles. Though the movie was ostensibly set in California, Florida and Georgia, among other locales, it was principally shot in Louisiana. Smith suggested that our North Coast rainforest could double for Vietnam, for example.

Vancouver, in Canada, is another location that doubles for just about anywhere in movies.

In fact, the city has become the new California, of sorts, in the film world. Pulling in some Can $1 billion a year from the film industry, the city is a strong argument for the development of the sector.

Last year Cabinet agreed to the incentives to boost the T&T film industry, Foderingham said. “This is economic development, this is business. It is creativity but it is business.” Since 1999 the unit, originally part of Tidco, has been laying groundwork to attract more foreign crews, increase local production and grow the industry. The company is now its own entity, with a board chaired by Ralph Maraj, once a film actor himself.

It has already had a measure of success. Foderingham said, “We had 65 projects last year… The work has been going on.” Those projects included an MTV TV series, the long-running Japanese reality series Ainori and commercials for Malibu Rum, she said. Each foreign crew not only pumps money into the economy, but they are made to hire local interns, increasing the local talent pool.

We want to adopt a methodology that fosters longevity,” she noted. With UWI and UTT both offering training in film and video, the prospects for future filmmakers look better and better.

BIG money

Films make big money—but they cost big money. Francis Escayg, who is currently making his first feature film The Ghost of Hing King Estate, benefitted from an initiative by the Film Co to help fund local content.

He got a relatively modest sum—he declined to say how much—from the company’s production assistance and script development programme, and has used the money to develop the soundtrack for the film. “It was a very small amount, compared to the amount of money I really needed for the film,” Escayg said, in a telephone interview. The film is being made on a much larger budget.

It was his second attempt to make a feature film. “After three years knocking around with my first script, I pitched this one to CCN-TV6. I am interested in developing local film and telling local stories; we want to tell our stories but with a universal appeal.” The film, which he expects to premiere in May, is based on a historical story run in the Guardian some years ago, about a mysterious rash of poisonings at an estate in Maracas.

It was like holding on to a horse without a saddle and without reigns. That was the ride to finish the production,” the writer and producer said of the process.

He had nothing but praise for the Film Co.

It’s a good initiative. They rely on the people in the field to give them the guidance to do the work, but they do the executive work.

It’s looking good for the industry right now. Yes, it’s hard, but we have to make films and we have to make it good.”

Reflecting on the past, in which films like the 1957 Hollywood movie Heaven Knows Mr Allison, and the local 1974 movie Bim were made in T&T, Escayg said, “Every 30 years you have an upsurge and then it falls. We seem to have this cycle and I’m hoping with the technology we could maintain something.”

 

T&T Film Co CEO Carla Foderingham at her Bretton Hall office. Photo: Karla Ramoo

Fame and financing

In the two years the Film Co has provided production assistance and script development plans, it has helped some 32 projects, including Robert Yao Ramesar’s highly praised Sister God. That film premiered at the Toronto Film Festival to critical acclaim last year. This month the company will be accepting applications for the grant for the third year.

It has also inaugurated the feature film programme. Unlike the production assistance grants, which are relatively small (one film got $5,000, for example), this is a major financing programme for feature-length projects. A feature film, which runs to an hour or more, could cost hundreds of thousands, or even millions of dollars to shoot, edit and complete. Such projects may involve dozens of employees and take years to finish. The company, which will soon begin to advertise for applicants, will offer up to 70 per cent financing for projects like these.

The Film Co:

Acts as a liaison with different ministries and co-ordinates permits to film

Networks with the Customs and Excise Division to allow for the temporary importation of film, TV and radio equipment into T&T without crews having to post a bond or pay duties and VAT

Provides an administrative structure to handle incoming film crews

Facilitates media accreditation and support of the Copyright Organisation for the protection of intellectual property rights

Networks with industry partners for reduced rates on travel, accommodation, transportation and other support services

Provides information on services available by tour guides and operators.

(Courtesy: The Film Co)
 

 

©2005-2006 Trinidad Publishing Company Limited

Designed by: Randall Rajkumar-Maharaj · Updated daily by: Sheahan Farrell

 
 
 
Title: Re: Next Clint Eastwood Film to be shot in Trinidad and Tobago...
Post by: morvant on February 11, 2007, 08:58:09 PM
he living bago years now
Title: Re: Next Clint Eastwood Film to be shot in Trinidad and Tobago...
Post by: TriniCana on February 11, 2007, 10:51:50 PM
he living bago years now

I thought was Harrison living in Tobago - and his gf Lockhart has been seen in Tobago a couple of times too
Indiana Jones fella nah...cyah remember he first name

Clint could teach dem how to use dey effin blimp...stups
Title: Re: Next Clint Eastwood Film to be shot in Trinidad and Tobago...
Post by: vb on February 12, 2007, 01:42:30 AM
That is one misleading subject heading.

VB
Title: Re: Next Clint Eastwood Film to be shot in Trinidad and Tobago...
Post by: g on February 12, 2007, 06:06:54 AM
Dirty Harry Part deux  ;D
Title: Re: Next Clint Eastwood Film to be shot in Trinidad and Tobago...
Post by: Mr Fix-it on February 12, 2007, 07:25:03 AM
he living bago years now

I thought was Harrison living in Tobago - and his gf Lockhart has been seen in Tobago a couple of times too
Indiana Jones fella nah...cyah remember he first name

Clint could teach dem how to use dey effin blimp...stups

De man name is Harrison Ford and he his house is on de golf course.  When ah went Bago in 2001 ah hear talk dat Ford was staying at he place selling off art work.  Not sure who Ford was selling art to??
Title: Re: Next Clint Eastwood Film to be shot in Trinidad and Tobago...
Post by: TriniCana on February 12, 2007, 08:07:06 AM
That is one misleading subject heading.

VB

look who started it, den steups ::)
Title: Re: Next Clint Eastwood Film to be shot in Trinidad and Tobago...
Post by: WestCoast on February 12, 2007, 10:39:53 AM
wha?
the article did mention Mr. Eastwood. ;D ;D ;D ;D
"Rebates alone aren’t going to convince Clint Eastwood to shoot his next feature film in T&T. The Hollywood legend recently shot a movie in Norway based on that country’s incentives."
Title: Re: Next Clint Eastwood Film to be shot in Trinidad and Tobago...
Post by: Andre on February 12, 2007, 11:00:00 AM
trinidad made for eastwood type films - gun violence, murders, gangland executions, kidnappings, assaultsm rape...etc.
Title: Re: Next Clint Eastwood Film to be shot in Trinidad and Tobago...
Post by: ribbit on February 12, 2007, 11:03:30 AM
yuh must mean this clint eastwood ....  ;)

(http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00000IJJD.01._SS500_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg)
Title: Re: Next Clint Eastwood Film to be shot in Trinidad and Tobago...
Post by: TriniCana on February 12, 2007, 11:15:24 AM
"Escape from Never Dirty"
"Riding the beetham"
"Wallerfield Run"
"Million dollar Hast"
"Cobeaux"
"Picton Death Wish" 1 ,2 ,3 ,4 ,5" <------------sequel
"Free Willy - A Sando Tale" <----------true story
"Rum Shop Fever"








"The Red Woman Sting"
Title: Re: Next Clint Eastwood Film to be shot in Trinidad and Tobago...
Post by: WestCoast on February 12, 2007, 11:26:08 AM
Ju-C wha bout
"de not so good, de bad and de real ugly" ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Next Clint Eastwood Film to be shot in Trinidad and Tobago...
Post by: TriniCana on February 12, 2007, 11:48:45 AM
Ju-C wha bout
"de not so good, de bad and de real ugly" ;D ;D ;D ;D

which one in dey government you dere wid ??? ;D

"Ladies of the night - ah arapita tale"
"Cross Crossing"
"Popyiee enters The Royal Castle"
"Behind dey Bridge" <---------another sequel

Title: Re: Next Clint Eastwood Film to be shot in Trinidad and Tobago...
Post by: WestCoast on February 12, 2007, 11:51:55 AM
 :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
titles fa sooo
I would watch dem  ;)
Title: Re: Next Clint Eastwood Film to be shot in Trinidad and Tobago...
Post by: Madd Ras#13 on February 13, 2007, 08:53:11 PM
Ju-C wha bout
"de not so good, de bad and de real ugly" ;D ;D ;D ;D

which one in dey government you dere wid ??? ;D

"Ladies of the night - ah arapita tale"
"Cross Crossing"
"Popyiee enters The Royal Castle"
"Behind de Bridge" <---------Starin T.I.

dah one go be interestin  :devil:
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