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Money to be made from film
Published on: 11/6/2009.
FILM AND TELEVISION have the potential to become profitable foreign exchange earners for Barbados. And Government and the private sector are critical to making them viable media.
So said Dr Margaret Brito, chief executive officer of L'Ouverture Arts Facilitator Inc., during an interview with the WEEKEND NATION yesterday.
"It is very difficult to get money to produce either film or television programmes. I have heard successive governments say that they will make this money available; it is yet to become a tangible fact."
Brito said film-makers were producing work out of their own pockets and when they were put on television, the productions were criticised because they were not of the best quality.
"This kind of media is so important worldwide as an income generator, that a lot more attention should be paid to making them viable at this time.
"Unless you can export your ideas, you cannot be said to be developed . . . . If you look at all of the nations in the world that are considered developed, they export their ideas."
In making a case for film and television here, Brito said the Caribbean and Barbados had many unique stories that could be told in many unique ways.
She also pointed out there were a number of professionals in information technology, writers, costume and set designers and make-up people who could transfer their skills into a film industry.
Brito said an interest in film was there, but acknowledged there was a serious lag in institutional and organisational support to maintain the enthusiasm. (JS)
5 comment found!
Money to be made from film : 11/6/2009
I am not going to cry down the idea.But this idea of exporting is impossible.Why?everyone asking.look at big hollywood film companies is in dire already with the internet everyone can come online and watch millon dollars productions free next thing is people have home theaters state of the art viewing pleasure that links to the internet.Next thing your biggest viewing audience comes through internet which links the whole world until the technology devlopes fast they will be the internet as your entertainment provider.So unless you own sony or panasonic the big names for developing high definion which you need their state of the art video products they already build their new television products with direct online choose your programmes hook up also it is cheapers for companies to place ads on line than at a tv station so i see tv stations as the pass ask CBC they will tell ya.
I can't take this any more! : 11/6/2009
Is Barbados a communist state? Why is this a government issue? Come on people! Its time to wake up! What's wrong with an economic revolution? I suggest you pool your money, start a small private venture and see what the market will bear.
To J. Payne : 11/6/2009
Don't know that it is that important to focus on retricting content. I am all for regional content, but viewers should not be forced to watch poorly produced content. I believe that local and regional content should be made available, but I am not for forcing an artificial quota on local vs. regional vs. global content.
This industry will remain in its infancy : 11/6/2009
Until more Barbadian-- television stations are established which will cater to BARBADIAN and perhaps regional content. It should be the goal to have ~ %50 local, 25% regional, and 25% foreign(extra-regional) content. If not the country's identity will be lost and replaced by whatever is being shown all the time.
This is Crazy : 11/6/2009
Why should the tax payers take on the equity risks associated with providing a movie. Film production is a very high risk business, with a lot of ventures going bust. Stop asking tax payers to take on crazy risk without any upside. If an entrepreneur has a great idea for a film, he or she should develop a business plan and shop it to potential investors who are knowledgeable about the business and comfortable with the risk. If it is a good idea, it will get financed. Stop coming to the taxpayers with this nonsense. Dr. Brito should focus efforts on developing investor interest in film investment. There are two important aspects to this business: developing great ideas and developing and investor base for projects. Do both!! It is ridiculous to be asking taxpayers/government to take on the equity risks in this kind of business.
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