PRIMER FORO SOBRE LOS SERVICIOS AUDIOVISUALES EN EL EPA: OPORTUNIDADES Y RETOS DEL SECTOR NACIONAL
Jueves 29 de Julio del 20102010, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Strategic Vision-Film Trinidad and Tobago
establish Trinidad and Tobago as a premier film and television production centre
generate new opportunities for cultural and social expression
create opportunities for youth with new skills, training and learning exchanges
create programmes that empower, enhance, improve lives – establish the arts as a viable industry of the region
growing the Trinidad and Tobago film industry
a diversification process underway to move away from oil and gas
more support for the arts, film entertainment from government
incentives in law and dedicated agency to manage the audiovisual industry’s development created
Incentives to encourage private sector involvement in the audiovisual industry
on-location in T&T, 2006-2009
a perfect location
UK Chef Gary Rhodes – Caribbean Cuisine
Contract Killers
Hit for Six
on Location in Trinidad and Tobago
1999-2009 approximately 350 crews selected Trinidad and Tobago as a preferred location, creating expenditure on goods and services.
Fiscal incentives introduced in 2007 to attract more productions. 4 features from US and Europe to date and 2 expected within coming months.
Location Statistics
Employment of Local Crew/Cast – 3,000.Spend on Local Goods and Services –
US$15M-nMultiplier effect of tourism promotion of
from films – screenings of local films at Toronto Film Festival, New York, Moscow, Norwegian Film Festival, Portobello, Edinburgh Festivals.
GRANT FILM PROGRAMMES
Production Assistance and Script Development
Grant funded programme designed as incubator programme.
Grants of US$2,000 – US$15,000 awarded to first time script-writers and film-makers.
Project partnerships encouraged between experienced and emerging film-makers, supported by public/private partnerships and funding
Monitoring and Evaluation critical.
content development programs
developing capacity
Production / Script Development
97
No of Scripts 30
No of Productions 67
Employment Generated 805
Feature Film / Shorts Equity
10
PASD 2004-2008 Production Genre
Production Genre No. of Productions
Documentaries 28
TV Series 26
Features 5
Animation 4
Marketing and Distribution 1
Educational Interactive 1
Production Booklet 1
DVD Production 1
EQUITY FILM PROGRAMMES
Feature Film Programme “Rose, Calypso Diva” is the first equity FFP film in production
scheduled for completion in December 2010. TTFC invested US$150,000 in “Rose, Calypso Diva” a T&T-French co-production which has generated positive interest among international buyers and distributors. The Feature Film model an example of public - private partnerships with national and international capital.
Short Drama Series / Linked Feature Model – developing capacity
Call for Short Dramas made in 2009. TTFC invested approximately US$35,000 in three 30 minute shorts
Shorts will be distributed individually and film-makers will share in profits.
TTFC to provide additional investment to edit the 3 into a feature length film and for marketing and distribution.
T&T Film Festival 2010 – 1st screening prior to sales and distribution.
INTERNSHIPS
Encouraging Competitiveness
TTFC supports placement of interns on all productions filming in T&T.
Interns understudy in technical areas such as camera, lighting, continuity
Production Directory Database developed – AV personnel encouraged to become registered businesses
Support to BA Film programme, UWI, St Augustine; regional training needed
EPA offers technical assistance
DISTRIBUTION
Screening Content -TV
There are 11 TV stations in T&T – the majority of stations show mainly US film content.
One station that makes a difference is Gayelle-the Channel
Screening Local Content - CinemaThe CaribbeanThe promotion of local and regional cultural
content not valued in the Caribbean.There are 288 screens across the region
(no figures for Cuba, Grenada, French Guinea, Curacao, St. Vincent and St. Barts.
Trinidad and Tobago has 2 Cineplex's and 2 cinemas. No cinemas based in rural areas.
Very few local / regional films shown on Caribbean screens
Screening content – community
Taking CINEMA to the people! Rural communities suffer most cinemas in urban areas.
To develop appetite for local films, and to promote content, film screenings started in 2010
Each month local films are screened in different areas within Trinidad and Tobago
Integrating the cultural dimension, promoting cultural diversity
Cinemas throughout the Caribbean are shrinking in number, and those that remain are satellites of Hollywood
Can the Caribbean know itself though the Hollywood looking glass?
Is there audience appreciation for local and regional content?
Co-productions one opportunity for the region
FESTIVALS
TV film festival … .. .
2008 – broadcasters refused air time. TTTF was required to pay about US$75,000.00 to screen one-week of films on 6 stations
2010 – broadcasters offered FREE air time, TTFC paid the producers and created a marketing campaign in support of the Festival
film and animation festivals the Trinidad and Tobago film
festival celebrates its 5th year 2010 the Animae Caribe Festival
celebrates 9 years in 2010. ACP Film Exchanges - the TTFC
joined hands with BFM UK and Zambia’s View Images Festival to screen local films through the ACP Film programme in 2010
T&T Diaspora Film Festivals
Carrying local films to the diaspora! In 2010, TTFC began to screen films
to the wider diaspora community
New York was the first stop in June 2010 and we will present at other diaspora cities of Toronto, Miami, London and Atlanta
Inclusion of Regional Films
Many films from the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Venezuela, Cuba, Antigua are screened at the annual Trinidad and Tobago film festivals.
TTFF – 22 September–05 October
Animae Caribe – November 2010
THE FUTURE
Creating a regional film industry
Diaspora Festivals – creating our own platforms - Muestra Caribe – one platform for regional films
CAN – the regional platform is forming What regional models can be adapted
to promote production and exchange of cultural goods and services.
expanding possibilities
EPA – the Economic Partnership Agreement seeks to integrate the cultural dimension at all levels of development cooperation.
EPA – is the region ready to enhance exchange opportunities for cultural goods
CARIFORUM – will regional governments, act to place the cultural industries at the front and center of new development models?
THANK YOU
THE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO FILM COMPANY