Jamaica can earn big from trillion-dollar film industry

NEW YORK, NY, Monday, February 23, 2015: Vice President for Export and Market Development at Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Robert Scott, says the country can reap tremendous benefits from development of the local film industry, including tapping into the trillion-dollar global movie-making market.

He said that in addition to honing local talent, the island can attract a huge chunk of the production budget, estimated at 30 per cent of the approximately US$ 1.2 trillion international film business.

“So that means if we are attracting a film here (in Jamaica), whatever is spent, 30 per cent of that could remain in the economy and we would be able to utilize our own skilled people. We know that films being shot in other places in the Caribbean, they draw on the expertise of Jamaicans whether for sound, lighting or camera work and these people get the opportunity to continue to develop their skills, which is a significant benefit,” he said.