Jamaica's film infrastructure is sought after by foreign producers. This scene from the German television series 'Semeling Affair' was shot at the Norman Manley International Airport.
File photoBy Andrew Clunis, Freelance Writer
Jamaica has a long and enviable history in film. So much so, that Jamaica's success has drawn countries of the eastern Caribbean into the industry. But despite the decades of experience, Jamaica seems to be catching up the rear at the policy level. Industry experts fear that if Jamaica does not get its Act together, the country could lose its prominence as a regional leader in film.
Trinidad has leap-frogged ahead, offering investment incentives of up to 150 per cent tax relief to companies willing to put their money into film. In trying to play catch-up, Jamaica's film industry players are putting forward a proposal that a similar incentive policy be instituted, offering 100 per cent tax relief to Jamaican investors in film.
Filmmakers say the Motion Picture Industry Encouragement Act of 1948 is highly ineffective and irrelevant today. They have tried over the years to have the laws amended, but have met total apathy from government. The law offers incentives in terms of duty free importation of equipment and materials, but the industry is begging for incentives to be offered on the production side.
Brian St. Juste is president of the filmmakers association. He said: "The law in its present state helps, dependent on what you need. It encourages people to set up business, but needs to go one step further to help in production.
"One of the things we are looking at is for it to be amended to allow for tax-free investment in film production. We are determining the structure of how it will work before our proposal is submitted to the Parliamentary Council. We are working out the ramifications," he said, adding that the major problem the industry was facing was financing.
Veteran Jamaican filmmaker Lennie Little-White believes a complete industry needs to be developed.
"The basic thing is to create an environment which would allow the filmmaker to access funds from the community in a way which would be in the community's interest to invest. In terms of what world trends are now, Jamaica is giving incentives at the back end.
"Every country recognises that it is not something sure to make a profit, but we have to encourage people to go into films. The problem with successive governments in Jamaica is that they don't understand investment in intellectual property.
Big talk
"For over 20 years I have tried to talk to different ministers with responsibility and all they do is make big talk. A former government official went as far as to say "there are certain things people in Jamaica shouldn't try to do. Rocket Science and filmmaking are for white people."
"They still don't take the Perry Henzells and Chris Blackwells seriously, because of the great class contradiction," said Little-White.
St. Juste is one of the chief advocates for change. He has visions of grandeur if the policy framework bends in the industry's favour.
"This would not only benefit the film industry, but the entire economy. A number of smaller sectors would benefit. There would be the carpenters, the caterers, the beauticians, you just name it. The drama school would serve a real purpose, because people could leave and know that they would be going directly into film.
"So it's not just the intrinsic industry which would stand to gain. Those people who work in the main and sub industries would contribute to the income tax pool. Government would benefit from job creation. Then there is the big picture of the preservation of our history and culture.
"We will be earning foreign exchange that the country badly needs. If we manage the thing properly, it can work. We as the association want to ensure that it works," he said
How would it work? Lennie Little-White says it could be fashioned off a Canadian model where the Film Development Commission acts as an umbrella for the industry.
"I would suggest that it be made autonomous and taken out of JAMPRO. They would be responsible for approving projects for financing and ensuring that things are done to the letter," Little-White continued.
Possibilities
St. Juste has a similar idea and is open to a wide range of possibilities. He sees the spawning of a new, vibrant industry.
"As president I would love to see that every week there is a camera crew out there doing something like what happens in New York and LA. That is what will influence the TV stations to turn from foreign programming. With all that production you can put local programming on cable and it will also help to fuel the Public Broadcasting station the government is looking to set up", he continued.
But if government agrees to institute such a policy and allow investors to pump funds, which otherwise make up government revenue, into the industry, what guarantee is there that there won't be wanton manipulation and misuse of funds. Also, to what limit would companies be able to benefit from such tax write-offs.
"There is a ceiling wherever such a policy is applied worldwide. There is also a protracted period during which the tax relief is relevant. A board would be established to oversee the use of such funds.
"People would have to come with proper business plans and adequate proof of the productions they intend to undertake before any approval could be made. There would be checks and balances, so people wouldn't be able to rip off the system. Maybe we could make it a revolving loan. The possibilities are endless," said St. Juste.
Little-White suggests that another area for development is positioning the island as a writing base.
"We could offer people tax holidays and they would come here and write their scripts for major movies. There are many other things we could do along those lines. Just look at how synonymous Ian Fleming made the name James Bond with Jamaica," he said.
