Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter
THE LOCAL film industry earned an unparalleled $1.3 billion last year from several foreign film projects shot on location here.
The booming film industry managed to make all this 'dough' solely from overseas investments.
Among the projects adding to the billion-dollar pot were music videos and a reality TV series entitled The Amazing Race.
According to figures released by Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) the govern-ment's investment and promotion agency last year's unprecedented haul of $1.3 billion surpassed the $858 million made
in 2003, which doubled the earnings in 2002.
GROWTH IN THE INDUSTRY
The film industry has grown consistently and significantly since it racked up $98 million seven years ago.
The industry is expecting to receive a major shot of adrenaline from another unprecedented movie in the making the signing of a co-production treaty with the United Kingdom to facilitate a sharing of expertise and talent for film making.
Jamaica will become the first Caribbean island to sign this agreement with the U.K.; Del Crooks, the island's film commissioner, will attend follow up meetings in the U.K. to complete treaty talks.
A 'BANGING' DESTINATION
Mrs. Crooks told The Gleaner that last year's staggering revenue haul suggests that despite the high incidence of crime, Jamaica is still a 'banging' destination.
"With a bumper year in film, it seems like the crime didn't affect our figures at all ... so far it is not proving to be a detractor," she asserted confidently.
"Jamaica is still a hot destination, its culture is in such great demand ... the food, the music and the people," she added.
Mrs. Crooks revealed that regular briefings are held with visiting crews, who are warned by security forces of the volatile areas.
"We have never had an incident; no one from overseas has ever been hurt," boasted Mrs. Crooks.
