Published 28 October 2021
Basseterre
Buckie Got It, St.Kitts and Nevis News Source
WITH THE HELP OF MSR MEDIA, ST. KITTS AND NEVIS IS QUICKLY ESTABLISHING ITSELF AS A HUB FOR FILM PRODUCTIONS
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, October 28, 2021 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – With three movies already completed on the sister island of Nevis and a fourth set to commence production on St. Kitts in early November, the twin island Federation is fast becoming a hub for international film productions.
Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, while speaking at today’s (October 28) press conference, said this falls in line with his Government’s vision of creating new avenues of opportunities for the people of St. Kitts and Nevis.
“During our last election campaign, the Team Unity administration proclaimed that we will build out an entertainment industry and to ensure maximum benefits are delivered to our people, a new Ministry would be established to implement Government’s vision for the new sector. Our Manifesto commitments are being fulfilled. It is a sign of our focused attention on our people’s progress and development even at a very challenging time,” Dr. Harris said.
The prime minister commented that it was his Government’s excellent management of the COVID-19 pandemic led Mr. Philippe Martinez of MSR Media to come to St. Kitts and Nevis to produce his films.
He said, “Interestingly in a very difficult year God smiled on us, brought a blessing out of the misfortune of the pandemic. The first international movie ‘Below Deck’ was produced in St. Kitts. The second, third, and fourth movies were produced on our sister island Nevis and the fifth movie is to be filmed here in St. Kitts. Our country is moving in the right direction, and benefits will accrue to all our people with more jobs, more incomes, new careers, and a chance to further develop their talents.”
At a media event on Saturday, October 23, the principal of MSR Media outlined the company’s intention to film five movies on St. Kitts starting in November.
Prime Minister Harris expressed his gratitude to MSR Media for bringing its productions to St. Kitts and Nevis, noting that, “Mr. Martinez could have taken these five films to any other country – Barbados, Dominican Republic, Antigua next door, Aruba or any other, but he chose our Federation thereby increasing jobs here, bringing visitors to our Federation, and keeping the spotlight on our Federation as a whole.”
The prime minister further noted that it is the entire Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis that stands to reap the benefits of the positive exposure that these films will generate.
“The first episode of ‘Below Deck’ filmed in St. Kitts was aired on Monday night (Monday 25, 2021) giving not just our host island St. Kitts but the entire Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis amazing positive exposure, introducing not just St. Kitts but the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis to an audience of millions. The reality is that when St. Kitts rises, the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis benefits and the inverse is also true because we are one – one Federation, one destination, but most importantly one people. Let us continue to work together. Similarly, we anticipate the airing of films produced by MSR Media on the island of Nevis will positively impact not just Nevis but St. Kitts and Nevis.”
It is the hope of the Government that more movie producers will come to St. Kitts and Nevis that will help the Federation “realize a sustainable movie industry with year round productions – creating jobs, higher incomes for our people, new opportunities for our artistes, our videographers, photographers, movie crew, event planners like Vaughn Anslyn, caterers and caterers, etc.,”
The honourable prime minister also took the opportunity to congratulate local film maker, Nigel “Tru Capo” Lewis, who recently secured a licensing deal with Novus Distribution. This deal will expose Lewis’ award-winning film, ‘A Rose between Thorns’, to a broader global audience.
