Culture
JAM | Nov 28, 2021

Jamaican film industry earns US$236 million in 2020, nearly 900 jobs created

/ Our Today

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British actor Daniel Craig stars a James Bond in this scene from ‘No Time To Die’ shot in San San Beach, Portland, Jamaica. (Photo: MGM Studios)

Investment and Commerce Minister Audley Shaw is declaring that Jamaica’s burgeoning film industry earned approximately US$236 million from 47 productions undertaken during the 2020/21 year.

Shaw, speaking at a semi-virtual media briefing BluShip Limited’s 2021 corporate linkages on trade in cultural goods on Thursday (November 25), added that some 867 jobs were generated in the process.

According to the minister, the outcome mainly resulted from portfolio agency, Jamaica Promotions Corporation’s (JAMPRO) work in actively promoting film as a viable local investment opportunity.

The triumphant No Time To Die movie, from the James Bond franchise, was partly shot in Jamaica and is the fourth-biggest worldwide grosser of 2020/2021 with US$708 million worldwide.

Forbes Magazine, in its November 15 article, further noted that No Time to Die only ranks behind Vin Diesel’s F9 ($721 million), Chinese hit film Hi, Mom ($837 million) and China’s The Battle at Lake Changjin ($885 million) as the most successful silver screen projects in the pandemic era.

Speaking at the AC Marriott Kingston Hotel Minister Shaw noted that the quality and quantity of local film content has improved over the last three years and is “responding well” to increased global demand for productions that are culture-specific.

With this upsurge of interest in Jamaica’s film industry, he added, comes an uptick in investment opportunities.

To meet this demand and the possibilities that follow behind it, Shaw cited an “evolving need” for physical studio infrastructure in locations outside of densely populated commercial centres.

He also highlighted opportunities in the animation and digital sectors, “two industries which demonstrate [the] potential for economic transformation”.

“With this in mind, I urge our business community to use our local creative talent and give careful consideration to business propositions from local creative entrepreneurs who, many times, experience difficulties accessing funding to develop their businesses,” Shaw said.

According to him, there is research indicating that the creative trade “is less volatile than trade in commodities or raw materials”.

Minister of Investment and Commerce, Audley Shaw (right), greets Daren Miller, executive chairman of BluShip Cargo and Freight Limited, during the entity’s 2021 Corporate Linkages on the Trade in Cultural Goods semi-virtual media briefing, at the AC Marriott Kingston Hotel, on Thursday (November 25). (Photo: JIS)

“These industries enable economies to diversify, generate income, and create employment,” he added.

Shaw said many of the persons involved in the overall cultural and creative industries are micro-enterprises and women, pointing out that “harnessing their economic potential is a definitive step forward as we address gender and other inequalities”.

“The team at the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce and the agencies under my watch stand ready to support our entrepreneurs as well as our cultural and creative ambassadors, as they take advantage of emerging opportunities in national, regional and global markets to trade in cultural goods and services,” he added.

BluShip Cargo and Freight Limited is a fully Jamaican-owned company, offering a complete range of import logistics and cargo-handling support for retail and commercial clients.

The entity, through the corporate linkages engagement, is seeking to facilitate and support business growth and development locally, particularly among micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), whose need for efficient and affordable freight services, particularly related to cultural and creative inputs, spurred its entry into the local market.

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