Film the way forward
Film and indeed the cultural industries in general has the potential to bring in foreign exchange and contribute to the overall GDP of Barbados.
So states the Film Commissioner with the Barbados Cultural Industries Development Authority, Annette Nias who spoke with The Barbados Advocate on the sidelines of the workshop on Audio Production yesterday at Building #2, Harbour Industrial Estate.
When asked about statements made by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Stephen Lashley about comments he made recently at the opening ceremony of the Made in Canada film festival about the cultural industries being the sector that can drive the economy forward, she stated that she agreed with him.
“I more than agree with Lashley. I know that there has been growth within the last couple of years. There have been some new production companies that have been born and they are already employing people and yes, it is starting to happen.”
“However, persons have to recognize that this industry would take time to develop just as the other industries did and therefore, they have to be patient.”
“Yeah, but it is young. At one point tourism was young too, but tourism had years to grow. So we have to be patient with this one because it takes a little bit of time, but certainly what we have here is talented people and people with very creative ideas and once they can create products, then they can sell the products to the whole world. So that is what makes it big really. The market is big but you have to be able to create excellent products to be able to attract attention.”
Nias said that for now, she is concentrating on helping persons interested in the film industry or in media to develop the technical skills that you would need for the behind the scenes work as this is what is needed right now.
“I am actually right now concentrating on the behind the scenes because so many people are attracted to the glamour of it. So I am encouraging people who are interested in staying in the industry to learn skills that have everything to do with production. So sound, lighting, camera work, directing. There are a zillion opportunities and some skills can be learnt online. Just find the production companies. Call and find out who has a production project. You start small and then you move incrementally.”
She stated that the behind the scenes persons are critical to the development of this industry in this country because Barbadians also have stories to tell and it is important that these stories be documented not just for persons in other countries, but also for our future generations.
“There are the ones that make the products that live for all times. Those are important skills I think because we have to document our stories and document our lives so that the world has an appreciation that we are still a part of the world.”(PJT)