Cayman has been the backdrop to many may major film productions over the years, including ‘Into the Blue’ staring Paul Walker and Jessica Alba and ‘The Firm’ staring Tom Cruse. However now the Film Commission Board is trying to be more active in bringing more movie, TV, commercial and documentary production crews to the Cayman Islands.
During 2014 the Film Commission moved from the Department of Commerce and Investment to the Department of Tourism.
“The Department of Tourism had already been set up with a team to handle fan trips, media trips, where they would assist in site location, assist in duty waivers, assist in work permits, whatever was needed to get the magazines, the different media outlets here,” explained Tourism Councilor Joey Hew, so making the move made perfect sense.
The attention of the Film Board is gravitating away from Hollywood blockbusters and focusing more on niche-type productions.
“What we’ve found is, a lot of people want to come here and film non-scripted television and more budget friendly productions, and that’s great because they come here and film the Cayman Islands. They’re not just filming a beach scene, they’re filming the Cayman Islands,” said Sean Bodden, Chairman of the Film Board.
The Tourism Councilor believe that bringing more productions to the Cayman Islands will help boast an already expanding economy as well as introducing Cayman’s young people to industry careers.
As the Cayman Islands Film Commissions website introduction video says “How about a place where the sky and the stars meet the sand and the sea.”
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