BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, March 22, 2021 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – Filming is set to commence soon in St. Kitts and Nevis on the international comedy film, “One Year Off”.
The film will be the first of a two-movie production deal between UK production and sales firm MSR Media and the Nevis Island Administration (NIA). A number of local actors/models will be featured in the movie, with several locals already being hired for the pre-production process. According to the Department of Information on Nevis, MSR Media is casting local persons with previous acting or modeling experience for three speaking roles in the movie. The production company is also casting for supporting actors or non-speaking roles as well.
A media briefing was hosted by MSR Media at Christophe Harbour Marina on Sunday, March 21, where Government officials including Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris and other Cabinet ministers were introduced to the members of the production team, led by producer Mr. Phillippe Martinez.
Delivering brief remarks at the event, Prime Minister Harris said he is pleased to be witnessing the birth of the film industry in the twin island Federation – one that will provide real jobs, incomes, and real opportunities, especially for our young people involved in hospitality and the creative industries.
“It is opportunities like this from MSR Productions that will help our young people reach their full potential. Mr. Martinez, I recall you recently praised the local Nevisians as having ‘total efficiency and enthusiasm’ in making your production happen. I believe this is further proof, if we ever needed, of just how motivated we are as a people and how willing we are to make a real success of every opportunity,” Prime Minister Harris commented.
“This production is providing jobs for local people. It is also showing the world how ready St. Kitts and Nevis is for more productions and of course more business. It speaks well to our versatility and creativity as a people, and importantly it speaks well to our safety as a nation,” Dr. Harris continued.
The St. Kitts and Nevis prime minister said he expects the filming of these movie productions will inject excitement amongst the nation’s youth and inspire them to pursue careers in the film industry without even having to leave the country.
Prime Minister Harris added, “It will inject interest and curiosity in the global community, putting St. Kitts and Nevis on the map as a filming destination. I assure you Mr. Martinez that my Government is here to work with you as the Task Force has been doing over the last several weeks, as you work with us to build a world class film and creative industry right here in our beautiful Federation.”
It is estimated that four months of filming will inject roughly US$1 million into the St. Kitts and Nevis’ economy.
Moreover, the popular American reality television show, ‘Below Deck’, is also filming here in St. Kitts.
]]>
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, March 21, 2021 (MMS-SKN) — The Federation is currently hosting MSR Media as it produces ‘One Year OFF’ and Prime Minister and Minister of Human Resource Management and Information, Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, has said the activity will put St. Kitts and Nevis more firmly on the map as a filming destination.
“What brings us here at this very special idyllic area of St. Kitts and Nevis is a very exciting project which MSR has brought to the shores of St. Kitts and Nevis, and in a way it is signalling to our people that now in this challenging time of Covid-19, it is still an exciting time – an exciting time to be an actor or an artiste in our Federation,” observed Prime Minister Harris on Sunday March 21 at the MSR Media ‘One Year OFF’ Media Briefing that was held at the Christophe Harbour Marina, Southeast Peninsula.
Prime Minister Harris noted that the film production, which had been on-going on the Island of Nevis, while filming started in St. Kitts for the first time just before the media briefing, will inject interest and curiosity in the global community, and will put St. Kitts and Nevis more firmly on the map as a filming destination.
“I assure you Mr (Philippe) Martinez (Producer, MSR Production) that my Government is here to work with you, as the Task Force has been doing over the last several weeks, as you work with us to build a world-class film and creative industry right here in our beautiful Federation. We are committed to supporting independent producers. I hope that this is the start of many, many more productions and of course with many, many more producers.”
Prime Minister Harris, who also has lead responsibility for Human Resource Development, Health and HIV/AIDS issues in the CARICOM’s quasi-cabinet, noted that MSR Production chose St. Kitts and Nevis over other highly rated filming destinations solely because of the way the country has successfully managed the Covid-19 pandemic and he praised members of the Covid-19 National Task Force. He introduced those that were present.
“Clearly we are winning the fight against Covid-19, and of course your presence here will help us to do that,” pointed out the Honourable Prime Minister. “I understand that in terms of contribution to the economy that every four months you will be injecting about US$1,000,000 in our economy.”
Added Dr Harris: “But of course this production will do much more than that. It will inject in excitement amongst young people that they can have a career in film industry and they do not have to leave our beautiful paradise to be part of the film industry – you have brought the film industry right here and we thank you very much for that.”
The media briefing which was chaired by Director General of St. Kitts and Nevis Information Service (SKNIS), Mr Lesroy Williams, and had welcome remarks from the Chief Executive of St. Kitts Tourism Authority, Ms Racquel Browne, was also addressed by the Minister of Tourism, Transport and Ports, the Hon Lindsay Grant.
Present at the media briefing included the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Premier of Nevis the Hon Mark Brantley, Minister of Health et al the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett, Minister of Labour et al the Hon Wendy Phipps, and Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, the Hon Vincent Byron who also heads the Mitigation Council.
Also present were members of the Covid-19 National Task Force, Chairman Mr Abdias Samuel, Chief Medical Officer Dr Hazel Laws, and Superintendent Cromwell Henry. Others included Permanent Secretaries Mrs Carlene Henry-Morton (Tourism) and Ms Cheryleann Pemberton (ICT, Entertainment et al), President of the St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Mrs Giselle Matthew, and TDC Executive Director, Mr Nick Menon.
“I want to acknowledge the hard work of my Cabinet colleagues both at the level of the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) and at the Federal Government, whose hard work brought this opportunity into reality,” observed Prime Minister Harris. “Indeed today the film industry in St. Kitts and Nevis is being given a real boost.”
Thanking Producer of MSR Production, Mr. Philippe Martinez, for making St. Kitts and Nevis his home over the last several weeks, the Honourable Prime Minister observed that he was aware that the crew and cast were enjoying themselves as he had seen their photos as they savoured moments of interaction with the local community at Sunshine’s Bar in Nevis.
“There are many, many more stories and many, many more characters and many more places like Sunshine’s Bar right here on our beautiful Federation, and we challenge you to capture their stories and to internationalise the story of life and living in St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Dr Harris. “We give you the permission to tell our genuine story to the rest of the world.”
Prime Minister Harris had earlier tol+ have ‘One Year OFF’, and I hope next year we will be celebrating ‘One Year ON’.”
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 17th, 2021 (ZIZ News) Prime Minister Dr. The Hon. Timothy Harris says while tourism and other sectors have been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic there has been some good news for the economy in recent weeks.
During his presentation on Tuesday night’s edition of Leadership Matters the Prime Minister pointed out that the federation has found a new niche for film tourism
“The Below Deck movie is being shot in St Kitts and brought significant guests to the Park Hyatt – the Federation’s host hotel. Equally important for our Federation are the movies being produced by MSR on the island of Nevis and St Kitts. Some 6 movies will be run by MSR in our Federation boosting favourable acclaim about St Kitts and Nevis.”
He said the federation also remains a sought after location for hotel development.
“Interest in our Country as a premier hotel destination continues. Trinity Sunset Hotel, Sea View Hotel, Hillsborough Suites all continue to work towards completion this year”
He also noted that so far 649 Ross University students have come to St Kitts bringing incomes for landlords, car rental agencies, our restaurants and places of entertainment, thereby contributing to the national economy.
]]>