The BVI Film Commission: Nurturing Film Tourism
By Jane Bakewelll
From the popular reality TV program, Below Deck, to the 1977 blockbuster, The Deep, The BVI has been the location for multiple film and TV productions. In an interview with Natalie Hodge, Film Commissioner of the BVI Film Commission, I was amazed to learn how the BVI is positioning itself to be a magnet for “Film Tourism.”
The British Virgin Islands is a beautiful and alluring tourist destination with many subtle caches. Historical Tourism brings those interested in “more than a beach” – a chance to understand the territory’s culture through historical sites, such as the Free Black Church at Kingstown or the relics preserved in the Governor’s Museum overlooking Road Town. Culinary Tourism annually draws a large crowd for the Lobster Fest on Anegada in November, paired with enticing local dishes. The recent Fall Charter Yacht Boat show at Nanny Cay had “haute cuisine” on display as 16 yacht chefs competed to showcase what visitors’ taste buds are treated to on a chartered yacht cruise.
Yet, after speaking to BVI Film Commissioner Natalie Hodge, I learned how film tourism is another potential tourism draw. And what exactly is film tourism?
Ms. Hodge outlined how New Zealand’s financial bonanza in tourism soared, when one of the popular Lord of the Rings film trilogy, The Hobbit was filmed there in 2014. The special cave-like homes for the set, built into the hills where the hobbits lived became an instant draw and brought many travelers wanting to explore these sites in person. Over ten years the “Hobbiton Movie Set Tours” brought in close to a billion dollars in revenue as an offshoot of this film. Film Tourism is the new marketing cash cow.
Historically, the BVI has had some film “classics” shot here over the years. Our Virgin Island, staring legendary actor, Sidney Poitier, was filmed here in1960 featuring the tiny, undeveloped island of Marina Cay, as the site where a pioneer couple Robb and Rodie White eked out a living with very few amenities. In 1977 the famous dive site, the Wreck of the Rhone off Salt Island was the scene for the thriller film, The Deep, starring Jacqueline Bisset and Nick Nolte, along with some local talent. In 1990 the classic story The Old Man and the Sea starring Anthony Quin was also filmed in the territory with Smugglers Cove used as much of its backdrop.
The Film Commission, a branch of the BVI Tourist Board, was established in 1992 with a focus to attract international filmmakers to the BVI as a location site and to support young, local, entrepreneurial filmmakers in their art. As the current Commissioner since 2021, Natalie explained, “Although we don’t offer as some countries do a “cash rebate,” we do offer some ‘soft incentives’ to draw filmmakers here, such as a no film permit fee and in some cases, we will provide waivers for outside crew. And with the proper paperwork, we can also approve permits in one day.”
“We also offer “Familiarization Tours” and invite production companies to come with specific site requirements, whether they be historic, nature-based, or just a visual background for a particular scene. The revenue generated from production companies filming in the BVI filters down to transportation businesses and restaurants. We are also in the process of setting up an online Location Library on our new website with a massive photo data base which will showcase potential sites filmmakers are seeking.”
Reality TV shows with on-going episodes are the latest rage and many of these productions seek exotic sites for their backdrop. In 2023, the British Reality ITV show “The Fixers” came to the BVI to focus on “Green VI” the non-profit environmental organization with a production plant on land behind Lavity Stoutt Community College in Paraquita Bay.
“We have also been in discussion with the Bravo TV series , Below Deck, which features the experiences of guests and crew on a super yacht,” said Ms Hodge. “They did come in 2016 to shoot one scene, and we have been trying to get them back since then. Unfortunately, at this point, we do not have the marina or hotel capacity to accommodate a hundred or more crew members with entertainment and restaurants close by.”
The Film Commission is also actively seeking other Reality Series like The Bachelor/The Bachelorette to do a film a series here. There is a need Hodge explained, for visionaries to create the additional infrastructure required including a high-capacity hotel and mega yacht marina. Production companies require their various departments be in close range, such as wardrobe, makeup and talent as well as restaurants and entertainment for crew. As Director Natalie emphasized, “If you build it, they will come!”
Aside from marketing, the Film Commission hosts workshops with Emmy Award winning directors flying in to conduct week-long instruction sessions on filmmaking. Another program the commissioner is working towards as a near future initiative involves sending young filmmakers abroad for three weeks of professional training on a live film set. Small production companies in the territory often do not have set experience and are not familiar with the requirements and strict production schedule of professional films. Learning these skills helps them to also train professional crew in the BVI. Many production companies from abroad look to hire local crew.
The annual 284 Excellence in Film Competition awards held the first week of November drew young filmmakers from the nearby Virgin Islands as well as local talent. These film shorts (less than 15 minutes) drew nineteen entries, six of which made the final awards for various categories. The remote judging panel consisted of a Netflix Manager, BVIslander turned Hollywood actors and producers. Best Film award went to Hakeem Gravesande for his drama, Exit Wound. Themes included fantasy, sci-fi, drama, romance, documentary- and even a music video. These very creative shorts can be viewed on the BVI Film Commission’s Facebook site.
There was also a recent youth Student Smart Phone Film Competition, which was aired on a big screen. “I was amazed,” Director Hodge, laughed. “I kept saying to the youth, you did this on your iPhone?”
It looks like the interest in film is not just for the “couch potatoes” in the BVI, but for the rising local producers as well.
Go to the Film Commission’s Facebook page for more information, photos and videos, including a clip from the Annual 284 Excellence in Film Competition Award winner, Exit Wound by Hakeem Gravesandefrom the BVI
For more about the BVI Film Commission and other glamorous local events follow these links:
