Ministry of Tourism Updates
An Update from the Bahamas Film Commissioner
By Craig Woods, Bahamas Film Commissioner
Jul 9, 2008 - 9:54:56 PM

Director of photography, Laxman Utekar, director, Anthony D'Souza, Bahamas Film Commissioner and producer, Dhaval Jatania.

Presently filming in Nassau and Paradise Island, is the Indian Bollywood film, "Blue." The production company is Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision, Ltd.  and they scouted The Bahamas back in November 2007. Part of the production will shoot in Thailand, Hong Kong and Mumbai, India. The director, Anthony D' Souza has a fine cast of India's top young actors: Akshay Kumar, Zayed Khan, Sanjay Dutt and former Ms. Universe 2001, Lara Dutta. The production will shoot in  The Bahamas for about 5 weeks wrapping on July 12th.

Bollywood film, 'Blue' Director, Anthony D'Souza, actress, Lara Dutta and Film Commissioner, Craig Woods

Now back in India, Lara Dutta was recently quoted in saying to India Times  about her filming time in The Bahamas,   "The experience of shooting in the Bahamas was quite magnificent; it was heaven on earth."

"The sea is just so serene and pure. Each day was like a new experience and the vista never felt jaded. We have caught the most marvelous shots on camera and our audiences will be amazed as it won't be like anything they have seen before."

On the set of "Blue" - the first Bollywood film to shoot in The Bahamas

Film Commissioner with Florida Filmmaker, Ralph Clemente who has produced 35 feature films, with such notables as Robert Wise, Julie Harris, Ruby Dee, Sally Kellerman, Ed Begley, Jr. Tyne

Film Florida in Orlando held their Annual General Meeting several weeks ago. The Bahamas Film Commission was there to discuss continued joint promotions with Film Florida, in marketing and film trade show attendance and participation. The Bahamas Film and Television Commission and Film Florida will attend TIFF, (Toronto International Film Festival) IFP, (Independent Film Producers) Show in New York, Sundance Film Festival, London Broadcast Production Show, Hong Kong Film Market, AFCI Locations EXPO and Tribeca Film Festival. With the pending SAG (Screen Actors Guild) Strike and the sagging US economy, The Bahamas and Florida are looking to more productive external markets in Europe, Asia, Canada and South America.

Grace Hart-Caron, Bahamas film manager, Florida, Film Commissioner, and Lucia Fishburne, Florida state film commissioner attached to Governor Charlie Crist office.

"The Islands of The Bahamas continues its' stellar performance with both  independent films and productions from the major Hollywood Studios. Spike Lee  graced the shores of The Bahamas with the first motion picture production for  2008 and we have gone global with Hoffman & Voges Entertainment television  production of 'Der See Wolf' produced for the German television market. The  Islands of The Bahamas provides the HOT look for filming unlike any other  country in the world....''

Craig A. Woods
Film Commissioner
June 2008

www.bahamasfilm.com