ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA CINEMA… (In the Entertainment industry. History of Antigua and Barbuda Cinema)

Flag of Antigua and Barbuda / Photo Credit: Bandetex - Antigua and Barbuda

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA CINEMA… (In the Entertainment industry. History of Antigua and Barbuda Cinema)

Bruce Bisbey…please follow me at: https://dumbdogproductionsllc.blogspot.com or https://www.facebook.com/DumbDogProductionsLLC/ thank you.

Antigua and Barbuda Cinema

Antiqua and Barbuda Tourist Offices
http://www.antigua-barbuda.org
http://www.antiguanice.com

Emerge Films Solutions
https://emergefilmsolutions.com/country/ Antigua and Barbuda /

History

The history of Antigua and Barbuda can be separated into three distinct eras. In the first, the islands were inhabited by three successive Amerindian societies. The islands were neglected by the first wave of European colonization, but were settled by England in 1632. Under British control, the islands witnessed an influx of both Britons and African slaves. In 1981, the islands were granted independence as the modern state of Antigua and Barbuda.

Antigua and Barbuda – twin-island nation lying between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It consists of two major inhabited islands, Antigua and Barbuda, and a number of smaller islands (including Great Bird, Green, Guinea, Long, Maiden and York Islands and further south, the island of Redonda). Its governance, language, and culture have all been strongly influenced by the British Empire, of which the country was formerly a part.

Antigua was first settled by pre-agricultural Amerindians known as "Archaic People" (although they are commonly, but erroneously known in Antigua as Siboney, a pre-ceramic Cuban people). The earliest settlements on the island date to 2900 BC. They were succeeded by ceramic-using agriculturalist Saladoid people who migrated up the island chain from Venezuela. They were later replaced by Arawakan speakers around 1200 AD and around 1500 by Island Caribs.

The Arawaks were the first well-documented group of Antiguans. They paddled to the island by canoe (piragua) from Venezuela, and ejected by the Caribs—another people indigenous to the area. Arawaks introduced agriculture to Antigua and Barbuda, raising, among other crops, the famous Antiguan "black" pineapple.

Christopher Columbus sighted islands in 1493 during his second voyage naming the larger one Santa Maria de la Antigua. However, early attempts by Europeans to settle the islands failed due to the Caribs' excellent defenses. England succeeded in colonizing the islands in 1632, with Thomas Warner as the first governor. Settlers raised tobacco, indigo, ginger and sugarcane as cash crops. Sir Christopher Codrington established the first large sugar estate in Antigua in 1674, and leased Barbuda to raise provisions for his plantations. Barbuda's only town is named after him. In the fifty years after Codrington established his initial plantation, the sugar industry became so profitable that many farmers replaced other crops with sugar, making it the economic backbone of the islands.

Slavery was common in Barbuda in the 1700s and until 1834. The island was a source of slaves for other locations, too. No new slaves had arrived on the island since the mid-1700s but their population grew naturally. An estimate in 1977 by Lowenthal and Clark indicated that during 1779 to 1834 the number of slaves exported totaled 172; most were taken to Antigua but 37 went to the Leeward and Windward islands and some to the southern US. Several slave rebellions took place on the island, with the most serious in 1834-5. Britain emancipated slaves in most of its colonies in 1834, but that did not include Barbuda, so the island then freed its own slaves. For some years thereafter, the freed slaves had little opportunity of survival on their own because of limited agricultural land and the lack of available credit to buy some. Hence, they continued to work on the plantations for nominal wages or lived in shantytowns and worked as occasional laborers’. Sugar cane production remained the primary economy for over a century.

During the 18th century, Antigua was used as the headquarters of the British Royal Navy Caribbean fleet. English Dockyard, as it came to be called, a sheltered and well-protected deep-water port, was the main base and facilities there were greatly expanded during the later 18th century. Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson commanded the British fleet for much of this time, and made himself unpopular with local merchants by enforcing the Navigation Act, a British ruling that only British-registered ships could trade with British colonies. As the United States were no longer British colonies, the act posed a problem for merchants, who depended on trade with the fledgling country.

Emerge Films Solutions
https://emergefilmsolutions.com/country/Antigua and Barbuda/

Antigua and Barbuda Film & Photography Production Services
Are you a media company, brand, ad agency or production company looking for film / photography production support or shooting crew in Antigua and Barbuda? We have fully vetted, locally based fixers, service producers, directors, DP’s, videographers, cameramen, photographers, sound operators, production drivers, and a range of other film crew. Contact us for referrals, questions, cost estimates and references.

Want to know more about shooting in Antigua and Barbuda? See below for an introduction to Antigua and Barbuda locations, permits, when to shoot, costs, talent, crews, equipment, art department, studios, post facilities, visas and work permits, film friendly hotels, transport, communications and safety advice.

Antigua and Barbuda Film Locations
Antigua and Barbuda are known for their Caribbean paradise island looks.

Antigua is famous for its white sand beaches, turquoise waters, rolling hills, salt flats, rainforests and luxury villas. Admiral Nelson’s Dockyard in English Harbor is the home of Antigua and Barbuda’s yachting culture. Shirley Heights offers great shots of Falmouth Harbor. Beaches of note include Ffryes Beach, Darkwood Beach, and Deep Bay Beach. Betty’s Hope was formerly a sugarcane plantation.

Barbuda’s landscapes include turquoise lagoons, miles of remote white sand beaches, and the unique town of Codrington.

Antigua and Barbuda Film Location Permits
Permitting is a quick and easy process in Antigua and Barbuda. Please contact us for location specific information.

When to Shoot?
Antigua and Barbuda has a tropical climate which remains warm and relatively dry throughout the year. Tropical storms and hurricanes may occur between June and October. November to May is the dry season and best time to film for weather. For monthly weather statistics please see here.

The islands host Antigua Sailing Week at the end of April each year. Antigua Carnival takes place from late July to early August.

Costs & Tax Incentives
Costs. Since little to no filming infrastructure exists all key crew and equipment must be brought in from abroad which will add to the cost of filming. Local costs are also somewhat expensive. During the peak dry season accommodation can be especially expensive. Our Antiguan fixer will negotiate local deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget.

Tax Incentives. At present there are no tax incentives for foreign commercials or films shooting in Antigua and Barbuda.

Film Crew & Talent
Crews. Antigua and Barbuda has a very small pool of directors, directors of photography and stills photographers. Key crew needs to be brought in from abroad. Local supporting crews speak English. Please contact us for recommended options.

Contact us if you are looking for a director, DP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, or any other film crew for your shoot in Antigua and Barbuda.

Talent day rates and buyouts are negotiated on a personal level. Most Antiguans are Afro-Caribbean with some Caucasian looks also available. All other talent looks need to be brought in from abroad.

Antigua and Barbuda Film Equipment
There are no equipment houses in Antigua and Barbuda. For productions intending to bring in camera / lighting / grip equipment, Antigua and Barbuda is not an ATA carnet country, but bringing in gear is a quick and easy process.

Art Department, Studios, Backlots, & Post Production
Art department and set construction is very basic.

Studios and backlots. None exist at present.

Post Production. There are no post production facilities in Antigua and Barbuda.

Visas & Work Permits
Crews travelling on western passports can enter and film in Antigua and Barbuda for stays of up to 30 or 90 or 180 days, depending on the country.

Transport & Accommodation
Transportation Infrastructure. Roads are up to international standards. Getting between islands is best done by air or charter boat. Several international airlines service flights to Antigua and Barbuda.

Accommodation. Film friendly hotels in St. John’s include:

• The Villas at Sunset Lane
• Galley Bay Resort
• Hermitage Bay

Please contact us for corporate rates.

For longer stays we can also organize serviced apartments.

Final Notes
Safety. See here for up to date travel advice.

Projects. For an example of TV commercials, stills campaigns, online content, corporate videos, virtual reality 360 content, feature films, TV series and documentaries shot in Antigua and Barbuda.

Hire Antigua and Barbuda Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Antigua and Barbuda, please contact us.

If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Antigua and Barbuda, such as a director, DoP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, please contact us.

We are able to provide you with answers, references and bids quickly.

Sources, References & Credits: Google, Wikipedia, Wikihow, Pinterest, IMDB, Linked In, Indie Wire, Film Making Stuff, Hiive, Film Daily, New York Film Academy, The Balance, The Numbers, Film Maker, TV Guide Magazine, Media Match, Quora, Creative Skill Set, Investopedia, Variety, No Film School, Daily Variety, The Film Agency, Best Sample Resume, How Stuff Works, Career Trend, Producer's Code of Credits, Production Hub, Producers Guild of America, Film Connection, Variety, Emerge Film Solutions, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, "Antigua and Barbuda". The World Fact book,

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Flag of Antigua and Barbuda / Photo Credit: Bandetex - Antigua and Barbuda