WILLEMSTAD – From October 16th through 19threpresentatives of Relativity Education, a division of Relativity Media, which develops film, media and performing arts programs globally, were hosted in Curaçao by the Curaçao Film Institute. The President of Relativity Education, Glenn Kalison, along with colleagues Emma Greer (Director of Workshops) and Nikolas Gilbert (Program Director Film and Digital Content) participated in a conference organized by the Curaçao Film Institute at the Avila Beach Hotel.
The conference brought together local filmmakers, captains of industry and government representatives with the delegation from Hollywood, with an invitation to exchange ideas about the further development of the film industry on Curaçao.
The presentations covered various concepts regarding the development of the local film industry, including education of local talent, expansion of employment opportunities, utilization of the advanced IT-infrastructure available on Curaçao, and broader economic development, as well as the required fiscal incentives to support such development. During the conference the Curaçao Film Institute shared that letters have been received from the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Economic Development, respectively, in which they have communicated their support for the initiative.
Plans to establish a Relativity Education Campus on Curaçao were extensively elaborated upon by Relativity Education and the Curaçao Film Institute, whom both view this as an important first step towards the establishment of a full-fledged film studio on Curaçao, which aims to serve international film, television and digital media productions. Relativity Education and the Curaçao Film Institute have begun organizing workshops to train members of the community, actively- or interested in potentially working in Film and TV production, on Curaçao in mid-March 2016. These workshops will be made possible in part with the financial assistance of the Prince Bernhard Culture Fund Caribbean Territories.
Relativity Education operates the Relativity School, the first school of its kind created with a major Hollywood studio, which is an accredited branch campus of Hussian College and is based on a working studio lot in Los Angeles.
The Curaçao Film Institute is a collaboration between Curaçaoan filmmakers Dolph van Stapele (producer Tula, the Revolt) and Alaric Smeets (screenwriter Double Play, producer The Coast), and entrepreneurs Dorine Baas and Robin van Bokhorst. The Curaçao Film Institute is a not-for-profit organization with the goal of promoting, stimulating, and preserving the Curaçao film and TV industry.
The promoters of the Curacao Film Institute believe that Curaçao, with its beautiful outdoor locations, underwater filming potential, international orientation, and advanced internet infrastructure has the potential to become a major player in this field in the Caribbean region.
Bron: CuracaoChronicle