Caribbean production services and locations - general information

1. GENERAL PRODUCTION INFORMATION on
Locations, Weather, Flights, Accommodations, Equipment, Permits etc
Reasons to produce in the Caribbean:
1. good production conditions
2. various locations on a very small territory
3. year round shooting
4. daily direct flights from major US, Canadian and European Cities
5. a wide variety of accommodations
6. professional international and local crews
7. cast - extras and actors
8. a good selection of props
9. reasonable production costs
2. LOCATIONS
We know the Caribbean Islands for many years, so we are able to suggest the Island that best suits your project.
Most of the Islands have streets in excellent condition and a good mix of the numerous luxury mansions of the international Jet Set and the traditional colorful Caribbean wood houses, gourmet restaurants and local rum shops, elegant golf resorts and fishing villages, bicycles and luxury limousines.
Landscapes/Beaches:
- Long unspoiled stretches of white, pink, brown and black beaches, with or without palm trees
- Deserted Islands
- Flat turquoise colored water
- Wild cliffs and high waves
- Wide flat grass land
- Jungle and tropical gardens
- Rocky mountains
- Rolling Hills
- Smooth sand dunes
- Sugar cane fields
- Waterfalls
Buildings/Towns:
- Luxury mansions (Caribbean, Victorian, Spanish, French, or Modern styles)
- Old plantation houses
- Colorful Caribbean wood houses
- Beach bars
- Rum shops
- Fishing villages
- Marinas, piers and jetties
- Colorful market stands
- Office buildings and City locations
- Elegant hotels and restaurants
- Photo studios
- Race tracks and horse stables
- Soccer, tennis, polo fields and golf courses
- Olypmpic pools and fitness centers
- Factories, offices
- Universities, churches, etc...
- on the French Islands, we have the Mediterranean feel with bistros and boutiques
3. WEATHER - YEAR ROUND PRODUCTIONS
We are producing the whole year round.
As a result of the global weather change there isn't a real Rainy Season anymore. Officially the Rainy Season is from beginning of June to beginning of November, but in the last years there was hardly any rain during this period.
Hurricanes occur mostly in the Northern part of the Caribbean on the islands closer to Florida and Mexico.
Occasional rain showers are usually very short.
The temperatures stay comfortably in the range between:
25 degrees Celsius/77 Fahrenheit in the Winter (November - April) and
28 degrees Celsius/82 Fahrenheit in the Summer (May - October).
The water is nice and warm all year round.
Average hours of sunlight: 12 hours in summer, 10 hours in winter.
The highest season is between 15th of December and 3. of January, those 2 weeks
should be avoided for cost reasons. High season is from 3rd of January to 15th of April, low season from 16th of April to 14th of December.
4. FLIGHTS - DIRECT FROM USA, CANADA & EUROPE
The major International airports are on the Islands of Barbados (airport code BGI) in the South and St. Martin (airport code SXM) in the North of the Caribbean Island chain.
There are daily direct flights from most major European and North American cities.
- Flights from New York and Miami, American Airlines, Jet Blue, Continental, Delta Air, Caribbean Airlines. Flight time approx. 3.5 - 4 hours.
- Flights from Toronto and Montreal, approx. 5 hours, from Vancouver approx. 12 hours, (Air Canada, Continental, American Airlines)
- Flights from London (British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, BMI, Caribbean Airlines)
Flights from Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Milan (Air France, Corsair, Air Caraibes, Condor, KLM, Martinair) approx.7- 8 hours.
- There are very good flight connections between the Islands with small local airlines and private charter planes. In addition there is the possibility to use ferry boats from St. Martin to the surrounding Islands of St. Barts, Anguilla and Saba.
5. ACCOMMODATIONS
There is a great variety of comfortable accommodations, from small guest houses to luxury hotels and big private villas with butler and cook. The rates vary from Island to Island and are depending on the season. Whatever your choice will be - we have negotiated extremely good conditions for our teams.
Daily rates:
Boutique- and Luxury hotels from US$ 180
Good middle class hotels from US$ 100
Guest houses from US$ 65
Luxury Villas for teams/locations (5-6 bedrooms) from approx US$ 1000
6. EQUIPMENT
Within the last few years the Film and Photo industry on many Caribbean Islands has developed so rapidly, that there is now a good selection of photo and film equipment, lighting systems, generators, dolly, cranes, etc locally available for renting. Whatever we cannot get on the Islands we will rent in Miami.
Film equipment from http://cinevideotech.com or http://www.cameragroup.com.
Photo equipment from http://www.carouselstudios.com or http://www.aperturepro.com.
7. CREW
With the development of the film industry in the Caribbean, there is now a much bigger pool of qualified local crew available. We work with a professional International (German, English, US, French, Canadian) and local crew: Producer, Production Coordinator and Assistants, Location Scouts and Location Managers, Art Directors, Set dressers, Construction Crews, Hair/Make-up Artists, Stylists, Props, Casting, Directors, Photography- and Camera assistants, Grip, Electricians, Runner/Drivers. If necessary we recruit further crew from either Miami or New York, or from your home country. Our team communicates in English, German and French.
8. CAST
We have experienced cast of various ethnic backgrounds for photo or film shoots. We can also provide professional dancers, singers and actors. For fashion photography, there are some models on the Islands but we mostly recruit them out of Miami or New York.
9. PROPS
We have a great variety of historical and modern props at our disposal, from luxury cars, chic yachts and planes to bicycles, row boats and ox carts.
In addition, the islands offer both elegant and trendy shops for clothes, accessories, swim or sportswear as well as historical theater props and wardrobe.
Also available are:
- Vintage cars
- Stretch limousines
- Old and new jeeps
- Old and new beach buggies
- Newest Mercedes and BMW limousines and sports cars
- Yachts, catamarans and speed boats in all sizes
- Fishing boats
- Jet skies, Submarines, Surf boards, etc
- Beach accessories like loungers, hammocks, parasols, etc
- Underwater wrecks
- planes and helicopters
- Wide selection of antique and modern furniture and accessories
- Excellent constructions in wood, cement, metal and plaster of Paris
10. PRODUCTION COSTS
The Caribbean Production Service Company accommodates big and not so big budgets. We offer full or partial service.
Our clients benefit from our many years of working with local merchants in the community. Many merchants offer generous discounts on accommodations and transportation. (Up to 50% discount on 4-Star Hotels) English speaking Islands accept US$, French Islands accept US$ and Euros.
Further advantages:
We are a locally registered production company and therefore
- are freed of taxes and duties for temporary imports on cameras/film equipment, collections, etc on most of the Islands, on some we pay minimal customs broker fees
- pay minimal or no location fees for public places and beaches
- our international clients don't need work permits
- pay minimal or no shooting permit fees
Please send us all relevant information for your next project and we will send a detailed quote within 24 hours.