A TEAM of producers and directors from Tossell Films, of Germany, was in the island recently to visit locations promoted by the JAMPRO-led delegation to the recently Cannes Film Festival, in France for the shooting of a film with the working title, Lively Up Yourself. Filming is slated to begin January, 2001 and should last for five weeks. .
Jamaica's film commissioner, Del Crooks at JAMPRO, the nation's export and investment promotion agency, was upbeat about the visit by Tossell Films.
"The Tossell Films venture is one of two projects on which we held serious discussions and the visit is a direct result of our marketing efforts," she said in a release.
The 10-day location scouting by Tossell Films started in Kingston with a visit to inner-city areas, including Trench Town and the Bob Marley Cultural Complex. From there, the group travelled to St. Elizabeth, before moving into Montego Bay via such south coast areas as Treasure Beach.
Norman Hall, marketing executive at JAMPRO and Natalie Thompson, of Cinecom Productions, accompanied the Tossell Films crew.
According to Mr. Hall: "They were very pleased with two casting sessions held with local actors and actresses. They were impressed with the quality and range of equipment available here and felt they had found most of the options, which they were looking for."
According to Hall, the film crew and scriptwriter gained a real appreciation of Jamaicans and their culture through their experience of eating mangoes, watching domino games, eating jerked chicken, attending dancehall sessions and hanging out at bars.
Mr. Hall said as a result of their visit the original script may have to be re-worked.
Cannes Film Festival was also used by JAMPRO as a springboard to launch the annual Jamerican Film Festival set for Montego Bay in November this year.
