Friday, August 30, 2013

Jefford Curre's pioneering start of the Bahamas Movie Industry continues to inspire filmmakers everywhere.



Why is Jefford Curre’s “Paradise Intrigue” the most anticipated, if not the most important movie of the Bahamas new number one industry?

Before the making of “Paradise Intrigue”, the elusive Jefford Curre’ was the Bahamas’ best kept secret, now the whole world is on to them. Like a “Bond style” bounty hunter, running real life intervention missions for the Bahamas government, Jefford Curre’ lived a rather dangerous life. As an English trained specialist, attached to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, he spent more than 5-1/2 years at the center of non-stop classified action, (don’t bother looking up government files, on an official level he never really existed). However, our research interviews among the command infrastructure, clearly confirmed his presence on the scene. Jefford Curre,’ apparently possessed unique leadership skills while operating at the forefront of what is perhaps one of the world’s most dangerous jobs.

Was it business wizardry, visionary faith or just plain luck that prompted the invention of the Bahamas Movie Industry? These are some of the challenging questions that a team of indigenous researchers are attempting to answer, in the new Jefford Curre’ documentary, by Anafu Pictures. In 1990, after completing his first international tour, Jefford Curre’ was inspired toward a new assignment of a higher order. Wasting no time,he began putting into place the fuel that would enable him to start a fire. A fire that soon became a forest blaze of vision, which progressed into the Bahamas' new number one industry. In 1991 he established Megavision Pictures,(the Bahamas first movie company)in Guanahani Village on Cable Beach, Bahamas. With a small team of dedicated specialists, (development unit 1) his first order of business was to conduct feasibility studies. After overcoming huge pioneering obstacles, he completed development research, with sufficient data to justify the mission toward the creation of a new industry for the Bahamas.

By the Spring of 1994, with savvy negotiations and the assistance of visionary resort operators, the young pioneering entrepreneur moved his office onto Paradise Island and incorporated Megavision Pictures Ltd. Within the first three months he attracted over $27,000,000 in investment interest; along with several dozen projects and film industry related companies, developing under the company’s umbrella. This sparked the official launch of the Bahamas Movie Industry. The indigenous event highlighted that year’s Chamber of Commerce Week, as he officially kicked-off the launch of “PARADISE INTRIGUE” (the Bahamas first movie). It was a summer one could never forget. It was the biggest movie buzz anyone had ever seen on the local scene. Jefford Curre’s Paradise Island, condo took on the atmosphere of a busy Grand Central terminal, an endless stampede of wannabe movie makers, as well as professionals, seeking career change, all aligned themselves to be an important part of the nation’s history. It created (production unit 2) which compromised of almost 4,000 individuals. Many flew in from destinations as far as Europe, Asia, United States, South America and Canada.
Story continues in Stars In Paradise Magazine:
www.starsinparadise.com

Filmmaking tips from the Bahamas Film Industry

Making your film a reality


If money is no object and you are well established you can make any kind of movie on any subject matter and you can do it on any continent.
if you are just starting out, the best way to make your film a reality without spending a lot of money is to:
1. Base it around the things that you already have.
2.The environment you are in
3.The people around you.
For example, don’t try writing a screenplay that has to take place aboard a speeding yacht, unless you own one or can afford to rent or buy one. If you don’t even know a friend who owns one, the film will never happen.
First, visualize your movie inside your head, shot by shot, cut by cut. Draw out those shots on a storyboard. Next, you’ll need equipment, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on a camera. Just ask a friend or someone you know that has a camera, to borrow their own. Some film schools and civic organizations offer year round training that includes equipment. Finally, there’s post-production. When you have finished shooting your movie, you need to find a good processor to develop your film. Sometimes they give discount rates to students or low – budget productions. Lastly, you will need to edit. After it’s changed to video format you can use a video editing system like: Final cut pro or Avid to do your editing.- starsinparadise.com

Making it from script to screen and beyond in the Bahamas Film Industry

New development deals by Megavision Pictures


Megavision Pictures has entered development deals with 15 box-office entrepreneurs who are embracing a limited open window to take their story from manuscript to big screen. The major challenge among many is to make the transition to full time careers by the end of the year

What's your place in the Bahamas new number one industry?


2013 marks the 20th anniversary of Megavision Pictures and the rise of the Bahamas Film Industry.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Part 1 Million dollar secrets of the Bahamas Film Industry







Closely Guarded Secrets of



“Made For Movie” Money

If you are new in the film/entertainment business, your biggest problem will be finding finances for your film. Though there are many options you can take, more than likely you may only be aware of a few. Such as: applying for grants, borrowing money from banks, relatives or friends. These channels very often do not work out for the artist in the long run, but it is a quick way to get into the game.

The best way to finance a film is in an investment consortium, under the guidance of a mentor, who by the way can be very instrumental in helping you to acquire your own money eventually. Oh, did I say the taboo controlling word, "mentor"? Yes, mentor. Mentor in this day and age? Yes, a mentor is someone who activates the humility within you that creates an atmosphere for learning or connecting to a higher level. This person is usually someone you wish to be like and someone secure enough not to worry about the possibility of you succeeding beyond him or her, should fate have it to be. The truth of the matter is, if the relationship is structured properly neither parties would have to be concerned about ending up in an odd or seemingly strained relationship position. Your success will automatically lead to further success for your mentor as it is the law of nature. Extremely successful people working in the Bahamas Film Industry all understand this concept and benefit greatly from it.
For more on how this relationship is structured stay tuned to starsinparadise.com

Positioning yourself for movie money


If you’re an international money launderer posing as a banker, or a relative of pirates who went legit at the turn of the  century,  you already know about the undiscoverd buried treasures of the Bahamas.    

Why do some film industry operators end up out of operation or regrettably sold out to people who don't really care about anything other than money?
 
Megavision Kingdom, the in-house training division of Megavision Pictures runs a very interesting program that teaches filmmakers, not only how to make films, but more importantly, how to attract money without losing their own vision.  If the filmmaker loses vision he/she loses identity and integrity. When this happens he has nothing different to offer his starving audience and is no longer unique. At this point  the filmmakers' days are numbered.
 
Filmmakers in the new emerging global Bahamas film market, might find it not a bad idea to establish their position before forming close working relationships with foreign entities.  
Make no mistake about it, whoever you ask for money will proposition you with a list of conditions.  The key is to find the company that echoes the sentiments that you stand for. For example, if your films or film festival is about spreading democracy, don’t expect the grant organization that believes in dictatorship to fund you.  You will have to change your mind about the governing process and demonstrate that change vividly before you can get the money. 
 

How many times have you seen filmmakers or film festival operators start out with good intentions about producing movies that encourage good will among all mankind.  Very often we realize after a year or so, their press release starts selling them as an extremist in either race,  creed, color or religion.  This happens because real structure and accountability was missing at the beginning.  There was no clear mission of conviction. To be continued on starsinparadise.com...

Fans win big at The Megavision Network


 










50 free VIP Invites to Megnettv.com comic channel opening event.

Be within the first 50 fans to  identify the heavyweight who recently inked a deal with The Megavision Network and win an invite to attend the opening of megnettv.com Story & Animation channel. 
We will give you a hint: Popeye, Paradise Intrigue, Gulliver's Travels, Betty Boop, Felix the Cat.  Keep up with Starsinparadise.com for details on how and when to enter, it will be given on short notice. 
There will be only one more hint coming, stay alert!