The Courier

Globalisation. Appearing in film, too

Juan Basanta is a filmmaker who runs his own company. He studied in Cuba, where his teachers included Francis Ford Coppola, Jean-Claude Carrière and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. In 1995, he set up his own production company, which has been growing ever since.

State of the industry

It is a very young industry but is at a significant point. Technology is now accessible and has enabled the industry to blossom and given us the independence and freedom to create. We have a newly found confidence.

Your company

We are a very versatile company and do not keep to one film genre. Our portfolio includes documentaries and music videos. In one sense our company is the biggest in the field and in another sense the smallest. In music video terms, we are a big hitter. But it’s not all about size. It comes down to intelligent decisions in the marketplace that open paths and allow continuity. That excites me.

We try to work in a global context. Filmmaking is a universal language. Sometimes we fail – we have very original projects which reflect us but perhaps the ‘dialect’ is a little too local to be appreciated outside our country.
We’re an independent group. At any one time we can employ 90 people on set including craftspeople. On a monthly basis, 50 families depend on us for a paycheque.

Do Dominicans back their home-grown industry?

Dominicans do back their own film industry and buy its DVDs, but there’s a constant need for new sorts of films to keep the public in cinema seats. We found people understand silence and a great image instead of a big word for example. We have to make sure that films do not become radio broadcasts. I’ll give you a copy of my film Dominicano, a documentary which is a heartfelt portrayal of what my country is, so you can understand where I’m coming from here. It portrays my own journey.

Supporting the industry

It has always been very difficult raise finance. If you go any bank right now; mortgages are at 15%–18% interest. You have to do everything from scratch starting with finding understanding partners. It’s a totally different dynamic. Even basics like electricity have to be self-funded. My business is not connected to the national power company and I have to generate my own energy. As filmmakers, you have to be prepared for everything. It’s a very changing country in all respects. During the hurricane season, the weather can be sunny in the morning then the clouds come along in the afternoon.

Things are already in the pipeline. I have been working with the government on a few things like the development of a school for filmmakers and laws to protect the industry and create funds. A covered set is being built. Taking on work outsourced by other film industries like Hollywood is an important step forward, too. We have the technical know-how and the kids now go straight from school into the first job on the set. This was not an option when I started. My first job was in advertising.

Where the industry is heading

We currently make about seven to ten films a year in the country at production costs of between US$300,000–1 million. These films manage to cover their costs and make a profit. About 30 people are involved in film production in the country. Then there are the international productions filmed here like Michael Mann’s Miami Vice. Ana Garcia and Robert de Niro have also made films here. There’s also a potential to sell our product in the regional market such as Venezuela, Colombia or even the USA.

We need proper management of the industry. Sometimes politicians don’t understand it. We need support at all levels, whether it’s just to enable us to close a road when we’re making a film, for example, or understanding the labour market. Those who work on set as craftspeople are ordinarily hairdressers or waiters.

I am full of hope for the film industry and tomorrow – perhaps in a few years time – hope to fulfil the beautiful dream I have.

In next issues of The Courier: representatives of an association of small coffee producers FEDECARES (Federation of Coffee Growers of the Southern Region), who have a social and environmental agenda, and professional manager, Rafael Diaz, who quit a profitable job in the US to begin an experimental project producing biodiesel on a small scale.