BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 26th March 2021)- The island of St.Kitts is expected to be featured on an internationally-known reality TV show called ‘Below Deck’ which airs on Bravo TV with film production by MSR Media (based in York, England), currently on a business trip to the Federation.
At the Prime Minister’s press conference held on Tuesday 23rd March 2021, Chief Executive Officer of the St.Kitts Tourism Authority Raquel Brown highlighted that ‘Below Deck’ is a reality TV show that is based on the yachting industry and it is showed on Bravo which is “one of those high rated TV channels that a lot of persons that do come to St.Kitts and Nevis for a stay over or they do come for yachting or come on vessels for example such as Crystal Cruises, Sea Bourne or Celebrity, for example, part of the Royal Caribbean group.”
According to her, St.Kitts was specifically chosen this season and that the show will be promoting the destination a lot and showing different locations in St.Kitts and Nevis with “a lot of historical and cultural sites…what is unique and authentic to the destination.”
“So it’s not specifically a reality TV show but their showcasing the destination,” she added.
Brown stated that producers have indicated that they have few images from Salt Plage and other locations so far.
As understood, there is no timeline for the show’s airing since such detail is on “low key” for now.
Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dr. Timothy Harris shared that MSR productions has promised to deliver six movies this year.
“We are hopeful that the success of these seven movies…‘Below Deck’ and the six others all goes well for the future development of the film and creative industry here in St.Kitts. This will bring much visibility and interest in St.Kitts and Nevis as the best place to visit to do business and to live.”
Dr. Harris continued: “We have in my view the beginning of a viable film and creative arts industry and we shall work together with other stakeholders to harness it for the benefit of our young people who will secure job incomes, play roles as actors and actresses and movie stars. We appreciate the confidence in our economy by those who are in the hotel sector.
He made mention of MSR’s media visit to St.Kitts on Sunday 21st March saying “and that’s when they had basically come to begin the filming of their films. They’re going to spend some of the week on St.Kitts and some of the time in Nevis as they look for the best sites again to do their film production and filming activity.”
PM Harris spoke about the opportunities that exist for St.Kitts-Nevis.
“There is a lot of opportunity now emerging for persons on St.Kitts to learn about that industry without having to go abroad and so we hope that those opportunities are being exploited. It provides an opportunity, too, the Minister [Akilah Byron-Nisbett] reminded me, for the Ministry of Talent Development to become involved with persons directly involved in the industry to share that experience for those who have that as their career goals.”
MSR Media is currently in the Federation, after arriving earlier this year- having sealed a two-picture production deal with the Nevis Island Administration for a comedy feature called ‘One Year Off’.
At a press briefing for the filming crew’s visit to the island held at Christophe Harbour Marina located at the South East Peninsula, Minister of Tourism Lindsay Grant while addressing the MSR team including Director Phillippe Martinez said: “We are confident that what you will find in St.Kitts has the makings of an ideal filming destination from our lush natural attributes to our manmade infrastructure, and so we are very pleased to welcome you to explore and to enjoy.”