Business community calls for property protection rights

Aug 14, 2012 News

…As local film industry makes structural strides

As the local film industry ups its ante to become an established body, the business community will be looking to encourage the Government to implement suitable copyright legislation.
This was disclosed by President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Clinton Urling.
This development comes after a press briefing last Wednesday to signal a collaborative effort between GCCI, the University of Guyana, Courts, and Digicel, to aid in the resuscitation of Guyana’s film industry.

Sponsors and coordinators of Cine Guyana from left: Molly Hassan, Courts Marketing Executive, GCCI President Clinton Urling, Dr. Paloma Mohamed, Head of Communications at the University of Guyana, Tamara Rodney-Clarke, Courts Marketing Manager and Shonette Moore, Digicel PRO.

Urling said that in the coming months, the society‘s advocacy committee and other major stakeholders associated with the group, would make recommendations to the policy makers after engaging in the necessary consultation to assist in drafting the intelligence protection rights.
“One of the top issues short listed on the agenda would be to obtain substantive and comprehensive guidelines to have the issue of intelligence protection laws urgently addressed by the necessary policy holders.”
He noted that the private sector will fully endorse such a call.
Among the issues scheduled to be addressed is the need for an appropriate structure in which a film industry can be accommodated. In this regard, Dr Paloma Mohamed, head of the Communications Department at the University of Guyana, is the leading coordinator of the project.
She noted that even though there was skepticism in terms of support by the commercial sector, emphasis has been placed on the work done to improve Guyana’s film industry.
Mohamed said that the majority of films that were locally produced under the Cine Guyana brand received global recognition as many were débuted in seven film festivals worldwide.
“It is most rewarding to the sponsors as the films premiered in various festivals all over of the world in the US, London, BVI and Nigeria just to name a few, and I think that alone is a testament to the quality of films produced by a budding and innovative industry.”
“Dr Bruce Paddington head of the film school at the University of West Indies (UWI) will be in Guyana to help to set Cine Guyana up as an independent institution as part of implementing a suitable framework. During his stay he will give his overview how he sees Cine Guyana and the local film industry emerging,” Dr Mohamed said.
In addition, she explained that the trade also helps to cultivate human resources, while noting that 188 youths were trained to do technical work at the duration of the previous undertaking and as a result are now equipped to be contracted to do work in other fields.
“There is need for a new brand of films on the global market since the product is being consumed at accelerated pace which will allow local and Caribbean film makers to develop their untapped potential.”
Dr Mohamed is adamant that such a venture would be rewarding potential investors as it would market local products as well as showcase Guyana in a most positive light.
The lead coordinator said that it is most heartening and is relatively touching to see overseas-based Guyanese who have not returned home in a long time, cry tears of joy after seeing these films and identifying someone with an accent that is authentically theirs in a film. “It is even more gratifying that you can really find ownership, identity and beauty and pride in your country.”
This year, three new films will be produced under the Cine Guyana trademark and would premiere in December.