Christian moves to Tanzania with his do-good parents and tries to find his way in a community of ex-pats and Africans.
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PRISONERS OF PARADISE
Synopsis
The coming-of-age love story, set in 1925, follows 17-year-old orphan Lucy Gladwell who is sent from England to live under the guardianship of her uncle George Huyton.
Challenge
Filming a period drama in a new territory, with numerous logistical and financial hurdles at the height of a global pandemic.
Approach
The onset of the pandemic threatened to scupper our filming schedule; the risk of postponement was high.
Through calculated assessments and consultation with key stakeholders in both South Africa and Mauritius, we made the decision, with the executive producer, to push into production. We established ourselves as a key facilitator by integrating Stage Five Films into the Mauritian film industry.
We sensitively consulted with local crew and agencies, respecting the island’s systems while looking for ways to improve previous processes. This became crucial to the success of the project.
To streamline communication and logistics management, as well as reduce overheads, we refrained from enlisting an additional service company. As a single service entity, we effectively worked across three territories. Collaborating closely with our FX partners and legal team, we supervised multiple currency transactions and budgets within different banking systems, adhering to legal and tax requirements in the three jurisdictions.
This was the company’s first production with quarantine and lockdown measures for remote and ground crew in place. Remote screening solutions for our producers in the UK meant they never missed a take, while meticulous management minimised the impact of ever-changing shipping and airfreighting schedules. Due to strict lockdown regulations in the various territories, travel to and from the island was by private charter.
Key information
Shoot weeks
7
Countries talent were engaged from
5
Crew members
200+
Countries crew were contracted from
3
Results
- This was the first film of its size to authentically
portray Mauritius and celebrate the island’s
multicultural history. - Covid-19 protocols were successfully implemented
at the height of the pandemic with zero positive
cases during the six-month production period. - Complex import and export challenges were
efficiently managed and minimised. - Stage Five Films’ Mauritian office was established,
effectively integrated, and is now fully operational on
the island.
NR. 2/3
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