Location scout, Michelle Latham capturing a piece of paradise;	Location scout, John Hutchinson with Gasparee cave guide-Elwin Francis;
Producer, Monique Caulfield, location scouts, Michelle Latham and Nancy Haeker and Director, Dan Baron

The Trinidad & Tobago Film Company hosted film and television locations scouts from Los Angeles and New York to the destination from December 3rd-7th 2007.

The itinerary included a river cruise exploring swamp, mangroves and the beautiful Scarlet Ibis at the Caroni Bird Sanctuary, a visit to Chaguanas where they toured Temple by the Sea and the Hanuman Murti Temple, city tour of Port of Spain including the Magnificent Seven, the Red House, Frederick Street, stop at the Trinidad All Stars Pan Yard, Lady Young, City Gate, cricket pitches, Queens Park Savannah, a day in Chaguaramas with a boat ride to Chacachacare, rice paddies in central Trinidad, seaside towns such as Manzanilla and a day trip to sister island, Tobago, where everything from Pigeon Point to Charlotteville was explored. The six day long trip was structured to showcase Trinidad & Tobago as an alternative to standard Caribbean locations as well as its similarity to other indigenous cultures.

Attendees included LA based film and television scouts Nancy Haecker, whose credits include projects such as the popular television show, House, M.D. and films such as 8 Mile, Any Given Sunday, The Postman, Phone Booth and The Last Sunset; Michelle Latham scouted for television and films such as The X-Files, Mission Impossible III, National Treasure, Star Trek, and CSI Miami, New York based film and commercial scout; John Hutchinson, with credits ranging from the X-Men feature film to commercials for Bacardi. Producer Monique Caulfield and Director Dan Baron were scouting for their upcoming feature film, Basmati Blues, which is set in India although now Trinidad is being strongly considered as the location. Representatives Jody Diamond, Rosie Sandler and Jennifer Fragoso from the TTFC’s US based film commission marketing company, Diamond Film Locations, joined the scouts to assist with the facilitation of the trip. “The scouts had an eye opening visit. They were both surprised and impressed with how different and unique the architecture and terrain is from the rest of the region. Additionally, they are very supportive of the initiatives put forth by the TTFC and want to do all they can to help, including telling other industry executives about their visit,” said Jody Diamond, president of Diamond Film Locations. “The cash rebate program, TTFC’s attendance at November’s American Film Market and now this trip has the industry talking about T&T being a viable option in the film, commercial and television market.”