Cayman audiences may not get a chance to see blockbusters like the new Nicolas Cage movie at the cinema, despite the fact that they were shot on the island with local cast and crew involved.
‘The Retirement Plan’ is the latest in a series of movies filmed in Cayman during the COVID-19 lockdown to hit the big screens.
But there is no clarity on if or when the movies will be shown in Cayman.
Corey Randolph, Camana Bay Cinema general manager, told the Cayman Compass in a telephone interview that he was awaiting word from the movie’s distributor on whether it will be released for local showing.
“We are looking into it, but it is up to the distributor,” Randolph said.
The movie, which was originally scheduled for release last week in US cinemas and now moved to 15 Sept, is the latest offering from action star Nicolas Cage, who stars as a Cayman Islands beach bum asked to come out of retirement to save his daughter’s life.
Randolph said when it comes to a film’s release, it is solely up to the distributor as to when and where its movie will be shown.
“It is not under our control,” he added.
However, Randolph said he is trying to get the movie shown here since he believes the film will have better success in the Cayman Islands than other Caribbean countries since it was locally shot.
“It has ties to the local community,” he said, adding he had his “fingers crossed” the distributor will be swayed by local interest and release the movie here.
The Cayman Islands Film Commission, in a statement to the Compass on the movie’s release, congratulated the production team behind ‘The Retirement Plan’.
It noted that the local showings are determined outside local shores, but nevertheless encouraged the community to support the movie and its team.
“We are all excited to watch another feature film shot in Grand Cayman that provided opportunities to local talent and showcases the potential of our islands as an ideal destination for filmmakers,” the commission said.
“The decision for a film to be exhibited theatrically at our local cinemas is a matter for the production and distribution companies involved.
“Whether the film plays at the cinemas or other digital distribution platforms, we encourage everyone to support ‘The Retirement Plan’ and celebrate the hard work of those who made it happen.”
Support the movie, Awe says
Awesome Productions managing director Badir Awe, who worked on ‘The Retirement Plan’, said even though the film may not hit local screens, it has proven that the Cayman Islands can make movies.
“We proved that Cayman is diverse enough as a country to shoot a whole movie so that was a great thing to be aware of, to know that it was possible. Obviously, to be included in a production like that was a great benefit to a lot of us. The fact that it may not screen in Cayman is fine,” Awe said.
He pointed out that the production companies have their deals with the distribution centres which work for them and he was grateful to see the movie hit US theatres.
“We were lucky enough to get ‘The Baker’ here. That was a lot of fun. We watched that one a couple of weeks ago and that was also pretty amazing to see,” he said.
The US box office performance of a movie also influences when and whether an international theatrical release will be approved or if a film will go straight to video on demand.
Awe encouraged the community to support the movie wherever it is available, whether streamed online or through video on demand.
“We will get a chance to see it online some way, somehow,” he added.
‘The Baker’, also filmed in the Cayman Islands, premiered at the local cinema on Friday, 28 July, the same day it was released in the US.
Starring Ron Perlman, Elias Koteas and Joel David Moore, with Harvey Keitel, and introducing Emma Ho, the drama focuses on an elderly baker who has to protect his granddaughter from gangsters, using skills that go beyond producing an excellent loaf of sourdough.
It is now available on Amazon Prime Video in the US and through video on demand.
Other movies with Cayman ties, such as the highly anticipated ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ – for which Caymanian filmmaker Frank E. Flowers shared screenplay credit with two other writers – are set to debut in the coming months, and it is hoped that local audiences will get a chance to celebrate those releases here.
Even if a movie is shot locally, there is no requirement to have the film released to Cayman audiences.
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