Entertainment

Overview

The role of the Entertainment Unit is to:

• Provide incentives for investment for the sector through legislation by repealing the Motion Picture Encouragement Act and promulgating the Entertainment Industry (Encouragement) Act.
• Promote dialogue and cooperation between the private and public sectors for the development and implementation of policies conclusive to the creation of an enabling environment.
• Complete co-production agreements for development of standards especially in information communication technology in cultural production.
• Provide opportunities for creative practitioners to participate in international markets to expose local talent and promote the entertainment product.
• Raise the level of awareness and appreciation of Jamaican Culture as an entertainment product.
• Facilitate and promote inter-ministerial cooperation for the development and implementation of a National Cultural/Creative Industries Policy.
• To develop and foster synergies among Tourism & Entertainment Sectors.
• To assist with the implementation of vigorous protection of the Intellectual and Creative Property of Jamaican Creative Practitioners under Intellectual Property Laws.
• To facilitate institutional strengthening and capacity building.

Organisational Structure

The Entertainment Division of the Ministry provides technical and administrative support to the Entertainment Advisory Board in the development of the Entertainment Policy, as well as its effective implementation.  This unit is headed by a Senior Director of Entertainment who has responsibility for directing the work of the unit in developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating policies pertaining to the Entertainment industry and coordinating with relevant partners in the public and private sectors.  The Division’s staff is also comprised of a Director of Entertainment and an Administrative Assistant.

The Entertainment Advisory Board (EAB)

The main objectives of the Entertainment Advisory Board are to :

• Strengthen public-private partnership to  maximize contribution of the entertainment industry to economic and social development;
• Provide advice to the Ministry regarding key issues and strategies and in particular the development of an Entertainment industry policy.
• Facilitate  the engagement of entertainment industry stakeholders  in the policy-making process;

The EAB will accomplish the stated objectives by:

• Meeting on a regular basis to discuss issues and review relevant policy documents and reports (e.g. Entertainment Sector Policy Proposal Discussion Paper etc.).
• Developing a work plan with appropriate targets and timelines.
• Discussing and advising on relevant matters pertaining to the Entertainment industry,  and  the formulation of policies for its development.
• Overseeing the preparation of a “road map” for the Entertainment industry, identifying key actions, timelines and implementation strategies.
• Developing specific recommendations and advising the Minister on the following aspects of an Entertainment industry policy:

1. Entertainment Rating System: to rate entertainment and its input which will increase sponsor confidence, patron control and parental control
2. Entertainment Incentives; development of a policy for the industry; incentive classification
3. Promotion of  Entertainment at the local and international levels
4. Marketability: collaboration with Tourism and promotion of “Brand Jamaica”
5. Legal issues; Entertainment lawyers
6. Noise Abatement Act: Parish Appellate Committees; zoning
7. g. Industry Regulations: Terms of reference; licensing system; fees – benefits  to Government in terms of Revenue Collection; standards for maintenance of licences

• In the course of conducting its work, liaising with entertainment-related agencies in the Public and Private Sectors in order to obtain relevant information pertaining to the Entertainment industry and its development.
• Facilitating effective consultations with members of the entertainment industry in order to identify constraints and share ideas on appropriate strategies for development.
• Investigating all issues relating to the development of the entertainment industry and identifying suitable solutions.
• Making  appropriate representations to the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, where required, for the commissioning of  any study to be undertaken to provide information or technical expertise to support the development of a plan for the entertainment industry, and playing a major role in the oversight and review of any study so commissioned.
• Making recommendations to address specific problems and achieve specified objectives.
• Presenting to the Minister within six (6) months a final report outlining the “road map” and proposals for the implementation of an Entertainment industry policy. 
• Presenting appropriate interim reports to the Minister at agreed intervals, or as required.