Jamaican film and television interests have received another boost as the racy new reality show Forever Eden from US network Fox Broadcasting, which was shot in Port Antonio, is heading to the MIP TV commercial television expo in Cannes, France, from March 29 through April 3.

JAMPRO vice-president Michael McMorris told Splash that the network's executives had invited the investment promotion agency to participate in a joint promotional venture at the giant annual TV programmes market.

"Jamaica will have a multi-brand presence at the FOX/Forever Eden booth, involving several of our best-known indigenous brands," he said. The collaboration includes an opening night reception to feature Jamaican food and beverages (Appleton rum, Red Stripe beer, Blue Mountain coffee, jerk chicken, etc) as well as Jamaican music courtesy of VP Records. The reception is expected to be attended by some 200 television executives from around the world, who will also have a chance to win an all-inclusive vacation from Sandals Resorts.

Jamaica Film Commissioner Del Crooks commented that the Fox-Jamaica branded booth will be in place for the duration of the event, and is part of a deepening relationship between the American broadcaster and the commission, arising out what was a reportedly an extremely positive experience on the initial series shoot.

"Having completed the initial season, the producers commented to us that they were blown away by the level of expertise available to them in Jamaica. This augurs very well for succeeding shoots as the other companies always refer to the previous experience before making their own final commitment."

The series' US$7-million budget also provided a boon to tourist and other commercial interests in the lush northeast resort town, with spending covering a wide range from accommodations and transportation to tools and hardware.

Forever Eden is run along similar lines as Survivor and is billed as the first open-ended, unscripted soap opera. Men and women have agreed to take "an indefinite break from their ordinary lives to live in tropical luxury". The participants must seek to avoid eviction and outwit a "serpent" whose role is to make their sojourn difficult.

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