THE Creative Production and Training Centre (CPTC) has invested heavily in upgrading its production facilities, according to chairman Dr Hopeton Dunn, largely using revenue generated from its programmes.

“Over the last year, CPTC would have spent close to $20 million on equipment and we have other equipment on order in addition to that,” said Dunn. “Government contributes on a diminishing scale something in the region of 35 per cent of what we need to run the company every year. It means that on the basis of our own revenue, we contribute the lion’s share of that.”

But Dunn, a senior lecturer at the University of the West Indies, cautioned the government not to abandon the CPTC.

“We don’t want a situation where people feel we shouldn’t benefit from public funding. We believe that agencies like ours must be run on the basis of our own income and government contribution too, because we are a public service. We are not in this business to put money in shareholders’ pockets; we are here for public education, so let’s not lose sight of that.”

Founded in 1984, the CPTC is a multimedia facility.

The 20-year-old educational institution is recognised as a hands-on media training complex with high-level courses and international workshops for persons interested in pursuing a career in the media.

It is also one of the few media companies in Jamaica that can provide the infrastructure for overseas film-makers wishing to film in Jamaica.

Its new digital editing (non-linear) facility consists of three new digital editing suites, a new graphics suite, and additional peripheral production and post-production facilities.

“This will complement our digital design lab and all of these things now, together, indicate that CPTC is actively engaged in the process of retooling, of getting up-to-scratch with the best of the industry standard,” said Dunn.

He said the CPTC was extensively involved in the exportation of its product, with a lot of its programmes now on Barbados television, and soon to be seen in Trinidad and Tobago.

Its programmes are already seen on cable television in New York, and Connecticut, United. States.

“We are in discussion for our programmes to be seen in Toronto, in Miami and in Atlanta,” Dunn added.waltersb@jamaicaobserver.com