WHERE THE HELL IS TOBAGO?  by Nancy Haecker

"Where the hell is Tobago?"

Nancy Haecker by John Hutchinson

On December 3rd I flew into Trinidad's Picaro International Airport with fellow LMGA Members, Michelle Latham and John Hutchinson. We were part of a FAM Tour sponsored by The Trinidad and Tobago Film Office and hosted by Diamond Film Locations, the two agencies working together to promote the islands filming locations and to announce the government's new film incentives program. Trinidad and Tobago (known as T & T) is a twin island state. The southermost islands in the Lesser Antilles, they are just seven miles off the coast of Venezuela. However the islands are not identical twins. Oil refineries and a strong manufacturing base make Trinidad the most industrialized island in the Caribbean, while Tobago remains one of the most undeveloped.

photos by John Hutchinson

Our tour began in Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad. Port of Spain is a dense, bustling, traffic choked,  cosmopolitan third world city of mishmashed architectural styles. Sitting side by side are modern office buildings, nineteenth century churches and government offices, museums, schools, hospitals, malls, parks, stadiums, grimy docks, seaport, hotels and transit stations. The uptown residential neighborhoods of grandiose mansions and 'gingerbread' cottage houses surround Queen's Park Savannah, while neighborhoods of houses built of salvaged material,  tiered on hillsides, sit just outside the city. Pocket neighborhoods of Caribbean, African and Asian populations showcase the variety of 'looks' that can be found on Trinidad. Each neighborhood lends its own design to local bars and restaurants, open-air clubs, repair and retail shops, art galleries, temples, steel drum ‘panyards’ and street vendors.

photos by Nancy Haecker

Within minutes of leaving Port of Spain we were in 'island' environments: undeveloped stretches of beach and palm groves, swamp, rain forests of heavily wooded peaks with rivers and waterfalls, resorts, yacht clubs, fishing villages, local markets and flat agricultural lands. We saw that you can have the best of both city and island locations on Trinidad.

photo: Hutchinson	photo: Haecker	photo: Haecker

One day in Tobago was not enough. It is the ultimate island fantasy of endless lengths of no-footprint sandy beaches, gently swaying palm trees and an expanse of crystalline water as far as you can see. It is the kind of place that had me imagining myself alone on a deserted island, pirates ships anchored in the bay and an unbathed Johnny Depp with a bottle or rum staggering my way.........anyhoo.....

Tobago quickly became my favorite island on the planet. I was so enamored with its undeveloped landscape and understated charm that my 'working' experience became a visceral experience. The island will take you away from anything you want to lose.

photos: Nancy  Haecker

Tobago has rugged mountain terrain and windswept coastlines, a wealth of rain forest and pristine beaches and coral reefs. The villages, resorts and hotels are simple and unfettered.  Tobago is the crown jewel of the Caribbean.

If I told you what I really thought of our tour sponsors, Diamond Film Locations and the Trinidad and Tobago Film Office, you would think that I was getting paid to write this article. Diamond Films outshines their name; and, together with The Trinidad Film Office, the two agencies were so thorough, informed, organized and honest about what they could and could not provide to productions that I left there with confidence in their organizations. Given the right script I would look to the islands as a filming location, and I will definitely go back to fulfill my pirate fantasy.

Nancy Haecker

If you want more information on filming in Trinidad & Tobago or upcoming familiarization tours contact Jody Diamond by phone at 305.573-0134 or 213.300.0322, or via email at jody@diamondfilmlocations.com  .

The contact for the Trinidad & Tobago Film Company is Chief Executive Officer Carla Foderingham. Carla can be reached at