SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, Aug. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Offering a
breathtaking landscape, ethnic diversity and supportive government, the
Dominican Republic (DR) is proving to be a haven for Hollywood. Evident from
the abundance of movies shot here in the past 20 years, the DR's popularity is
ever growing as the ideal film location for high-profile directors and their
actors.
Most recently seen in Santo Domingo, the DR's historical colonial city,
were prestigious Hollywood actors Vin Diesel and Robert De Niro. Both were
visiting to scout locations for upcoming films and met with DR President
Leonel Fernandez.
Diesel's visit to the DR was in preparation for his starring role in a
film about a Dominican who travels to New York in search of the American
dream. After meeting with Santo Domingo Mayor Roberto Salcedo and getting a
city tour, he announced his plan to promote the DR as an ideal location for
filming movies.
Robert De Niro, who is no stranger to the DR after filming the Cuban
scenes of "The Godfather: Part II" here in 1974, has returned to scout
locations for his upcoming film, "The Good Shepherd." The film, directed by
De Niro and starring Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie, tells the history of the
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) through the eyes of agency founder, James
Wilson. While in Santo Domingo he completed an on-site inspection and filed
for permits from the Foreign Ministry to shoot the film, which is to begin in
December.
Diesel and De Niro aren't the only actors to take advantage of the
country's beauty and historical grounds. Several movies are currently being
filmed and are set to be released soon. Andy Garcia's "The Lost City," a film
set in Havana and centering on the rise of Fidel Castro and fall of the
Batista regime, is currently being filmed in the DR. The movie will star
legendary actors Dustin Hoffman, Bill Murray, Robert Duvall and Garcia
himself, and is set to be released this year.
Also currently being filmed in the DR is a segment of the "Miami Vice"
movie, starring Colin Farrell and Oscar winner Jaime Foxx as the two main
characters, Crockett and Tubbs. Based on the popular television series
running from 1984 to 1989, the movie is set to be released on July 28, 2006.
Filmed on the DR's North Coast this summer was "Lovewrecked," a teenage
romantic comedy starring Amanda Bynes, Chris Carmack, Jonathan Bennett and
Jamie-Lynn DiScala. Using the beautiful Sun Village Resort in Puerto Plata as
the primary filming location, it also housed the entire cast and crew during
the shooting of the movie. Set to be released this spring, the movie was
directed by Randal Kleiser, who also filmed hits "Grease" and "Blue Lagoon."
While movies being filmed in the DR are on a steady climb, these are not
the only flicks ever to have utilized the country. Other popular movies with
roots to the DR include: "Zombie," a horror movie that came out in 1979 and
was directed by Lucio Fulci; "Serpent and the Rainbow," a horror movie
released in 1988 and directed by Wes Craven; "Havana," released in 1990 and
starring Robert Redford as a character living during the collapse of the
Batista regime; and "Dreaming of Julia," a movie released in 2001 staring
Harvey Keitel focusing on the Cuban Castro revolution and filmed in Santo
Domingo.



SOURCE Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism

Belly this is last years newspapers and not current in any way shape or form .. ...People shoot movies on location for one reason ECONOMICS ...That is why Canada is a big movie location not because their good but because they are cheap....crew from Good Shepard and Miami Vice stayed in my home it was years ago

Well if we are a cheap alternative to shooting a movie in Hollywood then good we are moving in the right direction don't you think?

after the making of Havana some years ago with Robert Redford the DR is lucky anybody ever came back to make a movie they were ripped off so bad ....but over the last few years they have recovered somewhat ....There was an ugly shooting incident on Miami Vice that sent shock waves thru the industry and suspended a week of shooting and alot of money was lost because of a drunken security guard anyway we shall see................ Che should have been made here but they chose PR instead

They had scenes from Fast & Furious filmed in DR. Michelle Rodriguez is working on a film about Las Hermanas Mirabal. I know it will take a while for us to be recognise as a good place for filming but it's taking ground and looking good.

tread lightly here, Belly. when Dobbsy is on his game, he will eat you up. the subjects he knows, he knows to a T. so, enter into an argument with him with great trepidation; be very afraid.

Oh I have seen enough to know the drill. LOL

that is correct Vin Diesel I believe is a tremendous promoter of the DR and good for him I think he has DR blood in his family tree

Dobbsy, are you referencing the same Vin Diesel who tried to force his affections upon a hapless young lady in a nightclub, and, when rebuffed, paid off security to toss her out? yes, a really good ambassador, i would conclude.

I think Vin Diesel is thinking of going as far as starting a film company in DR but i will have to verify that later.