Behind the Scenes: Filming a Reality TV Show in Roatán

The Allure of Roatán

Roatán, a stunning island off the northern coast of Honduras, with the Mesoamerican reef as its backdrop, has become a prime location for reality TV shows in the last few years. With its crystal-clear waters, lush landscapes, and a professional production services company on site, it's no wonder that producers are drawn here. From the moment the crew sets foot on the island, the natural beauty provides an ideal backdrop for captivating storytelling.
The island offers a unique setting that combines a mixture of Central America and the Caribbean with a twist of familiar US nods. The contrast between the pristine beaches and the rustic charm of a Caribbean paradise makes Roatán an intriguing location for filming. This unique blend of environments allows producers to craft narratives that would not be commonplace for a TV show.

Pre-Production Challenges

Even before we press that big red/green button to get the camera rolling, the particular location of Roatán means that some specific equipment, crew members, and supplies must be transported by air or sea. This requires meticulous planning to ensure everything arrives on time and in perfect condition. We introduced over 500 equipment cases from different US Airlines and Roatan airports for this reality TV project. Together with the Tourism authorities, we provided a smooth experience for the foreign production team to deal with airlines, customs, and transportation to the hotel, and not one case got damaged or went missing. 

At Bronson Film, we provide film equipment for rental and can cover the needs of smaller productions needing powerful LED lighting, a decent grip package, and some film camera equipment, including VMount batteries, wireless transmitters, and such. This production had 6 active shooting units, with their own Sony Venice, cinema glass, focus pullers, etc. We just helped fill in a few gaps here and there, and hence the 500 equipment cases. But we can help you scale your production on the island to fit your particular needs. 

Securing permits is another crucial step in the pre-production phase. We work closely with local authorities, and have the local knowledge to deal directly with the business owners themselves when requesting permits, locations, or anything needed. It's essential to ensure that filming doesn't disrupt daily economic life on the island,which is heavily dependant on tourism. We are a good point of contact negotiating a fair cost for both parties. We want more film production to come to this island, and we believe in looking at any project with the long haul in mind. 

On-Set Dynamics

Once filming begins, the dynamics on set can be both exhilarating and challenging. Our crew has some experience, and you get a team of seasoned local PAs, Production Managers, and such roles for a very competitive price. We have assembled a group of people with some film experience in advertising, videoclips, feature films and TV productions. The interaction between foreign crew members and locals is another fascinating aspect of filming in Roatán. Reality TV thrives on genuine human connections, and the island's residents often play a pivotal role; being an English-speaking island helps foreign crews find a common language to speak with people on and off the screen.

Stories from the Shoot

We had to adapt very quickly to the dynamic nature of reality TV shooting. Having 6 active camera and crew units, all working with different participants / cast members, made it a daily challenge to adapt and re-schedule the coming day. We loved the challenge of having to find the best logistical solution, adding our local experience and knowledge to the mix, and also our own company owner's Franco vast experience in the film industry in several different roles. The constantly changing nature of organizing activities, covering our bases, filling in the production gaps, is what we strive for, in any kind of content to be shot on the island. 

The "boring" Accounts Stuff

As much as we love the excitment and constant diverse solutions to be found to the shoot dates, we also understand the importance of handing over organized, complete, fully vetted actuals. Franco, the Managing Partner, exclusively uses professional tools of the trade like ShowBiz Budgeting, to make, track and organize all the budgetary and working budget needs of the production. We don't hand you in a random collection of invoices and slips of paper. We give can give you a day to day running idea of where your budget is at that point, projections, and we try to use the most up to date tools at hand like scanning everything and having backup of every single piece of paper you need for your own accounting back home. We can work as a US LLC working in Honduras, or we have a partner Production Company fully established in Honduras to be able to fullfill whaetever accounting and legal your own financial/accounting departments need. 

Post-Production Services

After filming wraps up, the magic of post-production begins. In the particular reality TV show on hand, they had their own team of editors and post-production personnel. We have a small post-production suite for smaller projects and can provide dailies, editors, post-production, and color grading. 

The Impact on Roatán

Filming a reality TV show in Roatán can have a lasting impact on the island and its community. The influx of production teams boosts the local economy through job creation and increased tourism. But we reap the benefits if we look past the immediate economic benefits when this piece of paradise is put on screen and viewed by millions of people who might not have heard of it before. This inspires many to visit and makes them eager to experience its wonders first-hand.