Loading ...
German celebrities in St Lucia to film Project Paradise.
Reality shows are now what the sitcoms used to be to television in the 70’s and 80’s. Many of the popular ones have a cult following of millions of viewers world-wide who tune in week after week, to find out the fate or success of their favourite characters, who are placed under the scrutiny of cameras in real life situations. Survivor, American Idol, America’s Next Top Model, Project Runway, Big Brother, The Big Loser and the Real Housewives of Atlanta are among the more popular reality shows these days and Saint Lucians have come to love many of them too. This week, however, the island become home not just to spectators of these shows, but the home to the production of an actual reality show.
For the next two weeks Saint Lucia and more particularly the Bay Gardens Beach Resort will be home to a German television production called “Project Paradise.” The 72-room resort located at Reduit, has been selected for the project which will see the “stars” participating in a reality show meant to cleanse and purify the body.
For five days celebrities will survive on water and a specially brewed tea whilst focusing on healthy living and exercise and two segments of the show will be filmed in Saint Lucia. Filming began last Sunday November 1, after the cast and crew arrived here on the reintroduction of the Condor flight to Saint Lucia. Assisting Bay Gardens with this project is the Saint Lucia Tourist Board and ISO certified Baron Foods bottled water, which will be used to rehydrate the participants.
The participants are all celebrities in Germany who were specially selected to participate in “Project Paradise.” They include two male contestants, Mr Model of the World 2003/2004, Nico Schwanz and Marcus Grim who is a popular performing artiste having won an American Idol type show in Germany. The two female participants are actress and TV Host Diana Herold and Mika Lof Fernandes, host of the TV show VIVA.
Mika who spoke on behalf of the group first expressed thanks to Bay Gardens.
“I have been to many other parts of the world, but Saint Lucia, this resort, the reception, the rooms, I have really enjoyed taking off the flowers from by bed,” she laughed as she spoke to reporters here Monday. “It is beautiful here although it was a bit hot, she added.
“Being here I am sure will help me find myself and so far it is nice here, the people are nice, I feel at home,” he said. For Diana it has been nothing but a great feeling the moment she got here.
Next week a second contingent of participants are expected to arrive here, including a “real” Princess from Europe.
According to Berthia Parle, General Manager of Bay Gardens Beach resorts, this is a wonderful opportunity to showcase Saint Lucia.
“This is a great opportunity, not only for us at Bay Garden’s but for Saint Lucia as a whole since various segments of the show will be filmed on location at various sites on the island,” Parle says.
Project Paradise is expected to be aired on German Television, Pro Sieben in early January. Pro Sieben is reportedly aired across Europe and has become one of the most watched television channels. The production in Saint Lucia is being managed b Eileen Frolich of Pro Sieben.
RSS
Very nice exposure for St Lucia on the European market.
I would also like to point out, that in my little corner of Europe , St Lucia has received lots of exposure through various television shows shot on location in St Lucia. First off, there is this Canadian produced show ,Last Chance For Love, which is played daily here on a popular TV station.(Don’t laugh; I know that we are seeing it several years late) It is set on location at Sandals Halcyon and each episode gives glimpses of various attractions on the island.
Also, an entire episode of Globetrotter was filmed in St Lucia . It was a bit funny to see some people I know from St Lucia on TV here!
When Amy Winehouse was in St Lucia, our local MTV also had numerous clips on her stay in St Lucia.
You may find all of this rather strange, if you actually knew where in Europe I live. So you see, St Lucia receives exposure even in the strangest of places.And these tv shows give us more exposure than best marketing drive by the SLTB.
Simply beautiful is the place to be…The playground… folks who inhabit the crowded metrpolitan areas of this fast moving world which is definitely at risk escape and take a break from the stresses of life… they come out here for the therapy of fresh air and sun … The website http://www.gostluciago.com expresses or sends out the message which reads :- Golf, Scuba diving, Snorkling. Sex, Real Strong Radio, Carnival, Jazz and Jounen Kweyol are considered recreational activities while on vacation in the sunshine island of St. Lucia.
Right here right now the Germans are coming with their filmi crew, celebrities, cameras, lights and action…it’s a new thing … A television production… it’s a Reality show! and it’s coming to St Lucia and it all good.
We have our version of reality shows right here in St Lucia, the most recent production was “Gangster Style at Grass Street, Castries.’ Lots of action, large crowds, real sounds of gun shots, news reporters, district representatives and government ministers making statements on the scene minus the celebrities and television film crews… GO St LUCIA GO!
Mesyé, Chastanet only just brought Condor here and the country is already getting so much exposure? Slow down man! Or the country will not have any room left for people to walk around.
St. Lucians have no idea the gem that is St. Lucia. Love lost is always so precious in memory, so too is paradise.