Nanaimo-Info-blog

A FIVE-YEAR HIGH FOR
B.C.’S DOMESTIC FILM PRODUCTION

British Columbia remains a strong contender in film and television production, with a record year in domestic film production, announced Tourism, Sport and the Arts Minister Stan Hagen today. BC Film Commission statistics show film and television production in British Columbia contributed $943 million to the provincial economy in 2007.

“B.C. continues to perform well in the face of a ‘perfect storm’ of global industry challenges,” said Hagen. “The decrease in foreign production activity was offset by the dramatic rise in homegrown production. This increase is outstanding and shows the real maturity and innovation of B.C. companies.”

According to data released today by the BC Film Commission, domestic film and television activity in British Columbia continued a five-year trend of continuous growth, reaching a high in 2007 of $407 million in total B.C. spending, up 47 per cent from $278 million in 2006.

“B.C. is truly a world-class production centre and continues to perform exceptionally well, despite the realities of current market conditions,” said Peter Leitch, chair of the Motion Picture Production Industry Association of BC and president of Mammoth and North Shore studios. “Recent changes to the provincial tax incentive program have ensured that B.C. is well positioned for global success based on both excellent quality and cost competitiveness.”

The rapid and sustained rise in the value of the Canadian dollar, aggressive new tax incentives in many U.S. states, a prolonged strike by the Writers’ Guild of America members, and a local shortage of available studio space, all played a role in a 44 per cent downturn in total foreign B.C. production spending: $536 million in 2007 from $950 million in 2006.

“In spite of challenges in 2007, B.C. foreign production spending still exceeded over half a billion dollars. As well, the animation industry is showing promising growth with an increase in productions from last year with projects like Ricky Sprocket, Atomic Betty 3, and George of the Jungle,” said Chris Bartelman, partner, Studio B Productions Inc, and chair of the B.C. Branch Council of the Canadian Film and Television Production Association. “Production levels will return over time, and the growth of the domestic B.C. industry and infrastructure has ensured that this province has a diverse production community that is able to weather both internal and external industry challenges.”

British Columbia is the third-largest film and television service production centre in North America, after Los Angeles and New York.