regional film commissions and local government: partners in production ubcm 2004 september 24 th –...

Regional Film Regional Film Commissions and Local Commissions and Local

Government:Government:Partners in ProductionPartners in Production

UBCM 2004UBCM 2004September 24September 24thth – Kelowna, BC – Kelowna, BC

Presented by: Regional Film Commission Presented by: Regional Film Commission Association of BC (RFCABC)Association of BC (RFCABC)

Regional Film Commissions and Local Regional Film Commissions and Local Government: Government:

Partners in ProductionPartners in Production

Regional Film Regional Film Commission Commission Association of BCAssociation of BC



Film crews originally from Film crews originally from the regions of BC are the regions of BC are anxious to work on anxious to work on productions at home!productions at home!



Presentation StructurePresentation Structure

What is the What is the RFCABC?RFCABC?

Past, Present and Past, Present and FutureFuture

Working with the Working with the ProvinceProvince



Disney's feature film, “13th Warrior” filmed at Elk Bay Disney's feature film, “13th Warrior” filmed at Elk Bay north of Campbell River in 1997. Over 2200 people north of Campbell River in 1997. Over 2200 people were on the payroll. 500 LOCAL extras (some shown were on the payroll. 500 LOCAL extras (some shown here) were hired and hundreds more hired for here) were hired and hundreds more hired for construction and PA work. The local economic impact construction and PA work. The local economic impact on this region was estimated at $35 million dollars.on this region was estimated at $35 million dollars.



Some background…Some background…

Formed in 1996.Formed in 1996.

Build Build infrastructure infrastructure in the in the regions.regions.

Regional Film Commissions and Local Government:Regional Film Commissions and Local Government:Partners in ProductionPartners in Production

Specific mandate Specific mandate

to encourage to encourage production production within the within the regions of BC regions of BC (outside Lower (outside Lower Mainland).Mainland).

Eight current Eight current members members representing representing regional areas.regional areas.

Regional Film Commissions and Local Government:Regional Film Commissions and Local Government:Partners in ProductionPartners in Production

Successful lobby Successful lobby for Regional for Regional

Production Services Production Services Tax Credit for foreign Tax Credit for foreign

production.production.

Despite being Despite being competitors we competitors we work together work together wherever possible. wherever possible.



Regional training workshops for communities coordinated by Regional training workshops for communities coordinated by film commissions, are very popular for local residents. film commissions, are very popular for local residents.

Workshops in Victoria and Campbell River shown here. Workshops in Victoria and Campbell River shown here.



““We help ourselves when we We help ourselves when we help each other”help each other”



Lead actor Robert Lead actor Robert Redford on Redford on location in location in Ashcroft for “An Ashcroft for “An Unfinished Life”, Unfinished Life”, Miramax’s Miramax’s upcoming feature upcoming feature film also staring film also staring Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Lopez and Morgan Freeman.Morgan Freeman.



Regional CooperationRegional Cooperation

We want to attract projects to We want to attract projects to the regions with coordinated the regions with coordinated support from all levels of support from all levels of government. government.

Keep projects in BC (or Canada).Keep projects in BC (or Canada).

Market all our regions and organize Market all our regions and organize shared location surveys. shared location surveys.



Location survey in Location survey in South Okanagan for South Okanagan for upcoming Warner Bros upcoming Warner Bros feature “Sisterhood of feature “Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants”. the Travelling Pants”.

Production team Production team scouted the Okanagan scouted the Okanagan and Thompson-Nicola and Thompson-Nicola regions working hand in regions working hand in hand with the film hand with the film commissions from bothcommissions from bothareas.areas.



What We Do…What We Do…

Lobby on issues Lobby on issues such as regional tax such as regional tax incentives and incentives and location policy.location policy.

Partner with BC Partner with BC Film Commission.Film Commission.

Joint Marketing Joint Marketing initiatives with each initiatives with each other and outside other and outside organizations.organizations.



Motion Picture Production Industry Motion Picture Production Industry Association of BC Membership.Association of BC Membership.

Active members of the Association of Active members of the Association of Film Film Commissioners International (AFCI). Commissioners International (AFCI).



Commercial Production is a key contributor to regional film and tv production activity in British Columbia.



How Are We Structured?How Are We Structured?

Each office is unique.Each office is unique.

Part of a Regional District.Part of a Regional District.

Economic development agency Economic development agency of the city or region. of the city or region.



Cultus Lake in Chilliwack was the perfect location for Cultus Lake in Chilliwack was the perfect location for Snakehead Terror, “Creature Feature”, May-June 2003. Snakehead Terror, “Creature Feature”, May-June 2003. Location diversity is a huge contributing factor to regional Location diversity is a huge contributing factor to regional film production.film production.



How Are We Funded?How Are We Funded?

Province contributes to all our budgets – amount varies Province contributes to all our budgets – amount varies per office. per office.

Balance comes from regional districts, towns, private Balance comes from regional districts, towns, private sector, economic development agencies. sector, economic development agencies.

- (Sara)(Sara)



Summary of Location Requests serviced by Summary of Location Requests serviced by Regional Film Commissions – YTD 2004Regional Film Commissions – YTD 2004

Type Year to Date

Feature Film 248

Commercial 152

TV Series 50

TV MOW 25

Documentary 19

Other* 31

Total: 525



Historic buildings are a large draw for film Historic buildings are a large draw for film production in BC’s regions.production in BC’s regions.



Analysis of CompetitionAnalysis of Competition

Ten years ago Canada was one of the few places to offer production Ten years ago Canada was one of the few places to offer production incentives. incentives.

Over 400 states, countries and provinces now have tax incentives to Over 400 states, countries and provinces now have tax incentives to attract production. attract production.

Rising Canadian dollar affects foreign projects. Rising Canadian dollar affects foreign projects.

- (Sara)(Sara)



The Regions of BC have stood for many unique locations The Regions of BC have stood for many unique locations including Stewart as Alaska for “Insomnia” and the including Stewart as Alaska for “Insomnia” and the Thompson Nicola region as Afghanistan for “Traffic”Thompson Nicola region as Afghanistan for “Traffic”



OpportunitiesOpportunities

RFCABC profile.RFCABC profile.

Diversity of locations is one of our strengths.Diversity of locations is one of our strengths.

Solid infrastructure in the regions.Solid infrastructure in the regions.

Solid support at all levels of government.Solid support at all levels of government.



Generous tax incentives.Generous tax incentives.

““Small town” friendliness and less red tape. Small town” friendliness and less red tape.

Lower production costs. Lower production costs.

Broadcast opportunities with 2010 – athlete and Broadcast opportunities with 2010 – athlete and community/cultural profilescommunity/cultural profiles



ESPN’S “The Wild Rules”, an ESPN’S “The Wild Rules”, an adventure reality tv series, on adventure reality tv series, on location in the Cariboo-location in the Cariboo-Chilcotin.Chilcotin.



Working with the ProvinceWorking with the ProvinceGordon Hardwick - Manager Community Gordon Hardwick - Manager Community AffairsAffairsBC Film CommissionBC Film Commission

Film PilotFilm Pilot

Provincial Film PoliciesProvincial Film Policies

BC Film Commission ServicesBC Film Commission Services



Stephen King’s Dreamcatcher filmed extensively throughout Stephen King’s Dreamcatcher filmed extensively throughout Prince George in the snowy winter of 2002. Extensive sets were Prince George in the snowy winter of 2002. Extensive sets were built in cooperation with the local government, including this built in cooperation with the local government, including this “hunting cabin” built on a woodlot on Crown land.“hunting cabin” built on a woodlot on Crown land.



It’s A Wrap!It’s A Wrap!

New provincial funding policy – ensure New provincial funding policy – ensure stable and equitable funding. stable and equitable funding.

New provincial locations policy – Start From New provincial locations policy – Start From Yes.Yes.

Positive references from past productions.Positive references from past productions.

regional film commissions and local government: partners in production ubcm 2004 september 24 th –...

Documents

local government

otherregional film commissions

bc film commission

local residents

local extras

productiondisneys feature

levels of government

regional areas