Regional Film Commissions and Local Government: Partners in Production

1. Regional Film Commissions and Local Government: Partners in Production UBCM 2004 September 24th – Kelowna, BC Presented by: Regional Film Commission Association of BC (RFCABC)

2. Regional Film Commissions and Local Government: Partners in Production Regional Film Commission Association of BC

3. Regional Film Commissions and Local Government: Partners in Production Film crews originally from the regions of BC are anxious to work on productions at home!

4. Regional Film Commissions and Local Government: Partners in Production Presentation Structure • What is the RFCABC? • Past, Present and Future • Working with the Province

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

6. Regional Film Commissions and Local Government: Partners in Production Some background… • Formed in 1996. • Build infrastructure in the regions.

7. Regional Film Commissions and Local Government:Partners in Production • Specific mandate to encourage production within the regions of BC (outside Lower Mainland). • Eight current members representing regional areas.

8. Regional Film Commissions and Local Government:Partners in Production • Successful lobby for Regional Production Services Tax Credit for foreign production. • Despite being competitors we work together wherever possible.

9. Regional Film Commissions and Local Government: Partners in Production Regional training workshops for communities coordinated by film commissions, are very popular for local residents. Workshops in Victoria and Campbell River shown here.

10. Regional Film Commissions and Local Government: Partners in Production “We help ourselves when we help each other”

11. Regional Film Commissions and Local Government: Partners in Production Lead actor Robert Redford on location in Ashcroft for “An Unfinished Life”, Miramax’s upcoming feature film also staring Jennifer Lopez and Morgan Freeman.

12. Regional Film Commissions and Local Government: Partners in Production Regional Cooperation • We want to attract projects to the regions with coordinated support from all levels of government. • Keep projects in BC (or Canada). • Market all our regions and organize shared location surveys.

13. Regional Film Commissions and Local Government: Partners in Production Location survey in South Okanagan for upcoming Warner Bros feature “Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants”. Production team scouted the Okanagan and Thompson-Nicola regions working hand in hand with the film commissions from both areas.

14. Regional Film Commissions and Local Government: Partners in Production What We Do… • Lobby on issues such as regional tax incentives and location policy. • Partner with BC Film Commission. • Joint Marketing initiatives with each other and outside organizations.

15. Regional Film Commissions and Local Government: Partners in Production • Motion Picture Production Industry Association of BC Membership. • Active members of the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI).

16. Regional Film Commissions and Local Government: Partners in Production Commercial Production is a key contributor to regional film and tv production activity in British Columbia.

17. Regional Film Commissions and Local Government: Partners in Production How Are We Structured? • Each office is unique. • Part of a Regional District. • Economic development agency • of the city or region.

18. Regional Film Commissions and Local Government: Partners in Production Cultus Lake in Chilliwack was the perfect location for Snakehead Terror, “Creature Feature”, May-June 2003. Location diversity is a huge contributing factor to regional film production.

19. Regional Film Commissions and Local Government: Partners in Production How Are We Funded? • Province contributes to all our budgets – amount varies per office. • Balance comes from regional districts, towns, private sector, economic development agencies. • (Sara)

20. Regional Film Commissions and Local Government: Partners in Production Summary of Location Requests serviced by Regional Film Commissions – YTD 2004

21. Regional Film Commissions and Local Government: Partners in Production Historic buildings are a large draw for film production in BC’s regions.

22. Regional Film Commissions and Local Government: Partners in Production Analysis of Competition • Ten years ago Canada was one of the few places to offer production incentives. • Over 400 states, countries and provinces now have tax incentives to attract production. • Rising Canadian dollar affects foreign projects. • (Sara)

23. Regional Film Commissions and Local Government: Partners in Production The Regions of BC have stood for many unique locations including Stewart as Alaska for “Insomnia” and the Thompson Nicola region as Afghanistan for “Traffic”

24. Regional Film Commissions and Local Government: Partners in Production Opportunities • RFCABC profile. • Diversity of locations is one of our strengths. • Solid infrastructure in the regions. • Solid support at all levels of government.

25. Regional Film Commissions and Local Government: Partners in Production • Generous tax incentives. • “Small town” friendliness and less red tape. • Lower production costs. • Broadcast opportunities with 2010 – athlete and community/cultural profiles

26. Regional Film Commissions and Local Government: Partners in Production ESPN’S “The Wild Rules”, an adventure reality tv series, on location in the Cariboo-Chilcotin.

27. Regional Film Commissions and Local Government: Partners in Production Working with the Province Gordon Hardwick - Manager Community Affairs BC Film Commission • Film Pilot • Provincial Film Policies • BC Film Commission Services

28. Regional Film Commissions and Local Government: Partners in Production Stephen King’s Dreamcatcher filmed extensively throughout Prince George in the snowy winter of 2002. Extensive sets were built in cooperation with the local government, including this “hunting cabin” built on a woodlot on Crown land.

29. Regional Film Commissions and Local Government: Partners in Production It’s A Wrap! • New provincial funding policy – ensure stable and equitable funding. • New provincial locations policy – Start From Yes. • Positive references from past productions.