Province helps Kootenay Columbia Film attract filmmakers to the West Kootenay-Boundary
By Timothy Schafer
The Tall Man may be the latest film to be shot in the West Kootenay, but a recent infusion of cash for Kootenay Columbia Film ensures it won’t be the last.
The Province handed the Nelson-based film commission $30,000 Wednesday to continue to attract and provide services to film and video producers from around the world.
In the fall of 2010, Nelson, Salmo and Ymir hosted filming of The Tall Man. The 42-day production generated $11 million in economic activity. More than 1,200 local people responded to an extras casting call.
The Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development distributed the funding to the regional film commission, as well as a total of $275,000 province-wide to other regional film commissions for the same purpose.
Motion picture and television producers spent more than $1 billion in British Columbia during 2010. About 90 per cent of productions use the services of the BC Film Commission, including regional film commissions and offices.
Services provided in support of regional film include:
- Surveying and scouting film locations.
- Providing logistical support while filming is underway on location.
- Supplying information for producers matching scripts with possible locations.
- Offering production research, location expertise and technical support.
- Assisting with film permits, labour regulations and immigrant/work permits.
As the third-largest production centre in North America after Los Angeles and New York, B.C.’s film production industry directly and indirectly employs more than 25,000 people.
In response, the Province provides between $130 million and $200 million in annual refundable tax credits for the film and television industry, depending on the level of production activity.
Just to the west of Kootenay Columbia Film, the Okanagan Film Commission (OFC) has worked with international animation studios set to open offices in the region, including Bardel Entertainment/Nickelodeon, Lizard Brain and Disney. These new studios will employ young professional people at above-average salaries.
Learn more
- For a closer look at how the B.C. government helps film production in the province, visit the BC Film Commission at: http://www.bcfilmcommission.com/
- Check out the provincial government’s role in supporting artists, arts and cultural organizations through the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development at: http://www.gov.bc.ca/cscd
- Check out Kootenay Columbia Film at http://kcfilm.ca.
