310 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

Two at Western Speedway.

[Mike K.]

Oh I see.

So what happened to the Esquimalt warehouse plan?

[spanky123]

^ I thought there was also a plan for one in Duncan.

 

A film studio is a lot like a smart city or ocean hub, as long as there is some level of Government willing to put up money then everyone is over it like a sugar deprived kid on a smartie. Ask business or the net beneficiaries to put up their own money though and you get a radically different response. 

[Victoria Watcher]

2016:

 

 

 

If the stars align for Margaret Judge, it won’t be long before an Esquimalt warehouse becomes a long-term film and TV production hub.

 

The producer and former model has made an offer to lease 836 Viewfield Rd. from the Capital Regional District.

 

She got the ball rolling when she recently brought the 58,645-square-foot building to the attention of Air Bud Entertainment, which is leasing space during production of Pup Star 2.

 

“I was told they were looking for a place, and I was in the middle of negotiations and wanted to show them I was serious about this,” said Judge, CEO of Pretty Clever Entertainment.

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...ll-come-4642812

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 13 April 2022 - 07:45 AM.

[Mike K.]

Right.

 

Have we actually seen what the cost:benefit calculations really are for this industry? What is the cost to the local economy when film crews block off parks, roads, entire blocks of downtown parking, and the tax exemptions or credits the industry gets from the provincial government?

 

In other words, for every dollar earned into the local economy, what are the costs incurred?

[Spy Black]

In 2019, which was a pre-COVID year ... the B.C. movie industry pumped 4.1 billion dollars into B.C.'s economy.

I suspect that road and other closures for filming purposes probably don't get anywhere near that in terms of costs.

 

Even in 2020, the "Year of COVID" ... B.C.'s movie industry put over 3 billion dollars into the Provincial economy.

 

The bottom line is it's a massive revenue generator for whatever region it's established in ... and sound stages just mean more tens of millions into the local and regional economy.

 

Having said that, the industry is always looking for government money or government tax breaks ... and I suspect these proposed sound studio spaces won't be any different.

On the plus side though, is the only real requirements beyond a somewhat soundproof construction design are big AC electrical power, and large heating capacity for comfort ... beyond that they're just airplane hangers with nice washrooms.

Edited by Spy Black, 13 April 2022 - 09:44 AM.

[Mike K.]

Yes, but we’re not talking about BC. We’re talking about Victoria.

For every $1 in social and economic concessions we give to that industry locally, what do we get back?

Do we factor in the loss of $3,000 in revenue for a busy restaurant closed in by rumbling 24-hour trucks with generators? How about blocked parks? Or entire residential streets blocked for filming? How does the neighbour benefit when a home next door becomes a move set for three weeks? How do we square the winners and losers? Where are the numbers?

Now if this studio space was as lucrative as its being made out to be, why is the industry not footing the bill? Why is the taxpayer having to inject vast sums of money to do what is so financially viable in the first place?

[Spy Black]

Good questions ... and nobody would ever claim that making major motion pictures on location didn't cause an abundance of hassles for those residents and businesses affected.

The presumption in North Americas major motion picture centres is simply that the profits far outweigh the costs ... albeit vetted numbers aren't readily available ... and those numbers (when they're given) largely come from the filmmaking industry itself.

 

But even in Victoria's COVID year of 2020, the filmmaking industry dumped 50 million dollars into Victoria's economy, a number that would multiply by at least 4 or 5 with a few local sound stages available 24/7/365.

The movie making business is definitely lucrative, and the presumption is that, by extension, any business or facility that services that movie making business will enjoy some of those massive movie making dollars.

 

That the entire film industry in B.C. continually looks for money or breaks from different levels of government is likely a result of their successes in the past at getting those breaks here in B.C. ... and like a junkie, they keep coming back for more of this and more of that.

 

But the bottom line is that Victoria will get a huge slice of the 5 billion dollar pie being served in B.C., and while Vancouver can field an almost unbelievable 20 to 25 complete major motion picture crews at one time ... Victoria would likely develop 3 or 4 crews that could work simultaneously ... after which everybody (it is presumed) will just sit back and count their money as they do in other motion picture production locations.

Edited by Spy Black, 13 April 2022 - 10:09 AM.

[Mike K.]

Ah, very good Spy, thank you.

[Victoria Watcher]

It's also a very labour-intensive, yet clean business.

[spanky123]

Having said that, the industry is always looking for government money or government tax breaks ... and I suspect these proposed sound studio spaces won't be any different.

 

Unfortunately however, when another Province offers a better deal then the business disappears and the bagholders (ie taxpayer) are stuck.

 

If these were such great profitable businesses then they could finance themselves.

[Spy Black]

Unfortunately however, when another Province offers a better deal then the business disappears and the bagholders (ie taxpayer) are stuck.

It's taken Vancouver (which is the heart of the B.C. film industry) over 40 years to build up to where they are today.

 

Only Toronto is remotely close to Vancouver in terms of production capacity (which involves not only expertise and people, but also tens of millions of dollars worth of equipment sitting in a warehouse ready to rent or least to a film production on a moments notice).

 

No Province in Canada has anywhere near the current filmmaking capacity of B.C. (via Vancouver) in terms of production viability, nor could any other Canadian location develop that capacity for many, many decades at the earliest (and that's just not going to happen with B.C. as the current elephant in the room).

 

The only thing that could damage the Canadian filmmaking industry is if the Canadian dollar wasn't 30 cents less than the American dollar ... and now that we've been at roughly 70 cents to an American buck for a few decades ... it's pretty obvious that's never going to happen in our lifetimes.

 

No Provincial Gov't, regardless of political spectrum, is ever going to adjust/reduce a tax credit that directly results in 5 billion dollars worth of business pouring into the Province every year (and continuing to grow even higher).

[spanky123]

^ You have a short memory my friend, less than 10 years ago the CAD was worth MORE than the USD!

 

The $5B is funny money. On the same basis using trickle down economics, McDonalds adds $5B every year!

[Spy Black]

Oh I recall when the CDN dollar was a few cents higher than the American dollar (I, like everybody else made a few quick purchases from the States).

And then a few weeks later it went down to 80 cents ... and a few weeks after that it went down to 70 cents, where it's been ever since.

 

That 5 billion injection into B.C.'s economy is mostly hard cash being paid out to salaries, rental production equipment, location fees, raw food purchases, and other endless cash purchases made by the productions to keep the filmmaking machine going.

 

I worked in B.C.'s filmmaking industry for years, and it very quickly bought me a house,  and very quickly bought many more folks houses as well.

In short, the money is quite real.

 

Lots of folks disparage the motion picture industry in B.C. (heck, you may even be one of them), but disparaging it doesn't change the fact that $5 billion is ... well .... $5 billion

Edited by Spy Black, 13 April 2022 - 12:48 PM.

[Mike K.]

Tech also likes to talk in billions of dollars. Where is all this money?

We had a billion dollar start-up last year that’s now a $375 million startup. Where did the $625 million go?

[LJ]

a

and a few weeks after that it went down to 70 cents, where it's been ever since.

 

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[Victoria Watcher]

A new project in Langford that would see the development of two new film studios could begin construction as early as June.

Langford council approved a first reading of the project involving two 20,000 square foot film studios.

It’s all part of the Langford Heights development, put forward by Strand Properties and Bastion Development.

The application from Strand and Bastion says film studios would bring economic activity to the city.


https://www.cheknews...earing-1013367/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 17 April 2022 - 10:11 AM.

[Mike K.]

Kathleen Gilbert is retiring:
 

 
Thirteen years after taking the helm of the Vancouver Island South Film &
Media Commission, Kathleen Gilbert has announced her retirement as Film Commissioner.


When the closing credits roll on this chapter of Gilbert’s career next spring, it will mark the end
of an era for Southern Vancouver Island’s film and television production industry.


Since taking the reins in 2010 of the non-profit organization that markets and promotes the
capital region’s locations, skills and incentives, Gilbert went on to become its longest-running
film commissioner. The dynamic film promoter had worked for 18 years on dozens of film and
TV productions, often as a locations manager, before assuming the position originated by the
late Brian Small, the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce manager who founded and
operated what began life as the Victoria-Vancouver Island Film Commission in 1974.


Gilbert has been instrumental in attracting and facilitating film and television production in the
Capital Regional District (CRD), including Victoria, Saanich, Sidney, Oak Bay, and other
municipalities. Under her leadership, the VISFMC has seen remarkable growth in the film
industry, from $6 million in direct spend in 2010 to $60 million in 2022.

 

One of her major achievements was successfully lobbying to have the CRD included in a list of
jurisdictions outside the Lower Mainland where producers would be eligible to receive an
additional six-per-cent distant location provincial film tax credit. It resulted in a surge of
production activity and economic benefits for the region following a downturn.

Significant accomplishments have included her mission to rebuild the local crew database and
attract developers to bring the prospect of a local state-of-the-studio closer to fruition. She also
spearheaded an aggressive membership drive, relocated the commission’s headquarters to
Langford, conducted industry orientation courses and facilitated production of substantial
shows such as the Netflix series Maid, Fox’s 10-part mystery series Gracepoint and Disney’s
Descendants.
 

Other notable projects filmed here during Gilbert’s tenure include scenes for Bones of Crows,
Hallmark’s The Gourmet Detective and Wedding Veil series; The Boy; Rescued by Ruby;
American Dreamer; V.C. Andrews’ Ruby series; Amazing Race Canada and Pamela: A Love Story.

 

"I have enjoyed my position as Film Commissioner more than words could express. I have had
the pleasure of working with so many amazing people over the last 13 years,” said Gilbert,
noting the time was right for her to step down to travel and spend more time with her family.

 

“I have been blessed with a devoted and loyal staff and a hard-working board of directors, all of
whom have made my job so enjoyable. I look forward to continuing to support the growth of
the film industry in Victoria and the commission in whatever ways that I can.”

 

Expressing gratitude and appreciation for Gilbert's service and dedication, board president Don
Enright commended her for successfully fulfilling so many of her stated objectives.

 

“And she’s done it all without abusing, humiliating or jumping up and down. That counts for
something in the picture business,” said Enright, adding that she has been quite the opposite.

 

“She’s been caring, decent, ever competent and kind, and very much the kind of colleague who,
when she leaves, will be widely and sorely missed.”

 

Today marks the start of the board’s search for a new commissioner.

[Victoria Watcher]

A potential film studio space on Malahat Nation land has taken another step forward, according to organizers.

 

In a joint conference Friday, the Malahat Nation and partner Alpha Select Production Services Inc. says the stage has been set to build a large studio, if financing falls into place.

 

In 2020, the two groups originally proposed an 80-acre film park to attract larger productions to the Island.

 

Now, the Malahat Nation and Alpha Select are looking at developing the studio park in three phases, with the first phase – which would include two sound stages, a workshop and production offices – ideally starting by the end of the year, according to Alpha Select CEO Beverley Dondale.

 

While the groups have been working on the plan for more than five years, the First Nation says it wasn’t until recently that the land was ready to accommodate such a large project.

 

 

https://www.cheknews...orward-1190271/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 09 February 2024 - 09:29 PM.

[Mike K.]

What ever happened to the modular home panel factory?