Call me, babe. Let’s do lunch.
British Columbia now has the B.C. Film and Television Office in Los Angeles dedicated to wooing more creative industry productions up to Hollywood North.
Along with it came the declaration that July 27 would be known in B.C. as Screen Day. Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training Minister Shirley Bond made the announcement on the North Shore Studios lot on Monday morning.
“We think this is one more tool that will add to the other significant strengths we have here in British Columbia,” Bond said, making good on a promise the B.C. Liberals made during the 2013 election campaign.
The move is welcomed by North Shore Studios president Peter Leitch.
“I think it’s really going to expand our opportunities in Los Angeles. We’ve got great relationships there but it’s one of those things you can’t be complacent with. There are over 40 other jurisdictions competing for this business and we want to stay on top.”
Bond said she was not aware of any similar efforts by Ontario or Quebec, B.C.’s two main competitors.
The office will focus on networking with production companies, especially newly established ones, offering them familiarization tours of B.C. and making sure they’re aware of the province’s tax breaks. The ministry will fund the office to the tune of $175,000 per year.
Curious film crew members poked their heads of sound stage buildings to keep an eye on Monday’s announcement but no one who goes by Scully or Mulder showed up.
North Shore Studios has been shooting scenes for the 2016 X-Files reboot locally. Leitch expressed optimism that could be extended. “I think we’re doing about six or seven episodes right now. That could get picked up for a little bit longer and each of those episodes would take several shooting days,” he said.
The industry spent about $2 billion on productions in the last fiscal year, supporting 20,000 direct and indirect jobs, the province estimates.
