WE'VE glamourized films and television for a long time.
Combine a whole lot of moolah with a little starlet mojo and a dash of beefcake, add genuine artistic vision from time to time plus some media buzz and -voilà - you've got something that the public can't resist.
But film and T.V. aren't just about glamour; they're a major contributor to the economy. In B.C., the industry's 35,000 workers help generate more than $1.2 billion annually.
On the North Shore, we've got 5,000 people who earn their livelihood in film and television production. Collectively, their incomes translate into plenty of groceries, cars, real estate deals, coffee stops and jobs for everyone in those businesses. In government that's a lot of tax revenue to consider. The film and television moneyspinner adds a big chunk to our collective economic well-being.
That's worth thinking about next time a line of movie trailers cause minor traffic diversions in the neighbourhood. Those are our friends and neighbours at work.
Peter Leitch is President of North Shore Studios. You've likely driven past the big compound on Brooksbank Avenue: walled, discrete, with a permanent sense of importance. This is Canada's premier film studio, yet inside the lot, people are simply getting on with their jobs, professionally busy.
Leitch has been a cornerstone of our North Shore business community for a long time. Tall, fit, he's casually dressed when we shake hands, but there's experience and authority in his demeanour. He's also president of Mammoth Studios and chairman of the Motion Picture Production Association in B.C. That's access.
You know the proverb: If you want the job done right, ask a busy person.
We mean to talk about economic challenges, but Leitch is eager to explain the industry's upbeat green shift.
"Things in this industry have changed," he says. "Partly it's driven by our customers-Warner Brothers and 20th Century Fox. Warner Brothers now has a vice-president for recycling and reuse. It takes a while to get aboard, you know, figuring out the eco-footprint, the costs, but we've adapted, because you want to see the right form of development in the business. We work for Nat Bosa, so we care about our communities. We really do want to do the right thing."
The Bosa family, who acquired North Shore Studios, are strong supporters of the B.C.'s film and television industry, Leitch confirms. Last year, they donated $6 million to Capilano University and the institution's new Nat and Flora Bosa Centre for Film and Animation is named in their honour.
It's no secret that Canada's strengthening dollar has made drawing U.S. projects north a harder sell. Leitch notes that 80% of B.C.'s film and TV work is U.S.-based, so holding onto that share is important to long-term viability. Throughout North America, and now Australia, governments vie for the economic boost of major Hollywood feature films that can come with $100 million budgets.
"We've seeing some slowdown, although we're holding our own with television productions," he says. "With the Canadian dollar at par, we're seeing a dramatic slowdown in feature films. Short-term, it's hard to determine the full extent. Competitive tax credits are part of it; if you're making a big feature film these days, you're literally shopping for tax credits since costs are such a huge factor. So, some industry areas like digital animation and visual effects are doing extremely well; others are struggling. "
How about B.C. and Canada-based productions?
"The past five years have been challenging. We're starting to see some upturn," Leitch says. "The national broadcasters are located back east, so incentives can be an issue. Financing and getting the private sector involved has gotten tougher as well."
The issue here is that the tax credit rate has shifted provincially in favour of Ontario and Quebec. Lower rates mean B.C. work has headed east. Leitch isn't panicking.
"We're North America's fourth largest film and television production centre," he says. "Margins are getting thinner, yes, but our views are always long term. We're good to work with - we've got fantastic expertise and talent, great studio infrastructure - so the solution is to discuss with Victoria what the right numbers are to find a sustainable model that makes sense. The environment can change rapidly. We need to ensure that the difference in tax credit structures isn't beyond the margin where we could lose thousands of jobs."
Leitch and his industry colleagues are consulting with the government. At the municipal level, the studio's water bill rose 17 per cent last year - 75 per cent in the last five.
Anything else he can recommend?
"It's marketing. The big winners will be those who can get their product out there globally. It will be critical to see Capilano University embrace and teach that knowledge of the business. Maybe there's also a role for government to assist in marketing. And cultural tourism: We could work with tourism to attract holiday spenders, be value-added to the province."
How about younger writers, actors, techies? Are there opportunities?
"More chances than ever!" Leitch says. "I hope they're passionate about it, though, because there's no guarantee of employment. That's where education and networking comes in. There are a lot of success stories - people who've gotten in with good shows. B.C. has been a great place this past 25 years."
Peter Leitch smiles and makes hard work sound like fun. I grab a coffee on the way out. A crowd of actors passes in dressing gowns, pyjamas, nursing fatigues. I ask what's happening.
"Emily Owens, M.D., an off-beat hospital show for this fall."
"New?"
"Yes, and hopefully ongoing!" the young actor laughs.
"Mamie Gummer, Meryl Streep's daughter, is in it. Feels like a good show."
I wish 'em all luck.
There's a tingle in the air. It's still that kind of business.
