Tim Collins/Victoria B次元官网网址
Front Street Pictures, which is based in Vancouver, is just finishing up filming in Victoria for the summer, and although some other companies have expressed interest in coming to the garden city to film, nothing has been finalized for this summer.
B次元官网网址淧up Stars may be coming back here in late August or early September (Pup Stars 2 filmed in Victoria in 2016), but itB次元官网网址檚 not a lock as yet, and in this business, anything can happen,B次元官网网址� said Kathleen Gilbert, Victoria film commissioner with the Vancouver Island South Film and Media Commission. She is touring a few people around at present, but said she doesnB次元官网网址檛 have any confirmations on new projects.
The strength of the film industry elsewhere in B.C., notably Vancouver, has had a detrimental effect on VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 industry, she said, as qualified crew are drawn away from the city by work on the mainland. Without local crew availability, productions are required to bring in crews and pay for their accommodations in Victoria.
B次元官网网址淭hat can get expensive, as weB次元官网网址檙e a tourist destination and hotels can get rack rate for their rooms during the summer. WeB次元官网网址檝e had at least one company pull away for exactly that reason; itB次元官网网址檚 too expensive without a local crew,B次元官网网址� said Gilbert.
The situation is really a bit of a B次元官网网址渃hicken and eggB次元官网网址� conundrum, according to production designer, Eric Norlin, a film professional with a host of credits to his name. Although he purchased a home in Victoria in the hopes of working in the industry here, he is currently working in Vancouver, because of the lack work available on the Island.
B次元官网网址淲ithout crew, the productions wonB次元官网网址檛 come and without productions, the crew has to look elsewhere for work,B次元官网网址� he said.
ItB次元官网网址檚 a sentiment mirrored by Victoria production designer, Michael Goodwin, who said the other problem facing the film industry in Victoria is the lack of a dedicated sound stage/production facility in the city.
B次元官网网址淚f we had a proper facility, we could do much better here, but someone has to take the initiative to get it going. Perhaps itB次元官网网址檚 something the provincial government should be looking at,B次元官网网址� he said.
Gilbert agreed there is a need for proper facilities in the city, but came back to the chicken-and-egg nature of the predicament.
B次元官网网址淲ithout a sound stage we donB次元官网网址檛 get a large number of productions, and without a large number of productions, investors are careful about investing in the facility,B次元官网网址� she observed.
Still, Creative B.C. feels the future of VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 film industry is bright.
In an emailed statement, they wrote, B次元官网网址淭his industry is all about collaboration; from locations, to seasonal cycles and skills. In Victoria, the city is enjoying a significant increase in tourism, accommodation booking and events over the summer.B次元官网网址�
Once the summer is over, the organization expects production activity to once again become much busier.
ItB次元官网网址檚 a prediction that Norlin and Goodwin hope is accurate, for everyoneB次元官网网址檚 sake.
