TV productions like Chesapeake Shores and Resident Alien again fuelled central Vancouver IslandB次元官网网址檚 film industry, says the regionB次元官网网址檚 film commission.
In a letter, Vancouver Island North Film CommissionB次元官网网址檚 president Paul Galinski said the Regional District of Nanaimo benefited from $18 million from 10 productions.
Speaking at the RDNB次元官网网址檚 Tuesday, Jan. 10 board meeting, Joan Miller, InFilm executive director, stated the Hallmark ChannelB次元官网网址檚 Chesapeake Shores spent $9 million locally in 2022. The show was filmed in Parksville, Qualicum Beach and Nanoose Bay.
For 2022, Chesapeake ShoresB次元官网网址� sixth season, it was a B次元官网网址渂it more of an extended stayB次元官网网址� with more episodes, said Miller, with 135 production days, 193 local crew, 367 local cast and extras, $4.7 million in local wages and 11,181 hotel room nights. In addition, location fees added up to $619,000 in location fees and another $460,000 was spent on offices, studio space and storage.
The production of Seagrass on Gabriola Island in 2022 contributed $1.1 million of B次元官网网址渓ocal spend,B次元官网网址� noted Miller, with 31 days of production, 40 crew members (20 per cent of whom were local), 30 local extras and 1,120 hotel room nights.
B次元官网网址淥ver the last two years, weB次元官网网址檝e had the pleasure of hosting Resident Alien. Although the filming locations take place in Ladysmith, similar to Sonic the Hedgehog and others, Nanaimo is the service centre for everything they require,B次元官网网址� said Miller. B次元官网网址淎lthough IB次元官网网址檓 not permitted to release all of their individual stats, they did tell me they had 3,375 hotel room nights in Nanaimo.B次元官网网址�
She also spoke of B次元官网网址渨orkforce trainingB次元官网网址� the commission provides. ItB次元官网网址檚 about attracting production to the region and increasing local crew so people can find work in the local film industry.
B次元官网网址淭o date, weB次元官网网址檝e written $3.75 million in training grants,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e provided 456 participants with tuition-free training. They didnB次元官网网址檛 pay anything to take any of our courses, we covered all their training B次元官网网址� 77 of those were from the Regional District of Nanaimo.B次元官网网址�
Among the programs offered this past year were an Indigenous production assistant training program, in partnership with North Island College and the Mid Island M茅tis Society. Miller said the total investment in training for the area was $688,000.
The commission is seeking funding from the RDN again this year, having asked for $50,000 last year, and when asked for more details by Vanessa Craig, RDN board chairperson, Miller noted the non-profit film commission is seeking a more long-term funding commitment.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e economic development; clearly the work we do is about economic development,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e have worked with the board over the years to try and develop an economic development portfolio and so weB次元官网网址檙e hoping that we eventually will get to the point where weB次元官网网址檙e an ongoing funding service contract that can be renewed [every] three to five years. That kind of stability as a not-for-profit B次元官网网址� would make it a lot more stable for us to continue to grow the industry.B次元官网网址�
The commission covers an area from Chemainus to Cape Scott.
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