British Columbia, the home of blockbuster movie shoots such as B次元官网网址淒eadpool 2B次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淪tar Trek Beyond,B次元官网网址� has surpassed Ontario as CanadaB次元官网网址檚 top locale for film and television production for the first time.
A new report by the Canadian Media Producers Association says the 2016-2017 fiscal year was strong for Canada overall, with production volume in the country reaching an all-time high of $8.38 billion.
B.C. has always been in the top three provinces for film and TV shoots, but the report says last year its production volume hit $2.991 billion, just ahead of Ontario with $2.977 billion. Quebec, with its thriving French-language industry, placed third with $1.754 billion.
Robert Wong, vice president of Creative BC, the provincial agency that supports the artistic sector, said increased global demand for content and the recognition that B.C. is a world-class production centre are driving the growth.
He said streaming services, including Netflix, Amazon and Hulu, are the single biggest driver. NetflixB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淎 Series of Unfortunate EventsB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淎ltered Carbon,B次元官网网址� premiering Friday, were shot in the province.
B次元官网网址淏lockbuster movies, we do get our fair share of them in British Columbia, thatB次元官网网址檚 for sure, but really what we are known for is television production,B次元官网网址� Wong said.
B次元官网网址淭he amount of television production is really where the growth is and that includes the streaming service-type productions.B次元官网网址�
The report says the film and television industries generated 24,120 direct full-time jobs in B.C. B次元官网网址� only 40 more than Ontario B次元官网网址� while it created 14,540 such jobs in Quebec.
B次元官网网址淪tar Trek BeyondB次元官网网址� alone employed more than 3,900 British Columbians and contributed $69 million to the provincial economy during 78 days of shooting, the report adds.
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Film and television productions in B.C. receive a 28 per cent tax credit for labour costs. The credit was reduced five points from 33 per cent by the previous provincial Liberal government in 2016.
Wong said a stable and reliable tax policy is key to the success of the industry, but itB次元官网网址檚 also coupled with an abundance of talent, crews and variety of locations in B.C.
B次元官网网址淭he one thing that you canB次元官网网址檛 legislate is basically proximity to Los Angeles,B次元官网网址� he added. B次元官网网址淏eing in the same time zone and two and a half hours away by flight does make a big difference.B次元官网网址�
The report does sound a note of caution about the surge in demand for content and the abundance of foreign productions in Canada. Though the country has policies to support local content, capturing more than three per cent of domestic box office for Canadian films remains elusive, it says.
B次元官网网址淲ith record growth across much of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 production sector, there is much to celebrate this year, including the creation of jobs and a significant contribution to the countryB次元官网网址檚 economy,B次元官网网址� said Reynolds Mastin, president and CEO of the association in a statement.
B次元官网网址淏ut, among these big numbers are some emerging trends that require attention. As our industry continues to adapt to evolving technologies and changing consumer behaviours, we must ensure that growth benefits our entire sector, including productions that showcase Canadian stories for audiences at home and around the world.B次元官网网址�
Laura Kane, The Canadian Press
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