Saving British Columbia's Film and TV Industries at DVinfo.net

Jack Zhang · January 23rd, 2013, 04:03 AM

Hollywood North hasn't been as active lately because the incentives offered by the BC government isn't competitive with the rest of the world and the rest of Canada. Productions follow where the biggest cost savings are, and that means more productions are in different parts of the world, while the unemployed film crew pool gets higher and higher.

Our Premier has refused to be more competitive with other parts of the world, thinking that we already get enough funding. However, the credit that is currently imposed only covers labor costs, and does not cover the entire cost of a production unlike places like Ontario or Quebec.

What say any fellow BC residents in the Film and TV industries? Word was being passed around that we face a 90% unemployment rate should things be left the way it is...

David Rice · January 23rd, 2013, 08:40 AM

The film business is booming just north of you in Alaska. It seems like a new dumb down Alaska reality show is being created here every day.

I see adds in the Anchorage area for production & camera people. Plus Alaska gives away the store in tax incentives to producers. Always room for another dumb down Alaska reality show.

Jack Zhang · January 24th, 2013, 08:08 AM

That's in no way helping BC... Our Premier needs to get it together and realize Alaska, Ontario and Quebec are beating us for major productions.

David Rice · January 24th, 2013, 09:26 AM

It's called capitalism. Producers will go to areas of low costs. If BC offers lowers cost and lucrative tax incentives, I'm sure Alaska and others will just offer better. Vancouver had a good run for awhile for movie makers, then it got too expensive, and then others began offering better deals.

With Alaska's unusual multicultural history. I'm surprised no Producer has taken advantage of it. There are two events in Alaska history which are really unusual and bazaar. They are stranger than most fiction.

Jack Zhang · January 25th, 2013, 06:21 AM

That is exactly why our industry is demanding the BC Government to offer more competitive rates. We just had a huge town hall to discuss the problems and solutions to this problem: B.C. film industry rally draws thousands - Arts & Entertainment - CBC News

Chris Medico · January 25th, 2013, 06:40 AM

The same thing happened here in North Carolina to the local film industry. The economic winds shifted and it became cheaper to run productions in Georgia. Lots of people were left to chase the jobs like carnies running to the next town behind the elephants or go without. After more than a 10 year slump it is showing signs of life here again.

If you can get your local legislators to help bring things back into competitive range that would be great. The probabilities (if you look at what has happened elsewhere) are likely grim. If you want to stay ahead of the curve and in the industry you need to be one of the first to pack up and leave with the industry instead of complaining to the government as they drive away.

David Rice · January 25th, 2013, 09:03 AM

I agree with Chris. We are in a world economy. Better to use your time and resources to follow the business.

Jack Zhang · January 26th, 2013, 07:22 AM

So, I should move to Toronto like everyone else? I am a recent graduate of post-secondary so there is NO WAY I can move to the east coast when I don't even have my first job...

Our province trains skills for future people in the industry well, but if you are correct, nobody stays. It's even harder to move when you're still seeking your first job in a dying industry locally.

I'm screwed. These aren't words of wisdom, these words just say to me "You're doomed."

Chris Medico · January 26th, 2013, 09:18 AM

You are only "doomed" to not be in the film industry if you choose to not change and adapt to stay with it. If you are unable to do what it takes to be in the industry then its best to know that early so you can change your goals.

We are all presented with those kind of situations in life. Mine came in the form of a very serious motorcycle wreck that ended my military career before it even started.

You never know what will happen. In my case I didn't make it into NASA via the Air Force as I hopped but instead I'm one of the top engineers in my field world wide.

It hasn't been a bad trip even though it has been a very different one than I expected.

David Rice · January 26th, 2013, 10:31 AM

Chris is right again. At age 50 I began to loose my ability to walk, and ability to carry even a five pound camera or tripod. Soon it was over for me. Life is not fair. Enjoy the health and youth that you have now, and keep a "open mind". It's a world economy. You can join it, or sit and watch the world pass you by. It's your choice.

Jack Zhang · January 26th, 2013, 01:50 PM

It looks like for my education to count, I HAVE to move to Toronto or Petaluma. (Petaluma's the headquarters for the TWiT Netcast network)

Bitching to politicians certainly won't help, so the message is: Move or Bust.

Dave Blackhurst · January 29th, 2013, 04:22 PM

Virtualy guaranteed that you can reposition yourself to your own best interests faster than the government can act to "help" you...

Yes "community activism" and government intervention can create (often artificial) economic shifts, for better or worse... the next state over sees the money and offers MORE incentives, and whoop, there goes the "industry" if it's "portable".

Ultimately you can only rely on your own initiative (and as noted, even that can change or fade...). Just try to keep a good attitude and make the most sensible choice(s). Sometimes you have to make changes rather than wait for change to come to you...

January 23rd, 2013, 04:03 AM	#1
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Saving British Columbia's Film and TV Industries Hollywood North hasn't been as active lately because the incentives offered by the BC government isn't competitive with the rest of the world and the rest of Canada. Productions follow where the biggest cost savings are, and that means more productions are in different parts of the world, while the unemployed film crew pool gets higher and higher. Our Premier has refused to be more competitive with other parts of the world, thinking that we already get enough funding. However, the credit that is currently imposed only covers labor costs, and does not cover the entire cost of a production unlike places like Ontario or Quebec. What say any fellow BC residents in the Film and TV industries? Word was being passed around that we face a 90% unemployment rate should things be left the way it is...

January 23rd, 2013, 08:40 AM	#2
David Rice Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sitka Alaska Posts: 470	Re: Saving British Columbia's Film and TV Industries The film business is booming just north of you in Alaska. It seems like a new dumb down Alaska reality show is being created here every day. I see adds in the Anchorage area for production & camera people. Plus Alaska gives away the store in tax incentives to producers. Always room for another dumb down Alaska reality show.

January 24th, 2013, 08:08 AM	#3
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Re: Saving British Columbia's Film and TV Industries That's in no way helping BC... Our Premier needs to get it together and realize Alaska, Ontario and Quebec are beating us for major productions.

January 24th, 2013, 09:26 AM	#4
David Rice Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sitka Alaska Posts: 470	Re: Saving British Columbia's Film and TV Industries It's called capitalism. Producers will go to areas of low costs. If BC offers lowers cost and lucrative tax incentives, I'm sure Alaska and others will just offer better. Vancouver had a good run for awhile for movie makers, then it got too expensive, and then others began offering better deals. With Alaska's unusual multicultural history. I'm surprised no Producer has taken advantage of it. There are two events in Alaska history which are really unusual and bazaar. They are stranger than most fiction.

January 25th, 2013, 06:21 AM	#5
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Re: Saving British Columbia's Film and TV Industries That is exactly why our industry is demanding the BC Government to offer more competitive rates. We just had a huge town hall to discuss the problems and solutions to this problem: B.C. film industry rally draws thousands - Arts & Entertainment - CBC News

January 25th, 2013, 06:40 AM	#6
Chris Medico Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Efland NC, USA Posts: 2,322	Re: Saving British Columbia's Film and TV Industries The same thing happened here in North Carolina to the local film industry. The economic winds shifted and it became cheaper to run productions in Georgia. Lots of people were left to chase the jobs like carnies running to the next town behind the elephants or go without. After more than a 10 year slump it is showing signs of life here again. If you can get your local legislators to help bring things back into competitive range that would be great. The probabilities (if you look at what has happened elsewhere) are likely grim. If you want to stay ahead of the curve and in the industry you need to be one of the first to pack up and leave with the industry instead of complaining to the government as they drive away. __________________ http://www.LandYachtMedia.com

January 25th, 2013, 09:03 AM	#7
David Rice Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sitka Alaska Posts: 470	Re: Saving British Columbia's Film and TV Industries I agree with Chris. We are in a world economy. Better to use your time and resources to follow the business.

January 26th, 2013, 07:22 AM	#8
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Re: Saving British Columbia's Film and TV Industries So, I should move to Toronto like everyone else? I am a recent graduate of post-secondary so there is NO WAY I can move to the east coast when I don't even have my first job... Our province trains skills for future people in the industry well, but if you are correct, nobody stays. It's even harder to move when you're still seeking your first job in a dying industry locally. I'm screwed. These aren't words of wisdom, these words just say to me "You're doomed."

January 26th, 2013, 09:18 AM	#9
Chris Medico Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Efland NC, USA Posts: 2,322	Re: Saving British Columbia's Film and TV Industries You are only "doomed" to not be in the film industry if you choose to not change and adapt to stay with it. If you are unable to do what it takes to be in the industry then its best to know that early so you can change your goals. We are all presented with those kind of situations in life. Mine came in the form of a very serious motorcycle wreck that ended my military career before it even started. You never know what will happen. In my case I didn't make it into NASA via the Air Force as I hopped but instead I'm one of the top engineers in my field world wide. It hasn't been a bad trip even though it has been a very different one than I expected. __________________ http://www.LandYachtMedia.com

January 26th, 2013, 10:31 AM	#10
David Rice Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sitka Alaska Posts: 470	Re: Saving British Columbia's Film and TV Industries Chris is right again. At age 50 I began to loose my ability to walk, and ability to carry even a five pound camera or tripod. Soon it was over for me. Life is not fair. Enjoy the health and youth that you have now, and keep a "open mind". It's a world economy. You can join it, or sit and watch the world pass you by. It's your choice.

January 26th, 2013, 01:50 PM	#11
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Re: Saving British Columbia's Film and TV Industries It looks like for my education to count, I HAVE to move to Toronto or Petaluma. (Petaluma's the headquarters for the TWiT Netcast network) Bitching to politicians certainly won't help, so the message is: Move or Bust.

January 29th, 2013, 04:22 PM	#12
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	Re: Saving British Columbia's Film and TV Industries Virtualy guaranteed that you can reposition yourself to your own best interests faster than the government can act to "help" you... Yes "community activism" and government intervention can create (often artificial) economic shifts, for better or worse... the next state over sees the money and offers MORE incentives, and whoop, there goes the "industry" if it's "portable". Ultimately you can only rely on your own initiative (and as noted, even that can change or fade...). Just try to keep a good attitude and make the most sensible choice(s). Sometimes you have to make changes rather than wait for change to come to you...