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Courtesy of The Vancouver Sun, by Stephanie Ip
BC’s film and TV industry booms again: Prior to the shutdown that started in mid-March, there had been 41 productions in progress. Now seven months later, there are more than 60 projects underway in various stages of production from some of the biggest names in film: Netflix, CBS, Disney, Warner Bros. and ABC.
The higher number of productions is largely due to the migration of projects from U.S. filming locales up to British Columbia, where control of the COVID-19 situation and a low case count has allowed for certain industries to resume operations.
Prior to 2020’s unpredictable storyline, research conducted by the Vancouver Economic Commission also notes that B.C.’s film industry had set a new record last year, with more than $4.1 billion spent in the province (all figures in Canadian dollars).
Of that total, $3.1 billion was on physical production alone, with the remaining $1 billion on post-production and animation, much of which also takes place in Vancouver.
The $4.1 billion figure nearly triples 2012’s $1.6 billion. In the period between 2012 and 2019, film activity has translated into $22.7 billion for the provincial economy in the areas of hospitality, tourism, material suppliers, transportation and construction, including $12.5 billion alone in wages for British Columbians. It’s estimated that the film industry supports more than 70,000 jobs across B.C.
“In the minds of studios and producers, filming in Vancouver comes with the knowledge that the region’s experienced talent can deliver world-class productions,” says David Shepheard, head of the Vancouver Film Commission that last week released a report indicating record highs for Hollywood North.