British Columbia is rolling out the red carpet to celebrate the wide range of screen-based entertainment, which is created throughout the province, by proclaiming Monday, July 27, 2015, as “Screen in BC Day”.
The Thompson-Nicola region has doubled for numerous countries including Afghanistan, Southwest and Central USA, Tibet, South Africa, Ethiopia, Mexico and The Baja to name a few and for major feature films such as Afghan Luke, 2012, Flicka 2, Shooter, The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, and The A-Team.
Regional Film Offices receive operational funding from the Province of B.C., through Creative BC’s Regional Film Funding Program, which helps support the growth of the film and television industry throughout B.C.
For the current fiscal year, Creative BC will be contributing $213,000 toward the Regional Film Offices which includes $30,000 to the Thompson-Nicola Film Commission. This funding is used toward promoting and scouting locations, creating a comprehensive digital photo library and contributing to their website.
Known for excellence in physical production, post production, VFX and animation, interactive games as well as original content by B.C.-based production companies for world markets, British Columbia is one of the top centres for screen production excellence in North America. British Columbia’s motion-picture industry supports approximately 20,000 direct and indirect quality jobs that make up a talented, highly experienced and knowledge-driven workforce.
“The Thompson-Nicola region attracts filmmakers worldwide because of its desert, grasslands and mountainous terrain and proximity to Vancouver,” said Victoria Weller, film commissioner, Thompson-Nicola Film Commission, “Moreover, B.C.’s film and television tax credit programs, in particular the Regional and Distant Location Tax Credits, have made filming in this region affordable for productions from Ireland, Germany and the United States and for Canadian filmmakers from British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Alberta.
Robert Wong, interim CEO and acting film commissioner, Creative BC commented, “B.C. has become one of North America’s leading creative hubs for screen-based entertainment with a talented group of B.C. companies who are creating and selling their content to audiences around the world. At the same time, we have grown to become of the world’s largest cluster for visual effects and digital animation which has given us a competitive advantage as a global centre capable of performing the complete spectrum of services required for major productions.”
B.C. production expenditures reached an estimated $2 billion in fiscal year 2014-15 compared to $1.45 billion in fiscal 2013-14.
Production companies come to B.C. because the province offers a wide range of outstanding locations and full service infrastructure, leading-edge post-production and visual effects facilities and a highly experienced, capable and committed workforce who have earned a reputation for consistently delivering a high quality product on time and on budget.
To learn more about the Thompson-Nicola Film Commission visit www.FilmThompsonNicola.com and www.ThompsonNicolaMovieMap.com