The film and television industry on the Island doesn’t expect cross-border trade conflicts to impact upcoming productions.
That’s a good thing, says Joan Miller with the Island North Film Commission (INFilm), because the industry supports a large, skilled labour force in BC and on the Island.
In fact, BC is even more attractive to American productions thanks to the exchange rate of the Canadian dollar and recently expanded provincial tax credits. They kicked in on January 1, and include a big bump to the production services tax credit by 8% to 36%.
In the budget this past week, the province announced another increase in tax credits, increasing the Film Incentive BC basic credit by 5% to 40%.
Miller says the year ahead looks positive. Several productions are underway, including a new season of the TV show Resident Alien, which will be shooting for several days in Ladysmith later this month. The commission has also fielded numerous calls from productions looking for locations.
Reality TV shows, which increased significantly during the pandemic, continue to thrive, and are benefiting Ladysmith (“Pamela’s Garden”), Port Alberni (“Big Timber”), and Campbell River (“The Last Woodsman”). North Island communities have also benefitted, being used for multiple seasons of “Alone,” “Canada Greatest Challenge,” and the Emmy award-winning series “Island of the Sea Wolves.”
Miller says INFilm is also wrapping up a major refresh of its location database, which took two years. It uses the database, now full of thousands of high-resolution images and aerial drone footage, to attract productions from all around the world.
INFilm covers communities from Ladysmith north to Cape Scott. It promotes the region, and suggests possible shooting locations, while acting as liaison between communities, local governments, local businesses, and production companies.
