August 3, 2011
Lights, Camera, Action: Funding Supports Local Film Association

WILLIAMS LAKE – The Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association is receiving $15,000 from the provincial government.  This is part of $275,000 in provincial government funding to help regional organizations attract and provide services to film and video producers from around the world. 

Why this matters:

• Every year, British Columbia’s regions provide locations for various film projects, including movies, television series, documentaries and commercials.
• Motion picture and television producers spent more than $1 billion in British Columbia during 2010. About 90 per cent of productions use the services of the BC Film Commission, including regional film commissions and offices.

Quotes:

"We continue to support the film industry because it is a crucial economic contributor both regionally and for the province as a whole. This funding will help keep B.C. a leader in the film industry." 
-Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett

"The Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association’s film office has worked diligently with the BC Film Commission for a number of years to provide highly professional production services and community connections and support for projects like “GI Joe 2” which is filming in the region.  Their efforts and investment in B.C.’s motion picture industry are extremely valuable to the entire province."
-Susan Croome, BC Film Commissioner

Quick Facts:

• British Columbia is the third largest production centre in North America after Los Angeles and New York.
• B.C.’s film production industry directly and indirectly employs more than 25,000 people.
• British Columbians working in the motion picture industry earned wages of about $450 million in 2010.
• The B.C. provincial government provides between $130 million and $200 million in annual refundable tax credits for the film and television industry, depending on the level of production activity.
• The Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development distributed the funding to regional film commissions, as well as specific tourism associations and municipalities that work closely with the BC Film Commission to showcase and promote their regions to film makers and liaise with film production companies.
• Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association in Williams Lake handles the film location requests for the region on behalf the BC Film Commission.

Learn More:

• For a closer look at how the B.C. government helps film production in the province, visit the BC Film Commission at: http://www.bcfilmcommission.com/
• Check out the provincial government’s role in supporting artists, arts and cultural organizations through the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development at: http://www.gov.bc.ca/cscd

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