Weak loonie positive for local film industry

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) A weak loonie is bad news for cross border shoppers, but it’s having a predictable, positive effect on our film industry. More productions are choosing BC.

It’s a very busy time. It was just announced Stephen Spielberg will soon be in town to film an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s “Big Friendly Giant.” Some in the Washington State’s film industry are upset the new Walking Dead spinoff will be shot in Vancouver. Several TV series have also made BC their home, like ABC’s fairy tale drama “Once Upon a Time.”

Studios are scrambling to find space for new productions and they’re also searching for skilled staff. Richard Brownsey with Creative BC, the group that looks after the film industry here, says there are companies needing employees. “We’re also seeing the growth in the visual effects and animation industry and their demands on skilled labour are also very intense.”

Brownsey says the dollar plays a part, but it’s not the only reason more productions are choosing BC. “The quality of the workforce in British Columbia. The infrastructure that we have, the fact that we have post-production, visual effects, state of the art studios, all of that infrastructure question comes in.”

He says it’s not all American productions setting up shop, there’s a nice mix of foreign and local work.

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