Lights, camera, action.Those are among the infrastructure requirements needed to make the Valley more attractive to television and film producers according to Okanagan Film commissioner Sara Shaak.And just whether or not that is an achievable goal, and if so, how to make it a reality, is expected to be outlined at a press conference that will likely be held sometime next week. Much of the information is contained in the results of a recently-completed feasibility study done for the commission. “We’ve been a location destination and we’ve been very successful but if we do want to take our industry to the next level we have to have to address this issue of a lack of infrastructure,” said Shaak, Thursday. “Basically the purpose of the study was to provide the background research that could then be given to private producers for them to make the determination if it is in fact financially viable.“We need to address our needs for infrastructure and the fact we don’t have a lot of studio space here and we turn projects away.”As part of the Valley-wide feasibility study, a number of industry professionals in Canada and the United States were contacted about their wants and desires.
“You can’t let a study like this sit on the shelf it’s too time sensitive,” said Shaak. “To me personally this seems like a pretty pivotal year. We have to really go for it right now, really blitz everything and get it out there.”The commissioner estimated between 10 and 20 per cent of the calls to her office are from people enquiring about the availability of facilities such as a sound stage or studio space.“And depending on the time of year, we either can or cannot accommodate them,” said Shaak. “Now, whether we would have got all those or not is hard to say but they’re definitely asking.”
Among those taking part in the study was Penticton’s Darone Davis, president and CEO of ProDigital Film Studios Inc.Late last year his company purchased a 40-hectare property in Okanagan Falls where he eventually hopes to develop a multi-million-dollar studio complex that will include various film sound stages and other facilities.“Anything we can do to have more resources like this available is very important,” said the commissioner about the plan. “It looks great and it’s exciting - there’s a lot of interesting work coming out of there.”ProDigital is currently using the Sun Dew/Sun-Rype fruit processing plant on Maple Street for some of its work.
One person who is especially pleased with the efforts of Shaak and the commission is chairman Dan Ashton of the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen.“From a personal perspective I would say absolutely we’re getting our money’s worth,” said Ashton. “If we take a look at the number of movies produced, the South Okanagan and Similkameen by far have the largest number.“With the budgets of some of these productions and the spin-offs – and most of them are done in the shoulder seasons – it’s an incredible benefit.“We’re working together to put forth a better product for these people.”
In 2006 the RDOS contribution to the film commission was $30,000.In the last two years the direct return to the region’s economy in wages, accommodation and various other expenditures was almost $4 million.Funding for the commission is through the Regional Districts of the North Okanagan, Central Okanagan, Okanagan-Similkameen and the Boundary Economic Development Committee.Additional funding is provided through the Province of British Columbia. “There definitely should be more of these partnerships because they benefit everyone in the Okanagan-Similkameen.”
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