Film Commission Request for additional $10,000 Funding - RDNO

Enderby looks at film funding
by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Mar 4, 2015 at 1:00 AM
No dollar figures are attached but Enderby will be doing its part for the film industry.As part of 2015 budget discussions, the city is considering providing financial support to the Okanagan Film Commission.“We will partake somehow,” said Mayor Greg McCune. Funding would not occur through the Regional District of North Okanagan’s film function. “We will look at our rate and submit directly to the commission,” said McCune. The city has previously not funded the OFC because it was felt that it didn’t impact the community, but that perspective has changed in the last couple of years because films like Tomorrowland and Go With Me have been shot in Enderby. “We’ve been a huge beneficiary of that,” said McCune. Enderby’s contribution to OFC could be $3,000 to $4,000. The Okanagan Film Commission is currently seeking increased support from all partners. It received $24,000 from RDNO (Coldstream, Veron and Armstrong) last year and it’s seeking $35,000 for 2015. The total economic impact from 20 productions in the Okanagan Valley in 2014 was $17.5 million, while the film commission’s budget was $180,000. Enderby is just beginning its 2015 budget process and each council member presented a priority list Monday to be considered. “We know what we want to do but the question is, at what level can we do anything?” said McCune.
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Movie function raises village concerns
by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Mar 4, 2015 at 1:00 AM
Lumby officials insist they aren’t opposed to assisting the Okanagan Film Commission, but it will be on their terms. There is no funding in the village’s 2015 budget for the OFC even though the community has been the site of some movie productions. Mayor Kevin Acton says his council will consider any requests from the commission. “They need to bring us their financials so we can look at them,” he said. However, Acton admits there is a concern about the OFC’s activities when it comes to showing location scouts and producers around the region. “We’re accountable to our taxpayers. We aren’t going to pay for someone to wine and dine people,” he said. “We’re not in the business of buying business.” Currently, the only local communities funding the OFC are Armstrong, Coldstream and Vernon through a Regional District of North Okanagan function. The OFC received $24,000 from RDNO last year and it’s seeking $35,000 for 2015. “It costs money to bring people in to scout the area,” said Jon Summerland, film commissioner, in a recent presentation to RDNO. “I have to wine and dine these people. I high-roll them and spend the money, but it’s working.” The total economic impact from 20 productions in the Okanagan in 2014 was $17.5 million, while the film commission’s budget is $180,000. Lumby council adopted its 2015 budget Monday, including a one per cent tax increase, which translates into an additional $8 for the average home. “Village staff did an excellent job of keeping expenses in check and still providing services,” said Acton.
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EDITORIAL: Lumby's movie stance surprising
by Editorial - Vernon Morning Star posted Mar 4, 2015 at 1:00 AM
Lumby officials aren’t budging from their long-standing policy of not pumping even a nickel into the Okanagan Film Commission. The village’s 2015 budget was adopted Monday without any funds being directed towards the OFC, partly because no one from the agency appeared before them. “They need to bring us their financials so we can look at them,” said Mayor Kevin Acton. Fair enough, but Acton knows that the OFC reports annually to the Regional District of North Okanagan. Lumby is not part of RDNO’s grant function but Acton, as board vice-chairperson, is there to hear the entire discussion and he could provide the details to his council or ask the OFC personally to appear before his council. Council is also well aware of the fact that movies have been filmed in the community, so the connection between grants and economic development benefits should be blatantly obvious. Acton’s biggest concern appears to come from the OFC lobbying producers and location scouts when they are deciding if the region meets their needs. “We’re accountable to our taxpayers. We aren’t going to pay for someone to wine and dine people,” said Acton. “We’re not in the business of buying business.” But the reality is there is extreme competition among B.C. and North American communities to host film crews so enticing them here with nice hotels and meals is part of the game. And the investment pays off because the total economic impact from 20 productions in the Okanagan in 2014 was $17.5 million. Some of that got dropped in Lumby area businesses. At a time when Lumby is scrambling for job creation opportunities, it’s firm stance against the Okanagan Film Commission is surprising.
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Don Quixote Note:
From a posting back in 2009.
Through the North Okanagan Regional District, the film commission received $24,000 this year.Of that, $19,689 came from Vernon, $5,032 from Coldstream, $1,603 from Armstrong and $664 from Lumby.

In 2010 the $25,000 was split the same 4 ways with Lumby's share at $595. This was when Lumby exited the Film Commission service, the Symphony Grant and the St. John's Ambulance functions.