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Prospects for a feature film industry in British Columbia

University of British Columbia

The purpose of this thesis is to assess the potential of establishing a viable indigenous feature film industry in British Columbia. An understanding of the B.C. situation was gained by researching and illustrating the organization of the various parts: production, distribution, and exhibition. This was undertaken by reading various industry publications on the "business" of film making and reading newspaper and trade journal articles. Information about the history of public policy as well as current federal and provincial programs for feature film making was taken from task force reports, Canadian Film Corporation reports, and Telefilm Canada annual reports. Statistics on the industry were gained from Statistics Canada, Telefilm Canada, the Canadian Film and Video Certification Office, and provincial agencies, in particular, B.C. Film annual reports. Personal interviews based on a questionnaire were held with eighteen British Columbia producers who were initiating feature film projects in 1988. Canadian producers are dependent on access to federal and provincial sources of finanicng for as much as 62 per cent of their financing. The balance is provided by broadcasters, private investors, and deferral agreements, or through co-productions with other countries. Because of Hollywood's control of Canada's exhibition market, only 3-5 per cent of screen time is accorded to Canadian feature films. Because of our small domestic market, Canadian producers must rely on international sales to break even. Moreover, feature filmmaking in Canada, like in most other countries, is characterized by great risk and little chance of profitability. The Canadian government is now supporting a nucleus of Canadian-owned distributors with subsidies to help them establish both a capital base and contacts in the international marketplace. Domestic television production has also been a factor in Canada's feature film development. Writers, directors, producers, and technicians have gained experience by being able to work in the broadcast medium. Successful production companies produce a mixture of both television and feature films. As well, these companies have established relationhips with companies in other countries, thereby providing them with an expanded market and opportunites for co-productions. B.C.'s feature film sector is comprised of small production companies with limited revenues who produce feature films on a project-by-project basis through the opportunities provided by B.C. Film and Telefilm. Few have enough capital to plan and manage substantial feature film or television production. Increases in B.C. production are a direct result of success in getting this support. However, Telefilm's funding to the province's filmmakers is unreliable, evidenced by the production of eleven films in 1988 and only one in 1990. A major drawback for B.C. producers is the geographic distance from head offices of existing Canadian broadcasting networks and major feature film distribution companies in Eastern Canada. However, B.C. producers have access to a strong local base of crews, studio facilities, and substantial post production, facilitated by the breadth of American location shooting and commercial production being done in our province. The need is to establish a new, realistic level of operation for the feature film industry in B.C. and to provide the support to sustain it for 5-7 years in order to it to become viable. Given the above conditions, the three main factors in achieving a viable feature film industry in B.C. will be: a) the development of several medium-size companies; b) the provision of adequate funds from federal and provincial sources; and, c) the promotion of the supply of good quality scripts.

Text

2011-02-11

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/31230

Planning

University of British Columbia

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