February 5, 1997
(Development and Rural Renewal)
The following is being distributed at the of the Film Producers'
Association of Newfoundland:
Film Development Corporation formed
The provincial film industry is playing a key role in a collaborative
approach with the federal and provincial governments to spearhead
development of the local film and video industry through the formation of
the Newfoundland and Labrador Film Development Corporation. Through the
Canada/Newfoundland Agreement on Economic Renewal, there will be an
investment of $1 million over the next five years for the start-up and
operation of the Newfoundland and Labrador Film Development Corporation. The
formation of the corporation is a significant step in positioning the
province as a fully-acknowledged player in the national and international
marketplace.
The announcement was made today by Fred Mifflin, Minister of Fisheries
and Oceans, on behalf of Lawrence MacAulay, Secretary of State for the
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Veterans' Affairs, and Brian Tobin,
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, during a news conference at the Delta
Hotel in St. John's. Also participating in the event were Judy Foote,
Minister of Development and Rural Renewal, and Bonnie Hickey, Member of
Parliament for St. John's East.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Film Development Corporation is a
not-for-profit body formed to direct the growth of the indigenous film and
video industry, and to market the province, both nationally and
internationally, as a place for on-location shooting of films and videos.
The undertaking is the result of a strategy developed by the Film Producers'
Association of Newfoundland (PAN), the Newfoundland Independent Film Makers
Cooperative (NIFCO), the Film Crew Association of Newfoundland (FilmCan),
and the federal and provincial governments to promote the film sector and
identify a sound approach to its full development.
Minister Mifflin said: "The formation of the corporation is the
first step in a focussed, cooperative effort to establish the film industry
of Newfoundland and Labrador on a firm footing through access to technology,
establishment of basic infrastructure, and training of a skilled workforce
to support telefilm development, production and post- production activities.
This approach promises to bring growth to an already vibrant sector that now
has the tools to facilitate further development. The film industry offers
enormous potential in terms of employment and economic growth."
Premier Tobin stated: "The establishment of the Film Development
Corporation will help the industry reach a new plateau of achievement. It
will bring together all the players involved in the local industry in an
effective partnership that will take advantage of the growing economic and
employment opportunities that exist in this international industry. As a
relatively new sector of the provincial economy, it offers exciting new
prospects for diversifying the economic base of our province, attracting new
investment, and generating significant new jobs within the private sector
for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador."
Ken Pittman, President of the Producers' Association of Newfoundland,
said: "The formation of the Film Development Corporation marks the
start of an exciting period in the province's film industry. As an industry,
we can accelerate our growth and become full participants in the global
industry as well as make a sustained contribution to the province's economy
and to our cultural expression."
In addition to funding for the Film Development Corporation,
approximately $90,000 has been allocated through the cultural industries
component of the Canada/Newfoundland Agreement on Economic Renewal to
support a number of specific film industry initiatives. This includes
support for the purchase of a digital editing system for the Newfoundland
Independent Filmmakers Cooperative Ltd. (NIFCO), professional development
and marketing support for film crew members and participation by film
producers to attend MIPCOM, Europe' major international film and television
trade fair.
The areement is a $100 million, five-year, federal-provincial program
designed to diversify the economic base of the province and generate long-
term employment benefits for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Contact:
- Ken Pittman
President
Producers' Association of Newfoundland
(709) 739-1711
Cathy Dornan
Office of the Premier
(709) 729-3564
Ellen Alcock
Canada/Newfoundland Agreement on Economic Renewal
(709) 772-5116
_______________________________
BACKGROUNDER
Film and video industry in Newfoundland and Labrador
- - Film and video production in Canada has shown a 225 per cent
increase in total revenue earned since 1982. It employs 30,000
people in Canada and makes an annual contribution of more than $2
billion to Canada's gross domestic product.
- Film industry partners in Newfoundland and Labrador have been
working closely with governments to encourage specific steps in the
development of the local film and video industry. A committee
consisting of representatives of ACOA, Canadian Heritage, Industry
Canada, the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, the
former Enterprise Newfoundland and Labrador (ENL) and Human
Resources Development Canada together with local industry
organizations, the Producers' Association of Newfoundland (PAN) and
the Newfoundland Independent Film Makers Co-operative Limited
(NIFCO) was struck to devise a development plan.
- This committee completed a study entitled: A Profile of the
Newfoundland and Labrador Independent Film and Video Industry and
made a number of recommendations for action as a means of realizing
the full economic potential of the industry. The four main thrusts
critical in supporting this strategic direction include: marketing
support, industry development support, access to industry financing,
and the establishment of a Newfoundland and Labrador Film
Development Corporation.
- Most jurisdictions in Canada have established Film Industry
Development Corporations to coordinate a strategic approach to
development, with positive results being shown from the public
investments made in such organizations. The market outlook is
considered to be very strong with significant opportunity for
substantial future growth.
- In Newfoundland and Labrador, industry has generated a modest
$10 million in total revenues and created approximately 200 jobs
since 1988. Using the Statistics Canada multiplier for this sector
(2.07), the direct and indirect impact on the provincial economy is
almost $21 million. In addition, for each dollar invested within the
province, $4.74 are levered from outside the province. Approximately
60 per cent of a project's budget is wages. A typical feature movie
or television drama can employ 50 or 60 full-time cast and crew
members.
- According to Statistics Canada in its analysis carried out for
the Arts and Cultural Industries Sectoral Advisory Group on
International Trade (SAGIT), independent production in Canada
generates one job for every $36,000 of gross revenues, compared to
one direct job per $114,000 of annual gross revenues for the 50 most
important North American industrial sectors.
- Some examples of locally produced titles include: The Adventure
of Faustus Bidgood, Undertow, Finding Mary March, No Apologies, The
Bouregois Legacy, Nothing to Do, Secret Nation, Multiple Choice, The
Great Divide, Changing Minds, The Vienna Tribunal, Anchor Zone, The
Elf, as well as the currently being produced Gullages.
- These local productions have been viewed by hundreds of
thousands of Canadian television and movie viewers. In recent years,
writers, actors, musicians, and technicians who learned much of
their craft on Newfoundland independent productions are making a
mark for themselves and for the province on the national and
international scene.
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR FILM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
- - The Newfoundland and Labrador Film Development Corporation will
be an arms length non-profit corporation accountable to the
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador through the Minister of
Development and Rural Renewal. The corporation's mandate will be to
foster the growth of the Newfoundland and Labrador film and video
industry and establish Newfoundland and Labrador in the national and
international film and video market as a competitive location for
on-location shooting.
- The corporation will be charged with the following
responsibilities:
- - to support, assist and develop the growth of the private
sector film and video industry using sound business principles
in the areas of funding, marketing, promotion and infrastructure
development;
- to promote the province within the worldwide film and video
industry as a location for film, video, television and
commercial productions;
- to serve as a focal point of liaison between industry and
all levels and sectors of government in support of industry
development;
- to ensure that appropriate pools of investment and equity
capital are available to assist in the growth of the indigenous
industry.
- An initial five-year mandate will be set for the board with a
review at the end of three years to ensure adequate progress towards
the policy objectives is being achieved.
- The corporation will be led by a board of directors of public
and private representatives. Appointments to the board will be made
in the near future.
|