Training Program for Film Workers

Nova Scotia's growing film industry will create more jobs, more career advancement opportunities and a higher level of expertise this year.

An innovative film training program, offered in partnership with the federal and provincial governments, will help the industry to fill a critical gap in film-production capacity by providing on-the-job training for established film workers.

The Nova Scotia Film Training Program will train 60 lower- and mid-level film crew workers to take on more senior positions. This will create new crews and ultimately open entry- and mid-level opportunities for workers. The cost of the $864,000 project will be split between the industry and the Canada/Nova Scotia COOPERATION Agreement on Economic Diversification.

"This program will increase the level of expertise of Nova Scotia's film crews," said Senator Al Graham, Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister responsible for Nova Scotia, on behalf of Fred Mifflin, Secretary of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. "The government of Canada is committed to helping regions build on existing areas of strength, and Nova Scotia is developing a very successful film and television sector."

"The film training program is about creating more quality jobs for Nova Scotians in our own film industry," said Manning MacDonald, Minister of Nova Scotia Economic Development and Tourism. "The industry has directly employed 1,400 people this year, as well as creating many more spinoff jobs. By increasing the number of Nova Scotia crews and increasing their capabilities, we can make sure more of those jobs -- on local and guest productions -- go to Nova Scotians across the province."

"The film industry in our province has grown from $47.5 million to $92.5 million in the past 15 months," said Anne-Marie Varner, CEO of the Nova Scotia Film Development Corp., which will administer the program. "The film training program will not only help us to keep pace with this dramatic growth, but it will also further elevate our reputation for quality crews."

The project will target trainees who are ready to move into more-senior positions, especially in areas such as Cape Breton and the South Shore, where there is a small but growing number of opportunities for work. Funding will be disbursed over the next 18 months to qualifying projects.

Bill Skerrett, president of the Nova Scotia Film and Video Producers Association, said he is glad government is investing in this innovative training initiative.

"The program will be a very direct and powerful way of continuing to support the growth of the industry," he said. "It will create a very positive atmosphere between producers and crews for significant skills development."

The Canada/Nova Scotia COOPERATION Agreement on Economic Diversification is managed by ACOA and Enterprise Cape Breton Corp. on behalf of the federal government, and by Economic Development and Tourism on behalf of the province.