Film, TV Production Hits New Heights

Nova Scotia's film and television production activity set a new high in 1999, only nine months into its fiscal year.

Film and television production contributed a record total of $130 million in production dollars to the provincial economy, reports the Nova Scotia Film Development Corp. The figures released today represent expenditures in Nova Scotia by projects accessing film development corporation incentives and services from April 1, 1999, to Dec. 31, 1999.

"Our profile as a prime location for film development is growing," said Economic Development Minister Gordon Balser. "I am delighted to see these increases, and even more encouraged that the industry opportunities across Nova Scotia are growing."

This $130 million is a 9.2 per cent increase over the $119 million marked in 1998-99, itself a record-breaking year. The increase is attributed to a sharp rise in foreign production, up to $60 million compared with $29 million last year. Local production is currently at $70 million with three months remaining in the fiscal year.

Jobs created in the film and television industry have also increased through 1999, up to 2,500 compared with 2,300 last year. Nova Scotia's talented crews and film-makers, beautiful locations and other production incentives have attracted much of the production business to Nova Scotia. More than 50 per cent of the production activity took place outside the Halifax area in Cape Breton, Windsor, Chester, Yarmouth, Lunenburg, Ironbound Island, Shelburne, Liverpool and Ships Harbour, with all regions of the province benefitting.

Contributing to this tremendous growth is the strong support provided by film development corporation programs. The corporation has invested in 87 projects so far this year, including feature films, television series, documentaries, comedies, children's, lifestyle, music/variety and public affairs programming.

Several Nova Scotia film-makers were recognized with Gemini awards for productions of This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Made in Canada, and Emily of New Moon. As well, there are Genie nominations for the Atlantic Canadians who worked on Beefcake and The Divine Ryans, and the documentaries Loyalties and Songs in Stone were honoured at festivals in Toronto and Yellowknife.

Guest productions such as A Rumor of Angels, Catch a Falling Star, Weight of Water, Deeply, Songs in Ordinary Time and Baby brought to Nova Scotia actors Sean Penn, Elizabeth Hurley, Vanessa Redgrave, Lynn Redgrave, Ray Liota, Jane Curtin, Jean Stapleton, Keith Carradine, Sarah Polley, Sela Ward, Farrah Fawcett, Sissy Spacek and Beau Bridges.

The film development corporation continues to pursue efforts to build expertise in Nova Scotia film-making. Partnerships have been advanced with educators to enhance learning opportunities in the industry, including the September launch of the Nova Scotia Community College's Screen Arts program and the Film Industry Training Assistance which provides practical opportunities for the development of Nova Scotia film crews. Further initiatives include a new sound stage in Shelburne and two new animation studios, Helix Digital in Sydney and Helix Animation in Halifax.

The film development corporation and MTT have partnered to stimulate Nova Scotia's new media industry. Together they support innovative projects, including one which enables companies to establish their own television stations on the Internet.

The Nova Scotia Film Development Corp. is a Crown corporation that reports to the Department of Economic Development and provides a range of innovative programs and services to stimulate the growth of the province's film, television and new media industries.