Attracting filmmakers to Nanaimo isn’t glamorous.
It takes a lot of legwork and patience. A key aspect of attracting television series and film producers to the area is taking a regional view instead of an insulated community view, said Joan Miller, film commissioner for InFilm.
“They don’t see boundaries. They see the assets they can use,” said Miller. “They don’t just want to know what’s in one community. They want to know where all the locations are to fit their need.”
For films such as Godzilla, filmed in 2013, the production company needed train tracks and Vancouver’s were too busy. Nanaimo wouldn’t have secured the production company’s interest unless there were other key locations, said Miller. InFilm scouted for other locations and scenes were shot on View and Seventh Streets, Douglas Avenue and Victoria Crescent near the Cambie.
Other locations included Ladysmith and Shawnigan Lake.
In 2006 the City of Nanaimo ended its support of the Nanaimo Film Commission. From 2009 to 2013 InFilm provided services for productions wanting to scout Nanaimo locations after the Nanaimo film office closed.
In 2013, the Nanaimo Economic Development Corporation and InFilm signed a funding agreement. Over the last three years the NEDC has funded InFilm about $20,000 a year; previously Nanaimo paid $80,000 for its local film office.
According to InFilm, since 2009 the organization has helped 34 productions find locations in the region, bringing in more than $4.45 million in economic benefits.
“It’s an exciting time for our industry,” said Miller.
Jacqui Kaese, an actress and owner of Spotlight Academy, said even though productions aren’t on Nanaimo soil the community is still benefitting. Kaese said hundreds of people from Nanaimo went to the Cowichan Valley and Victoria to be extras.
The Disney movie Pup Starz was filmed in Duncan. It attracted individuals from Nanaimo who went and brought their dogs to participate in the show.
She said one of the barriers is people don’t recognize the Nanaimo actors appearing on screen. It’s not the same as seeing the actors on stage while attending a play.
Hollywood has been getting more involved in television, web series and short films over the last few years, said Kaese. Festivals such as the Vancouver Island Short Film Festival and the Whistler Film Festival have been selling out. These forces are combining to create “synergy,” said Kaese.
“We are experiencing a bumper year,” said Kaese. “We haven’t seen a year like this since 2006 or 2007. It is definitely Hollywood north with bells on. Film, I feel, in the community, is finally here and recognized as an art form.”
She said Hollywood is changing and it is having a dramatic impact on the industry.
Miller agrees, saying distribution is changing the landscape with companies like Netflix buying material and creating it.
Kaese said over the next 10 to 15 years China is going to be a big player, creating movies for its home audience.
One of the barriers Nanaimo needs to overcome is skilled crew. Crew is about 60 per cent of the budget, said Miller, adding finding experienced crew, feeding and housing them is costly.
“The time is right for us to look at trying to train a crew,” said Miller.
She said there is training available but production companies don’t want to take the time to train crew. InFilm is in talks with a production company “looking to come to the table and film a slate of productions” and work with crew over the next two to three years, she said.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com
The Nanaimo News Bulletin is publishing a series of articles on Nanaimo's film scene, leading up to the Vancouver Island Short Film Festival, Feb. 12-13. For an article on the city's independent film landscape please click on the link: www.nanaimobulletin.com/entertainment/367687051.html. For an article about Andrew Jones' digital short please go to www.nanaimobulletin.com/entertainment/368188211.html and for an article on film funding go to www.nanaimobulletin.com/entertainment/368188861.html.