April 4, 2021

TV, film productions set up shop on Vancouver Island, rake in millions for local economy

(mypowellrivernow.com)

The North Island is catching Hollywood’s attention.

The natural beauty and scenery continues to lure in movie stars and film crews, not only profiling the region on the big screen but also helping to boost the local economy.

Film commissioner Joan Miller with INFilm (Vancouver Island North Film Commission) recently provided Campbell River council with an overview of the growing success of the film industry and its economic impact on the island.

She also shared changes and recovery related to the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing training, and film tourism opportunities.

Back in 2018, Miller says filming locations for the Apple+ TV series SEE starring Jason Momoa included Ralph River, Myra Falls and Discovery Industrial Park. Scouting, prep and principle production commenced on April 15th, 2018, and wrapped on February 5th, 2019.

Miller says this production raked in millions for the economy: over $3.5 million went to local vendors, with around $3.2 million contributed to local payroll. And, during the filming of SEE, over 19,000 local hotel room nights were booked.

Miller says the payroll part really showed that INFilm’s hard work in regards to growing and training crew was paying off, “and I realize with our tourism partners it was a big impact for tourism services as well.”

Throughout 2019, a handful of documentaries were also filmed on the island, including CBC’s The Nature of Things and the UK Natural History Documentary, Minotaur.

By: Ethan Morneau

Continue Reading at mypowellrivernow.com

Hollywood’s Georgia Conundrum: Restrictive Voting Laws Threaten To Turn Peach Of A Location Venue Into Pariah

(deadline.com)

New Jersey may be the first state to pitch itself as an alternative to Georgia production, but it won’t be the last amid national furor at the Peach State’s restrictive new voting law. Atlanta’s booming entertainment industry has so many advantages from rebates to infrastructure, yet the state is making itself a liability again less than a year after passing a highly controversial state abortion law (struck down by a federal judge as unconstitutional).

The measures include tougher ID rules for absentee ballots, limiting use of drop boxes, giving state election board officials the ability to override local boards and making it a misdemeanor to offer food or water to voters in line. All this in reaction to baseless claims by President Donald Trump that the election was stolen from him — brushing aside the reality that Red states turned Blue because voters were moved to oust a polarizing leader whose response to a global pandemic that has taken over 550,000 U.S. lives was woefully inadequate. And whose final act was to whip a crowd of insurrectionists into a frenzy that led to a storming of the U.S. Capitol and made him the first U.S. President to be twice impeached by the House of Representatives.

By: Jill Goldsmith

Continue Reading at deadline.com