26 - Sunday, October 8 1989 - North Shore News NORTH SHORE’S FILM INDUSTRY Should you oughta be in pictures? SO YA wanna be in pictures? Well, don’t rush out and enroll in film school, warns a_ recent report on employment and educa- tion in the B.C. motion picture in- dustry. By EVELYN JACOB News Reporter The 40-page report, compiled by the B.C. Motion Picture Industry, reveals shortages in the technical areas of the film industry. But ac- cording to spokesman Robert Dubberley, that doesn’t mean a windfall for B.C. hopefuls. “The report, for example, found that there are shortages of cam- eramen. But that doesn’t mean we need 100 cameramen,” said Dub- beriey, ‘‘we may need only two. The number of jobs in the industry are few, and the shortages are small.’’ The study, containing 13 recommendations, took one year to complete at a cost of $90,000. The ‘‘talent’’ side of the business — actors, directors and musicians -- was deliberately ex- cluded from the study because these jobs were not perceived to be in short supply. Dubberley said reported incon- sistencies about employment in the motion picture industry is what spurred the report. ‘We heard a lot of inconsisten- cies about employment before we embarked on the report. People were Saying there were a lot of jobs but that they couldn’t find one. It MOGREZN PAINTS didn't make sense. We couldn’t get a fix on it. Neither could the unions.” The study found that the greatest shortages were in the post-production sector. Occupa- tions reporting the most frequent shortages were camera operators, sound engineers, on-line editors, production managers, location managers and re-recording mixers. Because most American film companies do their post-produc- tion work outside B.C., few op- portunities are available to locals. The report suggests that if the quality of local post-production facilities and skiils were improved, B.C. could retain a larger share of the work on U.S.-based produc- tions. The report recommends sending locals outside the province for specialized training, and importing highly qualified people to train local personnel. Other key recommendations of the report include: e A B.C. Motion Picture In- dustry Training Council be estab- lished to represent the industry and identify training needs, goals and standards and coordinate ap- propriate training programs © The training council deveiop on- the-job training projects to develop the skills required by the industry ® That training institutions appre- ciate the reality that employment opportunities in the motion picture industry generally, and in B.C. in particular, are severely limited in ae RSE FALL PROMOTION On two of our popular BENJAMIN MOORE interior Paint Products Speciat* Reg. 28.95 36.49 30.95 * Olier encs Oct. 22 39.25 MOORE'S COMPUTER COLOR MATCHING SYSTEM See it today! OPEN SUNDAYS 10-4 p.m. FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE LUMBER COMPANY 3147 Woodbine Drive (corner of Highiand & Woodbine) Tel: 986-3361 H PEeRTICPACHON B © numbers even though the industry has grown rapidly and therefore should redesign and implement courses that meet industry needs ¢ Industry employers should in- utiate programs that encourage employees to upgrade their skills and remain technologically up-to- date * Educational institutions are en- couraged to offer cooperative training programs. to those who wish to enter the motion picture industry © Apprenticeship-type programs should be instituted in the motion picture industry Another significant finding of the committee was that the B.C. film industry has not received a fair share of federal support despite its becoming one of the five largest English language produc- tion centres in North America. Compared with Ontario, which accounted for 54 per cent of all Canadian-based production, and Quebec, which accounted for 36 per cent, B.C. °s share of in- digenous motion picture produc- tion from 1976-88 was a shocking four per cent. In 1988, indigenous production in B.C. reached its highest level ever — over $30 million compared with just over $3 million the year before. This 10-fold increase is at- tributed to two factors: the establishment of the B.C. Film Fund in the fall of 1987 and the deployment of major Telefilm Canada funding to Western Cana- dian producers for the first time in 1988. Dubberley warned that B.C. will experience an actual decline in in- digenous production over the next four years if federal funding does not improve. Some other interesting findings of the study are: e In 1985, American producers shot 15 feature films in Canada. In 1987 that figure jumped to 29. © From 1963-69, an average of one feature film per year was made in B.C., and from 1979-84 that average grew to seven. Those numbers have since escalated ow- ing to a dramatic growth in local production of T.V. movies and serics. In 1984, 74 T.V. series episodes were shot in B.C. SILK FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS (custom Designs) See our Display — Designers welcomed BRAEMAR OF SCOTLAND Fine Knitwear & Co-ordinates Sweater Croft at Park Royal * Sherry’s at Edgemont Village or PHONE EMCO Marketing Ltd. 1403 Hunter Street, North Vancouver Tel: 988-3306