Cover Letter: Vancouver Island South Film & Media Commission Grant Request

View Royal Town Hall 45 View Royal Avenue Victoria, BC V9B 1A6

21, February 2023

Dear Mayor Tobias and Council,

First, I would like to thank View Royal for its support over the years. This support has helped us grow the Film and Television Industry in the CRD.

Over the last two years the Film Commission has been responsible for a direct spend of over $110 million into the local economy. We have grown this Industry from just over 6 million in 2010 to almost 60 million in 2021 and an estimated 50 million in 2022.

Due to industry labour unrest, 2022 was not another record-breaking year in terms of direct spend. However, it has been a very busy year for us responding to requests and working hard to service the shows we did land and to attract new ones. In 2022 the Capital Regional District hosted 49 shows: 9 TV Movies; 9 Unscripted TV Shows; 7 Short Films; 7 Commercials; 7 Documentary Shoots; 3 Music Videos; 2 Feature Films; 1 Limited Series and 1 Scripted TV Series. Adding new View Royal filming locations to our ReelScout Locations Database to keep things fresh and to keep productions filming on the South Island, is very much a short-term goal for the Film Commission in 2023.

The development of a dedicated film production studio; supply chain infrastructure and crew development remain critical objectives in 2023. The film & digital media industry in British Columbia currently generates $3.2 Billion in spending annually and employs over 71, 000 BC residents. With the help of the community, our local and provincial governments and funders, there is no reason why the CRD cannot attract a much larger share of the provincial spend.

Increasing the level of sustainable economic impact requires an immense effort to sell the locations, services, and expertise of the region to producers, and to provide extensive logistical support once a major production arrives. To pursue and win a share of this growth industry, we require adequate and sustainable investment from the municipalities we serve.

2023 holds great promise for the CRD as we work to bring more shows and larger direct spends to our region. We hope that you will continue to support this important economic driver. To that end, we are again asking for a Grant-in-Aid of $3,000 to support our important work building and maintaining the critical infrastructure necessary to build the digital media industry on the South Island.

We thank you for your partnership and renewed commitment. Please stand by for the Film Commissioner’s 2022 Year End Report to follow. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Kathleen Gilbert/ Film Commissioner-Vancouver Island South Film & Media Commission