MPPIA Congratulates Premier Horgan, Welcomes Collaboration on Continued Success across BC’s Creative Economy:

August 23, 2017
Posted by: Leslie Wootton

New Poll Shows Strong Support for Film & Television Production in British Columbia

Vancouver, BC ‘ The Motion Picture Production Industry Association of BC (MPPIA) congratulates Premier John Horgan on forming Government and a leadership team ready to move British Columbia into a new phase of growth and prosperity across the province.

As British Columbia moves into a promising new chapter, the Motion Picture Association ‘ Canada (MPA-Canada), in collaboration with MPPIA, has shared a new Abacus Data Public Opinion Poll conducted to measure Canadian attitudes towards film and television production across the country. Results in British Columbia indicate broad and inclusive support for a strong production industry in the Province, with more than 80 percent of respondents showing favourable opinions across every polling category.

ai???British Columbia is home to one of North America’s leading centres for motion picture production generating thousands of knowledge and talent driven, well-paying quality jobs in sectors that leave a light footprint on the environment,ai??? said MPPIA Chair Peter Leitch. ai???We look forward to acting on BC’s support for film & television production by working with Premier Horgan and his Government, and in particular Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Lisa Beare, as well as Creative BC to develop and execute an exciting new phase of growth and investment in BC’s vibrant creative economy,ai??? Leitch added.

ai???I am so pleased to see, in the results of this poll, that many British Columbians recognize the importance of the province’s film and television industries,ai??? said Minister Lisa Beare, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture for British Columbia. ai???The growth of BC’s creative economy is an important focus for our government and I look forward to working with MPPIA, MPA-Canada, Creative BC and other industry stakeholders to further expand this exciting, flourishing sector within our economy.ai???

ai???The Abacus Data poll demonstrates a high level of understanding across the province, for the benefits of a globally recognized film and television production sector in BC,ai??? said MPA-Canada President Wendy Noss. Noss added, ai???It’s an encouraging message of support for a strong public-private strategy to continue to nurture competitive and sustainable film & television in the province.ai???

The BC motion picture production sector stands among the best in the world and generates in excess of $2 billion in revenue annually as part the province’s estimated $4 billion-dollar creative economy.

MPPIA is a member-based, non-profit society established in April 2002 to grow, diversify and promote a competitive and sustainable motion picture production industry in British Columbia.

The Motion Picture Association ‘ Canada (MPA-Canada) serves as the voice and advocate of the major international producers and distributors of movies, home entertainment and television programming in Canada and is an affiliate of the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA).

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PERCEPTIONS SURROUNDING FILM AND TV PRODUCTION IN BRITISH COLUMBIA: ABACUS DATA HIGHLIGHTS

  • The vast majority (84%) say that film and TV production has become an important part of the economy of BC. And 85% would like to see film and TV production become a bigger part of the economy of the province.
  • 88% say that the economic benefits of film and TV for BC have become more important over the last ten years. This view is consistent among younger and older people, all income groups, and is high across all regions of the province.
  • Residents of the province would like to see film and TV production given similar importance as forestry and natural gas.
  • People see a wide range of benefits from film and TV production in BC, among them: jobs across the spectrum of production, post production, visual effects and animation; revenues for suppliers; skills and expertise development for Canada; benefits in film tourism; tax revenues for governments.
  • Both Canadian and foreign (ai???Hollywood studioai???) productions, are seen as highly beneficial for the province.

For more information contact:

Leslie Wootton, MPPIA Communications

1+604.837.5829