News Release Archive
ECONOMIC RENEWAL--SOUND STAGES PUT N.S. FILM INDUSTRY ON A ROLL
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Nova Scotia has become an internationally recognized film-making
centre on the strength of the province's wealth of talent, its
tax incentives and its scenic environment. Now the province will
have an added draw, with state-of-the-art facilities.
Premier John Savage, Economic Renewal Minister Richie Mann, Mary
Clancy, MP for Halifax, and Ron MacDonald MP for Dartmouth and
parliamentary secretary to the Minister for International Trade,
today announced that three permanent, privately-operated "sound
stages" will soon be operating in the Halifax-Dartmouth area,
bringing to an end the days of makeshift facilities in empty
warehouses.
Two of the multi-use sound stages - Tour Tech East and Cine Site
- will be located in Burnside Industrial Park. The third
- Electropolis - will occupy a refurbished Nova Scotia Power Inc.
facility in Downtown Halifax.
A sound stage is a space that is specially designed and equipped
for indoor film production. It is basic infrastructure required
by the film industry and makes possible year-round film-making
and year-round employment.
The provincial and federal governments are investing $1 million
in the Electropolis project, $375,000 in the Tour Tech East
facility and $350,000 in the Cine Site sound stage. The funding
is provided through the Canada-Nova Scotia COOPERATION Agreement
on Economic Diversification, and is shared 50/50 by the two
levels of government.
Premier John Savage said the new facilities will allow the Nova
Scotia film industry to continue its dramatic growth - a growth
that has already seen revenues climb from $7 million in 1992 to
$48 million in 1996.
"The overwhelming success of Nova Scotia's film industry has been
built largely on the talent and the resources which we have right
here, in this province so rich in talent," Premier Savage said.
Mr. Mann said: "We are proud of that Nova Scotia talent. But well
timed and strategic investments - like the one we are announcing
today - will ensure that our opportunities are maximized."
"A thriving film industry has an impact on many sectors of the
economy, and the three sound stages are expected to stimulate the
growth of related activities, such as film processing
laboratories and consulting services," the Economic Renewal
Minister said. Nova Scotia's film industry is already creating
employment in many diverse areas, he said.
"The spin-off benefits of these sound stages will extend to
electricians, caterers, painters and many more support services,
and these will be there long after the construction work has
finished. That means lasting jobs for Nova Scotians," the
minister said.
Ms. Clancy announced the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency's
funding on behalf of Secretary of State for ACOA Lawrence
MacAulay. "Nova Scotia has established itself as a centre of
excellence for film making and video production," Ms. Clancy
said. "The Government of Canada is pleased to play a role in
helping this industry prosper and, in the process, bringing jobs
and growth to Nova Scotia."
Mr. MacDonald, who was also representing Mr. MacAulay at the
event, said: "Film and video production and sound recording are
only three of many cultural industries which are growing
contributors to Nova Scotia's economy. They are also helping this
province build and strengthen the rightful place its talented
artists deserve on the world's stage. Today, the federal
government recognizes this fact and we are acting accordingly."
The demand for the three sound stages results primarily from the
increasing successes of Nova Scotia's indigenous film and
television industry. However, the facilities are also expected to
make Nova Scotia more competitive in its bid to market its film
industry and lure international productions to the province. The
Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation is responsible for
supporting the growth of the province's film-making industry, and
marketing the province as a film-making venue.
The chairman of the Film Development Corporation, Kenzie MacNeil,
welcomed the announcement of the three sound stages. "The film
business in Nova Scotia has competitive advantages which include
government funded equity investments, development loans, and a
fully refundable tax credit on the Nova Scotia labour hired by a
production," Mr. MacNeil said. "These initiatives have already
shown dramatic results, and the new infrastructure announced
today will go a long way to allowing us to grow even more."
As a group, the three sound stages compliment one another,
offering a complete range of services to the television and film
industries. Bernard Smith, a spokesman for the Electropolis
project, said the facilities are absolutely essential for
continued growth. "The sound stages are the next step forward for
the film industry in this province. They're the culmination of a
lot of hard work by a lot of people and will help boost Nova
Scotia's foreign income earnings," he said.
Mr. Smith said the Electropolis facility, located on the Halifax
waterfront, will feature four sound stages, ranging from 2,250
square feet to 10,500 square feet. It is designed so that
visitors to the waterfront will be able to view filming as it
happens, and take guided tours of the building.
Tour Tech East, the only one of the three sound stages that is
already operating, will complete its 10,000 square foot sound
stage and add a screening room and carpentry shop. Owner Peter
Hendrickson said the funding will allow him to expand and upgrade
to the competitive standards of other studios in North America.
"The timing of the government assistance is excellent. Our
production studio has been busy with several successful projects
over the last year and is about to start production for a seven
week shoot of a movie of the week' with Cochrane Entertainment,
Mr. Hendrickson said.
The Cine Site sound stage will feature a 3,000 square foot sound
stage and a television studio, which will be connected to a high
speed digital fibre optic cable system. The technology will
enable producers to "feed" programming live to anywhere in the
world. "Now filmmakers from Halifax to Hollywood will have all
the more reason to work here," said Chris Zimmer, one of the
partners in North by North East Ventures, owners of Cine Site.
"It makes good business sense."
Federal and provincial funding for these projects is provided
under the Canada/Nova Scotia COOPERATION Agreement on Economic
Diversification. The Agreement is managed by ACOA and Enterprise
Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC), on behalf of the federal
government, and by the Economic Renewal Agency and the Department
of Finance, on behalf of the provincial government.
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Contact: Steve Fairbairn 902-424-5836
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency 902-426-9305
trp Feb. 17, 1997 - 1:10 p.m.
