Neufeld

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Vancouver: Dianne Neufeld, director of the B.C. Film Commission and a leading figure in the creation of Vancouver’s film industry, has resigned after 12 years in the job.

‘It’s just time,’ says Neufeld, ‘when you’re done you’re done. I realized this is a pretty healthy time for the film commission and that this was a good time to leave.’

Neufeld’s resignation and the recent appointment of Michael Francis as the new chairman of the B.C. Trade Corporation (which oversees the film commission) sparked off another round of speculation that the government has plans to consolidate all of the film-related government agencies under one roof.

While some in the local industry think the recent labor problems will require a strong, experienced individual to head up the film commission, Neufeld discounts the current sky-is-falling mentality.

‘Chicken Little has come running up the road screaming several times before in this community over the last 10 years, and indeed the sky has not caved in. I don’t think it will this time either.’

She concedes, however, that the production industry in Vancouver is undergoing a major change.

‘We’re like a small company that is going through the growing pains of becoming a large company. The ways we do things, the people we do business with, and the management philosophy has to change. And sometimes the best people for starting something are not the best people to carry it onward into the next phase of maintenance.

‘I’ve certainly found maintenance is not nearly as much fun as building. The skills required in the next phase of the industry’s evolution will require more specialists and professionals and fewer generalists. And it’s possible that the film commission in the future, instead of being at the front of the bus, will actually be on that bus. Other groups of people will take on many of our previous jobs.’

As for future plans, Neufeld says she has no specific job in mind and will pursue some of her own personal interests for the summer.

Neufeld’s resignation is effective May 19. Mark DesRochers, manager of production/location services, will serve as acting director until a permanent replacement has been selected.