While the new $15-million Alberta Film Development Program will provide a financial boost for indigenous dramatic production in the province, producers say the grant is difficult for documentary projects and coproductions to access because of the eligibility criteria which requires principal photography to be undertaken in Alberta. Specifically, clause seven disqualifies projects which shoot outside the province from applying to the grant program.

Dale Phillips, head of the Alberta Motion Pictures Industry Association, says producers have been asked to register their concerns with the new fund with both ampia and the Alberta Foundation of the Arts, which administers the grant.

An ad hoc advisory committee has been set up by the afa, which will meet in late March to discuss the issue and make its recommendations. The committee will continue to meet on an ongoing basis to consult with producers.

The new fund, introduced in December, pays out $4.8 million a year for the next three years on a first-come, first-served basis. The grant is paid on 20% of production expenses incurred in Alberta to a maximum of 10% of the total budget or $500,000. The grant has a corporate cap of $500,000 per fiscal year, but producers with series may apply twice per year for up to $1 million.

Philips says that since the new fund is based on labor expenses paid out in the province, clause seven is unnecessary and a potential answer to the problem would be eliminating the clause from the eligibility criteria.

Jane Bisbee, cultural industries officer at Alberta Community Development, who administers the grant, says the government is willing to discuss ways to ensure the program works for all producers. She points to the fact that after the program was first announced, the cap of $750,000 was dropped to $500,000 in response to producers’ desire that the money be spread further.

Another concern for the Alberta industry is the future of the Alberta Film Commission. Two and a half years ago the agency was turned into a public/private partnership with provincial and local government financing 75% of its operations. Local unions have been subsidizing the commission through a $0.05 levy on every dollar earned and other fundraising schemes have been initiated.

At the end of March, the funding contract with Calgary Economic Development Authority and the Province of Alberta expires.

Murray Ord at the Alberta Film Commission says the provincial and local governments are supportive of the need for a film commission and a new plan is being negotiated.

More help for Alberta

producers

In addition to the new grant, other Alberta incentives are also anticipated to bolster production.

With its latest round of commitments, the A-Channel Drama Fund has licensed 17 films with combined production budgets totaling $47 million. Eight movies have wrapped production.

The CFCN Production Fund, a $7.5-million, five-year initiative created by ctv and CFCN Television Calgary, offers $1.5 million annually in development loans and equity investments to Alberta producers and coproducers with 50% ownership in the project. Approximately 8% of the fund is invested in drama, comedy and kids’ programming.

Midway through its third year of operation, the fund has awarded $1.8 million in equity financing to 24 projects; $181,929 to 20 producers for development; $55,486 to 19 screenwriters for development; and $99,650 in professional development to 14 projects.

Edmonton ctv affiliate cfrn-tv’s CFRN Production Fund spends $1 million a year on development grants, loans, licence fees and equity investments.

Pumping up foreign volume

With funding mechanisms in place to prop up indigenous production, Ord says the next hurdle is to continue to bolster foreign volume.

Location shoots have been on the rise. In 1998, $88.8 million in location production was recorded in comparison to $39.3 million a year earlier.

The Touchstone Pictures feature Shanghai Noon, starring Jackie Chan, and the Paramount feature Snow Day are currently shooting in the province.

‘The new fund does not offer any incentives for foreign producers so that is the next thing the industry has to address,’ says Ord. ‘The government and the industry have to look at ways to make the province attractive for American producers because it is a cornerstone of developing our infrastructure. We know we aren’t going to get a tax credit but we have to investigate other options.’

Ord says as yet the industry has not identified how it will attempt to reel in runaway production.

Growing the crew base, which has dwindled in recent years due to lack of production, is on the agenda as well. iatse has initiated a training course for Alberta and the Directors Guild is working on a preliminary course.