VANCOUVER

Crews and production services are in short supply as roadhouse work is booming in Vancouver. The explosion is not only the result of u.s. commercials, but also series, which ‘hoover up all the crews,’ as one producer says. As a result, the same producer says, ‘it’s a difficult time to put things together.’

Another producer says the local work, which is usually quite slow at this time of year, has ‘picked up quite a bit,’ although u.s. shoots still account for ‘90% of the business in Vancouver.’

With a ‘real mixture’ of work and the necessary ‘scrambling’ to try and assemble a crew, Vancouver producers are on their toes. ‘I mean it’s good,’ one producer reports, ‘everybody is busy and working. But it’s kind of crazy.’

EDMONTON

conflicting reports out of Edmonton have one Alberta producer ‘very pleased with what’s going on’ and another complaining that it is ‘not that busy right now.’ However, the same producer confirms that a summer slowdown in Edmonton ‘is not that unusual.’

One producer, who has seen an unexpected influx of jobs, cannot explain the sudden increase in business: ‘This is the Prairies. There’s absolutely no reason for it,’ he jokes. The same producer says he has been ‘doing stuff for people [he hasn’t] seen in probably five years.’

Even the slow companies, however, see a possible increase in work, confirming that ‘agencies like Palmer Jarvis in Edmonton are busy and have work upcoming. And there are some smaller agencies that have some very nice projects on the way.’

With most of the production regional, Edmonton producers are also ‘seeing a lot of action out of Calgary.’

In terms of product categories, producers report that the usual telecom ads have been bolstered by a trend to e-commerce advertising.

TORONTO

‘it’s absolutely insane! I’ve never seen anything like it!’ declares one major Toronto producer. He points to a 50-50 split of roadhouse and local production in the city. ‘The work out of the States we’ve been getting is all gravy, but the board flow out of Toronto is very strong,’ he says.

A producer at a smaller production house, although confirming that ‘the town is crazy,’ isn’t so sure ‘it’s crazy with Canadian work.’ However, the same producer says boards for ‘packaged goods and fast food are capturing [his] attention.’

Other producers point to a large number of ‘Canadian boards associated with the Olympics’ floating through town. This combined with u.s. roadhousing, series and feature work shooting in Toronto, has made finding crews and studio spaces ‘challenging but doable.’

‘You have to dig a little harder, that’s all,’ the producer says.

MONTREAL

just talking to a Montreal producer can be a challenge, as they are ‘overwhelmed by all the work’ currently in the city. Montreal, like other major Canadian centres, is discovering that it’s ‘a nightmare to find crews.’ Also, producers are finding it difficult because, unlike u.s. features shooting in town, they ‘can’t book anyone unless [they] win a job.’

Most of the jobs are local, according to producers, one of whom calls the national jobs ‘real work.’ Big corporate campaigns and new product launches are gearing up for the September back-to-school tv season. These campaigns represent the major product categories in Montreal as well as ‘a couple of Olympics boards.’

Despite the extreme demand for Montreal production, one producer says, ‘It’s not as busy as last year, but it’s getting there.’