Vancouver: The volume of television production may have slowed considerably in Vancouver in the current market, but Victoria is experiencing a mini television boom, in part because of the yeoman’s job Vancouver producer Ted Bauman is doing to bring production to the capital city.

Bauman and his wife Lynne Bespflug are line producing four projects this fall in Victoria, after completing two other productions earlier this year in the city.

The Book of Ruth, adapted from the Jane Hamilton novel, wrapped a month of production Oct. 5. Starring Christine Lahti (Chicago Hope), Nicholl Tom (Back Against the Wall) and Evan Jones (8 Mile), Ruth tells the story of a troubled woman and the people who torment her. Locations throughout the Greater Victoria region were used.

Also for CBS, Survivor’s Club, based on a Lisa Gardner novel, stars Roma Downey (Touched by an Angel) and Jacqueline Bisset (America’s Prince: The John F. Kennedy Jr. Story) in a story about women who survive attacks by the same serial rapist. Production in Victoria runs Oct. 7 to Nov. 3, with Chris Leitch (Three Blind Mice) at the helm as director.

Bauman is also overseeing the production of NBC’s Behind the Camera: The Charlie’s Angels Story, which is gearing up for a four-week shoot beginning Oct. 28. Hoping for the same viewer success attained by Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Three’s Company, BTC: CA tells the behind-the-scenes drama of the series that made Farrah Fawcett, Jaclyn Smith and Kate Jackson stars in primetime. Production runs Oct. 28 to Nov. 21 in Victoria. Cast and director were not signed at press time.

In November, production will begin on I Want to Marry Brian Banks, an ABC Family Channel MOW. The story about a down-on-his-luck celebrity trying to revive his career through a new reality series stars Jason Priestley (Beverly Hills 90120).

‘The business is coming fast and furious,’ says Russ Cowan, Victoria film commissioner. ‘This is the busiest Victoria has ever been. Television is our niche.’

In 2002, direct spending by productions in Victoria reached $15 million. In 2003, volumes are on track to reach $25 million, a 67% increase in one year. Likewise, the number of hire days (one day of work for every crew member employed in Victoria) is expected to jump 64% to 28,700 in 2003, according to the Victoria Film Commission.

The new 6% tax-credit lift on labor expenditures outside the Lower Mainland has been the biggest lure for production in Victoria, along with the growing labor and service infrastructure that can support the budding industry, says Cowan. Location and services costs are also lower than other film markets, he adds.

‘Victoria is a viable production market unto itself,’ says Cowan. ‘We have significant secondary industry developing and we are establishing consistency with the MOWs, television series and smaller features.’

Also on the Victoria production roster is the second season of CHUM’s comedy series Alienated, produced by Vancouver’s Brightlight Pictures.

Ice breaker

Gangsta-rapper-turned-actor Ice Cube is in Vancouver in November to shoot Are We There Yet?, a comedic road movie for Revolution Studios/Sony Pictures about a man who drives his girlfriend’s two bratty kids from Washington to New York City. Brian Levant (Snow Dogs) directs. Production runs Nov. 17 to Feb. 24, 2004 in and around Vancouver.

Talk, talk, talk

About the time you’re reading this, 11 Western Canadian documentary producers will be sweating on the hot seat at the Doc Talk conference Oct. 27-29 as part of Hot Docs’ Forum-West in Vancouver. Commissioning editors from more than 20 broadcasters – including Oxygen Media, The Sundance Channel, BBC, CBC, Discovery and NHK – will be on hand to meet with content producers.

From health to history and Polynesia to Canada’s Far North, the pitching projects cover a broad spectrum of subject matter. The B.C. producers at the one-day pitch session include:

* Being Caribou, Screen Siren Pictures/Foreground Films

* French Polynesia: Tattoos & Taboos, Insight Film & Video Production

* In Vino Veritas, Vive Communications

* Nice Hat! A Yarn for Cambodia, Bri Film

* Rage, First Look Features

* The Bells of Balangiga, Producers on Davie

* The Struggle for Justice, Tamarin Productions

* X-plore!, Big Red Barn Media Group

Other presenting producers from western Canada include:

* Escape from Iran, Partners in Motion (Saskatchewan)

* Controlling the Monster, Merit Motion Pictures (Manitoba)

* Motherhood in the New Millennium, Lank Beach Productions (Manitoba)

There were 48 Western Canadian applicants for the pitching opportunity.

‘Doc Talk is an event which is the first of its kind in British Columbia, and we are thrilled to see so many national and international guests participating in this event with our documentary filmmaking community,’ says B.C. Film president and CEO Rob Egan.

The Doc Talk event celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Documentary Organization of Canada.

Digital 101

The New Technology Filmmaking Forum, part of the Whistler Film Festival, running Dec. 4-7 in Whistler, will explore the digital revolution. Local directors Nathaniel Geary (On the Corner), Ben Ratner (Moving Malcolm) and Pete McCormick (See Grace Fly) will be on hand to discuss their experiences using DV.

For gods’ sakes