Vancouver: In Victoria, direct film production spending is running about even with last year’s record pace with $9.2 million spent in 2004 so far.

‘The biggest benefits go to local businesses and Victoria residents,’ says Ali Foord, director of funding and marketing at the Greater Victoria Film Commission. ‘The industry has booked 2,837 room nights and 1,095 rental car days and accounted for 8,488 production hire days in the first six months of the year.’

Location requests, however, are up 40% year over year.

‘The primary indicator of interest in any area is the requests received for location information,’ says Russ Cowan, film commissioner. ‘The fact these requests are up over last year shows that more producers have become aware of the benefits of shooting in Greater Victoria.’

The challenge for the commission, he says, remains stable funding. Cowan says that despite the producer interest, the commission is falling behind on its marketing and, in at least one case, lost an MOW to Louisiana because of a lack of marketing follow-up. Commission staff number 2.5 full-time people.

‘We’re trying to make the case to the province that Victoria is a separate economic opportunity,’ says Cowan.

Recent Victoria titles in production include Cable Beach, Pink Ludoos and Marker, each executive produced by Vancouver’s Brightlight Pictures for CHUM and The New VI.

-www.filmvictoria.com