Regina: The mood was jubilant as the Saskatchewan production community gathered Nov. 16-18 for Showcase 2005, a conference and awards gala hosted by the Saskatchewan Motion Picture Association to honor the best film, TV and new media projects made in the province.

If a 53% boost in 2004/05 production volume, to a record $65 million, and the shooting of three dramatic TV series weren’t enough to warrant a celebration, the icing on the cake was the recent announcement that Saskatchewan’s labor tax credit is being bumped up to 55%, including rural and key position bonuses.

‘It was a nice coincidence to have that bit of good news just before our event,’ says Showcase event chair and WestWind Pictures principal Michael Snook. ‘There was an optimism that could really be felt at Showcase this year. It is an extremely competitive environment out there, and the tax-credit improvements will be a real shot in the arm to the industry over the next few years.’

But with a rapid increase in production volume comes growing pains, particularly when it comes to providing talent and crew base. With this in mind, SMPIA, SaskFilm and the provincial government are collaborating on a new study that will take a wide-angle look at the industry’s training needs, both above and below the line.

‘We want to fill in the holes, figure out what exactly is needed to improve… the industry,’ explains SMPIA CEO David Hayter. ‘Once we get that overall picture, we can figure out the next steps that need to be taken – the types of training we need to focus on going forward.’

Boosting animation production was also a focus of conversation at the conference.

‘It is an exciting time to be in animation in Saskatchewan,’ says Tim Tyler (A Fairy Tale Christmas) of Saskatoon’s Cheshire Smile Animation.

Going forward, producer Anand Ramayya (Wapos Bay) hopes more animation projects will be made in the province.

‘The challenge is creating jobs to keep these young people here. The more support for animation the better,’ he says.

Several emerging producers also pitched projects to representatives of SCN, CTV, CBC and CHUM Television.

Among them, Shannon Jardine and Terry Mialkowsky of Prairie Threat Entertainment talked up their two-part, $10-million-plus mini The Impossible Adventures of Charles Bedeaux. The project is based on the true story of a 1930s millionaire adventurer who went on a lavish expedition from Edmonton through the Rocky Mountains to B.C.

‘They all told us we need to attach some big executive producers to the show right away to help us develop it further,’ says Jardine.

A record of nearly 100 entries vied for 34 Showcase awards.

‘What really struck me at the awards show is that 31 different companies were represented in those nominations,’ says Partners in Motion principal Chris Triffo. ‘This shows how much the industry has grown over the last few years.’

The Best of Showcase Award went to the Wapos Bay pilot, There’s No I in Hockey, produced by Ramayya, Melanie and Dennis Jackson, and the National Film Board’s Michael Scott.

Three special industry awards were handed out: Minds Eye Pictures president Kevin DeWalt won a volunteer award for his ongoing commitment to the local industry; Virginia Thompson of Vérité Films took the youth leadership prize; while the lifetime achievement award went to documentarian Robert Long, recognizing the 80 films he has made in Saskatchewan over the past 36 years.

Other winners include WestWind’s Youkali Hotel for best arts and entertainment program and Indecently Exposed for best social/political documentary. 4 Square Productions picked up best science/nature documentary for Water, Water, and best history documentary was awarded to Partners in Motion’s Crime Stories.

Corner Gas, from Vérité and 335 Productions, was named best dramatic TV series. Best drama over 60 minutes went to Minds Eye’s Falling Angels, and best drama under 60 minutes to Bellimage’s Slatland.

www.smpia.sk.ca