A slow cycle for feature films and drama series accounts for a precipitous 18% drop in Canadian production spending in 2004, according to results from Playback’s 17th Annual Report on Independent Production.

Last year, $1.24 billion was spent on Canadian film and television production and development, down from $1.51 billion in 2003. Production spending has been on the wane since 2001, but 2004 showed the biggest year-over-year decline yet. It is a far cry from the mid-to-late-1990s, when the industry experienced unprecedented growth.

‘It’s a bit of an alarm bell to us all,’ says Guy Mayson, president and CEO of the CFTPA, referring to the figures.

Production of features showed the biggest decrease of any sector, down 49% to $150 million, followed by drama series, down 33% to $378 million. While, in the case of features, some of the decline can be attributed to the fact that some major players were in development mode in 2004, there is some indication that prodcos are abandoning these expensive kinds of productions.

The news on the drama front was not all bad, as spending on MOWs/pilots/miniseries and shorts was up 19%. The market for TV movies, sluggish of late, is once again showing signs of life.

Other sectors also recorded growth. Most notably, children’s live-action shows jumped 67%, with prodcos recognizing the international sales potential of kids fare. Documentary production, meanwhile, was up 19%.