Independent Canadian production posted a $104-million increase in 2000, according to the 13th Playback Independent Production Survey.

The annual survey reported $1,831,382,668 in production figures for 2000, compared to 1999’s $1,727,355,660. Even with slightly fewer responses to the survey than last year (114 to 2000’s 134), the cumulative total of the companies’ reported production has outstripped last year’s figures.

Growth is particularly apparent in certain genres: MOW/pilot/miniseries and drama features gained significant ground over the past 12 months. The category that includes MOWs, pilots and miniseries far outstripped the other areas of growth, increasing by more than $64 million on last year’s numbers, while the rise in spending on drama features stands at a little over $10 million. The figures for development monies also showed a $10-million spike over last year.

On the flip side, television documentary experienced a fall to $93,116,274 (a figure which includes feature docs, last year listed separately) for 2000 from $128,774,716 in calendar 1999. The magazine/lifestyle genre experienced a more modest dip of approximately $7.5 million.

Animation was almost stagnant (up slightly to $304,027,810 from last year’s $296,228,734) while children’s live action was up by almost $20 million (to $128,696,402 for 2000 versus 1999’s $108,726,492). TV drama came in at $581,015,285 this year, down $40 million from last year’s survey figures ($621,613,259). This precipitous drop can be explained by the inclusion of ‘others’ in last year’s drama category. This year, the amorphous ‘others’ has been eradicated and replaced by the new category comedy/variety, which at $74,420,830 more than accounts for the decline in drama’s fortunes, and appears to indicate an actual jump for true drama.

The gains noted for this year are roughly in line with the CFTPA’s annual industry profile, produced jointly with the APFTQ and released earlier this year at the annual CFTPA conference. The report, prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers also pegged Canadian certified production at $1.8 billion for ’99/00.

The report covered all production in Canada, including non-certified and in-house productions and coproductions for a combined total of $4.4 billion in total production activity.

This report also noted growth in all provinces, with the exception of Ontario, which recorded a 5% dive in ’99/00. Despite the fact Ontario accounts for a third of Canada’s total production, nationwide production came in at well over $1.4 billion.

Foreign location shooting increased by 28%, but CAVCO-certified production fell by 26%, accounting in the main for the province’s overall production decline. Despite going over the $1 billion mark in 2000 and posting an 8.3% gain over ’99, according to the OMDC, the domestic sector shrank by 5% compared to the same period a year before, with $468.2 million being shot in Ontario.

The CFTPA report pegs Quebec’s overall production in ’99/00 at $1.4 billion, making the province home to the most production in Canada. Canadian certified production in Quebec reached $850 million, putting the province ahead of Ontario and British Columbia combined.

According to the CFTPA, B.C. recorded a total of $1.1 billion in production for ’99/00. B.C. Film figures show indigenous production in the province came to $420 million – up from $405 million for the previous year.

The Prairie provinces recorded $300 million in overall production for ’99/00, as reported in the CFTPA report. According to Alberta Film Development, Alberta was the standout Prairie province, but Manitoba and Saskatchewan also recorded marked growth for 2000. Alberta’s total production budgets fell to $141.2 million in 2000 from $254 million in 1999, meaning the province, despite a massive slide, remains the Prairie leader. Indigenous production came in at $84.5 million for 2000, up from 1999’s $47 million. Saskatchewan’s 2000 total of $60 million, reported by SaskFilm, was an increase of more than 100% over the ’99 total of $27 million. Manitoba Film and Sound reported a spike of some $20 million over 1999’s $32.4 million in production.

Atlantic Canada reached $167 million in overall production in ’99/00, according to the CFTPA report. While Nova Scotia reported virtually flat growth – according to the Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation – Technology PEI posted a significant dip to $7.1 million (from $20 million the year before) due to the loss of Emily of New Moon. With only three-quarters of the year 2000 measured, the Newfoundland and Labrador Film Development Corporation tallied up more than $21 million in production. Leading the pack in Atlantic Canada was New Brunswick, which went beyond doubling 1999’s figures to more than $40 million for 2000.

The 2000 Independent Production Survey’s top 10 prodcos are little changed from last year, with AAC coming in a country mile ahead of its nearest competition, which this year and last was Fireworks in second place. Peace Arch, listed at number nine on last year’s survey, has vaulted four places this year to sit just behind Lions Gate at number four – the same position that company held last year – and top-10 newcomer GFT at number three. Other newcomers to the top 10 are Muse and Zone 3, while the rest of the names are not only familiar, but are holding down almost exactly the same spots as last year. Cinar and Nelvana (both Playback estimates) have each dropped a space, while Telescene has dropped two, behind Muse.

A notable omission in this year’s report is TVA International, which reorganized following Quebecor’s purchase of Group Videotron, which owns TVA Group. Other omissions include Keystone Entertainment and Highwire Entertainment Group, both of Vancouver.

The Montreal-Toronto-Vancouver hubs are still dominant in the top 10, and with East Coast Salter Street pushed down one place from last year, the top 10 now belongs solely to those main centres of population. Toronto dominates, with four top 10 companies headquarted there, including the top three. Montreal is also home to four of the 10 uppermost companies, while two of the top 10 prodcos are based in Vancouver. *