VANCOUVER

vancouver producers report continued excellent business, with a mix of local and roadhouse work dominating the production landscape.

‘It’s very busy locally,’ one producer says. ‘A lot of telecom stuff, some government stuff and more regional corporate stuff as well.’

Another producer confirms the heavy influx of local work, which he states is ‘mostly comedic.’ However, even with the increased regional jobs, the same producer reports that ‘seventy-five percent of the work [in Vancouver] is service work.’

The combination of local and roadhouse jobs is making crews and studios ‘tough’ to come by, according to another producer.

However, other producers report finding crews is ‘a little bit better for us [than earlier this summer].’

TORONTO

‘it is busier than last year at this time,’ says one Toronto producer. ‘There is more roadhouse work coming in from the States and the board flow is a little better this year out of Canada, as well.’

Two other producers confirm cars and financial companies are the dominant product categories shooting in the Toronto market right now. Also, ‘it’s all big boards,’ according to one producer, who goes on to say she doesn’t ‘see any tiny shoots crossing [her] desk at the moment.’

Although the quest for crews and studio space is described by another producer as ‘a bit of an issue,’ he says it has ‘not been serious, with a few minor exceptions.’ He explains that ‘[several weeks ago] it seemed like everybody had something going on the same day. But you roll over to the next day, and it’s not quite as bad.’

MONTREAL

montreal producers are enjoying a strong summer, with a lot of local and national action as well as service work for international clients. ‘It’s at least three times as busy as last year,’ one producer reports. ‘Last year was, for me and all the Montreal industry, really bad.’

Producers juggling several projects simultaneously are working feverishly to meet the demand of ‘local, national and international jobs.’ Apparently, it is not only u.s. roadhouse jobs that make up the bulk of Montreal’s international service work. The u.k., among other centres, is also taking advantage of the city’s vibrant and cost-efficient commercial production community.

As for product categories, one producer reports they are ‘shooting a lot of cars.’ Also, local work for grocery stores, pharmacies and government agencies is keeping Montreal commercial producers smiling.

HALIFAX

Commercial production in Halifax continues to be slow, reports one Halifax-based agency honcho. Despite assurances that his agency is on the verge of shooting a number of new television spots in Nova Scotia, for now, he says, ‘things are not that busy.’

‘I don’t think anybody is shooting right now,’ he says. Even the number of long-form productions shooting in the region has decreased, he adds. The producer suggests the lack of production is due to a number of popular Nova Scotia tourist attractions that make lodgings and shooting space difficult to come by.

Commercial production is expected to pick up as the year comes to a close. Around this time last year, the local commercial production industry was also quiet, with the exception of a major Alexander Keith’s campaign out of Halifax’s Corporate Communications.