Vancouver: British Columbia’s production community eclipsed the magic $1-billion milestone in 1999 with a 32% increase from 1998’s production tallies. A total of $1.07 billion worth of direct spending was generated by 198 film and television productions in the province in 1999, up from $808 million spent a year earlier.

For added comparison, this year’s totals are a 469% improvement over the production spending volumes for 1990 when there were only 50 productions with a combined worth of $188 million in direct spending.

While the sector is still dominated by American production, Canadian production continues to play an increasing role in overall production spending in b.c. Canadian activity accounted for $405 million of direct spending in b.c. in 1999, which is an increase of 14% from a year earlier.

A total of 116 Canadian productions – which collectively claim 38% of the production market by direct spending – were filmed in b.c., including 32 feature films; 10 television movies, miniseries or pilots; six animation productions; and 48 documentaries.

Foreign production accounted for $664 million of direct spending in the province in 1999, which is up 50% from 1998’s totals. Eighty-two non-Canadian productions went to camera last year compared with 54 productions a year earlier. The roster of production includes 22 feature films; 50 television movies, miniseries and pilots; and 10 television series.

The film industry directly employs about 35,000 people in b.c.

Indirect jobs generated by the industry fuel the construction, tourism, and small business sectors.