Local producers are awaiting answers on the future of their industry as a task force has completed a report on the status of Film New Brunswick and submitted it to the provincial government.

The task force was created in order to reevaluate the state of Film nb following the controversial exit of former executive director Sam Grana along with concerns from government and the local production industry.

Although no one aside from the task force members has seen the report, members of the New Brunswick industry were given a detailed synopsis outlining its content during a consultation with the industry held earlier this month in Fredericton.

According to the overview, the task force found that while Film nb is fulfilling its mandate overall, some adjustments are required to make it ‘more transparent and accountable to industry and government and to restore Film nb’s credibility with all segments of the industry.’

One of the key issues for the filmmakers examined by the task force was the approach that Film nb should be taking in developing the industry. The debate is how much of Film nb support should be focused on local producers and indigenous projects versus how much should be focused on guest productions.

The task force recommends that Film nb continue to focus support on coproductions as a primary developmental tool but ensure that other support such as development loans and a production guide are in place to help develop independent local producers.

Another issue for producers was the government’s commitment to the industry. According to the overview, the provincial government has contributed over $8 million to the film industry over the past two-and-a-half years.

All the details surrounding where that money has gone are laid out in the report. It states how much government investment has been made to date, where the money has gone, into what kinds of programs and what type of productions – independent New Brunswick projects, copros or guest productions.

‘It’s important that the industry understand and realize just where the money has been going because I think there was a lot of misunderstanding about that,’ says task force chair Joanne Fletcher.

Producers were split over the issue of whether Film nb should have a board of directors – a concern not recommended in the report. Some felt it was important to ensure consistency and fairness among the day-to-day operations of the film commission, while others felt it would slow down processes.

The recommendation made by the task force was to ‘keep Film nb as a government program versus an incorporated body with a board of directors but incorporate mechanisms to make it more accountable and transparent.’

Fletcher says the task force looked to other provincial film development corporations, as well as the maturity level of the film industry in the province, and made their suggestions based on what they felt ‘would best suit the needs of the local film community.’

Atlantic Mediaworks president Bob Miller is pleased with what the task force came up with but is concerned about the lack of recommendation for some type of an advisory group.

‘If a government official makes a decision that the industry doesn’t like we have no recourse,’ he says. ‘Most producers agree that we need to look at something like a board of directors.’

Also on the list of queries on behalf of the industry is the issue of the tax credit, which they feel is too complex and generous in favor of out-of-province producers.

‘I was in Vancouver shopping around a few weeks ago and I really had nothing to walk into anyone’s office with,’ says Doug Sutherland, president of Fundy Productions. ‘As a producer, I can’t offer them a tax credit because they can bypass me completely, come here and access it on their own.’

New Brunswick Minister of Economic Development Tourism and Culture Rowley McIntyre is reviewing the recommendations.

Meanwhile, producers have been asked to provide the government with written comments. Based on those comments and the recommendations tabled, McIntyre will provide a response to the report, which according to Fletcher should come at the end of February.