Saskatchewan-based Minds Eye Pictures has embarked on its first service production, the Trimark Pictures feature Inconvenienced.

The lure of Saskatchewan’s new labor-based tax incentive has brought the film – which just entered principal photography outside Moosejaw for a 30-day location shoot – to the province.

Minds Eye executive producer Kevin DeWalt says 50 Saskatchewan-based crew are working on the film and a mentorship program, initiated by the Saskatchewan government, is being used to build the local crew base.

The 20 crew imported from outside the province to work on Inconvenienced are deemed eligible for the credit rebate because they have been teamed up with a local trainee.

Currently two full crews are available in the province, says DeWalt, and the industry is aiming to double this number over the next two years with increased indigenous and service production and aided by the mentorship program.

DeWalt says Minds Eye is looking at other service productions as one component of the company’s growth strategy, but Canadian content films will remain a priority.

Inconvenienced stars Jamie Foxx (The Truth About Cats and Dogs) and Nia Long (Soul Food) as a bickering couple caught in a hostage-taking during a mini-mart robbery.

The comedy is penned by Jeff Eastin and directed by Steve Rash (The Buddy Holly Story). Producers are Neal Moritz and Stokely Chaffin.