Vancouver: At current growth rates, the b.c. film and television industry will top $1.5 billion in annual spending by 2007 and pay a work force of 70,000 people, says a forecasting report by accounting firm Ellis Foster in Vancouver.

‘As long as b.c. remains competitive from an economic standpoint, the province’s advantages of skilled crews, great facilities, diverse locations, mild climate and proximity to Los Angeles should ensure continued growth in the industry is realized,’ writes Ellis Foster partner Neal Clarance in the report prepared for the b.c. government.

‘Annual growth in the range of that achieved in 1997 (17%) should continue over the near term and could very easily be surpassed. Given the rapidly expanding film industry worldwide, an average growth rate over the next decade in the range of 10% per year is considered achievable.’

The report, entitled Opportunities for Film and Video Production and Investment in b.c., was published in April prior to Premier Glen Clark’s tour of Los Angeles for the Friends of b.c. reception (see story, p. 3). And justifying the need for a production incentive – such as the expected production services labor tax credit – to maintain foreign production in b.c., the paper concludes that ‘foreign producers, studios and network decision makers continue to search for locations that offer opportunities to reduce costs and assist in the financing of their productions.’

Foreign-controlled production represented about 85% of b.c.’s volumes for 1997. Over the past 10 years, the b.c. film industry has increased almost 300% in annual spending to reach $630 million in 1997.