Booming Okanagan film industry can shrug off writers’ strike, just like COVID

The Okanagan film industry expanded greatly during the height of COVID.

Now it may have the same kind of growth as the film industry weathers the impact – and general shutdown – caused by a writers’ strike.

The provincial government has crunched the numbers that show the industry brought in $127.25 million in the Okanagan in 2020.

Those are “below the line” costs, meaning that’s money that stays in the Okanagan for things like film crews, construction materials, food and hotels.

Those numbers are based on figures provided to the federal government by film producers in order to collect tax credits of 18% for the Okanagan, which is one reason it takes so long to get them released, Okanagan Film Commission Jon Summerland told iNFOnews.ca.

The 2020 figures amount to a 152% increase since 2014 and came at a time when most of the world was locked down because of COVID.

“During COVID we grew quite a bit because we started doing Hallmark movies out of hotels,” Summerland said. “A producer and I got together and said: ‘How can we do this without shutting down altogether?’ So, we reached out to Hallmark and said: ‘Give us all your wedding movies.’ We put them in hotels like the Cove Lakeside Resort and we started shooting in pods.”

One crew, for example, would set up the electrical and lighting in a room. It would then be thoroughly cleaned before the filming crew came in so the two pods would never interact with each other.

It may have been the first location in North America to resume filming during COVID and helped set up protocols for the industry, Summerland said.

He expects, when the data comes in for 2021 and 2022, the figures will be about the same or better.

READ MORE: Okanagan moving up in movie-making world and aiming for big time

This year was shaping up to be even better than 2022 until the Writers Guild of America went on strike on May 2. That strike continues today and affects the industry throughout North America since crews cannot cross picket lines, even those that are not physically set up in places like the Okanagan.

That doesn’t mean things have ground to a halt. Independent film producers are still able to get permits to continue working.

“Our bread and butter are these indies and Movies of the Week,” Summerland said. “So, they’re being able to pass through with permits. We might do better, it’s so hard to say. Chances are, we can possibly grow from this if we play it the right way. If we look at it creatively, I think we can find ways to make this work on our behalf, just like we did for COVID.”

Right now there are three film crews, each having about 120 people, basically working full time, even though they are actually on contract.

“They’re complaining they’re working too much,” Summerland said. “It’s feast or famine in this industry. However, it’s been before COVID since we had a famine so, maybe it’s time we had a few days off.”

All these figures are for crews and materials because those are what tax credits are paid on. Often people like the actors and directors are from out of the region so take their money back with them. But, increasingly local talent is working in the industry and keeping that money in the region as well.

“It is getting so busy that I’m seeing people who are working in the industry everywhere,” Summerland said. “This has become an industry that is helping people buy their homes. It’s a positive thing.”

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