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Cap U gets $30 million for film centre
Upgrade to boost local jobs, say supporters; some independent producers skeptical.
KELLY MCMANUS
STAFF

REPORTER

apilano University will have an
upgraded film centre, with provincial
and federal governments kicking in a
combined $30.2 million to fund Phase 1 of
the overhaul to the school's Motion Picture
Arts program.
With the funding - part of a $2-billion
Knowledge Infrastructure initiative by the
federal government to upgrade Canadian
colleges and universities - Cap U expects to
break ground on a new film centre building
this January, says Dr. Greg Lee, university
president and vice-chancellor.
Lee says the new building is a welcome upgrade to the "very bad facilities;' a
40-year-old portable that currently houses
the film program.
Announced last week by North Van
Conservative MP Andrew Saxton and North
Shore MLAs, the new film centre investment
could "put North Vancouver on the map for
motion picture arts and film studies;' said
Saxton in an interview.
_
"We would like to make a whole new generation of independent filmmakers;' said
ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY - Peter Leitch, president of North Shore and Mammoth
Lee, adding that the university, some local
studios, believes the Cap U program could be a 'great pillar' for the local entertainment
film businesses and the North Vancouver
industries.
Chamber of Commerce flagged North Shore
File photo
film production as a key infrastructure
spending project for governments after a
summit held last January.
"Our goal is to drive domestic filmmaking,
about the impact of a new film program on
the area, did not respond by Outlook press
to try to get a domestic industry that's not
the industry.
time.
dependent on external funding," said Lee.
"I don't think there's a shortage of people.
Peter Leitch argued that a deeper pool of
Once in Phase 2, the program could see
I think there's a shortage of work;' said
skilled talent in the film industry could draw
enrollments increase from 300 to 400 stuChristian Allen, producer with The Capital
more business to Vancouver and the North
dents, he said.
Media Company in Vancouver.
Shore.
The Vancouver Film School reports it
"I don't know if there's space, to be honHe said Vancouver's strength in the gamgraduates 1,300 students every year.
est," he said of the call for more
ing sector, coupled with the film business
The B.C. Film Commission reports
young talent in Vancouver's film
here, could position the area for a congregaabout 18 more film programs in the
business. "I think there are peotion of "talent and infrastructure."
Vancouver area.
ple leaving the business."
He predicted proliferated production cenIn an interview with The
Another independent producer
tres will be replaced by entertainment secOutlook, Peter Leitch, president of
cited a tough road for young peo- tor mega-hubs, "growing sort of like Silicon
North Shore and Mammoth studios,
ple getting started in local film
Valley grew in California.
said the Cap U program could be
and television.
"You can be working on a game in the
a "great pillar" for local entertainDavid Bouck with Vancouver's
morning and you can be working on a film
ment industries.
Means of Production said "If I
in the afternoon in terms of visual effects,
"It's really showing leadership in
had $30,000 to go to film school,
motion capture and all that;' Leitch said.
MP Andrew
terms of developing an industry that
I'd take the money and I'd make
"In other words, the best people in the
Saxton
has really great potential for the
my own film!'
industry are right here, are local, and North
future - and that's going to be a key
He said most technical jobs in
Vancouver I think can play an important
component for the success of the industry
film require new recruits to "start at the botrole with Capilano University."
going forward;' Leitch said, estimating that
tom - and you hump gear and you graduAccording to the B.C. Film Commission,
currently 5,000 local workers are employed
ally learn the trade that way;• adding that
the province saw $1 billion in production
in film projects on the North Shore.
"maybe one in 10,000" film school grads
spending in 2008, with 250 motion picture
He said 10 years from now he hopes to
goes straight to directing within the first
projects. The commission estimates the crew
see 10,000 people "employed in the whole
year.
base in the province to be 30,000.
digital entertainment sector."
Representatives from IATSE Local 891
However some independent producers
and ACFC West Local 2020 CEP, unions
kmcmanus@northshoreoutlook.com
working in the Vancouver area are skeptical
representing film and television workers in

C