Despite a BC Film Commission report released yesterday stating that B.C.’s film and television sector remained strong in 2010, a closer look at the figures reveals that overall production was down more than 22%.
The total number of projects increased to 246 in 2010 compared with 239 in 2009. However, the total production spend was down from $1.3 billion in 2009 to $1.02 billion in 2010.
Foreign productions suffered the worst drop in dollars spent, with figures falling 29.2% from $1.1 billion in 2009 to $778 million in 2010.
The declines can be attributed to a slow first quarter in 2010 as a result of the Olympics.
The report also noted that foreign feature-film activity, such as expensive blockbuster expenditures, fell 57% to $277 million compared with $641 million in 2009.
The industry was able to exceed $1 billion in revenue because of strong activity in television series production, which totalled $512 million in 2010 – an increase of $74 million over 2009. Domestic production spending in B.C. rose to $244 million in 2010 from $218 million in 2009.
Calls to the BC Film Commission for comment were not returned by press deadline.