RDNO Invests In TV/Film Agency

Mar 22, 2019 | 10:22 AM

It’s money well spent.

That’s what the Regional District of North Okanagan board says about the $29,000 grant it has approved for the Okanagan Film Commission for the coming year.

It’s a continuation of support for the agency that has involved various grant amounts each year.

The Central Okanagan and Okanagan Similkameen regional districts also provide funding to the commission.

RDNO Board chair Kevin Acton says the TV and film industry is creating a huge amount of activity in the valley.

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“There is just a fantastic amount coming from that industry, and it seems to just be growing and growing, especially the animation part,” Acton tells Beach Radio News.

Wildfires and smoke hurt the numbers last summer, but Acton says it’s important not to refer to that as “the new normal.”

“He (Film Commissioner Jon Summerland) said it was a tough year last year because of the smoke in the air, and he encouraged us politicians not to say this is the new norm because it’s affecting their business. And it’s not the new norm. We know we’re going to experience extreme weather conditions more often. It doesn’t mean the place is going to be on fire every year,” adds Acton.

The Commission says TV and film productions in the valley generated about $32 million in economic activity in 2018.

The agency offers location scouting, tech surveys and liaison and facilitating services.

They also provide a locations digital photo library and a crew database of experienced people available to work in the Okanagan.

by Corey Fischer