Wildfires put a damper on film productio

Film production continues to succeed in the valley

Mar 7, 2019 | 5:38 PM

The Okanagan Film Commission says film production continues to be strong in the Okanagan Valley.

Okanagan Film Commissioner Jon Summerland says production companies spent a total of $21,785,000 in the Okanagan in 2018.

Last year 23 productions came to the valley including the hit HGTV show Love it or List it, Bad Blood, and a Bollywood production called Par Vaaz.

Summerland says the region has seen a shoot every week since the beginning of 2019 and says that he knows of two productions that are interested in shooting in the North Okanagan this year.

He says a big production studio in particular is looking at shooting scenes at the military base.

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” It ‘s all in the hands of the Department of National Defense right now, the script is, maybe not so friendly to the military so we will see if that happens,” he said.

The other production is hoping to shoot at the Vernon Towne Cinema, but Summerland says the building faces stiff competition from the Oliver Theater which is also in the running for the shoot.

“Whatever one wins the whole movie will go to that town,” he said.

According to Summerland the region has also witnessed a rise in interest from overseas production companies from China.

” We have a lot of Chinese shows coming through, ” said Summerland who mentioned that the commission is currently working with a Chinese owned UK company for an animated production.

Summerland says lots of Chinese productions have been inquiring and wanting to film in the Okanagan . They are currently working with a Chinese uk company for animation pic.twitter.com/RD05RYFBVw

— Tiffany Goodwein (@CityNewsTiffany) March 7, 2019

But despite the rise in interest and strong financials, Summerland admits the region did lose money because of the wildfires.

” We had some major players in town, one that I have worked with for years, and it was looking so good, it was television series with a major studio that was a winery in Santa Barbara, that was going to be a cult, super cool , it was going to be great, everything was done and then they came in the worst two weeks you could possibly come. ”

Summerland suggests to avoid using the term “The new normal” when referring to the wildfires because it has affected business .

Summerland tells Regional district to avoid the term “the new normal” when referring to the wildfires because it has been scaring the business away pic.twitter.com/br6BGdW6Yo

— Tiffany Goodwein (@CityNewsTiffany) March 7, 2019