I 100 percent agree that it shouldn’t have been cut that low. It is indeed a travesty. Only thing I got to say is it was not an industry where anyone could have gotten involved like some are making it out to be. To get involved in that industry you had to/still have to jump and climb through so many hoops and know the right people just to have the most bit part of minuscule job. Again sucks it happened… —Jacko
This article appears in Apr 9-15, 2015.
You do not have to know the right people. The right people have to know you. Huge difference.
Well, let’s be clear – it was a tax credit being used as grant money.
They have reformulated the very same amount of money so that only part of it can be used as a grant and the rest must be used as a tax credit.
Where the film industry doesn’t employ people who pay taxes in Nova Scotia, they won’t have access to all that free money.
Sorry kids – you have to understand that. The gravy train is over and disliking my comments will not bring it back.
I hear Alberta…
I don’t think to is good to create a generation of people who are dependent on the film industry for seasonal employment at public expense. It’s like coal mining and steel in Cape Breton in past years and fly-by-night call centres in modern times. They only exist(ed) due to taxpayer largesse.
The film industry is seasonal, unreliable, very portable and will uproot at a moments notice. I think we need to invest in industries that will provide stable, long-term, year round, employment. We need to create jobs that are highly skill-based and dependent on an educated and well paid workforce. That will ensure that the jobs are rooted here.
Get off your knees.
Eggy Pop – you are sadly misinformed about what our industry truly is. Seasonal employment? In what sense? The film industry will uproot only if we are forced out – I love it here and have no intention of leaving. The tax credit ensures that the film industry here continues to thrive.
Millions of dollars are pumped into the local economy through film productions. Costumes, Props, Sets, Construction, Catering – all of these departments buy tens of thousands of dollars per productions directly into local stores. This is money that wouldn’t be flooding into the local economy otherwise. Do a little research, do some math and then get back to me. I’ll wait.
How dare you insult us as unskilled workers. We are unionized professionals. We are hard working and intelligent people.
^^^ First of all, I didn’t mean to imply that people in the film industry are unskilled. Of course I know there are many trades and skills involved (electricians, carpenters, graphic designers, animators, actors, etc., etc.). I know a number of them personally. My comment about skills was in relation to some of the fly-by-night call centres that have come and gone. They seem to be able to pick up and move at a moments notice. I’m not sure if they were ever a good investment.
Anyway, I’ve read up more on the issue today and a number of people (such as Graham Steele) do make a good case for some sort of government support for the film industry – at least in the near term. The impression I got is that changes did need to be made to the funding model but the current government botched the situation by not consulting enough and not giving the industry advance notice and time to adapt. Hopefully, an interim agreement can be reached.
The bottom line, though, is that, while I’m sure everyone wants the industry to succeed here, I’m sure you will agree it’s in everyone’s interest that it not be totally dependent on government for it’s survival. Words like doomed and dead were used to describe the budget impact on the industry. Is it really that drastic? If so, that’s not good for anyone. It must be excruciating for all of the people working in the industry to be subject to each year’s provincial budget.
I’m sure there are some very intelligent people in the industry.. Surely they can come up with a plan to ensure the sustainability of the industry so that it is less dependent on the government budget cycle and the capricious whims of successive governments. Is that something that is being talked about?