Computer Graphics World

May / June 2015

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18 cgw m ay . j u n e 2 0 1 5 ancouver, also referred to as "Hollywood North," has long been a magnet for filmmakers and "runaway" Hollywood TV productions seeking financial advantages, diverse locations, a sophisticat- ed technical infrastructure, and a talented workforce. Major studios were devel- oped in the greater Vancouver area in the late 1980s, and the government of British Colum- bia began providing industry incentives in 1998. Today, British Columbia accounts for approximately 60 percent of all foreign-location film and TV production in Canada, and total direct and indirect full-time equivalent jobs generated by film and TV production are esti- mated at more than 36,000. S H O W M E T H E M O N E Y Tax incentives are a big factor in attracting US productions. The government of Canada offers tax incentives, amounting to 16 percent of Canadian labor costs, to qualified foreign film and video production through the Canadian Audio-Visual Certifica- tion Office. In British Columbia, the government provides a 33 percent refundable tax credit for Canadian or international film and television production com- panies that incur eligible labor costs in the province. More recently, the region's Digital Animation or Visual Ef- fects (DAVE) tax credit rebates 17.5 percent of labor costs for digital animation, VFX, and video game development. Re- cipient corporations don't have to be Canadian-owned or have an interest in the copyright. Little wonder that Vancouver has experienced an influx of international VFX studios to the marketplace, joining a strong roster of facilities already oper- ating in town. The DAVE tax credit is "a huge driver" in the growing VFX industry, says Randy Lake, executive vice president and general manager of Sony Pictures Digital Production Services. "In the majority of cases, the client claims [the tax credit] directly or the VFX facility can claim the rebate on a per-project basis and pass it Change in Direction VANCOUVER IS LURING MORE AND MORE FILM AND TV PRODUCTION AWAY FROM HOLLYWOOD BY CHRISTINE BUNISH V

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