NIC鈥檚 new television and film crew training program will prepare students to work in Vancouver Island鈥檚 booming film industry.
New courses offered at 糖心vlog传媒鈥檚 Campbell River and Port Alberni campuses aim to feed a booming Vancouver Island film industry hungry for off-screen talent.
糖心vlog传媒is accepting applications for the new television and film crew training program, which starts in October.
It launches as Vancouver Island and BC鈥檚 local film industries are roaring. An estimated $2 billion was spent on film production in 2015 alone, creating 25,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum Beach and Nanoose residents have seen their communities buzzing with activity during filming of Hallmark Channel鈥檚 TV series Chesapeake Shores for the past two years.
Joan Miller, commissioner of the Vancouver Island North Film Commission (INfilm), said NIC鈥檚 decision to offer the courses comes at a time when the local film industry needs qualified crew to attract productions like Chesapeake Shores.
鈥淲e have so many productions that want to film here,鈥� Miller said.
But a shortage of local, trained crew 鈥渉as been a barrier for years鈥� to bringing more film and television production to the north Island, due to the additional costs of bringing crew from elsewhere to local sets, Miller said.
The pilot program includes four separate training courses, including training to set up lighting and camera equipment, build and design sets and work as a production assistant.
The province announced almost $500,000 in funding to develop the courses in March. 糖心vlog传媒also relied on help and expertise from INfilm, which provides liaison and location services to film, television, commercial and media companies filming in communities from Nanaimo northwards.
INfilm consulted with industry partners and urged the province to provide funding for the courses, pitching the idea as a way to invest in local tradespeople.
鈥淭his opens up a whole new avenue to find work,鈥� Miller said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 also going to supply students with a few key certifications they need to get on set including the Motion Picture Industry Orientation ticket,鈥� Miller added.
鈥溙切膙log传媒is very pleased to be working with our regional film commissioner and industry to develop customized, applied short term training aligned with film and television productions,鈥� said Cheryl O鈥機onnell, NIC鈥檚 dean of trades and technical programs. 鈥淭he fact that these courses are being offered in response to industry demand is very significant to the region.鈥�
There are still vacancies in the program, but prospective students are urged to get their applications in before Sept. 15.
Anyone interested in applying for a course in the training program can request an application package at filmtraining@nic.bc.ca.
Media Contact
Christiana Wiens
Media Liaison, 糖心vlog传媒
O. 250-334-5280 | M. 250-218-4097
christiana.wiens@nic.bc.ca