Lights! Camera? Not enough 'action' at Calgary Film Centre

Calgary's $28-million film studio wasn't quite as busy in 2017 as was expected when the facility opened two years ago.

Data released by Calgary Economic Development (CED) shows that there was $178 million in film and TV production in Calgary last year. That's up from $165.5 million the previous year.

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But the Calgary Film Centre saw its utilization rate per square foot drop from 65 per cent in 2016 to just 52 per cent last year.

The city invested $10 million in the project, along with $5 million from the provincial government.

Anchor tenant William F. White International Inc. invested $1 million.

CED is carrying the debt on the project.

No film centre makes money within the first four years.- Mary Moran

Calgary Economic Development'sCEO Mary Moran said that while the utilization isn't as high as she'd like, this is no Hollywood disaster.

"No film centre makes money within the first four years," said Moran.

"We're on track for sure. We just require a bit of tweaking in our marketing."

What that means is the film centre may soon start seeing some non-movie/TVbookings under its roof.

She said a new business plan has been developed for the film studio and they're looking at a different approach.

"We're going to treat it like a perishable product and if we're not filling it with film, can we fill it with other things including events and you know, do more advertising production in that film centre," said Moran.

CED is still in talks with the provincial government regarding its screen production grants to try to lure more productions to come to Alberta.

Better days expected

Moran predicts 2018 will be a better year for the film studios.

She said the facility is ideal for a mid-sized TV series production but the challenge is ensuring producers know that Calgary's capabilities have grown with the addition of the three sound stages at the facility.

Although other Canadian cities like Vancouver and Toronto are better known in the industry,CED is also trying to lure more international film productions to Calgary.

The Calgary Film Centre is located at 5750 76th AvenueS.E., east of the Foothills Industrial Park.

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