Cable series coming to town
City putting up $3.5M in deal with Lionsgate, but expects $18M in spinoffs
Scott McKeen
The Edmonton Journal
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
What if I told you that Edmonton was about to become the filming location for a television series with a North American audience?
What if I told you that Lionsgate Entertainment was involved? That Lionsgate's plans aren't to merely film a pilot here, but to actually move an existing series to E-town? That the series will create upwards of 100 new jobs, as well bring some magic and drama to our streets and neighbourhoods.
Would you stop carping about potholes? At least for one day?
Because it's the truth. It will all be announced at city hall today. I got a preview screening, thanks to sources.
The deal has been in the works since last July, when Mayor Stephen Mandel met in Washington with Lionsgate executive vice-president Mark Manuel. Mandel then invited the studio executive to Edmonton, escorting him to the opening of last summer's Fringe Festival.
Negotiations continued over subsequent months, involving the likes of Hector Goudreau, the new provincial minister of culture, as well as city film commissioner Patti Tucker.
On Tuesday, city council went behind closed doors to unanimously approve a deal that will see city hall, as well as the Stelmach government, share a financial incentive package with Lionsgate.
Under the terms of the deal, the province will put up $5.4 million. The city's grant is $3.5 million. The grant comes from city reserves and is being channeled through the Edmonton Economic Development Corp.
But the city will also get a 15-per-cent share of the production's net proceeds. The city believes it will actually make money on the deal.
Optimistic? Perhaps.
The province sees this as a business-development opportunity, as Lionsgate indicated this could be just a first foray into Alberta.
The deal is for two years and 26 episodes. At least 100 jobs will be created, along with 20 internships for graduates of local arts or television schools. Estimated spinoff value to the city is about $80 million.
It is routine for provinces or states to offer grants to film and television productions, though Alberta's hardly been in the game these last few years. Not only does TV or film bring a bit of Hollywood glamour to the host jurisdiction, but the entertainment industry, like tourism, is valued for being clean, green and lucrative.
What is unusual about this deal is for a city to be involved. The players I talked to credited Mandel for seeing the business possibilities.
It's expected that the Film Alberta studios near Calgary Trail South -- formerly Allarcom Studios -- will be home to the production. Streets and communities around Edmonton will also get in on the action.
In fact, Edmonton was attractive to Lionsgate because it is considered fresh and welcoming. Not so with cities like Montreal and Vancouver, where the citizenry is burned out on TV and movie productions. Some Vancouver neighbourhoods even prohibit filming on their streets.
Lionsgate's body of work is extensive, eclectic and involves both TV and film, including the Oscar-winning movie Crash. In television, it's known for such series as The Dead Zone and Missing.
Edmonton's geek community -- my peeps -- will be thrilled at the coming possibilities. Being considered for the Edmonton location are one of two possible series: 1) the self-explanatory Masters of Horror; or 2) the modern-day detective fantasy, the Dresden Files.
Once the decision is made, later this month, production people will be hired, including location managers. Shooting will begin this fall.
The cast will be brought in largely intact. But it's expected that the local acting community will also see opportunities for work.
This, they say, is a good news story. Sure, some people will complain about the city tinkering in a business it knows nothing about. Fix the potholes first, they'll say.
But any city worth living in must be more than roads and buildings. It needs bright lights and creative minds. A local TV production will keep many here, as well as attracting some from elsewhere.
At the same time, a TV series will bring a some glamour to Edmonton, the likes of which we haven't seen since Gretzky wore an Oilers jersey, or the SCTV gang filmed here.
And if the city makes money on the deal, well, they can always invest it in asphalt.
smckeen@thejournal.canwest.com
© The Edmonton Journal 2007
Copyright © 2007 CanWest Interactive, a division of CanWest MediaWorks Publications, Inc.. All rights reserved.
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