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Train the new film industry, and Sudbury will succeed: Expert

Symposium at NOFS focuses on skill development for newcomers

Paul Bronfman, chair and CEO of William F. White International Inc., said he is pleasantly surprised by the success of the film industry in Sudbury and Northern Ontairo.

Bronfman was one of several keynote speakers at a training symposium at Northern Ontario Film Studio to offer behind-the-scene access to industry experts.

“It blows me away the amount of great work that has been done,” he said on Saturday. “When we opened an office (in Sudbury) in 2013, we had already done a few shows here. But, if you would have asked me five years ago if we would have had an office here, I would have laughed. Now (our Sudbury office) is a real going concern for us. We're paying a lot of attention to it, and it's growing, so we're excited about the future here.”

William F. White International Inc. is Canada's oldest and largest provider of professional motion picture, television, digital media and theatrical production equipment. The company services productions of all sizes from coast to coast and has the most extensive inventory of equipment in the industry, including the very latest in technological advances.

Bronfman said training the new generation of the film industry is paramount. With about 30 booths on site, with representatives from Cambrian College, The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), Clairmont Camera, Cooper Equipment Rentals, the Directors Guild of Canada and IATSE International, as well as IATSE Locals 411, 667 and 873, there was plenty to see and do for newcomers to the industry.

“We have an opportunity to really build something special here,” he said. “The more skilled labour we have in Northern Ontario, and the less crew and cast the producers have to bring in, the more they will qualify for the tax credits. I think the sky is the limit for the future of Sudbury and the film industry.”

Last year, $30 million was spent in the city through the film industry, and more than 700 jobs were created, said David Anselmo, CEO, Northern Ontario Film Studios. 

Having that trained staff ready to go when productions come to Sudbury is great, Bronfman said, but at the end of the day, it's the economics and tax credits that drive the industry.

“Production is like water, it finds the easiest path down the hill, and it can move in an instant,” he said. “We have to be diligent and consistent in our approach to make sure we are building the right foundation for future growth.”

As for the symposium, Bronfman said he was delighted to see all the smiles on the faces of the many young people in attendance. They are the people who are eager to start building their careers at home, instead of having to leave and go somewhere else, he said.

“I don't know of any other business that is as interdependent on each other as the film industry, from the unions to the private sector to the businesses,” he said. “It's nice to see this coming to fruition, and personally, it gives me a lot of satisfaction.”

The symposium provided 14 different classes with more than 71 hours of training over the weekend.

“It's a great turnout,” Anselmo said. “There are a lot of people interested in either being a part of or supporting the film industry. It's a new industry for Sudbury and Northern Ontairo, and it's creating a lot of jobs. We've created a hub and media cluster that we're really happy about, and I'm really appreciative to be from Northern Ontario, and to be able to come home and make movies.”

It took six months of hard work to put the symposium together, he said.

“It's really to showcase how far we've come, to do some training, and to show that this is a real industry that has a large economic impact on our region. We hope to do this on an annual basis, in conjunction with Cinéfest.”

John Lewis, international vice-president of IATSE, which has 30,000 members in North America, said training is crucial to the long-term viability of this industry.

“It's not just about increasing the skill sets of workers in Northern Ontario, but also to emphasize safety, and those are the two things we are focusing on through this symposium and its workshops. This is a great career path, but only if you're skilled, and only if we work together. 

“The creative sector is the future. These are great paying jobs, and it's nice to see the provincial government has brought in an environment of stable tax credits to allow the industry to grow.”


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Arron Pickard

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