Overview of the Film & Television (TV) Industry

In 2019 (pre-2020 pandemic), the Vancouver Economic Commission’s (VEC) annual film industry research showed that the B.C. film, television, visual effects and animation industry broke new records spending more than $4.1 billion in 2019. Of this, more than $3.1 billion was spent on physical production alone, with the remainder accounted for by the sheer volume of post-production and animation activity largely centered in Vancouver.  Spending in B.C. has more than tripled over the last eight years, increasing from $1.6 billion in 2012 to $4.1 billion in 2019.

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During 2019/2020 (pandemic time period) production companies spent $2.8 billion on an estimated total of 411 domestic and international productions in BC.

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BC’s thriving creative industries are well established, with world-class film, television, visual effects, animation and post-production companies. A rich pool of creative talent is able to support major feature-length projects – both on-screen and online.

BC’s creative industry is recognized for:

• having the highest number of interactive gaming companies in Canada;
• being one of North America’s top four largest motion picture production centres, after LA, New York and slightly behind Ontario

For more details see:

BC’s creative industries include everything from writing, casting, production, post-production, and distribution of films to animation and visual effects.  Companies in BC produce and distribute screen-based content for audiences around the world including feature films, dramatic and lifestyle series for television, documentaries, short films and commercials.

The industry in B.C. includes both foreign and domestic production, and CIERA(Creative Industries Economic Results Assessment) new baseline results are 21,305 traditional FTE equivalent jobs, and 35,332 total jobs (direct, indirect and induced).

Economic Impacts & Employment Estimates

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The 2019 report, British Columbia Motion Picture Industry  Below-the-Line Labour Market Study, notes that two-thirds of the 70,000 people in BC who work in this industry are described as “below-the-line workers”. These are the technicians and craftspeople, designers, background performers, drivers and managers working on location in neighbourhoods or remote parts of B.C., in large purpose-built sound stages or on urban streets. Below-the-line workers number 43,800 with 14,144 employed full- and part-time and collectively earned $1.362B in 2017.

Below-the-line motion picture workers in B.C. are paid a median annual wage of $58,460 which is 34% higher than B.C.’s median individual income of $43,732 for full-time and part-time workers.

Below-the-Line Occupations in BC Film & Television Industry

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The province offers over 120 sound stages representing over 2.5 million square feet, including purpose-built stages and conversions, more than 131 animation, VFX and post-production companies, as well as an estimated 160+ expert industry supply companies.

Most motion picture activity occurs in the Lower Mainland/Southwest economic region with more than 80% of jobs are located in Metro Vancouver. However, increased activity levels have pushed more domestic and some foreign productions into B.C.’s other economic regions with Vancouver Island emerging as a secondary hub. The Okanagan may follow as a third hub with new purpose-built infrastructure.

BC offers:

• creative and technical talent who can provide the full range of services needed for both domestic and international productions.
• a talent pool that includes acting talent, set construction, filming, post-production, and video effects
• outstanding facilities, training, and research services are provided by BC’s educational institutions engaged in digital media and motion picture production
• can support the largest movie productions, from set construction and casting through to post-production and visual effects

Sources: Creative BC: Impact Report 2019/2020, CMPA Profile, Profile 2020: Economic Report on the Screen Based Media Production Industry in Canada [Canadian Media Producers Association – CMPA], British Columbia Motion Picture Industry Below-the-Line Labour Market Study 2019, Film & Television Production [Vancouver Economic Commission]