Brad Pitt played notorious outlaw Jesse James in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, which was filmed in Alberta. (Warner Bros. Pictures)Alberta has bumped up the maximum grant available to film producers to $5 million in a bid to lure more projects to the province.
Tina Alford, a spokeswoman for the performers' union, ACTRA, said the money will mean Hollywood blockbusters, such as The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, which filmed in Alberta three years ago, could soon return to Southern Alberta.
"There are a number of productions and producers that are kicking our tires, along with numerous other jurisdictions for various projects," she said. "I think this little bump in our incentive program is going to help lure them here."
The province announced changes Wednesday to the Alberta Film Development Program, which provides funding for film and TV projects shot and produced in the province. Grant percentages for costs eligible under the program have been increased by six per cent and the maximum amount available per project is now capped at $5 million, up from $3 million.
However, the fund is still fixed at $20 million for 2009-2010.
"These changes help re-assert Alberta's competitive position in Canadian film and television production," said Culture Minister Lindsay Blackett in a statement.
Southern Alberta hasn't seen a big-ticket film since the Jesse James film, although Inception, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, will shoot a few scenes in the Kananaskis region later this year.
Tom McRae, a spokesman for the film workers union IATSE, said film activity is down as much as 40 per cent from last summer.
"A number of our really good technicians are still leaving, moving to Vancouver," he said. "We need some of those Disney projects, Warner Brothers, some of those big-budget shows that will put a lot of people to work."
McRae said what is needed right away is a change to Alberta's film tax credit system, to make it similar to what is already done in B.C., Ontario, and Quebec.
Alford said the higher grants are a great first step to stemming the outflow of talent leaving the province.
"If the work isn't there, they will move away or lose hope and give up completely, and that is the sad story," she said.
