Customs prices of 100 % on the production of cinema outside the United States could have significant impacts on the northern cinematographic industry in Ontario, according to professionals in the field.
The North Netarian Company White Owl Studios has just opened a new studio in Wahnapitae First Nation.
The last round of pricing threats of the American president already comes to question this investment. Donald Trump announced on Sunday on his platform TruthSocial 100 % American rates on foreign films.
The official of public relations and acquisitions for the studio White Owl, Axel Green, explains that Canada’s film industry offers its services to American companies.
He thinks that customs prices could reduce the number of American films that are produced in the north of the province. According to him, they have an impact on the movies of the channel Hallmark.
Mr. Green indicates that the prices will also affect studios in California.
Producers of California or Hollywood need us
he underlines.
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Axel Green thinks that there will be more production of only Canadian content, if the prices are set up.
-Photo : CBC / Kate Rutherford
He also explains that the situation could be profitable since it would leave more space for the new North Ontarian shoots.
Axel Green thinks, however, that provincial and federal governments will have to support Canadian producers. He would like Ontario to follow, for example, the Quebec model of creations subsidized by the province.
Canada-American productions
The founder of the agency company Sudburoise 46th parallelJanine Oloman, also fears that the prices have a negative impact on the northern film industry.
The creative teams are made up of both Canadians and Americans, she said.
She thinks that the Canadian-American link is crucial for Canadian industry.
Oloman also explains that the filming in northern Ontario have already been impacted by the strikes of screenwriters and writers and forest fires in the south of California.
She adds that the federal and provincial elections have also slowed down the financing of creative projects in Ontario.
