Federal-provincial program funds film and production studio for Winnipeg

[CAWED]

DECEMBER 17, 1998

_FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL PROGRAM FUNDS FILM AND PRODUCTION STUDIO FOR
WINNIPEG _

_WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- Manitoba’s film and television production
industry will soon have its first all-season studio, with construction
funded through a $1 million contribution from the Canada/Manitoba
Economic Development Partnership Agreement._

Funding for the _Prairie Production Centre_ was announced today by
_Ron J. Duhamel, Secretary of State for Western Economic
Diversification_, and _Rosemary Vodrey, Manitoba Minister of Culture,
Heritage and Citizenship_, on behalf of _Eric Stefanson, Minister of
Finance_. The two levels of government contributed equally to the
project.

"Projects such as this are an investment in the Canadian film
industry’s future and will create lasting economic benefits for
Manitoba," said _Mr. Duhamel_. "What’s more, this project will
provide training and employment opportunities, ensuring a skilled
labour pool to continue producing top quality, Manitoba-made
products."

"The film and television production industries have boomed in Manitoba
over the last few years, but they require a strong infrastructure on
which to build even further," said _Vodrey_. "This new production
studio is critical to helping the industries expand and develop to
their full potential in Manitoba. This will help attract more
productions to the province and provide more jobs and opportunities
for Manitobans."

The $7.7 million _Prairie Production Centre_ will be constructed on
three acres of land on Pacific Avenue, adjacent to Westsun
International Inc. The 67,000 square foot studio, the first of its
kind in Manitoba, will house three small sound stages, post-production
space, production offices, tenant space and parking area.

"We are pleased to be a partner with both levels of government in this
initiative to ensure the film industry in Manitoba will grow and
prosper," said _Arni Thorsteinson, president of the Prairie Production
Centre Limited Partnership_. "This new studio will not only benefit
the film industry, but other related industries as well."

The _Prairie Production Centre_ commissioned a study to evaluate the
market opportunity and viability of an independent sound facility in
Winnipeg. The study revealed that the centre, along with the
attractive federal and provincial film, sound and video tax credit
incentives, would enhance its ability to capture all of the local
production market in Manitoba and a viable market share from Canadian
and foreign production.

Currently, film and television producers filming in Manitoba are
restricted by weather conditions and are forced to convert local
warehouses and industrial buildings into studio space. The _Prairie
Production Centre_ will bring together all aspects of production under
one roof and be accessible year round to local, Canadian and foreign
production companies.

The studio will be adaptable to accommodate three separate productions
simultaneously or one large production. The second and third floors
will house permanent tenants, including resident production companies,
post-production firms or other groups.

The new studio will also attract a wide variety of television series,
documentaries, TV dramas and "Movies of the Week " to the province, as
well as more suppliers and support businesses to Winnipeg and help
build a larger local production crew base. Construction of the new
studio will commence in March 1999.

The _Prairie Production Centre Limited Partnership_ was formed earlier
this year to develop and operate the new film production studio on
behalf of the Manitoba film and production industry.

Through March 2002, the _Canada/Manitoba Economic Development
Partnership Agreement_ will direct $40 million into strategic projects
which will expand the international competitiveness of Manitoba's key
growth sectors, commercialize new technologies, assist small and
medium-sized businesses and entrepreneurs, and enhance the long-term
economic self-sustainability of rural and urban communities.