The rapid growth of the film industry in PEI has led to an urgent need for skilled workers. CreativePEI has been working with FilmPEI for the last year to develop training opportunities to address the skills gaps in the industry.
The development of skills training programs will be crucial to the continued development and production of film, and television programs in PEI.
We’re hoping to develop both entry-level and advanced hands-on training that supports professional development and attracts new people to enter the sector.
CreativePEI envisions a future in which film industry workers on PEI do not have to leave the province in order to access high quality training programs.
We would also like to see a future in which Island production companies have the capabilities of producing more locally sourced content using locally sourced workers.
High quality local productions like Wharf Rats, Still The Water, and the million-dollar feature A Small Fortune have all been made on Prince Edward Island over the last few years. Programs like The Amazing Race Canada have also shown there is a strong demand for local crews from out of province productions.
Film industry training programs like Screenwriters Bootcamp, Film Industry Fundamentals for people entering the industry, and Road to Production for mid-career professionals have been delivered by FilmPEI and have seen high demand.
Career opportunities in film in PEI have grown considerably in recent years after the creation of the PEIFPF (PEI Film Production Fund). This new fund replaced the PEI Film Media Fund as the primary support for Island film professionals and implemented a number of new initiatives such as an increase in all-spend rebates from 25 per cent to 32-35 per cent; Funding for both local and out of province film producers; training provisions to encourage the development of a local film crew; and a new PEI Storytelling Development Fund to support the creation of screen-based script projects by Island filmmakers and writers.
New training programs in conjunction with government support systems will only further accelerate the development of the film industry on PEI.
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