Ontario's film and television production activity off to a good start in 2005 Production news / General TV News Posted by RAD on Jan 10, 2005 - 07:20 PM Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC) reports that Ontario's film and television production slate looks promising as a number of new productions are choosing Ontario in 2005. Confirmed projects that are in prep for upcoming winter or spring shoots are three feature films, Paramount's Untitled 50 Cent Project, Don Carmody Production's Silent Hill and the previously announced Paramount feature Four Brothers. This is in addition to a number of continuing or returning series including the new GEP Productions series Kojak. On December 21, 2004, the McGuinty government announced an increase to the film and television tax credits. This change to the tax credits has already resulted in a number of projects actively scouting Ontario. The industry enthusiastically welcomed the news that Ontario's Film and Television Tax Credit (OFTTC) would increase to 30 per cent from 20 per cent, and the Ontario Production Services Tax Credit (OPSTC) to 18 per cent from 11 per cent. An additional 10 per cent regional bonus (already in place) is available to domestic productions only. OMDC is already seeing a very positive response from film and television clients with at least seven new productions. Three television movies, a one-hour pilot and three feature films have indicated that they will be shooting in Ontario as a result of the tax credit increase. This new activity includes a number of domestic productions. "We are encouraged by this early activity that has been sparked by the recent tax announcement," says Marcelle Lean, Chair of OMDC. "We are planning to take the good news directly to the studios in Hollywood on a marketing mission later this month." OMDC continues to work with its partners the City of Toronto and FilmOntario through our shared Los Angeles Marketing Office to market Ontario as a key film jurisdiction of choice. Ontario Media Development Corporation, an agency of the Ministry of Culture, provides a wide range of initiatives to stimulate the growth of the province's book and magazine publishing, film and television, music and interactive digital media industries. OMDC's mandate is to build capacity and competitiveness in Ontario by working with the cultural media industries to maximize opportunities and overcome challenges to growth in Ontario and abroad. This article is from CHANNEL CANADA   http://www.channelcanada.com/ The URL for this story is:   http://www.channelcanada.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=723