It’s lights, camera, reaction for film industry folk in Nova Scotia. Filmmakers across the province are stepping into the spotlight to speak out against the drastic changes to the Film Industry Tax Credit.
The Atlantic Filmmakers Co-op (AFCOOP) put out the casting call to anyone who wanted to talk about their connection to the Nova Scotia independent film industry yesterday at their Cornwallis Street offices.
Nelson MacDonald, AFCOOP’s festival coordinator, says a steady stream of supporters including film students, co-op members and others who benefit from the industry have been filmed giving testimonials about the importance of filmmaking in this province. “We were really upset at first, now it’s time to do what we do best: make films,” says MacDonald about the industry’s reaction to the cuts. He believes the reduction of the tax credit as well as the elimination of Film & Creative Industries Nova Scotia is “an attack on creativity in Nova Scotia.”
Many filmmakers have their cameras rolling including Megan Wennberg, independent filmmaker and AFCOOP alum. Yesterday at Neptune Theatre, Wennberg filmed countless people in the film industry taking a bow on the stage in solidarity at her "Take A Bow" shoot.
Macdonald says they will be editing through the night to have it ready for public viewing tomorrow. The films will be screened all over social media and he has high hopes for their impact.
“This is far from over as far as we’re concerned.”
