The Thompson-Nicola Film Commission is applying for $336,000 in grant funding from the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP) to try and grow the movie industry in the Kamloops-area.

Film Commissioner Terri Hadwin says they plan to hire and train ten photographers – one in each of the 10 electoral areas – to update two image libraries – Reel Scout which is geared towards movie location scouts and Explore TNRD which is available to TNRD-based groups and organizations.

“We have a lot of users that are already in the system already but some of the images just need a little bit of a refresh especially since we’ve had some fires and some floods,” Hadwin said.

“Some of landscapes just don’t look the same as they did when we originally took photographs, so we’re definitely wanting to refresh it.”

Speaking on the NL Noon Report, Hadwin says by training photographers, the Film Commission will also be able to quickly hire people in local communities – instead of using Kamloops-based people – when it needs specific photographs on short notice.

“So we’ll want somebody that has that eye to get those beautiful hero shots as they like to call them,” Hadwin said.

“We’ll be spending a few days with them to show them exactly what we’re looking for when it comes to photographing what the interior of a building looks like, even those ugly shots of maybe parking lots. Things that you wouldn’t necessarily show in tourism but it really needs to be showcased when a film production is looking to come here.”

This two-year project is expected to start in the spring.

“Depending on the funding approval and project timelines, the TNRD would also research funding from other sources to finance the leverage requirements,” Hadwin said, in a report to the TNRD Board.

“If alternate funding sources are not available, staff is confident that leveraging requirements can be met through in-kind contributions and the TNFC budget.”