In another case of government overstepping its boundaries, the Sunshine Coast Regional District has done some major damage to the Coast's film industry.
On Thursday, Sleepwalker Productions came before the SCRD board to discuss plans to film a $1.4 million production called Desolation Sound. A scene in the movie calls for actors to push a car into a lake and in another scene the car would be removed by a tow winch. Producers assured the board that the car would be stripped, cleaned and disinfected and that all environmental concerns would be addressed. That wasn't good enough for the SCRD board.The board had concerns that the proposed location, Garden Bay Lake, is a valuable source of drinking water.
But instead of assisting the film company in looking at another body of water, being helpful and courteous, the board basically gave them the boot.
In an incredible move, the board passed a motion to send a letter to Sleepwalker Films expressing opposition to putting any vehicle in any body of water for the purpose of entertainment.
What a joke! While they're at it, why doesn't the board put up a sign near the ferry terminal telling movie companies to turn around because we don't want their business!
This isn't the first time the SCRD board has killed projects because of water concerns. Remember the artificial reef project last year? The board tossed that idea out too. The artificial reef is now in Comox.
The protection of drinking water and the environment are important. But SCRD directors made it clear they would remain opposed no matter how clean the car, no matter how harmless the film shoot. Their concerns were that the image of a car being dumped in a lake might encourage such actions in real life. Essentially, they were asking for changes to the movie script, setting themselves up as film censors.
If Sleepwalker is treated this way, do you think other film companies will want to come here?
The laughable part of the whole matter is that the SCRD has absolutely no legal authority in this matter. But that won't prevent the damage to the Sunshine Coast's reputation in the film industry. And that will be a real loss to the Sunshine Coast's environment as well as its economy, because movie-making is more environmentally friendly than virtually any other industry we might attract.
