Winnipeg's Film Industry Tops $90M in 2005

The Winnipeg Free Press discusses recent productions have helped that province maintain a successful film industry:

While most of the movie [The Assassination of Jesse James] was produced in Alberta, the production's five-day shoot in Winnipeg in late October demonstrated the sheer transformative power a Hollywood movie studio (in this case, Warner Bros.) can wield over a city. Not the least of that impact is the estimated $2.5 million in economic spinoffs for the shoot, including 2,000 nights booked in Winnipeg hotels for out-of-town cast and crew.

Streets were shut down. Whole buildings were dressed in frontier finery and sidewalks covered with boards to accurately reflect urban life in Kansas and New York circa 1880. More than 70 permits were acquired from the city to facilitate the shoot, almost double the number required for the 60-day shooting period of Shall We Dance in 2003. While onlookers were relegated to the sidelines, they got to watch this dazzling display, which included glimpses of Pitt himself, nattily attired in a sharply tailored black suit, strolling down Princess Street.

Those interested in reading about one of Alberta's chief competitors (and collaborators) in the industry may want to check out the entire article.