MBiz

16 SPRING 2018 BY WENDY KING M edia production in Manitoba is a growth industry — and not just in English. The Francophone community has a strong presence, with three French- language production companies bringing Franco-Manitoban stories to the world, and bringing significant business opportunities to the province. "The media production industry is international, and the fact that we produce for both English- and French-language markets offers a competitive advantage," says Nicole Matiation, executive director at On Screen Manitoba. She points out that Manitoba's French- language productions — which appear on screens locally, nationally and internationally — garner both audiences and awards. That might surprise some people, since French TV and film production in Canada is primarily associated with Quebec. "Marketing Manitoba in both official languages sparks a different conversation," Matiation says. "And every one of those conversations is an opportunity to promote Manitoba's world- class media production industry for both English- and French-language projects." Manitoba could be viewed strictly as a competitor to Quebec, but Louis Paquin, executive producer at Les Productions Rivard, sees an opportunity for more business, one that wouldn't exist without French-language production. "It is important that Manitoba continue to promote its bilingual status as a territory that welcomes French productions and co- productions," says Paquin. "It would be great if this could be an incentive in funding co- productions with Quebec producers." Les Productions Rivard produces in both French (80 per cent) and English. "We collaborate on Métis and Aboriginal products as co-producers," he says. "There is greater awareness of Indigenous content providers and, it would seem, greater interest by broadcasters." Les Productions Rivard, which retains its production ownership, is hoping to see 15 per cent growth in the coming years, and Paquin points to three factors that would support that growth. "Additional support in training writers and directors; maintain the tax credits; and support efforts in building opportunities to expand our co-productions internationally." Patrick Clément is an owner/producer at Manito Média (French only) and Media RendezVous (English only) and is currently producing children's TV series Canot cocasse (Crazy Canoe); a second season of documentary series Au pays des Mitchifs, about hunters and trappers in the Métis community of St. Laurent; new documentary series La terre en nous, and a doc on the 200th anniversary of the University of St. Boniface. Clément says competition in the field is fierce for both French and English production, but there are differences in terms of content, and that's where Franco- Manitoban production has an edge. "It's the nature of the content that's unique to Francophone producers outside Quebec in that almost all of our shows are trying to reflect the reality and special aspect of being a minority in a sea of English," he says. "I think there's been an increase in demand in French production, especially when it's content that's unique to (markets) outside Quebec." While some companies coming to do business in the province only seek local services, Clément says the co-production model, where ownership stays here, is the better model. "We have provided services twice for the same show, technically Media RendezVous did it because it was an English show, but the advantage of a co-pro where we retain ON SCREEN MANITOBA THE FRENCH CONNECTION Francophone film community brings business opportunities to Manitoba

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