Written by: Nick Bohle
MARCH 15th, 2023 - Lethbridge Independent Film Society vice president, Nick Bohle and Lethbridge College's Tyler Heaton (S.T.A.R.T Program) were featured guests at the 2023 Economic Development Lethbridge AGM. At the event Nick and Tyler each spoke about the incredible potential Lethbridge has to foster world class television and film production. Bohle focused his discussion on the economic implications of adopting a more robust film economy for the city. Calling back to projects like, The Last of Us (HBO), Ghostbusters: Afterlife (Columbia Pictures), Stage 5 (Lionsgate) and more, Nick clearly articulated Lethbridge's dire need to adopt policies, procedures and funding to support the future of film and television production in Lethbridge.
Tyler Heaton brought a wealth of knowledge from the AR, VR and XR industry. Heaton was prepared with a dynamic and informative slide presentation that revealed Lethbridge and Lethbridge College as a leader for motion capture, VR, AR and XR media in Western Canada. With implications in web 3.0, the metaverse and more, Heaton informed the EDL board, including members of city council that we are not only on the precipice of a film and television production boom but also in the worlds of augmented, virtual and XR reality.
The speeches were followed by lively discussions about the future of film, television and digital media amongst the delegation along with appetizers and coffee. The took place at the Coast Hotel and Convention Centre in south Lethbridge.
On MARCH 27th EDL board members Ed Limon and mayor Blaine Hyggen made their way to Los Angeles to meeting with the Association of Film Commissioners International - AFCI. There they met with other film commissioners from around the world to better understand how to officially adopt a more economically robust Lethbridge Film, TV and digital media economy for Lethbridge.
These are exciting times for film, TV and digital media in Lethbridge and Alberta as a whole. With all these momentous developments taking place it should be very interesting to see how the next few years play out in the southern Alberta medi landscape.
