MINDS EYE ANNOUNCES 8 PICTURE PROJECT FOR SASKATOON

Released: October 20, 1999

(SASKATOON) Kevin DeWalt, CEO and Executive Producer of Minds Eye Entertainment announced today that his company will shoot eight motion pictures, with a production value of over $18 million, in Saskatoon and area over the next two years.

The eight movies will comprise the initial slate of production for Minds Eye's new genre division, which will be announced in the coming weeks along with the title of the first film to be shot.

"Our new division, which will focus on pictures in the action-thriller genre, is a natural progression for Minds Eye's group of companies as the world market has never been stronger for this category of films," DeWalt says.

At a media conference hosted by the Saskatchewan Regional Economic Development Authority and the City of Saskatoon, DeWalt announced "The Saskatoon Initiative" before a crowd of government officials, local business people, and motion picture industry supporters.

The Saskatoon Initiative's primary objective is to create a skilled labour base of local crew for the thriving motion picture industry. The demands of Saskatchewan's film, video and new media industries are quickly outgrowing available crew and in response, a number of training programs have been undertaken to offset labour deficiencies. This initiative will create immediate employment, train newcomers to the industry and at the same time, foster continued growth in the motion picture sector. More than 100 new jobs will be created by "The Saskatoon Initiative."

As a result of increased motion picture production, the economic impact in Saskatoon and area will be substantial. During the course of production, motion pictures typically infuse as much as 70% of their overall budgets into the local economy through labour, the purchase of goods and services, and spin-off. That translates to an anticipated injection of more than $12 million into the Saskatoon and area economy over the next twenty four months.

The future is bright for the province's motion picture industry. The Saskatchewan Film Employment Tax Credit is now firmly in place, and since its implementation in 1998, motion picture production in the province has more than doubled. Production has increased from just over $26 million in 1997, to $58 million in 1998.

To date, a majority of that production has taken place in Regina and area. Minds Eye is determined to make the motion picture industry a "made-in-Saskatchewan" opportunity for people across the entire province.

"It's a winning situation for everyone. Minds Eye Entertainment has the opportunity to make quality motion pictures in this beautiful area of the province, and at the same time, local people are able to work in an industry they love," asserts DeWalt.

Established in 1986, Minds Eye Entertainment is a fully integrated production, post-production and distribution entity with offices in Canada and the U.S. Its award-winning feature films, television series, shorts and documentaries have been sold in more than 100 countries.