Written by Tom Deehan on Jul 19, 2017. Posted in General Interest

War for the Planet of the Apes injected USD81 million into British Columbia’s economy

The latest instalment in the Planet of the Apes series incurred a total expenditure of USD81 million during its tenure in British Columbia, according to a report from the Motion Picture Association - Canada. War for the Planet of the Apes shot on location in Vancouver, Tofino and Ucluelet over a period of 180 days.

The report also breaks down individual costs: over USD45 million was spent on local cast and crew, USD3.6 million went towards securing local supplies for construction whilst transportation cost USD1.5 million.

Wendy Noss, President of MPA-Canada explains: “the data released today signals the important role the film and television industry plays for B.C.’s economy. Productions like War for the Planet of the Apes not only make a big impact on the screen, they also support thousands of cast and crew members, local businesses and communities behind the scenes, from Vancouver to Ucluelet.”

With a total estimated budget of USD150 million, War for the Planet of the Apes was produced by Chernin Entertainment and TSG Entertainment. The production relied heavily on motion capture technology to depict its cast of fictional apes, led by Caesar (Andy Serkis), who has remained the central character throughout the series.

Boasting a world-class crew base and high-end production facilities, British Columbia is one of Canada’s most prolific production hubs. The province recently hosted filming on Bong Joon Ho’s Okja and Hard Powder starring Liam Neeson.

Productions that shoot on location in British Columbia can receive a tax credit of 28%, with the understanding that a required minimum spend is met. A tax credit of 16% can also be accessed for post-production work.