VANDU RETRACTS LETTER TO FILM INDUSTRY

The Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users has sent an apology to the B.C.
Film Commission after threatening to disrupt film productions in the
Downtown Eastside.

Last month, VANDU's Housing Action Committee sent a letter to 30 film
production companies ordering them to compensate sex trade workers
displaced during shoots and to ensure money goes to tenants affected by
filming-or face protests at filming sites.

The letter outraged the companies, which already sink money into the
Downtown Eastside through donations to charities such as St. James
Community Services Society and the Franciscan Sisters of Atonement, and
through payments to the Downtown Eastside Residents Association for film
liaison work.

VANDU also requested that the city's film and special events office ensure
that payments by film companies to landlords affected by filming also go to
tenants.

Muriel Honey, director of the city's film and special events office, called
a meeting with VANDU last Friday to explain that film companies are not
required to compensate neighbourhoods where filming occurs.

"Everyone in a neighbourhood shouldn't have their hand out every time a
film truck comes in. It's a misunderstanding that neighbours make money
while there's shooting going on. We rely on the good graces of the citizens
to allow us to have this significant industry," said Honey, adding VANDU
backed away from its protest threat once the workings of the film industry
were explained to them.

The only compensation dictated by the city is that film production
companies must pay off-duty city police officers a minimum of $225 for
three hours work policing a set, $74 an hour thereafter for a constable.

"VANDU is going to be in touch with the film industry to try and allay
their fears. Our understanding is there will be no protests," Honey said.

Dean Wilson, chair of VANDU's Housing Action Committee, said the
threatening letter was sent while he and VANDU project manager Ann
Livingston were away on holiday.

"Some other people got involved and I was on holidays. They are young and
they got rambunctious," said Wilson. "It was taken way out of perspective,
we won't disrupt things-we'd more likely hold a moment of silence than
disrupt things."

Wilson said the young members of VANDU's Housing Action Committee
responsible for sending out the letter have not been disciplined.

As a result of Friday's meeting, VANDU plans to provide the film industry
with a list of charities it thinks companies should be donating money to.
Wilson said the group at the top of the list is the Portland Hotel
Society-which funds VANDU through an annual Vancouver Coastal Health
Authority grant-followed by groups that provide safe places for girls to go
at night and help sex trade workers get out of the business, like
Prostitution Awareness Counseling and Education.

Gordon Hardwick, spokesman for the B.C. Film Commission, said there have
been no disruptions at Downtown Eastside film sets since the initial letter
was sent. "They are still making movies down there until further notice,"
Hardwick said. "It was all about getting attention-who cares if it's good
or bad as long as they are talking about you."

Honey said that despite the apology letter, the initial letter has had a
significant impact on the confidence of companies working in the district.