FILM CREWS COULD ABANDON DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE

Film companies could abandon the Downtown Eastside in favour of friendlier
locations if a local drug users group makes good on its threat to disrupt
productions.

That warning comes from the B.C. Film Commission, after the Vancouver Area
Network of Drug Users told 30 film production companies to financially
compensate sex-trade workers displaced when production companies come into
their strolls, or face protests.

Gordon Hardwick, spokesman for the commission, said the letter is a slap in
the face for the film production industry, which pumps hundreds of
thousands of dollars into the Downtown Eastside each year and is already
suffering from a downturn in business. That amount includes location
payments and direct donations to groups like the Downtown Eastside
Residents' Association, St. James Community Services Society and the
Franciscan Sisters of Atonement.

"If VANDU start any disruption on set, the [production companies] are just
going to go somewhere else. To New Westminster or other areas and that's no
good for anybody," Hardwick said.

The trouble began in July, when VANDU's Housing Action Committee wrote
Hardwick warning the commission to support VANDU's requests, or the letter
would be forwarded to production companies operating in the Downtown Eastside.

"The letter was very confrontational. It concluded by saying, 'If you do
not succumb to our requests, we will cause trouble for you.' It wasn't a
'let's look at the problem' type of thing," said Hardwick, who responded
with a letter to VANDU explaining how the film industry contributes to the
Downtown Eastside.

"They sent the letter to production companies anyway and suddenly we were
swamped with calls from producers and location managers saying, 'What's
this? We do our best down there.'"

Ann Livingston, VANDU's project manager, said the initial letter was sent
after the Housing Action Committee learned some landlords were not passing
on "inconvenience money" to tenants. Normally, when producers set up a
shoot in front of a building, they strike a deal with the landlord whereby
both landlord and tenants are compensated for the lights and noise.

The letter demanded equal payments for landlords and tenants, as well as
stating "sex trade workers must be compensated for displacement they
experience at your hands in the same manner you would compensate a business
if you were to use their locale during operating hours."

VANDU also wants to take over DERA's film industry liaison work, worth
about $80,000 a year. DERA is given money by film producers to pay for a
unionized employee to be on set to liaise with residents should a problem
arise. The film producers also give extra money for DERA with no strings
attached, plus the union representing film production workers helps pay for
DERA's monthly newsletter.

Livingston accused DERA of not doing an effective job representing
residents affected by filming in the neighbourhood, alleging the
association never raised the issue of tenant compensation with production
companies.

"Basically, DERA provides a unionized DERA employee who stands at the film
site and tells people to cross the street," Livingston said. "DERA
certainly hasn't spoken up on behalf of residents and the film industry
needs to ask whether DERA are in touch with people in the Downtown Eastside."

Hardwick said DERA has not been as available for liaison work recently as
it normally is. "That's the word on the street, but it was DERA that
suggested to the industry they represent the residents. If DERA isn't
pulling their weight, then it's not our fault and if VANDU feel there's a
better way to do it, then don't send around a letter threatening
producers-send a proposal saying how they could do it better."

As for "inconvenience money," Hardwick said film production companies have
to enter into legal arrangements with property owners for liability reasons
and cannot force owners to pass some of the money onto tenants.

Livingston said VANDU, which is funded by the Portland Hotel Society
through the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, will try and find out what
legal obligations landlords have to pass on inconvenience money. She also
suggested that instead of paying sex-trade workers directly, the industry
could fund a drop-in centre for prostitutes.

Frank Gilbert, DERA's acting executive director, was not available for
comment at the Courier's press time.