The The Langley Langley Times Times •• Thursday, Thursday, September September 27, 27, 2012 2012 •• 3 3
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natasha jones 604-514-6753
Langley Times
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Film company moves to Langley Natasha JoNes Times Reporter
A company responsible for a string of highly successful programs that are aired around the world is settling in Langley. The first wave of employees of Partners in Motion/Harmony Entertainment will arrive in Langley by Nov. 1, said company co-founder and executive vicepresident Ron Goetz. Partners in Motion/Harmony Entertainment is a television and film production and distribution company presently based in Regina. “We are thrilled to be in Langley,” Goetz said, calling the community “a film-friendly environment.” Langley “will offer more locations for shooting, more access to talent and crews and an inviting financing regimen.” One of its biggest successes is the production of a series called Crime Stories. Started nine years ago, the series recently was renamed Blood Lies and Alibis. It airs on Discovery ID in both the US and Canada. It also airs on Canal D in Quebec, as well as A and E in the United Kingdom, he said. The company’s productions have aired in 150 countries and been translated into 30 languages. The company also produced the series called The Reinventions for History Canada and Smithsonian Network in the U.S., and produced more than 400 hours of Real Life programming that has aired around the world, Goetz said. It has several productions under its belt which won Emmy and Gemini awards. In 2001, the company won an Emmy for the production of 13 Seconds, a documentary on the Kent State shootings in 1970. It aired on TLC. Partners in Motion/Harmony Entertainment’s current project is a series for Vision TV called I Prophesy.
The relocation of such a prominent company will further boost filming in the Township, which is experiencing a significant increase this year. Direct spending in the Township by film crews last year amounted to more than $24 million. So far this year, there have been four feature films and 25 made for-TV movies filmed in the Township. While the first of the company personnel will arrive next month, a permanent office will be selected by Jan. 1. Township Mayor Jack Froese said that the benefits to Langley will be tremendous. “The Township has the depth of understanding of the film industry, the staff and ability to accommodate productions, the location diversity with beautiful rural, village, and urban settings, and the desire for partnerships,” he said. “We’ve got it all, and we are open for business.” He said it’s clear that LangContributed photo ley is recognized by the industry Actor James Van Der Beek is made up for a as a film-friendly community, and production shot in Langley Township,which that the municipality will strive to has hosted the production of 29 movies thus maintain that reputation. far this year. “Filming in the Township is a very important contributor to ing feature films, series, TV movies and our community’s economic success and commercials, he added. Partners in Motion’s decision to make The Township employs a film co-ordiLangley their west coast home only nator who facilitates a “one-stop” permit strengthens the film industry business in process, blends film industry needs with our community,” said Gary MacKinnon, community balance, and is able to sugthe Township’s economic development gest locations of unique vistas, distincmanager. tive architecture, suppliers and vacant He noted that the film industry is an warehouse space suitable for use as environmentally-friendly ‘clean’ industry, production facilities. making it “exactly the type of business As well, there is a B.C. film tax credit we want to attract.” incentive to companies operating in The Township is able to facilitate many the Township which is not available in and varied productions at once, includ- municipalities west of 200 Street.
Dry weather means fire hazard stays high
Natasha JoNes Times Reporter
The Indian summer is spelling trouble for the Langley Township fire department, which has cancelled all fire permits. None will be issued until there is “significant” rainfall, assistant fire chief Pat Walker said on Tuesday. “The fire hazard is extreme.” It has been more than 50 days since the last notable rainfall, he added. Environment Canada is predicting a 30 per cent chance of rain on Friday, and 60
per cent on Monday, while the Weather Network’s 14-day outlook predicts rain on Saturday and none again until the second week of October. The fire danger rating remains high throughout the municipality, Walker said. He urged people not to carelessly discard cigarettes, and noted that even a fragment of glass can have catastrophic results when the sun’s rays passing through form a pinpoint that can heat dry grass or foliage. Walker said that people should be particularly careful in areas where there is
high grass, especially on rural properties. “We are cautioning people to take special precautions with respect to running equipment in fields,” he said. Langley City’s deputy fire chief Bob Scott said his department is responding to an increasing number of grass and brush fires. He, too, urged people to extinguish cigarettes in non-combustible containers. And, Scott said, it will take more than a day of rain to reduce the fire hazard. The danger will be over when the grass begins to turn green again, he said.
Heritage Apple Day Saturday at Derby Reach Apple lovers can take a juicy bite out of Langley history on Saturday, Sept. 29. Heritage Apple Day will be held in the Heritage Orchard of Derby Reach Regional Park (off Allard Crescent) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hosted by the Derby Reach/Brae Island Parks Association and Metro Vancouver, this free family event offers fun activities for adults and children. The event celebrates the historic apples that have grown in the Derby Reach orchard where some apple trees are more than 100 years old, planted by some of the first settlers in the area, as well as the Royal Engineers. There will be apple tasting, apple experts to give advice, artists painting in the park, an art show, Les Voyageurs, orchard tours, historical walks, Langley Community Music School musicians, games and more. Tim Hortons coffee and doughnuts will be free from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you would like to take home a souvenir, heritage apple trees and Sweet Thea’s apple pies will be available for purchase.
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