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Mike Gasher is the author of a summary about the film industry in B.C. that is described as essential reading for students, film buffs and arts policy makers. Unlike most other overviews of film in British Columbia, Gasher does not rely on People magazine style trivia about personalities and analyses the industry, first and foremost. Gasher is a former reporter and editor for The Province, The Columbian and other newspapers. He moved to Montreal to teach in the Department of Journalist at Concordia University.
Gasher notes that foreigners have been attracted to B.C. to film its natural beauty and diversity of landscapes since the late 19th century. Indigenous production commenced in the summer of 1908 when British cameraman James Ferens was hired by the provincial government to produce footage of industries and scenery. According to leading B.C. film historian and filmmmaker Colin Browne, Ferens provided images of the Hastings Sawmill, fishing canning on the Fraser River, Vancouver street scenes, lumber being loaded onto ships and panoramic Fraser Valley and Interior scenery. The first provincial censor for film was hired in 1913 when the British Columbia Moving Pictures Act was passed. The following year some 50 film reels were banned in B.C. because they displayed U.S. flags in their footage.
BOOKS:
Hollywood North: The Feature Film Industry in British Columbia (UBC, 2003) $24.95 0-7748-0968-X
[BCBW 2004] "Film"
Gasher notes that foreigners have been attracted to B.C. to film its natural beauty and diversity of landscapes since the late 19th century. Indigenous production commenced in the summer of 1908 when British cameraman James Ferens was hired by the provincial government to produce footage of industries and scenery. According to leading B.C. film historian and filmmmaker Colin Browne, Ferens provided images of the Hastings Sawmill, fishing canning on the Fraser River, Vancouver street scenes, lumber being loaded onto ships and panoramic Fraser Valley and Interior scenery. The first provincial censor for film was hired in 1913 when the British Columbia Moving Pictures Act was passed. The following year some 50 film reels were banned in B.C. because they displayed U.S. flags in their footage.
BOOKS:
Hollywood North: The Feature Film Industry in British Columbia (UBC, 2003) $24.95 0-7748-0968-X
[BCBW 2004] "Film"
