The Quebec region has spared no effort for more than a decade to attract more productions to the Capitale-Nationale, but the shortage of labor and a certain lack of expertise have long held back the ambitions of the industry. local. The situation could change, however, with the opening of a bachelor’s degree in cinema at Université Laval this fall.
“We hope that Quebec will become an important center for the audiovisual industry in Quebec,” likes to dream Jean-Pierre Sirois-Trahan, director of the cinema program at Laval University. “We want to prove those who say that nothing is happening in the area east of Papineau Street [à Montréal]. »
Under construction for several years, this new bachelor’s degree in cinema and digital culture will train cohorts of 65 students per year from September. Of this number, we hope to keep a good part of them in the Quebec region, without giving precise figures.
For the time being, Quebec is suffering from a serious shortage of manpower, in all areas of course, but particularly in the audiovisual sector. This reality has not prevented the region from hosting several major film shoots in recent years, such as the Quebec adaptation of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Squad 99or that of the big budget American series Barkskins. A few production companies are also based there, such as ComediHa!, but workers from Montreal often have to be called in to meet the needs.
An expertise that the Capitale-Nationale Film and Television Industry Table would prefer to keep in the region for the near future. “We are very, very happy to know that there will now be a bachelor’s degree in cinema at Laval University. It is an additional tool to continue our growth in production volume. It’s an additional way to achieve our goal,” adds the co-chair of the consultation table, Renaud Sylvain.
The objective to which he refers is to ensure that the Capitale-Nationale represents approximately 10% of productions across Quebec within the next five years, which would roughly correspond to the economic weight of the region. As reported The duty last November, the capital accounted for less than 8% of production in 2020, an indicator that has been rising slightly in recent years.
“In the animation sector, we already exceed 10% of the number of productions. With the new baccalaureate, we come to develop expertise in all areas to reach this figure, all genres combined. This training will allow us to have jobs in Quebec that we have less of, such as directors and screenwriters”, hopes Renaud Sylvain, convinced of the cinematographic and television potential of Quebec, if only for the unique charm of the Old Quebec.
Registration for the bachelor’s degree in cinema at Laval University should open shortly. Until now, the Department of Literature, Theater and Film offered only a certificate, which also displays a placement rate of 100%, according to the University.
With the new baccalaureate, we come to develop expertise in all areas to reach this figure of 10% of the number of productions, all genres combined.
Like a growing industry, with the rise of digital platforms and video games. In Quebec, as in Montreal, the workforce is no longer sufficient to meet demand.
In addition to Laval University, which is responding to this growing problem by setting up a bachelor’s degree, the Cégep de Jonquière announced last fall that it was completely remodeling its cinema program for the start of the new school year in September to adapt to the new market reality. The number of places will thus increase from 125 to 160 per cohort.
“Many employers would like to have young people trained quickly to enter the job market now. But in 15 years, we don’t know where we’re going to be. It’s important to take the time to properly train the students to ensure that the graduates are as versatile as possible,” warns the head of technique, Jaky Fortin, in the face of all this unrest in the community.