Minds Eye: Kevin DeWalt's big adventure - Minds Eye Pictures

TAKE ONE, March, 2002 by Christine Ramsay, Ken Wilson

DeWalt predicts continued growth for the Saskatchewan film and television industry. "The ingredients-crews programs facilities are being put into place he says. But there is a need for additional government support Manitoba, for example has $2.5 million over and above the provincial tax credit program to invest in project and its difficult for Saskatchewan producers to compete with this Equity financing is offered in all provinces, except Ontario and New Brunswick, which rely on enhancements to their tax-credit program to increase production volumes. With a provincial equity program DeWalt thinks the Saskatchewan industry could do $100 million every year. The Canada/Saskatchewan Soundstage, a $11.5-million venture slated to open in March 2002-funded by provincial and federal governments the City of Regina and the Saskatchewan industry - will be a big help. There is a need for the facility Minds Eye moved $27 million worth of production to Calgary and Winnipeg in 2001 because of Reginals current lack of suitab le facilities and DeWalt was instrumental in the eight years it took to lobby the provincial and federal governments for funding. When it's completed it will be the biggest sound stage in the Canadian Prairies Valerie Creighton CEO of Sask Film a non-profit funding agency that will administer the sound stage, says "it will be a state-of-the-art-full-service facility offering a production experience comparable to anywhere else." Of course the Soundstage will benefit Minds Eye Creighton adds but it will also create "a sophisticated production environment for the entire Saskatchewan scene and beyond.

DeWalt would like to see more film student take an interest in the business side of the industry. When he started Minds Eye he took courses from the Federal Business Development Bank which made him realize how important it is to understand the language of banker and investors. "The greatest films have a business plan" DeWalt says "Success on a shoestring budget is incredibly rare. At the same time he hope the Saskatchewan industry will develop a distinctive Prairie voice and thinks that the Englishman's Boy will play a role in this He believes we need to grow a new generation of filmmakers in the West who will make work that reflects their own experience Just go out take a digital video camera travel from Regina to Winnipeg and make a film about it' is his advice to young filmmakers. "If you have to use your credit card use your credit card. At the end of the day if you lose it all so what? You may have just begun the adventure of your life"