Ken Korral. (Darren Brown, OBJ)

Under the guidance of a little-known office, Ottawa is quickly becoming one of Canada's top cities for filmmaking with $50 million spent on film and television production in the past 12 months.

Almost three years ago, longtime international location manager Ken Korral was hired by the city to head up the Ottawa-Gatineau Film and Television Development Corporation (OGFT), a new agency mandated to attract film and television productions to the nation's capital. The OGTF first opened its doors for business in September 2003, replacing the previous film office that closed a decade earlier due to city budget cuts.

So far it appears the idea is working.

Just over $19 million was spent here in 2003. That increased to $30.1 million in 2004, and Mr. Korral hopes to crack $50 million next year with nine confirmed feature films in the works and possibly 15 more.

"I'm very proud of what we've been able to do here," Mr. Korral said last week at a location shoot on Preston Street. "People have discovered that they can go to one central place for information. We try to answer all their questions, facilitate their needs and rectify problems. They know that when they come here they'll have an easy time getting their jobs done."

The OGFT offers such services as travel arrangements, script breakdown and location scouting, filming permits, and access to casting agencies and extras.

On a recent tour, Mr. Korral pointed out an ambulance, a closed street and reserved parking for trailers and motor homes, all courtesy of his office through the City of Ottawa.

"One of the best parts about this is that we can come in, shoot the scenes with all these vehicles parked here and the lights, the cameras and the actors, and no one really notices we're here. We finish quickly and we're gone before anyone is disturbed. That's the way we like it."

Brought here from Montreal, where he had been working since the days of Mayor Jean Drapeau, Mr. Korral has been involved with such movies as The Sum of All Fears, Reindeer Games and Driven.

Unit manager Andre Trinque, who has known and worked with Mr. Korral for years, has nothing but good things to say about the city and its residents.

"Ottawa makes it easy to film. The geography has a lot to offer and the citizens are extremely cooperative. It's a clean city and doing business here is a pleasure."

He added that requirements are met in quick fashion – something that lures filmmakers when scouting for locations. "It's usually takes a couple of weeks to get what we need. If it took much longer, we wouldn't be here."

Paolo Copelli, senior logistical advisor for the City of Ottawa, acts as the point man for the municipal government and as a liaison for OGFT. He works to get what Mr. Korral needs, whether it is a park bench for a scene or access to a public building. He says the increase in film revenue is positive for the entire city.

"I try to help him navigate through the City's red tape and put him in contact with the right people because this is beneficial to the city. Business comes in, it showcases the city as a place where you can do business and it provides jobs for Ottawa talent so they don't have to go to Montreal or Toronto. They can stay here and work."

The only problem for Mr. Copelli is a budget for the film office of less than $200,000, which he said prohibits advertising in the Hollywood and New York trade papers. "I hope that gets increased, though, because I know we could recruit a lot more business here."

The OGFT is financed through a funding arrangement between the City of Ottawa, the City of Gatineau and the National Capital Commission with Ottawa Tourism and local film companies covering some operational expenses. Ottawa's share of the bill is about $50,000 per year.

By Scott Taylor

scott.taylor@transcontinental.ca