Windsor-Essex should do more to support films, says filmmaker

A filmmaker originally fromAmherstburg says an officededicated to filming in Windsor-Essex could boost production in the southwest.

"Somebody who knows the area, knows the location," said Gavin Michael Booth.

Booth has created four feature films, including ScareHouse, which was shot in Windsor. He has also made more than 100 music videos. He now works inLosAngeles.

"If you're a stranger coming to Windsor to make a film and suddenly say 'listen we need a rustic barn or we need a massive cornfield that we can film in,' you need somebody that has those relationships and knows in one heartbeat who to call and how to figure out to do that," said Booth.

A film office could help outside businesses by having one central place to go, but it could hurt local productions, says Vincent Georgie, executive director for The Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF).

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"It does create more red tape and more regulation for the local filmmakers," he said,

"One of the great things for the local filmmakers here in Windsor is they are more free and there's less regulation around shooting in the city and that's actually fantastic," said Georgie.

"I think that would actually be something of concern for the local filmmaking community - and I'd be concerned for them as well."

WIFF applied to the City of Windsor for funding, but only received 2-thousand dollars to support arts and culture. Ontario's film industry brought $1.5 Billion into the economyin 2015.