MINISTERS ANNOUNCE SOUND STAGE PROJECT FOR FILM AND VIDEO INDUSTRY

Released on September 4, 1996

Deputy Premier and minister responsible for Saskatchewan Opportunities
Corporation Dwain Lingenfelter, Municipal Government Minister Carol
Teichrob and minister responsible for Crown Investments Corporation
Berny Wiens today announced a two-year pilot project to establish a
sound stage facility for the Saskatchewan film and video industry. The
facility, located in Regina, will be one of the largest sound stages in
North America and will aid Saskatchewan's ongoing efforts to attract
off-shore productions.

SaskFILM, the pilot project manager, will undertake renovations and
improvements needed to make the facility functional as a sound stage.
The facility will benefit the development of the film and video
industry by providing a venue for year round shooting, allowing for
increased production activity and job creation, particularly in winter
months.

"The opening of the Saskatchewan Sound Stage is an important milestone
for members and supporters of Saskatchewan's commercial film and video
industry," Teichrob said. "This industry is now well positioned to
seize substantial growth opportunities."

The sound stage is one of the initiatives included in the government's
Partnership for Growth economic strategy and is being undertaken
co-operatively by a number of departments, agencies and non-government
organizations.

"Tourism and cultural industries have been recognized in Partnership
for Growth as one of six sectors with strong growth potential,"
Lingenfelter said. "The development of a sound stage will create more
stable jobs in our film and video industry and result in other economic
spin-off benefits for the province."

In Aug. 95, Municipal Government, Economic Development, and the
Saskatchewan Motion Picture Association (SMPIA) jointly contracted the
firm of Ernst and Young to complete a "pre-feasibility study" for the
development of a sound stage facility. The study recommended a
two-year pilot project to allow the industry to develop capacity and to
complete the analysis of the profitability of the project.

"Crown Investments Corporation had an empty building that was not being
used at the time," Wiens said. "The film and video industry needed a
facility to create year round production capability in Saskatchewan.
The synergies were there for the kind of co-operation which sees
Saskatchewan people working together to build jobs."

This year, SaskFILM has committed equity investments of about $1.7
million in 18 projects representing more than $21 million in production
activity. This level of production continues the industry's growth
trend from $10 million in 1994, and $15 million in 1995.

-30-

For more information, contact:

Maureen Boyle
Municipal Government
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-5959