After years of steady industry growth, Calgary could finally see ground broken for its first purpose-built film studio as early as spring 2007.

"If it is going to happen, this is the time," says Michael Brown, VP of business development and retention at Calgary Economic Development.

"We are in the request-for-proposals process right now, and have approached 55 groups globally. We have four or five [development] groups that are serious about proposals and being part of this process."

The move follows a study of the municipal film industry that identified its lack of studio space as a problem. Producers have long relied on CFB Currie Barracks, which offers four retrofitted soundstages, but the former military base will be redeveloped as a residential area within the next few years. And after $165 million in economic activity attributable to the province's production industry last year - a 14% rise over 2004 - its most cosmopolitan city needs a new studio space, says Brown.

"It has been proven in many markets that retrofitted facilities just don't work," says Brown. "You need to have something tailor-made for the film industry."

CED engaged consulting firm ERA Associates to look at the feasibility of a studio, and its study "found that with minimal participation from government - in terms of land or dollars - the private sector would come forward and carry out the last mile or two, to the point where they could receive a 15% return," says Brown.

ERA also says it would take approximately $8 million, plus land, to erect a decent three-soundstage high-end production studio in Calgary. The federal, provincial and municipal governments have expressed a desire to help with either funding, land or finance guarantees, says Brown, which is encouraging, as he had misgivings early on about their support. Brown is also encouraged by the quality of the proposals CED is receiving.

One group that has expressed interest - but with reservations - is led by local producer Chad Oakes of Nomadic Pictures (Broken Trail). Oakes says he and his partners - private investors from the oil industry - did their own study on the viability of a studio in the city, and its findings have left him asking, "If we build it, will they come?"

Oakes, whose Nomadic is housed in the office space at the Barracks, says if he and his partners are going to submit an official proposal, it will be before the end of September.

"For certain budgets and movies, I'm not convinced that people will be running to Alberta," says Oakes. "There will always be production here, but you can't have just four or six months worth of rentals on a studio. You need it rented out for eight to 10 months to make it economically viable."

Producer Tom Cox of Alberta Filmworks (Brokeback Mountain) agrees, but sees a way around the issue. Cox has been hearing about studio proposals since the mid-1980s, and says their common "fatal flaw" is relying on the studio to be the revenue generator.

"That is not a practical model, especially here," says Cox. "[Alberta] will not have the kind of concentration of production or volume that Toronto or Vancouver do. What would be encouraging is to see a model emerge that doesn't rely entirely on the studio, but rather takes a village approach [which would include other businesses within the studio complex] and a self-sustaining philosophy in which the studio could be the gravy."

But Cox agrees that a studio is essential to the region, to put it in league with other North American production centers. Many of the feature and MOW projects coming to Calgary are location-based, but a studio would be an important step to get the city into other areas, specifically series.

"That is an economic engine that this province absolutely needs to compete with other provinces and jurisdictions," says Cox. "There is no business model for a big-budget dramatic series that doesn't include soundstages and standing sets. Whether it is attracting series to the province or a series generated from the province, it is an absolute necessity."

www.calgaryeconomicdevelopment.com