By Tyler Orton
What happened: MPC Vancouver reportedly shuts down
Why it matters: The company is allegedly seeking ‘more attractive opportunities in other locations’
British visual effects house Moving Picture Company (MPC) has reportedly closed shop on its Vancouver office.
In an apparent memo to employees that began circulating on social media December 11, MPC said "increasing external market pressures in Vancouver and more attractive opportunities in other locations have created a challenging environment for us to sustain a studio.”
MPC said its parent company, Technicolor SA, would continue to expand in Montreal and Toronto, as well as Paris, Los Angeles and Adelaide, Australia, according to the memo.
B.C.’s interactive digital media tax credit comes in at 17.5% versus comparable credits in Ontario and Quebec that come in at 40% and 37%, respectively.
Business in Vancouver has not been able to verify the authenticity of the memo and calls to MPC have not been answered.
MPC Vancouver opened in 2007 with a team of artists working on the 2009 film Watchmen, which was also filmed in the city.
The Vancouver team has also worked on films such as Skyscraper, starring Dwayne Johnson, and the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog movie, both of which were filmed in B.C.
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