Alberta’s Arts and Culture Minister heads to Hollywood to promote the film and television industry

Alberta’s minister of arts, culture and the status of women is in Los Angeles this week to promote the province’s growing film and television industry.

“It is an investment in an industry that creates jobs, diversifies and strengthens our economy,” Tanya Fair said.

I’ve booked meetings with executives from HBO and other major Hollywood production houses.

She will also co-host an event with the Canadian Consulate to celebrate the 30th Emmy nominations for two major productions filmed in Alberta.

The Last of Us has already won eight of those awards, Prey has one and they could win more this weekend.

“This is a great time to capitalize on this momentum now and market Alberta as a premium location for film and television producers and studios,” Fair said.

Calgary-based sound mixer Michael Playfair and his team won an Emmy for outstanding sound mixing on HBO’s The Last of Us at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Saturday.

“It was a very exciting, exciting moment just getting on stage,” he told CTV News.

Playfair, who has been in the industry for 25 years, says it was one of the “most amazing” shows he has ever worked on.

“It was a great budget show and they really had the resources to do everything right and take care of problems when they happened and pick really good locations,” he said.

The Motion Picture Association says The Last of Us was the largest series ever filmed in Canada, contributing $141 million to the local economy.

Calgary Economic Development Film Commissioner Luke Azevedo will join the minister for meetings with studio executives.

He says he is optimistic about next year.

“We’re trying to make sure we’re bringing major projects back to the province as well as supporting our local producers and making sure they get the opportunity to tell these Alberta stories to the world,” he said.

Edson Castro, an animation teacher at Bow Valley College, says he wants to see this part of the industry grow.

“When it comes to animation, which is my main field, it is not where I want to be,” he said, noting that there are not many animation companies in the province.

“I hope it grows in the future. I think there will be a good group of animators and filmmakers here.”

Fir is scheduled to be in Los Angeles through Friday.

The Primetime Emmy Awards are scheduled to take place on Sunday.