B.C. movie extras enjoy boom times thanks to low Canadian dollar

The Canadian dollar may have ticked up a bit of late, but it's not expected to slow down a booming sector of cross-border trade:movie-making.

B.C. historicallydoes well in film production when the dollar drops, and 2016 appears to be on track for a banner year. Film and TV background performers,in particular, say they are are busier than ever.

The Union of B.C. Performers says demand for extras is up 18 per centsince 2014.

"I've been doing it for about 12 years now, " background performer Surya Kellar told CBC, while sitting in a makeup chair having a thick coat offake blood applied to his face.

Kellar is one of a few dozenextras cast ina zombie thrillerbeing filmed inside Vancouver's cavernous old post office on West Georgia street this month.

Movie background performers can earn $200 a day, and in good times like this, Kellar saidhe can bring in $60,000 a year.

"It's always been rocky, but the last few years have been great," said Kellar.

Other extras, like 24-year-oldDanielle Lucas, havebeen working flat out since the Canadian dollar started to sink compared tothe U.S. dollar.

"This is really good money for being a union member and having no skills or a college education," said Lucas, also one of the zombie extrasin the movie being produced for a digital streaming network.

"I can't ask for much more."

'Feast or famine'for B.C. film

Film and TV production is a $2-billion-a-year business inB.C., and the province hostsalmost 60per cent of the American televisionand movie shoots donein Canada.

Those who rely on a steady stream of business say this year will be one of the best ever.

"It's feast or famine in the film business.Sometimes you won't work for a long time," said Megan Nicholson, one of about 10 makeup artists transformingthe extras into scary zombies on the Vancouver movie set.

"But right now, you're continuously working. I'm always being asked to do something. It's really good, but tiring. I love it," she said.

Money talks in film production

About 30 productions are on the goin B.C., including the zombie thriller, which is being produced by a Vancouver-based company. The film's producer says he watches the dollar every day.

"It makes a huge difference to what we are able to do, especially on a show like this," said Tim Carter, as he prepared to shoot a scene with a helicopter on the roof of the post office.

"It's a small-budget shoot, so gaining another $20,000 or $30,000makes a huge difference to us."

The low dollar isn't the only draw for Americans to shoot in B.C., of course.

They also like the quality of the crewsand the great locations. But the producers say money talks, and what really makes cameras roll hereis saving a few bucks.