DGC releases stats: nearly 6 in 10 productions directed by non-Canadians

Late last year, the Directors Guild of Canada released it’s first Director Statistics Report.

This comprehensive study on the engagement of Canadian directors by both Canadian and international producers, studios and networks for 2021, focuses in on region, gender, production type and the entities commissioning film and television production.

Some highlights:

  • 75% of all Episodic work in Canada was from US-based studios and networks.
  • Together, Warner Media and Netflix shot more television in Canada than all Canadian networks combined.
  • Canadian Directors directed on average 41% of the US-financed TV episodes across the country.
  • Across all the DGC Episodes, women directed 43%.
  • In 2021, BC shot almost half of the 1,256 Episodes produced in English Canada, with BC accounting for 43%, Ontario shooting 40% and the remaining provinces and territories accounting for 17% of the episodic work shot.
  • Only 4% of all productions in BC were funded by a Canadian studio or network.
  • Nearly 70% of the CBC’s English language shows are shot in Ontario.
  • Only 39% of the features shot in English Canada were directed by Canadians. Of these, 31% were directed by women members.

My take: this makes fascinating reading! If I understand it correctly, nearly six out of ten productions in Canada are directed by non-Canadians.