But he says the revived sense of community among local filmmakers is encouraging as he winds down his time at OGFT; he will leave on June 30 to go into consulting and related types of projects.
Mr. Brunette, 52, is originally from the Eastview neighbourhood in Ottawa, and prior to helming OGFT ran his own production company – PRB Media – for 16 years.
"One thing I've noticed the past four years I've been there: I've noticed an underground movement of filmmakers," he said in an OBJ interview.
"We see all these young, aspiring, anywhere between early 20s to late 40s (filmmakers) shooting their movies with very, very few dollars using all these new media tools … and making their film. That takes a lot of guts. They are still poor, but they show a lot of creativity."
Direct spending due to film production in Ottawa reached $23 million in 2010, more than double the $9 million in 2009, according to OGFT numbers.
In partnership with other industry insiders, Mr. Brunette has been working on a business plan to have a multi-purpose creative industries facility in Ottawa near the airport to shoot movies and do production work.
That project, first proposed in 2008, is still in the works, with the business plan not expected to be finished until this fall.
"The National Capital Region needs this. I can't understand it. Halifax and other small cities in Canada have their own sound stage, and Canada's capital does not," he said.
"I don’t believe we can grow if we don’t give ourselves the right tools. Look at the new Convention Centre already having an impact. It’s part of growing. That is unfortunately something I wanted to see while doing my mandate."
