Motion Picture Laboratory Operations and Production and Post-Production Services

Detailed information for 1999

Data from this survey are used with data from the Film, Video and Audio-visual Production Survey to provide a composite picture of the film industry.

Data release - July 22, 2002

• Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s)
• Description
• Data sources and methodology
• Data accuracy

Description

Data from this survey will provide financial and employment statistics on this industry.

The data are intended to reach an audience comprised of businesses (for market analysis), trade associations, government officials, academics, researchers and policy makers.

Data from this survey are used with data from the Film, Video and Audio-visual Production Survey to provide a composite picture of the film industry.

Statistical activity

Statistics Canada data, which describe the Canadian film and video industry, are collected through four separate surveys. Each describes a different segment of the industry. Given the volatility of activity in this sector, data are collected annually through census surveys. This approach ensures the production of reliable indicators for monitoring the health and vitality of the industry.

The surveys that are part of this program are:
Film and Audio-visual Distribution (record number 2414);
Film, Video and Audio-visual Post-production (record number 2415);
Film, Video and Audio-visual Production Survey (record number 2413); and
Motion Picture Theatres Survey (record number 2416).

Reference period: Fiscal year

Collection period: Third quarter

Subjects

• Business, consumer and property services
• Business performance and ownership
• Culture and leisure
• Film and video
• Financial statements and performance
• Information and culture

Data sources and methodology

Target population

This survey covers all businesses or organizations engaged in film, video and audio-visual post-production in Canada. This includes foreign-controlled units operating in Canada. Revenues of subsidiaries or foreign branches are not included.

Instrument design

The questionnaire was originally designed in 1952 in consultation with industry association members and experts.

A detailed question on international service receipts was added in 1996.

Sampling

This survey is a census with a cross-sectional design.

Data are collected for all units of the target population, therefore, no sampling is done.

Data sources

Responding to this survey is mandatory.

Data are collected directly from survey respondents.

The universe is updated annually using trade journals, provincial film associations, and internet sites. Questionnaires are mailed in the third quarter, and collection is completed by the end of the fourth quarter. Mail and telephone are used in follow-ups.

View the Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s) .

Imputation

Imputation is done using previous year's records if available, and other sources of data such as company web pages, other Internet sources, directories, etc. If none of this is available, data of similar units (same province, approximate revenue or employment) are used.

If no information is available for the respondent other than province, a random unit is selected from that same province. A revenue restriction is also used in the selection as it is assumed that the respondent is a smaller unit with low or mid-sized revenues, given the lack of data and information concerning this unit.

Estimation

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.

Quality evaluation

Data quality is largely dependent upon the accuracy of the figures reported by respondents, as well as accuracy of data entry. Data for the current year are compared with data reported for the previous year, and large amounts or variations are confirmed with the respondents. This is done at the micro-level.

Large amounts or large year-over-year changes for publicly traded companies can be verified using Sedar (on the Internet) or on company websites.

Macro-level comparisons are also done once micro-level ones are complete. If macro-level year-over-year comparisons show substantial changes, further micro-level verifications are performed.

Disclosure control

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any data which would divulge information obtained under the Statistics Act that relates to any identifiable person, business or organization without the prior knowledge or the consent in writing of that person, business or organization. Various confidentiality rules are applied to all data that are released or published to prevent the publication or disclosure of any information deemed confidential. If necessary, data are suppressed to prevent direct or residual disclosure of identifiable data.

Strict disclosure guidelines are used to ensure that standard tables, as well as special request data meet confidentiality requirements. These include checks on cells counts, dominance by one (1) or several units for particular cells, and residual disclosure (when comparison of two sets of data results in disclosure of individual data). If tabular data are confidential, they are suppressed, and noted as such. To avoid residual disclosure, the value of a second cell is also suppressed. In some cases, particularly for special requests, data categories are collapsed in order to provide data as per client needs.

Revisions and seasonal adjustment

This methodology does not apply to this survey.

Data accuracy

Potential sources of error for the Film, Video and Audio-visual Post-production survey include:
Overcoverage (i.e. double counting, or two producers reporting the same data);
Undercoverage -- missing units whether newly formed or existing for some time;
Respondent error;
Data entry errors by Statistics Canada staff; and
Compilation and dissemination errors.

Given that this is a census of film post-production operations not a sample survey, coefficients of variation were not calculated.

Errors are corrected by the survey manager once the complete data file has been received from Survey Operations Division. Changes are made by referring to previous years data, published sources (on Internet or otherwise), or general industry trends. For each series of changes to the raw data file, the electronic edit check program is re-run and the failed-edit report is looked at to see if errors have been fixed, or if new ones have been introduced.

The response rate for 1999 was 77%.