Tax Shelter isn't something new for DreamWall (notably through the production company Araneo). Today the Marcinelle-based company wants to further explore this fiscal mechanism of production aids by joining forces with 4 private and 5 public partners. We met with Léon Perahia, the driving power behind this new Tax Shelter bureau, Go West.

How did this all start?

Léon Perahia: For a while already we wanted to be able to offer to participate in the co-productions for which we delivered a quote to producers, especially for foreign productions. Araneo has been lead to look for Tax Shelter financing for projects on which DreamWall and Dame Blanche worked.

At the same time, when it came to the transfer of rights by Dupuis for productions based on work from their catalogue, like f.e. Largo Winch , it became clear that it was possible to make producers consider carrying out work in Belgium if we offered to participate by bringing in tax shelter financing.

The set-up of Go West is based on the principle that a service provider's appeal to a producer will increase along with the possibilities for aid with the financing which the provider can offer together with their estimate. However, we are in direct competition with countries like France and Luxembourg where there are many sources of public financing. We wish to offer a competitive system in which we can showcase both the regional skills and the financing aids.

Who are the private partners?

L.P.: DreamWall, of course, who are specialised in 2D/3D animation and the creation of virtual sets. Dame Blanche is a sound studio (mixing, dubbing, music, sound effects) which now also offers services for image post-production. Victor Studio, also based in Genval, makes special effects for feature films and 3D animations. FDP Production, producer of TV shows (Cinquante Degrés Nord with Mediares) and light shoots (TV reports and documentaries). And Virtualis which regroups around eleven companies working with cutting edge technologies (among which NeuroTV).

Each of these companies' know-how complements that of the others. Our objective as an association is to support the local audiovisual production field and allow it to develop in a sustainable way by offering advantages which make us competitive. It should be possible to bring work which is currently being done abroad back to Belgium.

Who is on the side of the public invest companies?

L.P.: First we met with Wallimage, who encouraged our initiative from the get-go. Then we figured that the regional investment companies set up where the private partners established their business could perhaps bring moral support to our approach. After an in-depth analysis of the matter they all decided to join the project: Sambre Invest, Nivelle Invest, Invest Mons-Borinage-Centre, Hoccinvest and Wallimage.

It is a public/private partnership. We clearly wish to create the necessary conditions which will make it possible to structure, develop and make durable the audiovisual field in the Hainaut/Walloon Brabant region.

When will Go West take off?

L.P.: We are already operational. We use Dupuis' existing structure at Marcinelle where we can take advantage of the shared services (offices, accountancy, etc.), which makes it possible for us to start up without fixed costs. At first, there will be two of us working, my colleague, Raphaële Ingbert, and myself. We will probably extend this configuration. But I have a tendency to address needs as they manifest themselves rather than to anticipate them and take the risk of having a too-heavy structure.

So it is a new structure, but Go West will benefit from all of your experience.

L.P.: Of course. We have worked with the Tax Shelter since its implementation in 2004. Moreover, we have some experience with the French aid mechanisms (CNC and tax credits among others) as well as with juggling all of these systems without creating competition between them, with everyone's benefit in mind.

In a way we are simply adding a structure to an already existing function.

Where does Go West position itself compared to other Tax Shelter bureaus?

L.P.: While companies like Scope Invest, IMG or Casa Kafka are for the most part an intermediate between producers and Tax Shelter investors, it is our calling to lend support to the service providers who are partners on the project. The funds we will raise will be used to finance the work they will do on the productions for which Go West will bring in Tax Shelter financing. Our role will also be to take advantage of our experience with international co-productions and to optimize their set-up.

A little like the Liège-based Pôle Image...

L.P.: Absolutely, I would even go as far to say that we are in a certain way complementary to each other since the Pôle Image also plays the card of investing in the local economy, but then in the region of Liège.