Canada

CANADA endless possibilities

Wedding Season © Ken Woroner & Netflix.

From tree filled parks that mimic Scandinavian forests, cityscapes that stand in for the concrete jungle, to expansive studio spaces capturing everything in between, Canada has something to offer any production.

Spanning ten provinces and three territories, Canada’s regionally specific incentives are hard to pass up on. Alongside the country’s location diversity and recent investments in the development of their workforce, it’s no wonder that Canada is a production powerhouse. As foreign filmmakers explore Hollywood North, the savings on production are just the cherry on top of the experiences that are on offer.

BRITISH COLUMBIA With a CAD3.8 billion spend recorded in 2021, the British Columbia film industry is roaring from the top. Offering four to six film permits per day, the number of productions is up at least a quarter on last year.

“We had expected the data to show a strong recovery given what we saw on the ground last year, but these numbers exceed all our expectations,” Geoff Teoli, acting Vancouver film commissioner, said in a statement.

A long standing go to for productions, the western-most province has not been untouched by the streaming platform heavyhitters with Disney + production The Spiderwick Chronicles arrival in Vancouver in September 2022. With its fantasy plotlines and fantastical imagery, the series use of Burnaby’s Deer Lake Park is the perfect match.

Following a shift towards more studio based filming after post-pandemic control measures were put in place, the opening of Lake City Studios is taking

LOCATION HIGHLIGHT As the Canadian Rockies tower over the low lying communities of British Columbia and Alberta, it’s hard not to take in the magnificent peaks that line their way along the province’s border.

Scraping the sky at 3,954 metres, the Rockies line Banff National Park, combining the mountainous wonder with crystal blue rivers and lush green tree covered lands.

The Rockies have offered its film worthy backdrop to a number of cinema spectacles. From painting the backdrop to the tumultuous love story of Brokeback Mountain, to the intimidatingly cold and daunting precipices in Leonardo DiCaprio’s The Revenant (pictured above), whilst maintaining their staggering form, the mountains offer a blank canvas to bring film narratives to life.

“AS FOREIGN FILMMAKERS EXPLORE HOLLYWOOD NORTH, THE SAVINGS ON PRODUCTION ARE JUST THE CHERRY ON TOP OF THE EXPERIENCES THAT ARE ON OFFER.”

The Revenant © 2015 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.

Q&A

TOM PRINCE PRESIDENT OF FILM & PRODUCTION 101

Q: What productions brought you to Canada?

A: A Taylor Sheridan series, starring Jeremy Renner called Mayor of Kingstown, a Paramount+ and 101 Studiosproduction. We shot at Stratagem Studios, Toronto, plus surrounding areas in Hamilton and the Kingston Penitentiary.

Q: What was the experience like working in Canada?

A: Besides Covid-19. The main challenge our show faced, like many others during this time, were the multitude of productions shooting all at once averaging to over 30. It was often difficult finding the best crew as the city was abnormally busy after the Covid-19 lockdowns. Other than that, we were able to tap into to the local casting talent pool, which was a game changer for us. Stratagem were able to assist us with their industry connections and local knowledge.

Q: What can people look forward to if they choose to shoot in Canada?

A: A very deep crew base, industry standard equipment, versatile locations in and around Toronto. And everybody is so darn nice!

Q: From your experiences, what advice would you give to anyone coming to work in the visual sector in Canada?

A: Get in early and solidify a stage or production service company. production to the next level. Stretching across 19 acres, the expansive facilities will consist of 21 sound stages and 150,000 sqft of production office space, ready for operation in 2025.

ONTARIO Providing a 40% tax credit on labour expenditures up to CAD240,000 and 35% for the remainder of spending, the Ontario film industry is equipped to cater for its influx of production activity. From Marvel’s stint at Stratagem studios to series that have stood the test of time, the province is constantly developing.

With productions such as romantic comedy Wedding Season to the recently released thriller The Luckiest Girl Alive, Netflix has made Ontario it’s stomping ground. As streaming platforms continue to search for homes for their constantly growing roster of productions, Ontario’s multidimensional location offerings are a saving grace. Whilst the Wedding Season is set in New Jersey, production was in fact conducted in the Greater Toronto area. Cambium farms in the Ontario region of Peel were the setting for critical wedding scenes.

Longstanding Canadian television drama Murdoch Mysteries is currently in production for its sixteenth season, with completion scheduled for February 2023. Calling Ontario home since 2008, the local series is now licensed by broadcasters in 110 countries and territories worldwide.

“Our stories utilise the rich history of the province and we often film at living museums such as the Rockwood Pioneer Village, Glanmore National Historic Site, and Westfield Heritage Village,” commented Christina Jennings, Chairman and President of Shaftesbury Studios, and executive producer on Murdoch Mysteries. “The historic downtowns of Cambridge, Dundas, and Elora perfectly illustrate the Victorian setting, whilst historic sites like The Kingston Penitentiary, the mines of Cobalt, Dundurn Castle in Hamilton create great production values.

ALBERTA Following the 2021 release of Ghostbusters: Afterlife, shot in the cosmopolitan Calgary area, Alberta is continuing its development of the region as a contender against surrounding Canadian territories. Expecting to handout CAD225 million by 2025 in tax credit, the province has already attracted nearly CAD1billion worth of productions thanks to the program since launch in 2020.

HBO’s The Last of Us series entered the local Calgary industry with a vengeance. With a minimum budget of USD10 million per episode, the 10 part first season, releasing in 2023, is set to be the most expensive televised production in Canada.

With CAD560 million worth of production activity recorded in 2021, Alberta have put in place several

The Last of Us © 2022 Home Box Office, Inc.

SOMETHING ELSE With towering trees found far and wide, Canada is not short of forested landscapes. But the local maple trees are undoubtedly symbolic of the nation.

The long lasting natural features can live anywhere between 100 to 400 years, growing up to as tall as 35 metres. Stretching from Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, Canada produces 71% of the world’s maple syrup.

A long part of the nation’s cultural fabric, maple syrup is a natural marvel. Derived straight from the source, maple trees are drilled and then tapped, allowing the sweet substance to flow right out. training initiatives including schemes from the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists, in order cater to growing demand for skilled workers.

“In this time of unprecedented content creation and consumption we have seen significant growth in production volume in Calgary, and Alberta overall, that has impacted our economy, job creation, sustainability practices as well as engagement with our underrepresented communities,” commented Luke Azevedo, Vice President, creative industries, operations and Film Commissioner at Calgary Economic Development. “We continue to see a positive impact from the sector that brings Alberta to the forefront of the global entertainment market.”

QUEBEC Providing a 20% cash incentive for all projects with a minimum spend of CAD250,000, the Quebec film industry is still on the rise. With an impressive roster of new productions gravitating towards the province, Quebec continues to prove a force to be reckoned with.

The latest edition of Paramount Pictures’ Transformers franchise, Rise of The Beasts will be venturing to the province to film action sequences. Michael Bay executive produces with Tom DeSato and Lorenzo di Bonaventura, with Seve Caple Jr joining the project as director. ESSENTIAL FACTS

TAX INCENTIVE 25%

A 25% tax credit is available for national & co-productions under the Canada film & video production initiative. Foreign cast & crew are required to pay tax in host region, but VAT is recoverable. A minimum of filmed content must identify the region, as well as making the use of local cast & crew along with a cultural test.

STUDIOS The largest film & television studio in Canada is currently finishing construction in the metro Vancouver area, scheduled for operation in 2025. The development boasts 21 sound stages and a combined 480,000 sqft for wardrobe & production office space.

ATA CARNET YES

RECENT PRODUCTIONS Video game inspired HBO series The Last of Us finished filming in the Calgary area June 2022. With a thirteen month shooting schedule, this production is the most expensive to take place in Canada.

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