The county is drafting a new filming policy on how to handle future production visits – have your say now!

Do you remember a few weeks ago we mentioned the County of Brant was working on a filming strategy to guide film productions in the future? If you recall, now is the time to have your say and submit your thoughts to the County of Brant. With the Amazon Prime TV series Motorheads wrapping up its first group of visits, you can share your experience – what worked for you, what did not? How can the county better manage production companies who take over our town for shooting movies, TV series or commercials? Whether you’re a resident or business owner, your input is valuable. The survey is open until August 21 on the County’s Engage Brant website. In case you didn’t catch our first story, here’s a recap.

Zach Gable, Director of Economic Development and Tourism was before the Administration & Operations Committee last month to present the draft of a new Film Policy that will guide filming and digital media strategies for the next 3-5 years. Among the top concerns is how filming impacts local businesses and residents. The goal is to improve current filming processes and establish a film policy and permit system that ensures positive economic results while upholding the rights, safety and privacy of residents and preservation of public property As it stands now, there is no overarching policy or framework for film activities in the County To bring the new policy into effect, several existing county by-laws that govern different aspects of filming would need to be updated, including park use, road, noise, fireworks, business licensing and animal control.

That would mean tighter restrictions on how production companies “dress” sets, close roads, affect businesses, provide notification for interruptions, film in restricted (environmentally, or culturally sensitive) areas, how they provide compensation, and what specific film details they should provide, among a long list of other guidelines outlined in the 19-page draft report. Gable identified that the need for this policy has been in the works for quite some time but recognized that the recent filming of the Amazon Prime series Motorheads has brought the issue to the forefront and flagged the importance of developing and securing a firm policy.

The County of Brant has hosted several film productions of various sizes and scales. Between 2019 to 2023, the County was home to 44 filming projects, including The Cuban, The Handmaid’s Tale and Murdoch Mysteries. Motorheads has presented staff with the largest film project in the County of Brant to date with 15 filming and preparation days over the course of five separate visits

The film industry represents a significant economic opportunity for the County, with an estimated $3 billion in economic benefit to the Province of Ontario. Visit brant.ca/FilmingSurvey to share your thoughts on filming in the County of Brant by completing a short survey. The survey closes onAugust 21, 2024.