Welcome to Hammywood!
Hamilton is well on its way to becoming a film industry hub
On my way to meet Juno Rinaldi and Shaun Smyth, creative directors of the new Hamilton Film Centre, I chuckled to myself as I passed a film crew setting up to shoot a scene in spitting range of Café Oranje, where we would spend the next hour discussing Hamilton’s budding film industry.
Rinaldi, who portrays Frankie on the CBC sitcom “Workin’ Moms,” and Smyth, a seasoned film and theatre actor who has appeared in series such as “Fringe” and “Murdoch Mysteries,” have joined forces to bring a professional-level film school to Hamilton.
According to the pair, the figurative film industry porridge is just the right temperature for their current venture.
“Hamilton wouldn’t have been ready for it 10 years ago, and in another 10 years it would be too late,” says Rinaldi.
Those looking to put down film roots will find fertile soil underfoot in the Hammer.
Many Hamiltonians have no doubt noticed film crews popping up frequently, utilizing Hamilton’s character-rich architecture as on-location movie and television sets.
As I walk through central Hamilton, I sometimes find myself temporarily relocated.
A foreign yet familiar yellow cab sat stationed outside of the Textile Building early this fall, the prematurely snowy George Street having been transformed into winter in Manhattan.
More recently, I passed through Boston on my way by the David Braley Health Sciences Centre at Bay and Main streets, a fictional Boston area TV crew van and Boston police car parked near the entrance to La Prep.
Hamilton has been recognized as an ideal place to grow a film culture, but thus far, a limited amount of Hamilton skill and talent has been harnessed. Professionals like Rinaldi and Smyth are working to change this by offering high-quality training from experienced and working actors.
At this point, they say, it is largely coincidence when our local talent is hired for a production filming in Hamilton, and much of the resources required for these productions are transported from Toronto. Rather than commuting to Toronto for filming, a Hamilton-based actor might get to film in the city they live in, but they are still likely to travel to Toronto regularly for such requirements as costume fittings.
Rinaldi comments that Toronto’s film industry is saturated, and students are often learning from teachers with little or no experience in their own film careers. She and Smyth are adamant that they teach from the perspective of acting professionals.
The HFC is coming up alongside other exciting projects. It’s no secret that director Guillermo del Toro has expressed interest in building a film studio in Hamilton, which would provide us with all of the tools to keep our productions locally sourced, and create jobs for many residents with offcamera skills.
“Instead of bringing everything in from Toronto, let’s have it all here,” says Smyth of the prospective partnership between the HFC and a future studio.
The school would produce the talent, while the studio would provide the necessities to create a self-contained industry.
It has also been reported this year that film and television producer Fred Fuchs, a resident of Dundas, is in the process of rejuvenating the Westdale Theatre, and he is doing so with a mind toward little-known indie film showings and small live performances in a multipurpose creative space.
Smyth says that Fuchs is eager to collaborate with the HFC, though no specific projects have been outlined.
As for the American productions shooting in Hamilton, I wondered how they would factor into our developing industry.
Rinaldi and Smyth agree the money funnelling into Hamilton from American producers is very much desired, but the establishment of essentials like a film studio, and a professional training centre for local actors, will allow us to better host those who wish to bring their show business north of the border.
If we can provide a fresh and affordable space for filmmakers, with all of the fixings, we can effectively compete with Toronto.
What can aspiring actors expect from their education at the HFC?
In addition to the fundamentals of acting, they teach the specifics of acting in front of a camera, technical knowledge and industry-specific language, and they help their students become comfortable with being filmed, and even watching themselves on film.
“Most don’t have experience on camera yet,” Smyth notes — meaning that no previous industry knowledge or experience is required to enrol. (Hint, hint.)
I may have a flair for the theatrical after a few glasses of wine, but as for Hamilton’s up-and-coming film scene, I remain an enthusiastic spectator.
After chatting with my friends at the HFC, I have no doubt I will be thoroughly entertained.
Laura Furster is a writer, artist and journalist living in downtown Hamilton. She can be found on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram, and at www.laura-furster.com. Contact: laura.furster@outlook.com.