Hollywood North roars back to life
Some of the 60-plus projects underway have relocated from U.S. virus hot spots
Like a digitally animated dinosaur wrecking havoc on an ill-advised theme park, B.C.'s film industry has come roaring back following the COVID-19 shutdown earlier this year to top pre-pandemic levels.
“The film industry is one of the big B.C. industries that has successfully restarted, re-employing tens of thousands of people,” said David Shepheard, head of the Vancouver Film Commission that last week released a report indicating record highs for Hollywood North.
Prior to the shutdown brought in mid-March, there had been 41 productions in progress. Now seven months later, there are more than 60 projects underway in various stages of production from some of the biggest names in film: Netflix, CBS, Disney, Warner Bros. and ABC.
The higher number of productions is largely due to the migration of projects from U.S. filming locales up to British Columbia, where control of the COVID-19 situation and a low case count has allowed for certain industries to resume operations.
Visual effects and animation divisions also moved to remote work setups early on and were able to continue working through the shutdown, keeping the lights on B.C.'s film sector.
While B.C.'s film industry was never subject to an official order to close by health officials, studio heads, local health authorities and unions were in communication throughout the shutdown to ensure a return to filming could be done safely.
“As a collaborative, agile and adaptable business sector, we are in the fortunate position to help restore the productivity and optimism that characterizes our region, as we navigate recovery from an extraordinary global crisis together,” said Peter Leitch, chairman of the Motion Picture Production Industry Association of B.C. and president of North Shore Studios.
Prior to 2020's unpredictable storyline, research conducted by the Vancouver Economic Commission also notes that B.C.'s film industry had set a new record last year, with more than $4.1 billion spent in the province (all figures in Canadian dollars).
Of that total, $3.1 billion was on physical production alone, with the remaining $1 billion on post-production and animation, much of which also takes place in Vancouver.
The $4.1-billion figure nearly triples 2012's $1.6 billion. From 201219, film activity has translated into $22.7 billion for the provincial economy in the areas of hospitality, tourism, material suppliers, transportation and construction, including $12.5 billion alone in wages for British Columbians. It's estimated the film industry supports more than 70,000 jobs across B.C.
While 2020's spending totals will understandably be lower than in previous years due to the extended period of shutdown, Hollywood North's return to set suggests an upward trajectory.
“Competitive production tax credits, experienced talent, supportive permitting, state-of-theart infrastructure and an integrated ecosystem have worked in tandem for decades to build Vancouver's global reputation for success,” said Shepheard.
“In the minds of studios and producers, filming in Vancouver comes with the knowledge that the region's experienced talent can deliver world-class productions,” he added.
The film industry is one of the big B.C. industries that has successfully restarted, re-employing tens of thousands of people.