Northeastern Ontario could be home to three film studios serving thriving industry
News this week about a $35 million film studio proposed for Greater Sudbury is just the latest of a flurry of recent announcements in the northeast.
Representatives from Freshwater Production Studios made their pitch to city council this week, outlining plans for a new, 116,000-square-foot facility on The Kingsway that would feature three sound stages, in addition to office and workshop areas.
If everything goes according to plan, construction will begin in 2023, eventually creating 1,385 jobs and bringing in $60 million in revenue.
The goal would be to attract higher-value productions to the north and take advantage of the billions that streaming networks are spending on new productions.
Freshwater spokesperson Tammy Frick said that the new studio will help spawn other facilities in the north.
"I think in 10 years, FPS will be the studio that started (other) studios in northern Ontario," Frick said, in promotional video shown to council.
"I can see, definitely, a sound stage in North Bay, I think Sault Ste. Marie isn't far behind. So I really do believe that this is just the beginning."
Speaking to councillors Tuesday, Frick said the video was shot two months ago and her prediction has already come true.
Earlier this week, a Toronto area developer and film producer announced plans to turn a historic building in downtown Sault Ste. Marie into a film studio, with productions to begin shooting there next year.
And in North Bay, North Star Studios, a new film and TV production company, is buying the vacant Epiroc office building on Ferris Drive to transform it into a $26 million film studio capable of creating large-scale productions.
"That's how quickly news goes," she said. "This industry is growing rapidly in northern Ontario."
What makes Freshwater unique, she said, is that is a purpose-built studio capable of handling higher-end productions and post-production work from other projects.
Consultant Edith Myers told councillors that the studio would join Pinewood in Toronto as the only other purpose-built studio in Canada.
It has since become home to high-end movie shoots and series such as Star Trek Discovery, which films over many seasons, extending the economic benefits.
Myers said streaming services are in need of space for productions, and that Ontario has had to turn away work since 2016.
"Every nook and cranny has been converted into quasi studio space," she said.
"Sudbury has a unique opportunity to build the first purpose-built studio. And having a purpose-built studio is going to be a pull."
Myers said the studio will be able to handle three productions at the same time, with room to expand at its Kingsway location.
"It's a fantastic opportunity," she said. "There's going to be so much business for all of northern Ontario."
See the full presentation here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
developing Bus plunges off a bridge in South Africa, killing 45 people. An 8-year-old child is only survivor
A bus carrying worshippers headed to an Easter festival plunged off a bridge on a mountain pass and burst into flames in South Africa on Thursday, killing at least 45 people, authorities said.
Calgary bridges remain closed due to ongoing police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Kinew, Poilievre meet at Manitoba legislature, discuss each other's priorities
Premier Wab Kinew and federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre met at the Manitoba legislature Thursday afternoon.
Rainfall warnings of up to 80 mm among weather alerts in effect for 6 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres and other alerts have been issued for six Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.