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
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.