You can expect to see more film and television productions in North Bay once COVID-19 restrictions loosen up.
Rob Riselli, Film Programs and Reporting Supervisor for Creative Industries Ontario North (CION), says there are projects that are awaiting the go-ahead to resume production.
“In talking with my contacts, they’re expecting a very busy summer,” Riselli said. “There’s definitely an uptick in terms of interest in North Bay and in the north. It’s just a matter of timing right now.”
Film and TV productions in northern Ontario, including North Bay, have increased in recent years following the success of a couple of series.
“There has certainly been a growth,” Riselli noted, saying the area used to be home to smaller, independent films. “Then I think when shows like Letterkenny and Cardinal happened, it put the north on the map. That growth is great because now we’re seeing bigger budgeted film and TV series, more opportunities for people to work – it’s a growing industry.”
North Bay does not have fees for filming permits and also offers concierge services for location scouting and funding assistance. There are also financial incentives for productions to film in Ontario, as well as northern Ontario specifically.
In 2019, the city was home to 15 productions which led to just over $46 million being spent by the film and television industry that year alone. That was up from around $13 million in 2018.
In 2020, the pandemic halted virtually all production in the beginning, but Riselli says the industry immediately began preparing for a return.
“They engaged really early on with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour about what does the industry needs to be safe,” he said. “When everyone was given the okay to get back to work, the film industry was ready for it.”
From August until December last year, the city was home to a handful of productions including Hallmark Christmas movies and a feature film called “Lakewood.”
Once the third wave of COVID-19 slows down and vaccination numbers are up, Riselli is confident crews will be hard at work in a safe manner.
“I think we’re going to be busier than we ever have been before but we’re going to do it safely,” he said. “The producers take the situation very seriously. They wear their mask, they have their PPE, there’s regular testing of the cast and crew. They know it’s a privilege for them to work.”
