There’s no doubt North Bay and area is in demand to shoot films and tv shows these days.

There’s several reasons for this including the options of locations, the infrastructure, government support and community co-operation.

Ryan Keller is with Other Animal Entertainment and is filming in the area.

Keller, producing a movie called Cold Strings which started filming this week says everything he needs is available.

“The people who are more established in the business are moving into the region. That gives us an opportunity to mount a production without having to spread everything out. And that can be costly and challenging logistically,” he says.

John Podolak of Tanners Beach Productions says the infrastructure here is playing a major role for him.

He says he was looking at Orillia for his work as he’s turning a Stephen Leacock book into a movie but that’s changed to North Bay.

“I think this is a perfect location with a lot of good sets and the crews I’ve heard are incredible which is key because I didn’t want to bring people up from Toronto. This makes it easy because everything is here,” Podolak says.

Podolak plans to start filming next summer.

Derek Diorio of Distinct Features says productions aren’t just being filmed here but those behind the productions are moving here and that means they’re buying places to live and paying taxes which benefit the local economy.

But he says part of the challenge is to take Northerners trained at Canadore College and get them more in senior roles in the business.

(photo by station staff)

Filed under: films, movies, productions