Toronto's Culture Production Boom

[Northern Light]

This story from earlier this month, in The Hollywood Reporter looks at the huge demand and shortage of studio/soundstage space in Canada.

While mentioning Montreal, it primarily covers Toronto and Vancouver.

Canada's Content Boom Sparks a Race for Shooting Space: "The Global Demand Is So High"

With no end in sight for the production surge north of the border, facilities from Vancouver to Toronto are scrambling to meet demand.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

 

[afransen]

The critical shortage of industrial space in the GTA probably doesn't help. As it is, some of the older warehouse space in Mississauga has been snapped up for soundstages.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

From the Star:

https://www.thestar.com/business/2021/04/27/netflix-chooses-toronto-for-its-canadian-corporate-headquarters.html

AoD

 

[Towered]

From the Star:

https://www.thestar.com/business/2021/04/27/netflix-chooses-toronto-for-its-canadian-corporate-headquarters.html

AoD

Good that they're locating downtown too.

 

[afransen]

From the Star:

https://www.thestar.com/business/2021/04/27/netflix-chooses-toronto-for-its-canadian-corporate-headquarters.html

AoD

Kind of sad that Toronto is the 22nd international office they opened. I mean, Canada is not some irrelevant backwater for tech companies.

 

[afransen]

They mention a local Netflix production, premiering May 7th. Jupiter's Legacy:

 

[Midtown Urbanist]

Kind of sad that Toronto is the 22nd international office they opened. I mean, Canada is not some irrelevant backwater for tech companies.

I think that may be because Netflix needs local offices for supporting international productions, more-so than a statement about Canada.

 

[Northern Light]

Culture and MZOs in one article!

Mississauga looking to get an MZO for a new Studio complex.

Article here:

Mississauga to seek special provincial order that would speed up construction of film and TV studio

Mississauga will ask the province for a special order that, if granted, would allow faster construction and fewer planning rules for a proposed film a...

www.thestar.com

Past the paywall, here:

Outline.com

outline.com

 

[Northern Light]

This thread is typically more about the industry of culture than it is one particular show........

However, when one of our own is going to have his likeness on the air, in animated form...............

The topic can be stretched.......

@Towered 's inner child, on youtube and later TV this fall.

Headspinner Productions has begun production on re-imagining of classic Canadian TV series Hilarious House of Frightenstein entitled Happy House of Frightenstein!

From a media release: Headspinner Productions announces they have started production on the preschool animated series HAPPY HOUSE OF FRIGHTENSTEIN based on the beloved characters from the 1971 Cana…

www.tv-eh.com

 

[Tony]

Pixar's 'Turning Red' - due to be released in the Spring of 2022 - is set in Toronto.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1414943191535693829

 

[Northern Light]

The studio space boom is growing to new proportions..........

Missed this article from July 9th in The Hollywood Reporter.

Streaming Wars Kick Off Studio Space Race in Ontario

Production was already increasing in the Canadian province prior to the pandemic, but unprecedented demand during the recovery from major streaming platforms has ignited a soundstage boom: "We’re busier than ever."

www.hollywoodreporter.com

It discusses all the projects we know about, Basin Street, Pinewood Expansion, the enormous facility proposed for Downsview, another very large new facility for Mississauga.....

Plus a production in Pickering that created an entire American midwest town (30 set-backlot) on a farmer's field.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

The studio space boom is growing to new proportions..........

Missed this article from July 9th in The Hollywood Reporter.

Streaming Wars Kick Off Studio Space Race in Ontario

Production was already increasing in the Canadian province prior to the pandemic, but unprecedented demand during the recovery from major streaming platforms has ignited a soundstage boom: "We’re busier than ever."

www.hollywoodreporter.com

It discusses all the projects we know about, Basin Street, Pinewood Expansion, the enormous facility proposed for Downsview, another very large new facility for Mississauga.....

Plus a production in Pickering that created an entire American midwest town (30 set-backlot) on a farmer's field.

I know the Star Trek shows are using fairly cutting edge virtual set here as well:

On The Walls: Virtual Production for Series Shooting - The American Society of Cinematographers

AoD

 

[Northern Light]

The Canadian scripted series Mohawk Girls, which wrapped its 5th and final season awhile ago..........

Has been picked up in the U.S. by Peacock, the streaming version of NBC/Universal. All 5 seasons.

NBC/Universal’s streaming service Peacock snaps up award-winning Mohawk Girls for broadcast in the U.S.

From a media release: Rezolution Pictures announced today that NBC’s Peacock streaming service has picked up all 5 seasons of the critically acclaimed, award-winning and much-loved TV series Moha…

www.tv-eh.com

 

[Northern Light]

Amazon has commissioned their first scripted, 'Canadian' show. (as in culturally Canadian, not just shot here).

Not set in Toronto, but in Northern Ontario, presumably with post-production in Toronto.

Its titled "The Lake" and is a comedy series.

Amazon Prime Video begins production on the first scripted Canadian Amazon original comedy series – The Lake

From a media release: Amazon Prime Video today announced the start of production of the first scripted Canadian Amazon Original series, The Lake. Set in cottage country, the 30-minute episodic come…

www.tv-eh.com

 

[afransen]

Pixar's 'Turning Red' - due to be released in the Spring of 2022 - is set in Toronto.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1414943191535693829

This actually looks like a great use of Toronto as a setting. I'm kind of curious why they chose it, actually, given how rarely Toronto is used.