Calgary's film production ready to jump into high gear with new soundstages
A boom in the film industry has led to an explosion of development in Calgary's film infrastructure.
Calgary now has more than ten times the amount of soundstage space than it did in 2020, and it's attracting some big projects.
While many film productions come for Alberta's scenery - think everything from Legends of the Fall to Unforgiven to Brokeback Mountain - soundstages mean work can happen all year long.
A huge new soundstage has just been completed, and right beside it, construction is wrapping on another one just like it.
It's all a part of Rocky Mountain Film Studios' latest expansion, fuelled by a spike in demand.
"We've really gotten the attention of the L.A. market," said Rocky Mountain Film Studios executive vice-president Scott Evans. "It's been great."
Part of the mega-budget TV series The Last of Us was shot at Rocky Mountain Film Studios, in a retrofitted warehouse. The two soundstages opening soon are built specifically for film production, including specific wiring and completely sound-proofed.
"It's one of the core aspects that the studios and streamers look for," said Luke Azevedo with Calgary Economic Development.
That's not all. The studio is also completing construction on a support building for set building building and costume creation.
"Essentially a one-stop shop," said Evans. "And it's really hard to find that anywhere."
"They've taken into consideration everything," said Damian Petti, President of IATSE Local 212. "Be it the speed of the Internet, be it the access for costumers, or the parking for a crew of 300, they've got it all.
"And so this is the first time we've seen it - studios at this level."
GROWING INFRASTRUCTURE
The growth in the city's film and television infrastructure is a major move to lock in more business.
"This is an industry that has an opportunity to be extremely impactful on Alberta and Calgary's economy as well as job creation here," said Azevedo.
The ripples from productions that spend millions of dollars will be felt right across a spectrum of Calgary small businesses, says Evans.
"It doesn't matter if you're a small coffee shop down the street, or you have a lumber store, or whatever you have," he says. "Everybody really is benefitting from a lot of cash coming to the area."
Alfter a booming 2022, 2023 looks promising.
"In a typical year, we see between 10 and 15 projects withh budgets over $10 million," says Petti. "This year, we're expecting to see more than that."
NETFLIX PROJECT
Rocky Mountain Film Studios says it has a big budget Netflix project moving in next month. They can't reveal the title, but say it will involve a lot of work in the wardrobe department of the support building they're constructing.
People in the industry say five productions are already shooting or being prepped in Calgary and five productions are expected to be greenlit in March, including two projects with budgets in excess of $100 million.
If you want to see what $100 million looks like on screen, The Last of Us, which spent a year shooting in Calgary and throughout locations across Alberta, debuts on Crave Sunday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.