For the first time ever a high profile actors union based out of Toronto made a trip to North Bay to meet with Northern actors.
It’s another indication that the film industry is growing in the area.
ACTRA Toronto President David Sparrow along with Director of Independent and Broadcast Production Alistair Hepburn made a presentation to about 40 ACTRA actors at Cecil’s last Friday night.
“They came up here just to see how the industry is thriving and the see if we had any questions or problems,” said Jim Calarco, North Star Talent Agency founder.
Calarco says the North Bay-Sudbury area is getting recognized as an ideal filming location.
“They seem to recognize that local talent is worthwhile so they hire local talent as much as they can,” said Calarco, who notes there’s about 45 to 50 professional actors based in North Bay alone.
He says three more productions will take place this summer in North Bay including one which is starting in early June.
They are coming here for a number of reasons but one key is some financial incentives which include tax grants for using Northern actors as well as Northern Ontario Heritage Funding Grants that can be as large at $500,000 per movie.
“They can come in and make a movie and get some grants and really get some financial incentives to shoot here and that’s what is happening in the North,” said Calarco.
Calarco credits local politicians for working together to support filming in the North, calling Mayor Al McDonald a “real pro film advocate” with support from council.
The federal and provincial politicians are equally supportive.
“What I like about Vic and Anthony is they are from different political parties but when it comes time to create economic stimulus in the North, they work together,” he says about Anthony Rota and Vic Fedeli.
“Nobody is jockeying for position, they know that we need the jobs in the North in the film industry and they go out of the way to work with the producers.
“They make time in their schedule to meet these people. North Bay is film friendly, quite easy to shoot here, and companies feel they are being treated fairly.”
Calarco hopes that the movie buzz continues and ACTRA officials will decide to come to North Bay more often.
