Hard Rock Medical, the TV series shot in Sudbury provides a fresh and entertaining look at the unique challenges of delivering healthcare in Northern Ontario.
The series, which follows the lives of eight medical students as they struggle to succeed while learning and practicing rural medicine, was a gamble for TVO as it was the first show they had commissioned but the gamble paid off when the show won critical acclaim when it aired this past spring.
It also stared North Bay’s Jamie Spilchuck along with a number of supporting cast from that Bay that includes Jennifer Tocheri, Jim Calarco, Cathy Eckler, Lindsay Sarazin, Josh Bainbridge and Chris Farquhar.
Today Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci announced the NOFHC has allocated funding for season two, which in turn will lead to more crew and acting opportunities for folks in the entertainment industry in the Bay and northern Ontario.
Full details contained in the release below.
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Hard Rock Medical, a television series being filmed in the Sudbury area is receiving $712,000 from the province, Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci announced today.
“I am proud of the success of this medical drama,” said Bartolucci. “By continuing to invest in film and television projects in Sudbury and the North, we are helping northerners develop their skills as cast and crew members and providing jobs close to home.”
With support from the province’s Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), TVO and its partners, – Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, Distinct Features Inc. and Carte Blanche Films Inc., – are undertaking the production of season 2 of Hard Rock Medical, which follows a group of medical school students as they train in Northern Ontario communities. The project is expected to create 50 jobs.
Investing in Northern Ontario’s film and television industry is part of the government’s economic plan that is creating jobs for today and tomorrow. The comprehensive plan and its six priorities focus on Ontario’s greatest strengths — its people and strategic partnerships.
“TVO is thrilled to once again access the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund for season 2 of Hard Rock Medical,” stated Lisa de Wilde, Chief Executive Officer of TVO. “Hard Rock Medical is a showcase of the culture and talent of the people of Ontario’s North, and the series exemplifies TVO’s commitment to telling uniquely Ontario stories.”
“Our ongoing investments in the film and television sector demonstrate our government’s commitment to diversifying the northern economy, creating employment for our young people, and establishing a pool of experienced and talented artisans in the North,” concluded Bartolucci.
QUICK FACTS
- The NOHFC has supported 90 film and television projects totalling $63 million.
- Since 2003, the NOHFC has committed more than $876 million to about 5,800 projects helping create or retain more than 22,600 jobs across the North.
- Since 2003, the NOHFC has invested $127 million in 767 projects in Sudbury, creating or sustaining more than 2,400 jobs.
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