Canada
Film Locations. Canada offers a great depth of unique and international location looks. Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal are the main production centres to base your shoot.
Vancouver is the gateway to Western Canada offering looks including Arctic landscapes, old growth forests, magnificent car roads, snowy mountains, surf beaches, American suburbs and small towns, modern city architecture and much more. Vancouver is unique in the vast number of city, mountain, rural and coastal looks you can access within a short drive from the city centre. For nearby snow looks where you can drive up to the snow line, Vancouver has 3 local ski resorts 30 mins drive from the city centre and Whistler Mountain with all of its winter Olympic venues is a 2 hour drive.
Toronto is the gateway to Ontairo and the Maritimes. Toronto often doubles for New York and Chicago. Dundas Square is an easier and cost efficient alternative to New York's Time Square. Other locations of interest in and around Toronto frozen lakes, vibrant Chinatown, old British architecture, American suburbs and small towns and rural looks, modern city architecture and much more. The Maritimes are known for their quaint coastal fishing villages, fall colours and beautiful coastal and forest car roads.
Montreal is the gateway to Quebec offering looks including old French architecture, chateaux and Benedictine monasteries, fall colours, beautiful car roads, snowy mountains, Arctic landscapes, frozen lakes, unique villages, modern city architecture, summer Olympic venues and much more.
Calgary is the gateway to shooting in the Rocky Mountains and Prairies. Calgary is a smaller production centre so larger shoots often require additional support from Vancouver.
Permits. Canada has a film
friendly streamlined permitting process. There are no extraordinary
restrictions or rules. Permits typically take three days but depending on the nature of the shoot it could be more - Downtown street lockups, night shooting, aerials over the city, Stunts, SPFX, etc.
When to shoot? Canada has
a typical four-season climate. Winters are very cold especially the further north you go with the exception being Vancouver which has rainy winters that rarely get snow. Spring is beautiful and in full bloom with Vancouver most noted for its cherry blossoms and snowy mountain backdrops. Summers are hot to warm with little rainfall and long shoot days. Fall is colourful especially on the East Coast.
For monthly weather statistics please see here.
Please contact us for more specific weather and sun path information.
Costs. At present the Canadian dollar is quite strong against most major world currencies. Canada is a very well established and sophisticated production centre and as with anything that is of the highest quality, it costs accordingly. On average it is still more cost efficient to shoot North American looks in Canada versus the US especially when it comes to talent heavy projects. Vancouver and Toronto continue to be the 3rd and 4th busiest production centres in North America.
To save on costs Vancouver has a great depth of very good production managers to service your project. Shooting in Toronto and Montreal are best achieved with the assistance of a service company.
Talent. Compared to other developed western countries Canada has comparatively low artists costs and buyouts for union and non-union performers.
The main costs of talent are as follows:
Non-Union Principals - $500 - 10 Hr days / 1.5x up to 14 Hrs / 2x after 14 Hrs.
Extras $200 - $250 depending on nature of production & how many. Ex. group extras, etc.
Buyouts - (All media except Print) $1000 per country other than US, Canada, England, Japan, Asia which are $2500 each.
Print is negotiable depending on useage.
Worldwide Buyout = $4500.
Non-union costs are negotiable.
Canada boasts a very large and experienced pool of multicultural talent.
To view an example of the local talent looks
please visit:
Casting Workbook
Canada is also home to unique animal talent such as polar bears, grizzly bears, wolves, moose, bison and more.
Creative talent. Canada has a very good experienced pool of directors, directors of photography and stills photographers, several being of the highest international standard.
Please contact us for recommended directors, DoP's and photographers for your project.
Crews are non-union. Canada has world renowned, experienced, professional technical crews. Vancouver is world renowned for its depth of impressive crews that specialise in servicing visiting productions.
Fringes. Fringes are low. Canada has lower fringes on crew than US. Usually about 8-12% Pension and Welfare and crew benefits.
Premiums. Canada works on a ten hour shoot day except for Alberta which is a twelve hour shoot day. No 6th or 7th day, weekend, night or holiday premiums with crew or talent. There is a premium for shooting on a statutory holidays - Christmas, New Years, Easter, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving.
Equipment. Canada offers both Panavision and Arri equipment as well as many boutique equipment companies. The majority of specialized equipment is available in Canada including Russian Arms, camera cars, cranes and helicopter mounts.
Art department and set construction is very experienced. Long known as "Hollywood North" Vancouver has played host to a variety of feature films including X-men, Fantastic Four, X-Files, I-Robot and more here. Similarly, Toronto has hosted many film shoots including these as has Montreal including these.
Studios and backlots. Facilities in Canada are extensive and state of the art. Please see examples below:
Vancouver:
Vancouver Film Studios
CMPP/MJA Studios
Toronto:
Showline
Commercial Studios Ltd
Montreal:
Mel’s Studios
Tax Incentives. For Commercials, British Columbia offers a 5% tax rebate for foreign productions. We take care of all the paperwork and a cheque is sent directly from the Federal Goverment to you, usually within a few months.
For feature film tax incentives please visit here for more information:
British Columbia Film Commission
Ontario Film Commission
Quebec Film and TV Council
Film Stock. Both Fuji and Kodak are available locally.
Post Production. Canada offers the highest standard of post production facilities. Options include:
Vancouver:
Rainmaker
Technicolor
Artifex
Image Engine
Enigma Studios
Toronto:
Technicolor
Panic and Bob
Stealing Time
Montreal:
Vision Globale
Visas and Work Permits. Work Permits are required for Directors, DoPs, Art Directors, Assistant Directors, Production Managers and Technicians. Executive Producers and Producers do not require work permits as they are deemed to be bringing the business into the country. Client and Agency are also not required as they are deemed top be "overseeing" the production. Allow one week for permits to be processed. Anyone who requires a work permit also requires a tax waiver, which are always granted if they have spent less than 180 days in Canada in one year. We fill out the all paperwork and submit the applications on their behalf. The work permit fee is $150.00 which you will be required to pay at your point of entry. For other visas contact your local Canadian embassy / representative for more information.
Transportation Infrastructure. All roads are sealed except in some remote locations. Canada is serviced by most major international carriers.
Accommodation. Film friendly hotels include:
Vancouver:
Fairmont Waterfront
The Opus
St. Regis Hotel
L'Hermitage Hotel
Toronto:
Hotel Le Germain
Thompson Hotel
The SOHO Metropolitan
Cosmopolitan Hotel
Montreal:
Opus
Le Germain
Please contact us for corporate rates.
For longer stays we can also organize serviced apartments.
Communication. Web posted casting, scouting and videoconferencing.
Safety. Canada is a very safe and reliable filming centre.
Projects. For an example of TV commercials, online advertising, corporate videos, stills campaigns, feature films, TV series and documentaries shot in Vancouver, Canada, please see below:
For an example of TV commercials, online advertising, corporate videos, stills campaigns, feature films, TV series and documentaries shot in Toronto, Canada, please see below:
For an example of TV commercials, online advertising, corporate videos, stills campaigns, feature films, TV series and documentaries shot in Montreal, Canada, please see below:
Our production service companies, line producers and fixers have serviced TV commercials, online advertising, corporate videos, stills campaigns, feature films, TV series and documentaries for:
AXA Belgium, BBC UK, Canon Singapore, Coca Cola Indonesia, Concord Canada, Dove Malaysia, Deutche Bank Germany, Dressman Sweden, Evian France, HBO USA, Heineken Ireland, Hyundai Korea, Intercontinental Hotels Global, ITC India, Kirin Japan, Kraft USA, Landrover UK, LG Korea, Meunil China, McDonalds Australia, MUFG Japan, Nikon Hong Kong, Nokia China, Orange Moblie Slovakia, Philips Netherlands, Proctor & Gamble USA, Chery Riich China, Rimowa Germany, Samsung Korea, Sinoland Hong Kong, Skipper Italy, Smirnoff USA, Sony United Arab Emirates, Stella Russia, Telefonica Spain, Vidal Sassoon China, Virgin Media UK, and much more.
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer in Canada, please contact us.
We are able to provide you with answers, references and bids quickly.
