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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPLN 11-23Report to Executive Committee Report Number: PLN 11-23 Date: May 1, 2023 From: Kyle Bentley Director, City Development & CBO Subject: Film Industry - Overview of Film & Television Industry - File: S-4240-001 Recommendation: 1. That Report PLN 11-23 of the Director, City Development & CBO, being an overview of the City’s Film & Television work program, be received for information. Executive Summary: This report is intended to provide an overview of the various Film & Television industry activities in Pickering, the current Film & Television work program, and to identify various challenges and opportunities to encourage the growth of this industry in our community. In 2022, Ontario's film and TV industry contributed a record-breaking $3.15 billion to Ontario's economy, creating many thousands of high-value, full-time equivalent, direct and spin-off jobs in our provincial labour force. The Region of Durham, and in particular, the City of Pickering, continues to experience growth in filming events undertaken by the Film & Television industry. In response to the growth of filming events in Pickering, the City has developed a comprehensive suite of permit processes, best practices, a Standard Operating Procedure, and a set of Terms and Conditions. These all work together to regulate the activities of Film & Television productions in the City, while continuing to attract more interest and investment from this fast growing industry. The City’s current Film & Television work program is designed to ensure the City’s processes and procedures respond to the needs of the industry, while protecting the rights and security of the City of Pickering, its residents and its businesses. The current work program addresses: • the adoption of new technology and best practices to improve permit review processes; • marketing of our City as a preferred destination for filming; • monitoring and lobbying for industry incentives and tax credits available through the Federal and Provincial government programs; • exploration of opportunities for new brick and mortar investment; and • engagement and education of our local labour force and business supply chain. As we continue to expand our efforts in attracting the Film & Television industry, staff are looking to expand the City’s suite of administrative functions by drafting a Filming By-law to be brought to Council at a later date in 2023. The purpose of this by-law will be to further clarify the rights and requirements of the Film & Television industry while operating in the City of Pickering. PLN 11-23 May 1, 2023 Subject: Film Industry Page 2 Financial Implications: There are no immediate financial implications associated with this Report. Discussion: Historic Film Trends Pickering locations have been featured in popular movies and television series as far back as 1956, when the television series ‘Hawkeye – The Last of the Mohicans’ began shooting on the former Gottlieb Farm, in and around Major Oaks Road, and Third Concession Road, between Valley Farm Road and Brock Road. Many scenes featured Gandatsetiagon Creek where it flows beneath Valley Farm Road. This television series became the 3rd largest production set in North America, with 99% of cast and crew sourced from Greater Toronto Area (GTA) talent and crew. A Toronto Daily Star article at the time quoted “$1,000,000 TV ‘Mohicans’ shot at Pickering farm, build ‘Little Hollywood”. Although productions featuring Indigenous subject matter now seek the opportunity for Indigenous people to tell their own stories, in its day, this production would foreshadow what was to come, with Pickering being touted as a preferred location for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) film and television productions. Since that time, Pickering continues to be favoured for its countryside roads, historic hamlets and more recently, its eclectic choice of residential styles and neighbourhoods. With the rise in streamed TV Series, Pickering has become a welcome location for many ‘2nd set’ shoots for series such as Hannibal, The Coroner, Anne of Avonlea, Anne with an ‘E’, Umbrella Academy, Locke & Key, American Gods, Suits, Titans, and more. Recently, Jack Reacher brought significant attention to our community with the building of the film backlot, and Pickering is a proud host community for the critically acclaimed production from Sarah Polley – Women Talking, winner of a 2023 Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Also now airing is ‘The Way Home’, featuring Andie McDowell, the first Hallmark TV Series to film in Pickering. Pickering has also become a popular location to shoot TV Commercials, with Canadian Tire returning three times in 2022 alone, to capture seasonal ads in private homes, using various Pickering neighbourhoods. Whether it is a car, a beverage, a banking service, the latest in fashion, or your favourite pancake mix, Pickering has the right location for an ad campaign. Revenue stats for Filming Events in Ontario/Durham/Pickering In 2022, Ontario hosted a record breaking 419 productions, representing $3.15 billion in annual production values, creating over 4,500 direct and spin-off jobs, and a record setting 53 concurrent live-action productions. Important to note is that the Province does not currently track data for the production of TV Commercials, for which the City of Pickering is a popular location in the GTHA. Durham Region filming events alone have seen a 220% growth from 2012 to 2019, hosting on average 70+ feature films, TV series, commercials, documentaries etc., each year. In 2021, the estimated production activity value was $45.7M, representing 51 projects, and 330 days of location filming. PLN 11-23 May 1, 2023 Subject: Film Industry Page 3 Prior to 2016, Pickering hosted an average of 10-12 filming events per year. That figure grew annually until 2019, when the City permitted 57 productions. While the City experienced a drop in permits at the onset of the pandemic, filming events in Ontario and Pickering are gradually returning to pre-pandemic numbers, and are predicted to continue to rise over the next few years. Below is a chart showing Film & Television activity in Pickering from 2004 to 2022. The number of permits issued reflects the number of individual Film Location Permits we issued, but the data indicates that the number of actual filming days per filming event can change greatly. The year 2019 saw not only more productions in our community, but a significant rise in how many days they were active in our community during each filming event. The year 2020 shows that while we saw a drop in filming events (pandemic restrictions), those productions also stayed here for a much shorter period of time while filming. The years 2021 and 2022 show a gentle rise in the number of issued Film Location Permits, and a return to longer stays per filming event. The longer the film production remains in Pickering, the greater the revenue that is invested in our City. These longer stays are generally associated with the productions for Feature Films and streamed TV Series, versus TV Commercials that average only 2 to 4 days per event. An overview of the Film Location Permit process The City’s Film Location Permit process was implemented to review requests, for use of City road allowances, by film and television productions. Prior to the onset of the pandemic, the City had put into place a digital, on-line application process. As such, while other municipalities were forced to close their doors to filming, Pickering continued to process applications for filming events, despite the ever shifting restrictions implemented by Provincial Health & Safety restrictions due to the pandemic. 0 50 100 150 200 250 Film Stats 2004 -2022 Permits Issued vs Days on Location Permits issued Total days PLN 11-23 May 1, 2023 Subject: Film Industry Page 4 The Film Location Permit process is managed by the City’s Film Liaison, who coordinates a cross departmental team of City staff from Roads Operations, Engineering Services, Fire Prevention Services, By-law Enforcement and, from time-to-time, our Legal Services Section. The Film Liaison also assists City facility managers through the process of renting a City facility space or parking area, through their issuance of facility or park rental permits. To centralize and simplify our permit review, the application process was recently transferred to the City’s AMANDA property data base. This has effectively decreased the amount of time it takes to review a permit application, and has provided a reporting mechanism, and a centralized database for information relating to filming events, including mapping of where filming events occur in our community. Applications for Film Location Permits are generally reviewed and issued within three to five working days. When a request for temporary closure of a lane or full road allowance is made, we require a minimum of ten days to process, due to requirements for notification to external parties. In order to remain competitive, the Film Liaison monitors permit fees charged by municipalities across the GTHA. As a perceived incentive, some municipalities, such as the Region of Durham, have dropped their fees for filming permits. However, the low or no cost of a permit is not the primary driver for a production to choose a location. The City has just increased its Film Location Permit fees, and are viewed by the industry as affordable. Staff believe the City’s permit fee is appropriate for the purpose of cost recovery, while not deterring Film & Television activity in our City. Pickering offers a wide range of locations for Film & Television productions We are in the Zone: A primary incentive for Film & Television productions who choose to film in Pickering, is our inclusion within ‘Zone 1’, a 40 km radius map, centred on the Toronto office of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (commonly known as ACTRA). This means that, when filming in Pickering, no further travel allowances must be paid to performers associated with a Toronto based production. Rural Countryside Locations: Pickering is only 30-40 minutes from downtown Toronto or Pearson International Airport. Yet, we can offer countryside roads and remote, rural locations, still located within Zone 1. Our unique, historic rural hamlets are also very popular, and filming receives the ongoing support of our hamlet residents and businesses. City Facilities used for filming: A variety of City facilities have been used to host filming activities, with the Pickering Museum Village being very popular for a variety of productions, not just those of an historic nature. Various iterations of the Anne of Green Gables story were filmed at the museum. Most recently, Anne with an ‘E’ used the museum to shoot several episodes, as well as at a number of private PLN 11-23 May 1, 2023 Subject: Film Industry Page 5 century homes in north Pickering. As a result, the museum was able to participate in a tourism initiative created through the Central Counties Tourism group, called ‘The Anne & Maude Experience”. The museum program was a great success, drawing in new visitors during a time of recovery from pandemic restrictions. While other public facilities have been used for filming, public access and programming remain a priority for these sites. The Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex, the Dr. Nelson F. Tomlinson Community Centre, and the Greenwood Community Centre, are popular sites for production parking, provided there is no disruption to on-site programming. Eclectic Urban Neighbourhoods: Over the past few years, Pickering has seen a rise of filming events for TV Commercials. Our urban neighbourhoods offer a variety of residential styles and locations, ranging from farmhouses and mid-century modern homes, to modern executive dwellings. In 2022, TV commercials represented upwards of 50% of all permitted filming events in the City. The City collects a permit fee for use of our roads. Hourly rates are charged for use of our facilities, and daily rates are charged for use of our parks. But, the largest portion of production expenditures goes directly into the hands of our private property owners. A production may pay upwards of $15-20 thousand dollars over the course of a few days to rent out private homes and driveways, and compensate for potential disturbance in the neighbourhood. Pickering hosts the Largest Backlot in Canada: In 2018, the Film Liaison began a gap analysis exercise, to identify potential areas of service improvement to the Film & Television industry. In particular, staff looked for opportunities to rent municipally owned land in central or north Pickering for use as production base camps, parking, or as a rural location for filming. A 90 acre parcel (now known as 3800 Sideline 32) was identified, and was offered to a production for filming one season of the new Amazon TV Series –Jack Reacher. Significant investment was made by the Jack Reacher production to install a 22 acre, ‘small town’ film set. Before the end of Jack Reacher’s one year lease, the City was approached by William F. White (WFW), Canada’s largest provider of film & television equipment and owners of over 1 million square feet of production space. WFW proceeded to purchase the assets of the Jack Reacher set, and a new land lease was entered into with the City for a term that could extend to 2030. It was revealed that Pickering was now home to the largest backlot in Canada, and is now being promoted globally to the Film & Television industry. The backlot will generate approximately $3.6 million in lease revenues over the term of the lease agreement, and will be restored to fallow field condition in anticipation of the City constructing a District Park for the Seaton community. WFW, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sunbelt Rentals, operates with a mandate to implement sustainable business practices. As such, their lease requires submission of an annual report, detailing sustainable initiatives implemented on the filming backlot. The 2022 report (see Pickering Backlot ESG Report, Attachment #1) outlines several sustainability initiatives implemented by WFW to date, including: PLN 11-23 May 1, 2023 Subject: Film Industry Page 6 •use of re-usable construction materials to maintain and construct structures on the backlot; •installation of recyclable, weather resilient cladding on the rear of backlot façades; •responsible management of on-site oils and fluids to protect for future uses of the site; •plans to install bird houses to safely house endangered barn swallows, and encourage their relocation from active sets on the site; •waste management program including cardboard recycling and use of local waste to energy Materials Recovery Facility services; •construction of an onsite garden centre to create compost from the mulching of dead trees and plants on the site; •upgrade of drainage systems on site to diminish ground erosion, and ensure surface water is appropriately directed, as advised by the City and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority; and •installation of a 26kWh MovieQuiet Battery Pack to provide zero-emission power for backlot operations as well as being available for rent by tenants. Despite the time set aside for site renovations, WFW hosted 15 productions with 74 total production days on the backlot in 2022. Activity in 2023 has already shown signs of increased use, and we anticipate the number of filming days on the backlot will continue to increase now that site improvements are largely completed, and marketing of the site continues to reach potential users across the globe. TriBro Sandy Beach Road Studio now open: TriBro Sandy Beach Studios, located at 915 Sandy Beach Road, opened its doors in May of 2022, and is Pickering’s first film & television production studio. The existing 180,000 square foot facility was fully retrofitted, and boasts 3 sound stages, carpentry and paint shops, 30,000 square feet of production offices, and ancillary space for catering, costumes, hair and make-up and more. At 15,000 square feet each, the sound stages serve the mid to smaller sized Film & Television productions. All sizes of sound stages are in high demand across the GTHA, with some spaces booked years in advance. This Pickering studio also has the potential to drive up the number of Film Location Permits issued by the City, as productions discover our community for the first time, and end up using our roads and facilities while in town at the Sandy Beach Studios. The City has been advised of future plans for this site with the construction of more sound stages, and an upgrade to the facility entrance, to further elevate the profile of this studio. The proposed TriBro Studios on Durham Live lands are contemplated to contain larger sound stages, and would be a complement to the Sandy Beach Studio, should it proceed to be developed. Pickering is a Film Friendly Community It is very rare that a resident or business calls in with concerns related to filming events. This is, in large part, a result of the public notification requirements being a condition of Film Location Permit approval. Gaining the respect and satisfaction of the host community is a high priority for the Film & Television industry. Happy communities equal quicker permitting, more opportunity PLN 11-23 May 1, 2023 Subject: Film Industry Page 7 to use sought after locations, and the greater chances of producing a filming event on time, and on budget. When a complaint does arise, the production company resolves the concerns as quickly as possible, to the satisfaction of the resident or business, and the City of Pickering. As an example, residents on a popular rural Concession Road reported loving it when their section of road is closed to traffic for filming. For them, it means a break from speeding cars, and productions also often pay to rent their driveways. It is a common practice for productions to personally deliver gifts as a thank you for being allowed in the neighbourhood, and in some instances, to offer hotel stays to residents, if an unavoidable disturbance to the resident is identified. Marketing and Stakeholder Engagement Historically, the City of Pickering has managed a reactive work program, responding to the request for approval of Film Location Permits. As opportunities to grow Film & Television investment continue to be revealed, the City has begun to add proactive actions to our work program. The Film Liaison now sits on various industry stakeholder committees, including the Durham Region Film & Television Advisory Committee, the Durham Film Liaison group, and weekly participation in the Municipal Film Office Town Hall meetings hosted by the Provincial Film Office, Ontario Creates. Our association with Ontario Creates provides an opportunity for Pickering to be showcased to national and international Film & Television productions. In addition to their Ontario based film services, Ontario Creates employs an agent in Los Angeles to promote the Province of Ontario, and who participates in the weekly Town Hall meetings to provide updates on production scouting, US film union matters, and the work they do to promote Ontario locations. Film Pickering Website: The City’s Film Pickering webpage continues to be enhanced with information beyond how to get a Film Location Permit. Our site provides links to permit application forms and payments, external resources, information on City of Pickering film policies, testimonials, and local film news. Film Pickering Brand: A new ‘Film Pickering’ brand was launched in February 2023, and has been implemented on the Film Pickering webpage, and in a pop up banner for use at film industry events. Communications: With the assistance of the Corporate Communications Department, social media posts have been published promoting Film Pickering news and events. PLN 11-23 May 1, 2023 Subject: Film Industry Page 8 Local Supply Chain Growth: The Film & Television industry can spend thousands of dollars in a community through the purchase of local products and services, revenues that go directly into the pockets of our local business community. Critical to becoming a service provider is understanding how the Film & Television industry does business, what products and services they purchase, how a business qualifies to sell to the industry, and knowledge of best practices and policies to adopt, in order to become a trusted partner in this supply chain network. On February 23, 2023, the City hosted a supply chain event, “Your Business. Their Next Film.” Delivered in partnership with all Durham municipal Film Liaisons, the Region of Durham Film Commission Office, and all Durham Boards of Trade and Chambers. This event received 250 registrations, and despite the large snow event the evening prior, 140 businesses still attended. Both the Region of Durham Film Commissioner and the City of Pickering Film Liaison presented on how and why municipalities support the Film & Television industry, and five industry experts from Toronto formed a panel sharing their knowledge and advice on becoming part of the supply chain. Excerpts from post event comments included: “I am awestruck by all the work programs and depth of commitment in Pickering and Durham. I left the meeting with a great sense of pride to live here.” S. Fournier, Pickering resident and ACTRA member/performer. “That was an excellent event. We are a supplier currently to the film industry and my son is an IATSE member but I still learned things!! Wow, how great is that.” D. Ruggles, President, Triden Industries, Pickering. A Film & Television event in 2024 will target the sourcing of film locations; what locations are needed; and how to get them listed in the Provincial Locations Library. Opportunities and Challenges for Film & Television growth Pickering Formalizing a Pickering Film Office: Many actions have already been undertaken to formalize a Pickering Film Office within the City’s organizational structure, but ongoing investment of staff resources and financial support will be required. Establishing a Film Office would serve to elevate our investment profile to the film industry, support long-term planning, and will require: • full-time staff solely dedicated to an approved film program; • designated budget to deliver a full Film & Television industry work program, including: • marketing (branding, sizzle reel video, still photography inventory); • online location inventory tool; • industry research to track trends, incentives, etc.; • attendance at film industry events (Toronto, Ottawa, California, etc.); • external advertising in film & television industry publications; and • preparation of investment packages to support investment attraction. PLN 11-23 May 1, 2023 Subject: Film Industry Page 9 Administrative Actions: In order to regulate the activities of filming events, and given the expected growth of the industry in Pickering, staff are drafting the City’s first Filming By-law. This, together with an updated Standard Operating Procedure and certain Corporate Policies, will clarify Pickering’s legal position when dealing with the industry, and give direction to the Film & Television industry on the legal requirements to operate within the City of Pickering. This Filming By-law is intended to be brought forward to Council for consideration prior to this year’s summer recess of Council. Film Industry incentives: Pickering currently sits within that part of the GTHA area that is not eligible for a 10% bonus tax credit to productions, for domestic labour. Staff recommend the continued support of the Regional Film Commission efforts to lobby the Province of Ontario for an adjustment to the 10% bonus tax credit zone, through the efforts of City staff, the Mayor’s office, and Council Members. New Brick and Mortar Investment: There is an urgent need for more production studio space across Ontario, a province that is rich in talent and labour force expertise in the Film & Television industry. Despite recent announcements on the expansion of numerous studios in the Toronto Portlands’ area, there is still demand for even more brick and mortar development throughout the Province. With Pickering being ‘in the Zone’, a review of available developable lands may be warranted, to specifically target new investment by the Film & Television industry. Beyond the construction of new sound stages, there is an opportunity to explore the needs of new technology advancements in the industry, including Visual Effects, Virtual Reality, and Animation, to name a few. Installation of power drops to provide access to the power grid: The film industry has embraced a focus on sustainable operational practices. Ontario Creates has responded with the Ontario Green Screen program that looks at ways to adopt sustainable practices for filming, and in particular, gaining access to local power grids to get productions away from the need of using gas fired generators while on set. Last year, the City of Toronto paid for the installation of several power drops in prime film production locations, relieving neighbourhoods of the noise and smell of gas generators, and reducing the consumption and costs of using fossil fuels. WFW has expressed their interest in hooking up the filming backlot to the power grid, but the costs are prohibitive at this time given the lack of power infrastructure at the backlot location. They have asked the City and/or Region of Durham to consider contributing to these costs. The potential challenges to filming from new development projects: Pickering is still able to support the temporary closure of many rural roads - a service that is diminishing throughout the GTHA, as development projects for new housing and commercial developments continue to grow throughout the Province. This loss of rural roads may also eventually affect our ability to offer the choice of rural roads we now promote. PLN 11-23 May 1, 2023 Subject: Film Industry Page 10 Staff is working to develop a mapping layer in the Open Data Portal to give a visual picture of where, and how often, filming is happening within neighbourhoods. This tool will support reporting of filming events to Council and the general public, and give staff early warnings on potential ‘film fatigue’ in neighbourhoods. Filming at Pickering’s waterfront: The City receives numerous enquiries each year, regarding the use of our pristine waterfront for filming. While we recognize this location as a prime Film & Television location, the City may wish to identify a balance between supporting filming events at the waterfront, while continuing to protect the waterfront in favour of public uses. The restoration and redesign work planned for the beachfront west of Millennium Square, and the limits on parking at the waterfront, will decrease the opportunities for filming events. As an incentive, the new waterfront on-street parking fees are being waived for filming events. Despite this incentive, and as a good will gesture to the community, last year some productions chose to pay the parking fees anyway. The Film Liaison will continue to monitor the impacts of on-street parking during filming events and be prepared to address any concerns in a timely manner, to the satisfaction of the residents or business owners. In Conclusion Pickering is a fast growing community of choice for the Film & Television industry in the GTHA. Work completed to date reflects the mandate of the City’s Cultural Strategic Plan, to increase investment in cultural development, and strengthen culture-led economic development. Relationships built with the Film & Television industry to date, have resulted in new investment, job creation, and an elevated community profile for Pickering promoted across the globe. As we move toward the future of Film & Television, Pickering has an opportunity to take actions that will enhance the growth of this industry within our community, the Region of Durham and the Province of Ontario. In the weeks ahead, staff anticipate bringing forward the City’s first Filming By-law prior to the 2023 summer recess for Council’s consideration. Attachment: 1. Pickering Backlot ESG Report PLN 11-23 May 1, 2023 Subject: Film Industry Page 11 Prepared By: Original Signed By Catherine Hodge Senior Coordinator, Development Liaison Approved/Endorsed By: Original Signed By Catherine Rose, MCIP, RPP Chief Planner Original Signed By Kyle Bentley, P. Eng. Director, City Development & CBO CH:ld Recommended for the consideration of Pickering City Council Original Signed By Marisa Carpino, M.A. Chief Administrative Officer Attachment #1 to Report PLN 11-23 February 27, 2023 Pickering Backlot ESG Report •William F. White International is honoured to be the temporary custodian of such a rich and biodiverse section adjacent to the Greenbelt. •We are committed to “No Trace Camping” whereby we will use and enjoy the space, but ultimately return it to its former, pristine nature. •As part of the Sunbelt Rentals world, we subscribe to the corporate moto of Planet, People and Profit…in that order. No Trace Camping refers to the name of the production company responsible for the Academy Award -winning feature film The Room, which WFW supported. On site Circularity •We tapped into the circular economy in procuring building materials for one of the BL sets. •Lumber from deconstructed sets in Toronto was used to build the Margate Gas Station and any/all reusable materials left by production are always put to use. •Creating a weather resilient “skin” for the Backlot structures had been essential in mitigating the risk of water damage, and to a certain extent limiting potential fire damage. •We have deployed recyclable vinyl siding to extend the life of exposed lumber instead of using chemical water sealants. Zero-Emission Power •We have situated a 26kWh MovieQuiet Battery Pack at the Backlot, where it will live and provide zero-emission power for operations as well as being available for rent by tenants. Lower Impact… •Mindful of local biodiversity and that the Backlot will one day be returned to its agricultural use or a community sports park, all oils and fluids from our equipment are properly recycled and emergency spill kits are always checked for readiness and close at hand. •We’ve implemented a low salt policy for winter maintenance which will reduce damaging run-off, manage soil integrity and protect the sets (therefore eliminating the need for further material use). •There are plans to build bird houses on site to relocate Barn Swallows (an endangered species) away from the sets. •Film and television production generates significant waste and its management is of paramount importance. •Cardboard is recycled and tenants are encouraged to utilize Pickering’s waste-to-energy MRF. •We have constructed a small garden center to mulch plants and dead trees to create compost. WFW in the Community •We were on hand this past November in support of the Durham College careers day, where we provided equipment and expertise to the event. •Workforce development is a key issue for not only Durham Region, but the entire Ontario film and television production industry. C02 Reduction •T-4 800A/100kWh Battery hybrid generators will work to reduce fuel consumption and associated GHG emissions. •Once we have additional inventory, we can compel tenant productions to use carbon-reduced technology on site. The Future of Backlot Power •The City of Toronto recently funded two “Power Drops” at highly trafficked basecamp locations. •We have made overtures to the Region of Durham and the City of Pickering and plans approach the Province for funding assistance to work with Elexicon to create a Backlot power drop.