The West Coast recently rolled out the red carpet for some Hollywood treatment as a production crew descended on the Tofino-Ucluelet area.
While their work brought some inconvenience, with the District of Ucluelet putting out a public notice warning a bit of chaos would surround Big Beach and the community centre from April 17-19 , it also brought excitement and economic benefits.
Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce executive director Josh Jenkins told the Westerly B次元官网网址 via email that he was B次元官网网址渢hrilledB次元官网网址� to see UclueletB次元官网网址檚 beauty utilized for filming.
B次元官网网址淪eeing filming take place is always extremely interesting, as those of us not in the industry are always intrigued to see how much effort and coordination goes into each scene that you see on a movie or series,B次元官网网址� Jenkins wrote. B次元官网网址淧art of that significant effort means a lot of people to run every aspect. All of those people mean lots of income for accommodations, food and beverage, shops, etc. As well, usage fees, rentals and permit income for our town. Overall, it means an economic boost to Ucluelet, and some exposure for our stunning corner of the world!B次元官网网址�
The title of the production was not officially released though local sources seem sure the crew was here to shoot scenes for the American action television series Tracker.
B次元官网网址淗ereB次元官网网址檚 to many more filming crews coming to town in the future. Keep your eye out for the scenes filmed on Big Beach in future episodes of Tracker,B次元官网网址� Jenkins said.
Brandon Lepine is the regional production services manager for the Vancouver Island North Film Commission and said the Island is attracting big dollars from film crews, noting the businesses generated $11.8 million of economic impact for the North Island region in 2023.
He suggested 59 projects were filmed in the North Island in 2022-2023, noting it was a slow time for the industry due to a writerB次元官网网址檚 strike.
He said the IslandB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渄iverse portfolioB次元官网网址� of naturally breathtaking backdrops are especially attractive for documentaries, natural history shows and reality television.
B次元官网网址淏ig union shows are not our bread and butter, theyB次元官网网址檙e our gravy,B次元官网网址� he said, adding the Island is rising in popularity for filmmakers because of its B次元官网网址渋ncredibly beautiful locations.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e one of the most beautiful places on earth and we have warm and welcoming communities full of hard working and friendly people,B次元官网网址� he said, adding British Columbia also has B次元官网网址渧ery progressive tax credits and labour incentives.B次元官网网址�
He noted production crews fill hotels, restaurants and shops and typically shoot West Coast scenes outside the busy tourist season.
B次元官网网址淭ofino - Ucluelet is a global destination, itB次元官网网址檚 a beautiful place, April is the shoulder season. ThereB次元官网网址檚 not a huge amount of tourism. If a larger crew rolls in, thatB次元官网网址檚 hotel rooms that would be empty that are now full. ItB次元官网网址檚 money going into the coffers of the community and directly into the hands of the residents,B次元官网网址� he said.
He said film productions pay location fees and permitting fees, rent hotel rooms and buy fuel and that the biggest impact is crew spending.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e going to go shopping. TheyB次元官网网址檙e going to buy food and drink. TheyB次元官网网址檙e going to do things. On the weekend, theyB次元官网网址檒l take tours and go whale watching and things like that. These are direct economic benefits,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hat money goes directly into the community.B次元官网网址�
He pointed to Strathcona Regional District where Apple filmed Sea with Jason Mamoa in 2018 and said filming only took place over 21 days, but the area was prepped for about seven months with $48 million generated for the area before shooting even began.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 money that came here, stayed here and when the production left is still here,B次元官网网址� he said.
He added films that become well known have staying power, noting that last year Hope celebrated the 40th anniversary of Rambo being filmed there and, more locally, Twilight fans still travel to Long Beach and Incinerator Rock to replicate Edward and BellaB次元官网网址檚 kiss.
B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 know whatB次元官网网址檚 going to be a cult classic, but if it does hit we can look at the economic benefits for a long time,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淵our town will continue to see economic benefits beyond just the immediate onesB次元官网网址次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not every film shoot, I donB次元官网网址檛 have a crystal ball but film shoots equal economic development for municipalities and residents. It creates jobs and creates revenue.B次元官网网址�
Places like Tofino and Ucluelet and the Pacific Rim National Park reserve can serve as breathtaking backdrops for scenes in large productions, with the West Coast credits including Shogun, Man of Steel, Jurassic World, A Big Year.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the world class locations that attract productions. They come for pieces they canB次元官网网址檛 find anywhere, like old growth and the West Coast. ItB次元官网网址檚 just a continual attraction,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淭he beauty about film crews is what they love doing more than anything else is talking. Talking about where theyB次元官网网址檝e filmed, talking about the experiences, talking about things theyB次元官网网址檝e done, so itB次元官网网址檚 word of mouth as well. Film crews and filmmakers talk about a location and if enough buzz gets created other productions go there.B次元官网网址�
He added the Tofino - Ucluelet region has a solid buzz around filmmakers.
B次元官网网址淭he West Coast is world famous. You canB次元官网网址檛 reproduce it anywhereB次元官网网址ou are competing on a global market aggressively,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淓ven just looking out from Campbell Street to Meares Island, boom, that is iconic. These are the things that attract production.B次元官网网址�
He added filming does not carry the same contention as other industries on the Island as there is no resource extraction involved.
B次元官网网址淭hey come in, they spend money, they create jobs and then when they leave the motto of the film industry is, B次元官网网址楢s good or better than when we got here,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� he said.
He added the Vancouver Island North Film Commission in a non-profit organization focused on creating jobs and generating revenue.
B次元官网网址淧eople are welcome to call or email at any time any questions they may have or ideas they have. They might have a property that they think would look great on film, give me a call, love to talk to them and maybe send out some scouts,B次元官网网址� he said.
More information about the commission can be found at .
READ MORE:
READ MORE:
READ MORE:
