If 2015 is any indication of the direction filming in Richmond is headed, then residents can expect more red carpet events — like the one in Steveston on Saturday — in the years to come.
Hundreds of Once Upon a Time fans celebrated the soon-to-be aired 100th episode of the fairy tale television series at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery Saturday night as they tried to catch a glimpse of their favourite stars walking a red carpet.
A report from the Richmond Film Office to the city’s parks and recreation committee indicates 2015 was a record-setting year for film days and revenue — no doubt aided by a tanking loonie.
With the Canadian dollar hovering around 70 cents to the greenback, the City of Richmond took in $457,000 in service and location charges as it hosted two major motion pictures — War for the Planet of the Apes and Deadpool — in addition to Once Upon a Time and several other feature films, TV shows and commercials that were looking to extend their budgets in Hollywood North.
The 2015 figures broke the previous annual record, set in 2013, by $180,000, according to the report.
In 2015 there were 189 shoot days and 380 prep/wrap/hold days. In 2013 there were 147 shoot days and 52 prep/wrap/hold days.
By comparison, according to the Vancouver Sun, Vancouver received $710,000 in revenue, although it had far more productions.
The City of Vancouver estimates 2015 filming supported $143 million in paid wages throughout its city whereas the City of Richmond estimates the film sector resulted in $24 million in locally earned wages.
The report touts Richmond’s ability to offer a “one-stop shop” for productions, meaning various departments such as the Richmond RCMP, parks crews and traffic management work in tandem to make the filming process convenient for producers.
Meanwhile, prospects for 2016 appear bright once again, according to the film office.
“Several studios have inquired about the availability of City land for filming in 2016. It has recently been confirmed that a major motion picture will be filming in Steveston during the off-season of Once Upon a Time,” notes the report.
2015 Richmond film highlights:
-Deadpool
-War for the Planet of the Apes
-iZombie (TV)
-The Man in the High Castle (TV)
-Supernatural (TV)
-Lucifer (TV)
-Once Upon a Time (TV)
