“The impact is down — it was $1.8 billion — which seems like a lot when we are shooting for more, but then there are disruptions that happen,” he told the Star.
“But I have always felt that if you want to find out how good somebody or something is, as far as an industry or company, when things get tough you see what happens. And I’m thrilled by what is happening domestically and the productions and what was going on in Ontario.”
From the overall number “I was disappointed, but not discouraged — and there’s a difference.”
And, he added, the “upside is now going to be tremendous when you can stay solid at home.”
Last year in Ontario, some 302 domestic productions were in play — 52 feature films, 138 television series and 112 TV movies, miniseries and specials. That’s down slightly from the 316 in 2022.
Some 102 foreign films and television series and movies were produced here, and while not a huge drop, the associated spending was cut by more than half.
In 2021 and 2022, the province posted record-breaking years, and for the first time surpassed $3 billion in 2022.
Ontario’s presence in the sector is fuelled in part by holiday-related television movies and streamed series, especially in the romance genre produced by big names like Hallmark.
Cities like Ottawa and Hamilton offer a variety of looks — and can stand in place of Europe or a number of American cities — with rural settings nearby, making them an attractive choice for production companies.
Mississippi Mills, outside of Ottawa, has been dubbed “Hollywood of the North” given the number of movies shot in the small community.
Film and TV productions create local jobs and also are a boon to area hotels, restaurants and businesses. At Canadore College in North Bay, a specialized production program helps train workers the sector needs.