Disney spent a recent Friday in Deep Cove, shooting scenes for its newest TV production.
Mermaids and other fantastical creatures wandered through a bustling street market. Children performed a boisterous skit onstage at the village roundabout.
Local businesses remained open. Cast, crew, and local residents walked along festively decorated streets. Cafes, restaurants and snack shops busily served residents and visitors who stargazed and watched B.C.’s world-class film industry in action.
We live in a stunning setting at the edge of wilderness. The wide variety of shooting locations available in B.C. plays a key role in our province’s filmmaking success. But it’s North Vancouver District residents who have built high quality facilities, and whose creative expertise continues to deliver unparalleled services and performances that make the real magic of film possible in our region.
The district actively works with the motion picture industry to bring business and employment to North Vancouver. Nearly 200 east Seymour residents – along with many more locals – are employed directly by the entertainment industry, and numerous North Vancouver-based small businesses and individual contractors deliver a broad range of support services to film productions.
Industry payroll companies report that, last year alone, Deep Cove area residents who work in the film industry earned a remarkable $10 million in salaries from feature film and TV work.
The motion picture industry contributes not only dollars, but in-kind benefits to the communities where productions are filmed. Production companies have donated funds to augment the Deep Cove Merchants Association’s activities and the Concerts in the Cove series.
Elsewhere in the district, the film industry has provided vital financial support for local trail and park upgrades, bike rack installation, and for esthetic improvements, such as decorative hand railings.
The district’s Film Liaison Office communicates with film production companies to compete successfully against other communities in B.C., Canada, and the world to attract location-based filming. Our ‘look’ is just one of our advantages.
The office works closely with film industry officials to ensure that production companies do not overuse district locations, or cause excessive, disruptive activity – and that they leave the site in as good or better condition when their production wraps.
The next time you see a film crew shooting a commercial, a TV series or a film, I encourage you think about how many of your North Shore neighbours were involved. And if you ever want to share a concern, ask a question or relay kudos, please call our Film Liaison Office at 604-990-2313.
