North Bay gets starring role: film, TV production whets city's appetite for new workforce.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: NORTH BAY

North Bay is pulling all the players together to attract more film productions to the Gateway city.

Last year, the city was the locale for three large productions and the city's economic development department is setting the stage for more.

North Bay streets and surrounding communities were locations for a Kids in the Hall mini-series, psychological thriller Oliver Sherman and two productions of a sci-fi comedy sequel, Dark Rising.

The city views movie and television production as any other kind of potential growth industry.

"There's a real buzz about Northern Ontario in the industry," said Erin Richmond, a City of North Bay economic development officer who works with the studios on all incoming film and TV productions.

In a short time, she's able to secure all the permits and approvals and can call on a round-table of city staff to schedule road closures, parking plans, use of municipal facilities and answer questions such as using special effects and pyrotechnics.

Richmond, who had met some of the producers at a Music and Film in Motion (MFM) event in Sudbury, said it's been a "tremendous learning curve."

"There's always a rush to plan, then there's a lull."

The city has posted an online guide, a sort of municipal approvals checklist, as information for film companies.

As a non-profit promoter of moviemaking in the North, Sudbury's MFM does its best to showcase possible filming locations on its website but the choice comes down to a film's script and the producer's vision.

North Bay has a desirable small town urban look, combined with pristine wilderness just a few minutes drive outside the city.

There's also a good theatrical talent base to draw upon and there are tax credits, and money from Northern Ontario Heritage Fund that makes it attractive to shoot in the North.

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Beyond just filling hotel rooms during the spring and fall, the city believes film-making can have lasting spin offs. There's momentum in the community to develop a film industry culture by giving young people opportunities to get some on-the-set experience in future film work.

Local actor Jim Calarco has started two talent and casting companies to supply a pipeline of Northerners with work in this emerging industry.

He's collaborated with Dark Rising producer Brigitte Kingsley originally of Sudbury, to start North Star Talent Agency to provide unionized actors for feature or commercial films.

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"She told me a year and a half ago...