A pair of Toronto film companies are pairing up to capitalize on the continued success of North Bay's burgeoning film production sector.
Eggplant Picture & Sound has entered into a strategic partnership with Grande Camera Toronto to launch a new shared facility on Booth Rd.
The new facility, when fully operational, will enable both companies to provide state-of-the-art rental equipment for clients in the region while attracting new business from both local and international productions.
"It's great news," publicist Lowell Schrieder told BayToday from his Toronto office. "The whole film and television industry is expanding up there and this will make sure that filmmakers have greater access to better tools and training in the region."
The new location offers a synergistic combination of services including processing of camera dailies, data backup, provision of assistant video editorial services, video and sound editorial suites and pre-mix services according to Schrieder.
Both companies have hired locally based staff and plan to utilize existing facilities at Canadore College for ADR services (automated dialogue replacement ) and all final mixes as needed. They will also provide on-site training and mentorship to students wishing to make a career in camera work and post-production.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with the award-winning team at Eggplant in offering a single-source solution to producers wishing to continue to take advantage of the attractive grants offered by the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund,” said Jason Kennedy, GM Grande Camera Toronto. “Our collaborative expansion into North Bay allows us to combine resources, package services and grow our client base while offering greater access and convenience to their enhanced needs in the region.”
“Over the last three years, EPS has increasingly been targeting sales efforts toward the feature film and dramatic television series marketplaces, and we believe that North Bay is the perfect place to grow this area of our business,” explains Paul Moyer, Partner and Executive Producer. “With the recent spike in production activity here, joining forces with Grande Camera enables us to broaden our offerings while focusing on the big picture and we’re excited to be partnering with them in establishing our northern footprint.”
“We’re excited to be part of the growing post-production scene in North Bay,” adds Bruce Fleming, Partner/Lead Audio at EPS. “Northern Ontario has become a real hub of activity and we see tremendous opportunity for additional growth.”
EPS recently provided expert services to a growing number of feature films, including “Grand Isle,” starring Nicholas Cage and “Tammy's Always Dying,” soon to debut at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival
Grande Camera’s recent credits include multi-cam reality productions such as "Top Chef Canada” and feature films “Isabelle,” “Big Gold Brick” and Babe Nation’s"The Rest of Us" shot in North Bay and also premiering at TIFF this year.
"At Booth Road, you'll have producers who have shot in northern Ontario taking advantage of the tax credits, and they'll be finishing their films at the Booth Road facility using edit suites, sound mixing and audio playback services. It's booming right now. northern Ontario is becoming a major production hub, and North Bay specifically.
"I think what you are going to see is a lot more activity to come because a lot of dramatic TV series are shooting in northern Ontario to take advantage of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund tax credits. It's great news for people of North Bay."