Sudbury film industry eyes permanent studio

The City of Greater Sudbury wants to see if its booming film industry can support a permanent studio and it's asking for bids from companies to assess the feasibility of the idea.

Film outreach officer Lise Lalonde with Music and Film in Motion, the non-profit group that promotes show business in northern Ontario, said the number of productions filming in Sudbury doubled last year.

"It's going really, really well," she said. "But there are big holes, things we can't provide producers like when they want to shoot an animation or if they want to shoot in the winter."

Lalonde said the study will not only look at the financial side of a Sudbury film studio, but also how it would be run and where it could be located. She said a permanent studio would allow productions to film year-round.

Back-up needed

Similar facilities in Hamilton and Winnipeg couldn't stay afloat, however.

"That's one of the main reasons the city did want to have a feasibility study is to find that community back-up," she said.

"Is there a way to organize this where there wouldn't be as much of a financial risk?"

Lalonde said partnering with dance and theatre groups may be the solution. There is no word yet on how much the feasibility study will cost Greater Sudbury taxpayers.