Have you ever watched a movie or TV show and wondered where it was filmed? What if it was filmed right in your hometown? Today, residents of the GTA are noticing just that. Perhaps surprisingly, although the Toronto International Film Festival has just come to a close, other various film and television productions are beginning their principal photography shoots in the GTA. In the last decade, hundreds of big-budget film and TV productions have come all the way from Hollywood to shoot in our backyard.
Recognizable films that have been shot in Toronto include the Resident Evil films, Silent Hill, Cinderella Man, the Dawn of the Dead remake, all seven Saw movies, RED, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Kick-Ass, and even X-Men. Some television shows also shot here include Lost Girl, Being Erica, and Flashpoint.
Films and shows currently being shot in Toronto include the $200– million remake of Total Recall starring Colin Farrell and Jessica Biel, the second season of Nikita and the fifth installment of the Resident Evil film franchise, Resident Evil: Retribution.
So what is it that drives big-budget Hollywood productions to Toronto? The answer is simple: tax credits. Because it is cheaper to shoot television and movie productions here in Canada, it comes as no surprise that Hollywood is gearing up to shoot several of their new productions here. In fact, Vancouver has already been named “Hollywood North” because it too offers tax credits and large production spaces.
While Vancouver is number one for extensive major film shoots, Toronto is now in second place for providing large studios with filming, tax credits, and open space for on-location filming. The majority of film productions shot in Toronto take place at Pinewood Studios and Cinespace Film Studios, both located in the east end of the city.
