Tara-Lee Novak of the Vancouver Island South Film and Media Commission says East Sooke Park is a popular film location in the region. (Vancouver Island South Film and Media Commission)
There's no secret about it: the filmmaking industry is important in the Greater Victoria region.
An average of $60 million per year is generated in the southern Vancouver Island region (south of Ladysmith), money that is spent on tourism, hospitality, construction and transportation, said Tara-lee Nova, film commissioner at Vancouver Island South Film & Media Commission.
Film and parking permits provide municipalities with non-tax revenue, and the industry also gives the region exposure, especially when it showcases itself, like in Lionsgate Canada's Private Eyes West Coast, filmed on the Island this year.
But like with all industries, there is a need to stay current, adapt, and remain competitive.
Nova, who has been a TV producer for 15 years, says timelines have gotten "tighter" and that the local industry constantly competes globally with other locations.
For those reasons, the South Island Film Commission encourages municipalities to stay competitive and improve policies to make filmmaking easier in the region.
That's exactly what Central Saanich Coun. Niall Paltiel was inspired to do, following a presentation by the South Island Film Commission.
He returned to his district with a motion to make changes to the OCP and zoning bylaws to better accommodate film productions.
"We've got a real kind of strategic advantage within the municipality," he said. "We have these beautiful, natural and built assets that capture rural farm landscapes, we have two waterfront sides ... we've got the Keating Industrial Park and then charming villages.
"If we can encourage employment opportunity, excitement and tax revenue at the same time, I think that's a win-win-win for the community and the region."
Paltiel said the film commission's ability to quickly and agilely respond to film requests can be the difference between Greater Victoria or another area being selected.
In Central Saanich, Paltiel said they will likely create a simple and easy online filmmaking application process addressing key considerations such as safety, visibility and location - things planning, engineering and emergency services would need to know. The production company would get a "very simple yes or no."
It's not just municipalities that can help; Nova said to keep the momentum going, the commission needs more property owners and developers to register their locations on the film commission's free database so it can market new locations to production companies.
"Undeveloped land that offers productions the opportunity to build large outdoor sets would be a major advantage," she said.
It is a collective effort, one that other municipalities have made moves in during the past few years.
Saanich Council's economic development manager, hired in 2022, developed an Economic Development Strategy for the district, with an initiative to support expansion for the film and television industry.
Subsequently, an event, volunteer and film coordinator was added to staff.
In Victoria, the city is a funding partner of the film commission and handles permits, city services and resource coordination.
It appears that these efforts are paying off.
Paltiel called the industry a "growing force" in the region. This year, the South Island was home to several projects, including two series: Private Eyes West Coast and Crew Girl, currently being produced by Thunderbird's Great Pacific Media for Netflix. It was also a background for a major cooking series, as well as feature films.
For Novak, all that cooperation and preparedness made for a positive year.
"We've had a couple of best-case scenarios this year. We were ready when opportunity knocked," said Novak.