New York City back on Bay Street

Friday, April 17, 2015

New York City back on Bay Street

Toronto's on-location filming continues with movie expenditures exceeding $1 billion dollars spent in the past four years. The domestic and international screen industry shoots film, television, commercials and animation in the city and investments increased 4.3 percent over 2013. The biggest chunk of dollars was spent on filming television series. You can find productions currently underway in Toronto on the city's website.

"The scale and scope of the success in film speaks to the quality of talent and service that this city provides," said Mayor John Tory. "Toronto continues to be a very desirable filming location. This continued growth is also a clear sign that our Film and Entertainment Industries Office at City Hall is having a positive impact on the film industry in Toronto.”

In 2014:
• Domestic and international screen-based production companies invested a record $1.23 billion in on-location filming in Toronto.
• Commercial production investment in 2014 ($195 million) showed a 48 per cent increase from 2013, which is an unprecedented level of growth for the city in this area.
• Investment in major domestic productions reached $652.25 million, exceeding $500 million for the second consecutive year, with an unprecedented 21 per cent increase over 2013. This increase can be attributed to the growth in domestic TV series spending.
• Television series continued to dominate investment in Toronto, with more than two-thirds (79.4 per cent or $757.4 million) of total production investment being for television series.
• The number of location filming shoot days jumped by 19 per cent in 2014 over 2013.

"The expansion and diversification of the industry are positive signs for Toronto’s future as a prime production location," said Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 37 Scarborough Centre), Chair of the Economic Development Committee. "While television series continue to be our largest investor, the commercial production industry has nearly doubled its investment since 2012."

Their was a large film crew shooting NBC's series Suits legal drama on Bay and Adelaide Streets today. Large quantities of dapper extras and large cameras lined the sidewalks outside the Bay Adelaide Centre.