Film soundstage facility could be economic boon to Kamloops region

A consultant has told the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board that construction of a soundstage complex could lead to a substantial economic impact.

It’s a project the Thompson-Nicola Film Commission is exploring — having contracted consulting group Nordicity, which recently completed research showing the parameters of such a project and its viability given the booming film industry.

Presenting the findings to TNRD board directors last week, Nordicity Vancouver manager Chad Rickaby said the film industry has been growing during the past decade, with demand for content accelerating in the past year due to the rise of myriad streaming services, which have billions of subscribers.

“More and more subscribers are coming online to various streaming platforms and driving the demand for content as these streaming services are competing with each other to see who can create the most or buy the most content to keep their subscribers entertained,” Rickaby said.

That demand has put soundstage bookings at a premium, changing the industry to where it is now commonplace to see soundstages booked for years in advance — something that wasn’t the case 10 years ago, Rickaby said.

READ MORE: Film industry brings record investment to Kamloops region

To attract a Disney+ or Netflix production, a Kamloops-area facility would require, at minimum, two 20,000-square-foot soundstages, with 40 feet of clearance and no obstructions such as pillars, to allow for on-site set construction, according to the Nordicity report.

Loading areas, office spaces, parking for trailers, cast and crew, a top-tier HVAC system and fibre optic connectivity are also required.

The construction budget is pegged at $33 million and the project would take 14 months to complete. The facility would need to be built on at least five acres of land zoned for warehouses, and, ideally located close to services.

If kept at 60 per cent occupancy annually, the facility could bring in about $1.6 million in revenue — $2.1 million if kept 80 per cent full, according to the report.

Operational costs are expected to take up about 30 per cent of revenues, while expenses like property tax and lease costs could depend greatly based on the ownership arrangement.

Rickaby said demand for soundstages has three film-producing hubs — Los Angeles, Toronto and Vancouver — all booked solid for time, leading the industry to eye secondary markets like Sudbury, Ont., Calgary and Albuquerque, N.M., where Netflix committed to building 10 new soundstages over the next decade.

Growth in the film industry is not expected to stop and a Kamloops-area soundstage facility could be attractive to Vancouver productions looking for cheaper soundstage space, Rickaby said.

The project could also result in local film industry growth, create multiple jobs and deliver a large economic impact from added spending in the region, according to the report.

Sun Peaks Mayor Al Raine suggested the regional district could help find land and offer tax incentives, but shouldn’t be the primary financier.

Thompson-Nicola film commissioner Vicci Weller said the commission already has a location in mind and is not looking for the TNRD to be the principle investor, but rather attract an private organization, such as a film studio or production company, to build the soundstage facility.

A working group to move the project forward is being established.

— This story was originally published by Kamloops This Week.