TORONTO — Things are looking up for the Canadian film industry and all the technical facilities that run behind the scenes when movies are made.
Acclaimed director Norman Jewison and hit movie producer Don Carmody are among the Canadian filmmakers touting a revitalized film and TV industry.
The luminaries are among a group of producers, directors, cinematographers, writers, editors and actors celebrating a newly expanded production support facility set to open Thursday.
The $20-million William F. White Centre launches in Toronto after taking over a 31,400 square-metre complex, more than doubling the space it had previously leased.
The centre provides movie, TV and theatrical production equipment to a slew of high-profile projects including David Cronenberg’s upcoming feature Cosmopolis and the upcoming Colin Farrell blockbuster Total Recall.
Guests attending the launch include Royal Canadian Air Farce cast mate Alan Park, pop-rockers the Midway State, Heritage Minister James Moore and Ontario Culture Minister Michael Chan.
Jewison and the centre’s CEO Paul Bronfman say there’s a renewed spirit in Toronto’s production industry.
“Canada has every reason to celebrate,” Jewison said Monday in a statement.
“I look around and see a lush landscape of new film and TV production activity like never before. Big stories and little stories; there’s so much going on here right now.”