For decades, filmmakers have travelled to Calgary for its majestic landscapes and urban infrastructure. However, when it came time to shoot indoor scenes, the city offered limited options. That changed in 2016 with the opening of the Calgary Film Centre. Here’s a closer look at this facility on calgary-trend.
Design and Opening
In 2009, Calgary Economic Development, the city’s economic development agency, was tasked with developing a film studio to enhance Alberta’s image and attract major players in the film industry.
To ensure a top-tier design, the agency conducted workshops with key stakeholders in the film industry, including seasoned Hollywood directors. The team visited film studios across the continent to gather best practices, aiming to create a secure and quiet environment for filmmakers.
One of the biggest challenges was site planning. It was essential to ensure ample space for vehicles to move around conveniently. Security was also a priority, so the facility was designed with guard stations, high fences, and other safety measures. To address the complex acoustics required for soundproofing the building, the agency hired an acoustic engineer. Each soundstage was acoustically isolated, which was particularly challenging since the centre is located along a flight path with dozens of planes passing overhead daily.
Construction began while the design was still being finalised, enabling the project to be completed in record time. The Calgary Film Centre officially opened its doors in May 2016 at 5750 76th Avenue SE, conveniently close to both downtown and the airport. The facility is owned by the City of Calgary and managed by Calgary Economic Development.
The studio features ultra-flat flooring, free of bumps or irregularities, to facilitate smooth camera movement. Local artist Bram Timmer was commissioned to create a vibrant sculpture called “24P” along the street near the studio entrance, designed to inspire everyone working at the film centre.
Features of the Film Centre
The Calgary Film Centre is one of North America’s premier film production facilities. It plays a key role in supporting the growth of Canada’s film industry and serves as a hub for innovation in creative industries and digital media.
The centre features three large soundstages, each with shared corridors, lounge areas, restrooms, and a café. Separate from the three studios is a large office building with bright, modern office spaces and meeting rooms. The centre also includes extensive warehouse facilities with natural lighting, allowing production crews to safely store equipment, hold meetings, and establish a home base during filming.
The facility is home to William F. White International Inc., which provides cutting-edge equipment and technology for Canada’s film and television industry. This company supports a wide range of productions, from blockbuster films to experimental short web series.
A Catalyst for Calgary’s Film Industry
The Calgary Film Centre has significantly boosted Calgary’s economy and culture. With the ability to shoot indoor scenes locally, filmmakers no longer need to travel to Vancouver or Los Angeles.
In 2022, Calgary was ranked 10th on MovieMaker Magazine’s list of the best places to live and work for filmmakers in North America. The ranking considers production costs, tax incentives, recent productions, and filmmakers’ personal experiences.
Overall, the film centre has been a catalyst for Calgary’s film industry. According to LiveWire Calgary, the city’s film revenue was around $250 million annually in 2015, nearly doubling to $500 million by 2021.
This growth has also been aided by the lifting of production caps in Alberta in 2021. Previously, the province’s tax credit for film and television productions was capped at $10 million annually. In 2021, following consultations with major global studios and production companies, the cap was removed. This move signalled Alberta’s readiness to become a major production hub in Canada, competitive with other regions both nationally and internationally.
Combined with Alberta’s diverse and stunning landscapes, Calgary is well-positioned to benefit from Canada’s growing film industry and the demand for high-quality film productions.
Notable Productions Shot in Calgary
Here are some of the well-known films and TV series shot in Calgary:
- Interstellar: A sci-fi epic starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, and Jessica Chastain. It explores a future where Earth becomes uninhabitable, prompting humanity to search for a new home through interstellar travel.
- Game of Thrones: The Alberta wolf Quigley played Jon Snow’s direwolf Ghost, with some wolf scenes filmed in Calgary. Parts of the seventh season, featuring Arya Stark and the wolves, were shot in Banff National Park.
- Ghostbusters: A comedy sci-fi film about three young scientists from New York who investigate paranormal phenomena and launch a ghost-catching business.
- Fargo: A crime drama inspired by the 1996 Coen brothers film. Each season tells a different story in the same universe.
- Heartland: A Canadian family dramedy based on the Heartland book series by Lauren Brooke, focusing on the Fleming sisters’ life on their family ranch.
- The Last of Us: A post-apocalyptic drama based on the video game, featuring Joel and Ellie’s journey through a pandemic-ravaged United States. Most of the series was filmed in Calgary.
- Fraggle Rock: A children’s musical comedy puppet series.
- Predator: The fifth instalment of this sci-fi series was filmed in Calgary and nearby areas, showcasing the Predator’s hunt for humans and other intelligent species.
