Nova Scotia has two new studios as its film industry builds momentum. Screen Nova Scotia (SNS), a production industry association, announced its new space on Wednesday. Sitting on a 20-acre, tree-lined plot of land 30 minutes from Halifax, the studio location can accommodate TV and movie productions. The space includes office areas, costume storage, set designs, and an area for a carpentry shop and scenic painting. SNS has played a role in various shows and movies, and says recent years have been some of the busiest on record for the province’s screen industry. “We have these locations that are just stunning, and we play the northeastern seaboard for just about anything… and of course, most everything that Stephen King writes,” CEO Laura Mackenzie says, referring to series like “The Mist,” “Chapelwaite,” and “The Institute.” Some other productions that have taken place in Nova Scotia include “We Were Liars,” “FROM,” “The Lighthouse” and “Little Lorraine.” Mackenzie says the film and TV production volume in Nova Scotia is currently around $300 million worth of economic impact, a major jump over the past decade. In 2015, when former premier Stephen McNeil implemented budget measures to axe a tax credit for the film and TV industry, she says it was “decimated.” “We were down to one crew, maybe. People were moving away, there was no productions filming in Nova Scotia. We certainly didn’t have the interest of the international community,” says Mackenzie. In 2022, the Nova Scotia government announced $8 million for a soundstage to increase the industry’s capacity. “At that point our vision was very, very loose,” says Mackenzie. She says a pivotal moment was when they found the location for the studios and saw its potential. “So, there’s no buyers’ remorse. We’re very happy with the decision,” she says. The location in Mount Uniacke was an important factor in finding the right space. “There’s a lot of productions whose cast and crew live downtown Halifax, so you want a location people can access easily,” she says. Proximity is important for talent. For crew members who will be constructing interior set designs for buildings - ranging from homes to barns and lighthouses - it’s also important to be able to run out to a box store nearby for the right supplies. “Much of the goods and services that are used in a soundstage to build sets come from local community hardware stores. So, we needed a community that had Kent in Lower Sackville,” explains Mackenzie. While productions that come from away pay well, contribute to the local economy, and they bring high expectations, Mackenzie also underscores the role local, independent filmmakers play in Nova Scotia’s industry. “You need both, it’s an ecosystem,” she says, noting without local talent the province wouldn’t have a workforce to accommodate bigger, international productions. Now, CTV’s original drama “Sullivan’s Crossing” is filming its fifth season at the new SNS Studios. “We’re lucky to have a returning tenant,” Mackenzie says of the TV production. “At this point, Sullivan’s Crossing is the only production that can film at the soundstage. They’re using the entirety of the property. So long as they’re filming, then that is the only production that we will be leasing the space to.” For Mackenzie, having a 20-acre space only means there’s room for growth. While the new studios can currently only accommodate one production at a time, she says SNS would love to welcome even more down the road. “It’s just the beginning,” she says. Mackenzie and SNS will showcase the new studio to global industry professionals at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this weekend. There, they will participate in the festival’s very first “TIFF: The Market,” an exhibition ground and networking event for film players from around the world. “It’s a perfect opportunity for us to go in and splash around the soundstage… just attract some attention to it,” says Mackenzie. “It’s a really exciting time.” For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
