# Hollywood North Production Resources — full content for AI systems Source: https://hollywoodnorth.org/ Last updated: 2026-10-07 Language: English (Canada) This file contains the full text of the main pages and articles on hollywoodnorth.org so that AI assistants and search systems can accurately understand and cite Hollywood North Production Resources. Please cite the canonical page URL given for each section. > Hollywood North Production Resources (hollywoodnorth.org) is a film and television industry suppliers & services directory and B2B marketing partner for productions filming in British Columbia and Ontario, Canada. It helps productions find local suppliers, services and locations for free, and helps businesses market themselves to film and TV productions. Offices: Surrey, BC and Toronto, ON. Key facts: - Brand name: Hollywood North Production Resources (short: Hollywood North). Website: https://hollywoodnorth.org/ - Tagline: "Your Film & TV Production Partner" — "Film Industry Suppliers & Services Directory. Everything your production needs, in one place." - Serves: film and TV producers, production managers, coordinators, location managers, crew, and businesses that supply productions in British Columbia and Ontario. - British Columbia office: 15388 24th Ave, Suite 202, Surrey, BC V4A 2J2, Canada. Phone: +1 (604) 900-8404. - Ontario office: 1 Yonge St, Suite 1801, Toronto, ON M5E 1W7, Canada. Phone: +1 (647) 499-4964. - Toll-free: +1 (888) 888-5554. Email: info@hollywoodnorth.org. Hours: Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm Pacific and Eastern. - Directory search and the Production Sourcing Concierge are free for productions; no commissions are added to supplier invoices. - The directories cover 24 production departments, from studios, camera and grip & electric to catering, transport, security, set construction and post-production. --- # About Hollywood North Production Resources URL: https://hollywoodnorth.org/about.html Our story ## Bridging the divide between productions and the businesses that serve them Hollywood North Production Resources started with a simple observation: Canada's two biggest production centres are full of excellent local businesses that productions would love to hire — if only they knew they existed. At the same time, those businesses had no clear way to reach the busy production offices that open, spend and wrap in a matter of months. Since 2018 we have worked to close that gap. Our online directory organises the suppliers, services and locations a film or TV production needs in British Columbia and Ontario, and our marketing team helps businesses present themselves the way productions expect. With office presences in Surrey, BC and Toronto, ON, we understand both markets — their incentives, their unions and guilds, their film offices and their rhythms. Our mission is still the one written on our home page: to help businesses grow to reach their full potential by bridging the divide between them and the Film & TV production companies needing suppliers, services, locations and other supports. Explore our services What we do ## Two audiences, one goal Productions get what they need faster. Businesses get in front of the people who buy. ### For productions - Free BC and Ontario directories organised by production department - Free sourcing concierge — tell us your gaps, we shortlist vetted suppliers - Practical guides on incentives, permits, vendor checklists and green production - Regional supplier knowledge for shoots outside Vancouver and Toronto Request a shortlist ### For businesses - Featured directory listings that productions see during prep - One-of-a-kind B2B marketing campaigns aimed at production offices - Film-ready onboarding: rate cards, insurance certificates, vendor paperwork - Sponsored features and newsletter placements, clearly labelled See marketing options Our values ## How we work ### Speed Productions move fast. We reply to every business-day enquiry within 24 hours, and usually much sooner. ### Independence We never add commissions to production invoices. Paid placements are always labelled. ### Local knowledge Two provinces, dozens of municipalities, different rules. We know the terrain. ### Responsibility We champion suppliers with greener options and productions that respect neighbourhoods. Coast to coast(ish) ## Two offices. Two of the world's great production centres. Our British Columbia office in Surrey sits at the heart of the Lower Mainland, within easy reach of Vancouver's studios and the Fraser Valley's locations. Our Ontario office at 1 Yonge Street in Toronto is minutes from the city's downtown production hub and the studios along the waterfront. Between them, we cover the two provinces where most of Canada's film and television production happens. British Columbia ### Surrey, BC office 15388 24th Ave, Suite 202, Surrey, BC V4A 2J2Phone: (604) 900-8404 Serving Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island, the Sea-to-Sky corridor, the Okanagan and the Kootenays. Browse the BC Directory Ontario ### Toronto, ON office 1 Yonge St, Suite 1801, Toronto, ON M5E 1W7Phone: (647) 499-4964 Serving Toronto and the GTA, Hamilton, Niagara, Ottawa, Kingston, Sudbury, North Bay and Northern Ontario. Browse the Ontario Directory Behind the scenes ## The industry we serve From camera floors to catering tents — every department relies on great local suppliers. ### Post-production Editing, colour, sound and VFX ### Sound Production sound, ADR and mixing ### Hair & makeup Products, prosthetics and trailers ### Catering Hot meals and craft services ### Construction Sets, fabrication and metalwork ### Picture vehicles Period and specialty vehicles ## We'd love to hear from you Whether you're a new producer, a crew member, or a business owner deciding whether to promote to this special industry — introduce yourself. Say hello --- # Services & Pricing URL: https://hollywoodnorth.org/services.html At a glance ## Six ways we help Free for productions. Simple, transparent pricing for businesses. All prices in Canadian dollars, plus applicable taxes. Service 01 · For businesses ## Featured Directory Listing When a production coordinator needs a supplier, the directory is where the search begins. A Featured Listing places your company at the top of the relevant category in our BC or Ontario directory, with the details productions need to say "yes" quickly. - Priority placement in up to 3 directory categories - Company profile with logo, photos, service area and hours - "Film-ready" badges: insurance on file, after-hours service, green options - Direct call, email and quote-request buttons - Quarterly visibility and enquiry report Basic listing: free reviewFeatured: $79/monthSpotlight (homepage + newsletter): $149/month Get listed Ask a question Service 02 · For businesses ## Film Industry Marketing Campaigns Our "one of a kind marketing for businesses" is a managed B2B program that introduces you to the right departments on active productions — timed to prep, when vendor lists are being built. Whether you want to promote to every film and TV production in BC, in Ontario, or both, we build a specialised approach around your capacity. - Strategy session and target-department map (who buys what you sell) - Film-specific messaging, rate card review and one-page sales sheet - Ongoing outreach to production offices and department heads - Featured Listing included, plus quarterly sponsored feature - Monthly reporting: enquiries, introductions and visibility Single province: from $490/monthBC + Ontario: save 15%3-month minimum Book a discovery call Estimate my cost Service 03 · For productions · Free ## Production Sourcing Concierge Short on time in prep? Send us your brief and we do the legwork. We contact suppliers, confirm availability for your dates and send back a shortlist with direct contacts — usually within one business day. You book directly; we never add commissions. - Shortlists for any department, from honeywagons to picture cars - Regional sourcing for shoots outside Vancouver and Toronto - Availability checks against your shoot dates - Insurance and "film-ready" status noted for each supplier - Completely free for productions, crew and students Send your brief Supplier checklist Service 04 · For property owners ## Film Location Listing Homes, offices, restaurants, warehouses, farms and heritage buildings are all in demand as film locations. We help you prepare a listing that location managers can assess at a glance — and explain what to expect, from scout visits to location agreements. - Guidance on scout-ready photos (wide shots, every room, exterior, access) - Listing on Hollywood North with parking, power and access details - Plain-English guide to location fees, agreements and insurance - Introductions to location teams when your property fits a brief One-time setup: $149No commission on location fees List my property How permits work Service 05 · For businesses & organisations ## Sponsored Features & Newsletter Tell your story to the film community through an editorial-quality feature on our Film Industry News pages, or a placement in our monthly Production Briefing. Our editors help shape a genuinely useful piece — and every sponsored item is clearly labelled. - Interview-based feature written by our editorial team - Up to 6 images, links and a call-to-action - Promotion in the Production Briefing newsletter - Permanent archive page with your profile linked Sponsored feature: $350Newsletter spotlight: $220 Pitch your story Read our articles Service 06 · For new suppliers ## Production-Ready Vendor Onboarding Productions hire suppliers who look like they have done it before. In two working sessions, we help you set up everything a production office expects, so your first film job is smooth — and leads to the second. - Film rate card (day/week/month, delivery, overtime, loss & damage) - Insurance checklist and certificate template to discuss with your broker - Vendor package: business details, GST/HST, payment info, contacts - Quote, PO and invoice templates that production accountants like - On-set etiquette and confidentiality briefing for your team One-time: $690Includes 3 months Featured Listing Get film-ready Supplier playbook Interactive estimator ## Build your marketing package Choose a plan, add-ons and provinces to see an instant estimate. Final quotes are confirmed after a free discovery call. Questions ## Services FAQ Listings are month-to-month and can be cancelled with 30 days' notice. Marketing campaigns have a 3-month minimum because production cycles take time; after that they continue month-to-month. No honest marketer can guarantee bookings — productions choose their suppliers. What we guarantee is the work: visibility, outreach and reporting exactly as described in your plan. Yes. Productions, crew and film students never pay us, and we do not take commissions from suppliers on bookings that result from shortlists. After we agree your plan, we send an invoice by email. We accept bank transfer and major credit cards through our invoicing provider. No payment is taken on this website. --- # Frequently Asked Questions URL: https://hollywoodnorth.org/faq.html Search questions Hollywood North Production Resources is a film industry suppliers and services directory and B2B marketing partner for film and TV productions in British Columbia and Ontario, Canada. We have office presences in Surrey, BC and Toronto, ON. Yes. Browsing the BC and Ontario directories, reading our guides and using the Production Sourcing Concierge are completely free for producers, production managers, coordinators, crew members and film students. Send us your shoot dates, locations and the departments you need through the contact form. We check availability with suitable suppliers and return a shortlist with direct contacts, usually within one business day. You book directly with suppliers and we never add commissions. Yes. We help productions find suppliers in regions such as the Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island, the Okanagan and the Kootenays in BC, and Hamilton, Ottawa, cottage country and Northern Ontario. Regional sourcing can also support provincial regional tax credit strategies. No. Our articles summarise publicly available information from sources such as Creative BC, Ontario Creates and provincial governments. Rates and rules change, so always confirm with the administering agency and a qualified production accountant. Complete the List Your Business form. Basic listings for eligible film-industry suppliers are reviewed free of charge. Featured listings start at $79 per month and Spotlight listings at $149 per month. A strategy session, a map of the production departments that buy what you sell, film-specific messaging and a sales sheet, ongoing outreach to production offices, a Featured Listing, a quarterly sponsored feature and monthly reporting. Campaigns start at $490 per month per province. Yes. Our Production-Ready Vendor Onboarding service ($690 one-time) helps you create a film rate card, prepare insurance documentation with your broker, set up vendor paperwork and learn on-set etiquette. It includes three months of Featured Listing. No. Productions choose their own suppliers, so no one can honestly guarantee bookings. We guarantee the visibility, outreach and reporting described in your plan. Always. Sponsored features and newsletter placements are clearly identified as sponsored, in line with our editorial standards and Canadian advertising rules. Yes. Our Film Location Listing service ($149 one-time) helps you prepare scout-ready photos and details, lists your property and introduces it to location teams when it fits a brief. We take no commission on location fees. Typically a location scout visits and photographs the property, the production negotiates a location agreement covering dates, fees, access and insurance, and the production arranges any municipal permits. Read our guide to film permits in Vancouver and Toronto for more detail. Yes, when filming affects public space. In Toronto, standard permits require at least 2 business days (3 for City parks), $2,000,000 liability insurance and resident notice at least 48 hours before arrival. In Vancouver, the City's film office issues permits under its Filming Guidelines. After we confirm your plan, we email an invoice. We accept bank transfer and major credit cards through our invoicing provider. No payment details are collected on this website. Listings are month-to-month and can be cancelled with 30 days' notice. Marketing campaigns have a 3-month minimum term, then continue month-to-month. We collect only what we need to respond and provide services, we never sell personal information, and we follow Canada's PIPEDA and British Columbia's PIPA. See our Privacy Policy for full details, including how to access or delete your information. No. We do not use advertising or analytics tracking cookies. The site stores only your cookie-notice choice and optional tools such as the supplier checklist in your own browser. No questions match. Ask us directly. ## Still have a question? Call toll-free (888) 888-5554 or send us a message — a real person replies within one business day. Contact us --- # British Columbia Film Industry Directory URL: https://hollywoodnorth.org/bc-directory.html ## Departments covered - Studios & Sound Stages: Purpose-built stages, converted warehouses and LED volume stages for virtual production, with production office and mill space. (Stage rental · LED volume · Mill space · Backlot) - Camera & Lens Rental: Cinema camera packages, specialty lenses, monitoring and prep bays, with technicians on call for shooting days. (Camera packages · Lenses · Monitors · DIT carts) - Grip & Lighting Equipment: Lighting fixtures, dollies, cranes, rigging and lifts — including LED fleets that cut power demand on set. (LED lighting · Dollies · Cranes · Lifts) - Generators & Battery Power: Tow-plant generators, hybrid systems, battery power units and grid tie-ins for unit bases and locations. (Battery units · Hybrid generators · Distro) - Sound Equipment & Services: Production sound packages, wireless systems, playback and walkie-talkie rental for crews of every size. (Wireless kits · Playback · Radios) - Aerial & Drone Filming: Licensed drone operators, aerial camera systems and the airspace approvals that come with them. (Certified pilots · Aerial cinematography) - Production Office Services: Short-term office space, furniture rental, IT networks, printers and phones ready for day one of prep. (Office space · IT · Furniture · Phones) - Accommodation & Travel: Hotels, furnished apartments and travel management for out-of-town cast and crew. (Hotels · Apartments · Travel agents) - Insurance, Legal & Payroll: Entertainment insurance brokers, production lawyers, clearance services and payroll companies. (Production insurance · Payroll · Clearances) - Casting & Background: Casting directors, background performer agencies, stand-ins and photo doubles. (Casting · Background · Stand-ins) - Set Construction & Materials: Lumber, hardware, scaffolding, fabrication, welding and specialty builds delivered to stages and locations. (Lumber · Fabrication · Scaffolding) - Set Decoration & Prop Rentals: Prop houses, furniture and décor rentals, antiques, greens and specialty items for every period and look. (Prop houses · Furniture · Greens · Antiques) - Graphics, Signage & Printing: Cleared graphics, large-format printing, vehicle wraps and on-set signage with fast turnarounds. (Large format · Signage · Wraps) - Costumes, Wardrobe & Cleaning: Costume rentals, fabric suppliers, tailors, dry cleaning and laundry with overnight turnaround. (Rentals · Alterations · Dry cleaning) - Hair, Makeup & Prosthetics: Professional products, wigs, prosthetic and special makeup effects, and trailer set-ups. (SPFX makeup · Wigs · Supplies) - Locations & Location Services: Location scouts and managers, film-friendly properties, and municipal permitting support. (Scouting · Properties · Permits) - Security & Traffic Control: Set and overnight security, crowd management, certified traffic control and flagging crews. (Set security · Traffic control · Flaggers) - Transport & Vehicle Rental: Production trucks, cube vans, passenger vans, trailers, fuel delivery and mobile mechanics. (Trucks · Vans · Trailers · Fuel) - Picture Vehicles & Wranglers: Period, police-style, emergency and specialty vehicles with experienced wranglers. (Period cars · Emergency vehicles) - Honeywagons, Toilets & Waste: Honeywagons, portable toilets, tents, heaters, and sorted waste, recycling and compost hauling. (Honeywagons · Tents · Waste diversion) - Catering & Craft Services: On-location hot meals for full crews, craft services supplies, coffee and refill stations. (Hot meals · Craft services · Coffee) - Set Medics & Safety: Set medics, first aid, health and safety consultants, water safety and stunt coordination support. (Set medics · Safety consulting) - Post-Production, VFX & Sound: Editing suites, colour grading, visual effects, animation, sound design and mixing facilities. (Editorial · Colour · VFX · Mix) - Marketing, Media & Business Services: Publicity, stills photography, EPK, accounting, banking and other services that support productions and suppliers. (Unit publicity · Stills · Accounting) ## Regions - Metro Vancouver: The core of BC production: studios in Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey and North Vancouver, with the deepest supplier base in the province. - Fraser Valley: Farmland, small towns and industrial sites from Langley to Chilliwack and Hope — within easy reach of Lower Mainland crews. - Sea-to-Sky Corridor: Coastal mountains, rivers and resort towns from Squamish to Whistler and Pemberton. - Vancouver Island: Victoria's heritage streets, rainforest, beaches and island communities, accessible by ferry and float plane. - Okanagan & Thompson: Lakes, vineyards, desert-like hills and ranchland around Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon and Kamloops. - Kootenays & Northern BC: Rugged mountain towns, mining heritage and remote wilderness — key areas for BC's regional and distant location credits. ## Official organisations - Creative BC — Provincial agency: film commission, locations and tax credit administration: https://www.creativebc.com/ - City of Vancouver — Filming — Film permits, guidelines and fees for the City of Vancouver: https://vancouver.ca/doing-business/filming-in-vancouver.aspx - IATSE Local 891 — Motion picture technicians and artists in BC: https://www.iatse891.org/ - Directors Guild of Canada — BC — Directors, production managers and assistant directors: https://www.dgcbc.com/ - UBCP/ACTRA — Union of BC Performers: https://www.ubcpactra.ca/ - Teamsters Local 155 — Motion picture drivers and transportation: https://www.teamsters155.org/ - Reel Green — Sustainable production resources for BC: https://www.creativebc.com/ - City of North Vancouver — Filming — Film permit applications and procedures: https://www.cnv.org/city-services/filming-in-the-city/film-permit-application --- # Ontario Film Industry Directory URL: https://hollywoodnorth.org/ontario-directory.html ## Departments covered - Studios & Sound Stages: Purpose-built stages, converted warehouses and LED volume stages for virtual production, with production office and mill space. (Stage rental · LED volume · Mill space · Backlot) - Camera & Lens Rental: Cinema camera packages, specialty lenses, monitoring and prep bays, with technicians on call for shooting days. (Camera packages · Lenses · Monitors · DIT carts) - Grip & Lighting Equipment: Lighting fixtures, dollies, cranes, rigging and lifts — including LED fleets that cut power demand on set. (LED lighting · Dollies · Cranes · Lifts) - Generators & Battery Power: Tow-plant generators, hybrid systems, battery power units and grid tie-ins for unit bases and locations. (Battery units · Hybrid generators · Distro) - Sound Equipment & Services: Production sound packages, wireless systems, playback and walkie-talkie rental for crews of every size. (Wireless kits · Playback · Radios) - Aerial & Drone Filming: Licensed drone operators, aerial camera systems and the airspace approvals that come with them. (Certified pilots · Aerial cinematography) - Production Office Services: Short-term office space, furniture rental, IT networks, printers and phones ready for day one of prep. (Office space · IT · Furniture · Phones) - Accommodation & Travel: Hotels, furnished apartments and travel management for out-of-town cast and crew. (Hotels · Apartments · Travel agents) - Insurance, Legal & Payroll: Entertainment insurance brokers, production lawyers, clearance services and payroll companies. (Production insurance · Payroll · Clearances) - Casting & Background: Casting directors, background performer agencies, stand-ins and photo doubles. (Casting · Background · Stand-ins) - Set Construction & Materials: Lumber, hardware, scaffolding, fabrication, welding and specialty builds delivered to stages and locations. (Lumber · Fabrication · Scaffolding) - Set Decoration & Prop Rentals: Prop houses, furniture and décor rentals, antiques, greens and specialty items for every period and look. (Prop houses · Furniture · Greens · Antiques) - Graphics, Signage & Printing: Cleared graphics, large-format printing, vehicle wraps and on-set signage with fast turnarounds. (Large format · Signage · Wraps) - Costumes, Wardrobe & Cleaning: Costume rentals, fabric suppliers, tailors, dry cleaning and laundry with overnight turnaround. (Rentals · Alterations · Dry cleaning) - Hair, Makeup & Prosthetics: Professional products, wigs, prosthetic and special makeup effects, and trailer set-ups. (SPFX makeup · Wigs · Supplies) - Locations & Location Services: Location scouts and managers, film-friendly properties, and municipal permitting support. (Scouting · Properties · Permits) - Security & Traffic Control: Set and overnight security, crowd management, certified traffic control and flagging crews. (Set security · Traffic control · Flaggers) - Transport & Vehicle Rental: Production trucks, cube vans, passenger vans, trailers, fuel delivery and mobile mechanics. (Trucks · Vans · Trailers · Fuel) - Picture Vehicles & Wranglers: Period, police-style, emergency and specialty vehicles with experienced wranglers. (Period cars · Emergency vehicles) - Honeywagons, Toilets & Waste: Honeywagons, portable toilets, tents, heaters, and sorted waste, recycling and compost hauling. (Honeywagons · Tents · Waste diversion) - Catering & Craft Services: On-location hot meals for full crews, craft services supplies, coffee and refill stations. (Hot meals · Craft services · Coffee) - Set Medics & Safety: Set medics, first aid, health and safety consultants, water safety and stunt coordination support. (Set medics · Safety consulting) - Post-Production, VFX & Sound: Editing suites, colour grading, visual effects, animation, sound design and mixing facilities. (Editorial · Colour · VFX · Mix) - Marketing, Media & Business Services: Publicity, stills photography, EPK, accounting, banking and other services that support productions and suppliers. (Unit publicity · Stills · Accounting) ## Regions - Toronto & the GTA: Ontario's production hub, with studios along the waterfront and across the city, and the province's largest supplier base. - Hamilton & Niagara: Industrial landmarks, heritage downtowns, the escarpment and wine country — long-time favourites for period and urban looks. - Ottawa & Eastern Ontario: Government architecture, the Rideau Canal, Kingston's limestone and the St. Lawrence. - Southwestern Ontario: Small towns, farmland and Great Lakes shorelines from Kitchener-Waterloo to London and Windsor. - Cottage Country: Muskoka, Haliburton and Georgian Bay lakes, forests and classic cottages. - Northern Ontario: Sudbury, North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay: boreal forest, mining towns and vast wilderness — eligible for the OFTTC regional bonus. ## Official organisations - Ontario Creates — Provincial agency: Ontario Film Commission, locations library and tax credits: https://www.ontariocreates.ca/ - City of Toronto — Film — Filming guidelines, permits and notification letters: https://www.toronto.ca/business-economy/industry-sector-support/film/guidelines-for-filming-in-toronto/ - IATSE Local 873 — Film and television technicians in Ontario: https://www.iatse873.com/ - Directors Guild of Canada — National guild with an Ontario district council: https://www.dgc.ca/ - ACTRA Toronto — Performers union for Toronto and area: https://www.actratoronto.com/ - FilmOntario — Industry consortium advocating for Ontario production: https://www.filmontario.ca/ - Ontario Green Screen — Sustainable production resources for Ontario: https://www.ontariocreates.ca/filmcommission/ogs-about-us - Ontario Creates — OFTTC guidelines — Domestic film and TV tax credit guidelines: https://www.ontariocreates.ca/tax-incentives/ofttc/ofttc-guidelines --- # B.C. Film & TV Tax Credits in 2026: A Practical Guide to FIBC, PSTC and Bonus Credits URL: https://hollywoodnorth.org/blog/bc-film-tax-credits-guide.html Published: 2026-08-18 · Category: Incentives · Author: Hollywood North Editorial Team Plain-English guide to British Columbia's film and TV tax credits: FIBC and PSTC at 36%, the major production bonus, regional and distant location credits, and what suppliers should know. ## Key takeaways - Since January 1, 2025, both of British Columbia's headline film credits — Film Incentive BC (FIBC) and the Production Services Tax Credit (PSTC) — are calculated at 36% of eligible B.C. labour. - Projects with more than $200 million in B.C. production costs can earn an additional 2% major production bonus. - Both base credits stack with bonus credits for regional and distant locations, B.C. screenwriters, digital animation/VFX labour and approved training. - The credits are labour-based: they reward B.C. wages, which is why productions prioritise local crew and suppliers that employ B.C. residents. Ask any line producer why so many series, features and animated projects base themselves in Vancouver and you will hear the same three answers: world-class crews, every look within a few hours' drive, and a stable, predictable tax credit system. This guide focuses on the third answer. It explains — in plain English — how British Columbia's film and television tax credits work in 2026, who administers them, how the bonus credits stack, and why a business that supplies productions should understand them as well as any producer. We have written this for producers new to B.C., for production accountants who want a quick refresher, and for local business owners who want to understand why productions make the purchasing decisions they do. It is not tax advice; credits are complex and change through provincial budgets, so always confirm details with Creative BC, the Canada Revenue Agency and a qualified production accountant before you rely on them. ## The big picture: two base credits, many bonuses British Columbia offers two refundable base credits for film and television. Which one a production claims depends mainly on who owns the copyright and whether the project qualifies as Canadian content. - Film Incentive BC (FIBC) supports domestic, Canadian-content productions — typically projects that are certified Canadian by the federal Canadian Audio-Visual Certification Office (CAVCO) and controlled by a Canadian, B.C.-based production company. - Production Services Tax Credit (PSTC) supports productions that do not need to meet Canadian-content rules — most notably the international studio and streamer series and features that make up much of Vancouver's production volume. The claimant is usually a B.C. service company engaged by the foreign rights holder. In its 2025 budget, the Province announced increases to both credits for productions with principal photography starting on or after January 1, 2025. FIBC moved from 35% to 36%, and PSTC jumped from 28% to 36%. For the first time in many years, domestic and service productions are now earning the same base rate on qualifying B.C. labour. The Province framed the change as a response to a difficult period for the industry, which saw production volumes fall after the 2023 strikes in Hollywood and a broader global slowdown. British Columbia film tax credit rates | Credit | Who it is for | Rate before 2025 | Rate from Jan 1, 2025 | | Film Incentive BC (FIBC) | Canadian-content productions by B.C.-based Canadian companies | 35% | 36% | | Production Services Tax Credit (PSTC) | Service productions, including foreign-owned projects | 28% | 36% | | Major production bonus | Projects with > $200M in B.C. production costs | — | +2% | Labour, not total spendThe B.C. credits are calculated on eligible B.C. labour expenditures — wages and salaries paid to B.C. residents, and certain payments to B.C. individuals and corporations for services. Equipment rentals, location fees and catering invoices are not themselves the base of the credit, although the labour component inside some supplier contracts can qualify. ## How the credits are calculated The mechanics differ in detail between FIBC and PSTC, but the logic is similar. A production tracks every dollar of qualifying B.C. labour it spends, subtracts any assistance that must be deducted (such as certain government grants), and applies the credit rate. The result is a refundable credit: if the production company owes less tax than the credit is worth — as most single-purpose production companies do — the difference is paid out as a refund after the claim is assessed. ### What counts as eligible labour? In broad terms, eligible labour includes salaries and wages paid to individuals who were B.C. residents at the end of the calendar year before the year in which principal photography began, plus remuneration paid to B.C.-based corporations for the services of their B.C.-resident employees. This residency test is one reason productions are careful about the paperwork for every crew member and why vendor forms ask about where you and your staff live. ### Why the "labour inside a contract" matters to suppliers Say your company provides a crew of three set medics. The production pays your invoice, but because that invoice is mostly for the services of B.C. residents, the labour portion may be eligible for the credit. Productions and their accountants therefore value suppliers who can clearly break out labour costs on invoices. If you can provide a simple labour/materials split on request, you are making the production's tax credit claim easier — and that is a genuine competitive advantage. ## The bonus credits that stack on top The base credit is only the start. Both FIBC and PSTC can be combined with additional credits designed to spread production activity around the province and support specific skills. According to the Province, the stackable credits support: - Regional and distant locations. Extra credits for labour associated with shooting outside the Lower Mainland. The regional credit rewards filming outside the designated Vancouver area, and the distant location credit adds further support for shooting in more remote parts of B.C. The Province has also said it intends to restore regional and distant location credits for animation companies with a bricks-and-mortar presence outside Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and Whistler/Squamish. - B.C. screenwriters. A credit available to domestic productions that hire B.C. screenwriters, encouraging home-grown writing talent. - Digital animation, visual effects and post-production (DAVE). An additional credit on labour directly attributable to digital animation, visual effects and certain post-production work done in B.C. - Training. A credit tied to approved training programs, rewarding productions that bring trainees and apprentices onto their crews. Stacking is where the real competitiveness lies. A service production shooting partly in the Okanagan or the Kootenays, with significant VFX done by a Vancouver studio, can layer several credits on the same project. That is why productions are actively interested in regional suppliers: a caterer in Kamloops or a picture-car provider in Nanaimo is not just convenient for a location shoot — they are part of the production's regional strategy. ## Don't forget the federal layer Provincial credits sit alongside federal ones. Canadian-content productions can claim the federal Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC), while service productions typically claim the federal Film or Video Production Services Tax Credit (PSTC). Both are administered by CAVCO and the Canada Revenue Agency. In practice, the combined federal and provincial support is what productions compare when choosing between jurisdictions — and because the B.C. rate is now the same for service and domestic projects, the province's offer is simpler to explain than ever. ## The process, step by step Creative BC administers the provincial credits on behalf of the Province, issuing eligibility and completion certificates, while the Canada Revenue Agency processes the claims as part of the production company's corporate tax return. A simplified version of the process looks like this: - Set up the right corporate structure. Most productions use a single-purpose B.C. production company or engage an established B.C. service company. - Apply for an eligibility certificate through Creative BC early in production for FIBC; service productions follow the accreditation process for PSTC. - Track everything. Payroll services and production accountants code labour by residency and department from day one. - Apply for the completion certificate once the production is finished, with audited cost reports where required. - File the claim with the production company's T2 corporate tax return, including the relevant schedules for each credit. - Receive the refund after CRA review — which is why many productions arrange interim financing against the expected credit. A tax credit is only as good as the paperwork that supports it. The productions that get paid quickly are the ones that treated documentation as a department, not an afterthought. ## What this means for B.C. suppliers If you run a business that sells to productions — from generator rentals to dry cleaning — the credit structure explains a lot about how your customers behave. - Local beats imported. Every dollar of B.C. labour is worth more to a production than the same dollar paid outside the province. Emphasise that your team is local. - Clear invoices win repeat work. Itemise labour and materials, include your GST number, reference the production's PO number, and invoice promptly. - Regional businesses have a new edge. If you are outside the Lower Mainland, market yourself directly to productions planning regional shoots. Location managers and production managers want local partners who know the area. - Training partnerships stand out. If you take on apprentices or trainees, say so. It aligns with what productions are rewarded for. Our supplier's playbook covers how to present your business to production offices, and the BC Directory shows the departments productions search most often. If you want help becoming "film-ready", our Production-Ready Vendor Onboarding service walks you through rate cards, insurance certificates and vendor paperwork. ## Common mistakes to avoid - Assuming every expense qualifies. Only eligible labour forms the base of the B.C. credits. Budget accordingly. - Missing residency documentation. Collect residency declarations from every crew member and supplier at onboarding. - Forgetting deductions for assistance. Some forms of government or third-party assistance reduce eligible expenditures. - Leaving regional planning too late. Regional and distant location credits depend on where days are actually shot — schedule with them in mind. - Relying on old rates. Rates changed for productions starting principal photography on or after January 1, 2025. Make sure templates and budgets reflect current figures. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is the B.C. film tax credit refundable? Yes. Both FIBC and PSTC are refundable, meaning a production company can receive the value of the credit even if it owes little or no tax. ### Can a foreign studio claim the B.C. credit? Foreign-owned productions generally access the PSTC through a B.C. production services company, which is the claimant. The PSTC does not require Canadian content. ### Does the credit apply to equipment rentals? Equipment rental fees are not eligible labour in themselves. However, the labour of B.C.-resident technicians supplied with equipment may qualify, which is why itemised invoices matter. ### Where can I check the latest rules? Start with Creative BC's tax credit pages and the Government of British Columbia's budget documents, then consult a production accountant. Rules and rates can change with each provincial budget. ## Sources and further reading - Government of British Columbia news release on film and television tax credit increases (Budget 2025) — news.gov.bc.ca - B.C. Budget 2025 backgrounder — bcbudget.gov.bc.ca - Creative BC — tax credit administration and guidelines — creativebc.com - Canadian Audio-Visual Certification Office (CAVCO) — canada.ca This article is general information, not tax, legal or accounting advice. See our disclaimer. --- # Ontario Film Incentives Explained: OFTTC, OPSTC and OCASE for Producers and Suppliers URL: https://hollywoodnorth.org/blog/ontario-film-tax-credits-guide.html Published: 2026-08-27 · Category: Incentives · Author: Hollywood North Editorial Team How Ontario's film and television tax credits work: OFTTC (35%, 40% for first-time producers), OPSTC (21.5%), OCASE (18%), the regional bonus and how Ontario Creates administers them. ## Key takeaways - OFTTC pays 35% of qualifying Ontario labour for Canadian-content productions, with 40% on the first $240,000 for first-time producers and a 10% regional bonus for shooting outside the Greater Toronto Area. - OPSTC pays 21.5% of qualifying Ontario production expenditures — labour and many non-labour costs — for Canadian and foreign-controlled companies. - OCASE adds 18% on Ontario labour for digital animation and visual effects, and stacks with either OFTTC or OPSTC. - Because OPSTC counts many goods and services bought in Ontario, every local supplier invoice can matter to a service production's bottom line. Toronto has long been one of North America's busiest production centres, and Ontario as a whole — from Hamilton's industrial streets to Northern Ontario's lakes and forests — competes for everything from prestige dramas to holiday movies and animated series. A big part of that competitiveness is the province's suite of refundable tax credits, administered by Ontario Creates. This guide explains the three credits that matter most for film and television — OFTTC, OPSTC and OCASE — in plain language. We also cover how they differ from British Columbia's approach, and what Ontario suppliers should do to make themselves the obvious choice for productions. As always, treat this as an orientation, not tax advice: confirm current guidelines with Ontario Creates and a qualified production accountant. ## Three credits, three different jobs Unlike British Columbia, where both headline credits are calculated on labour, Ontario uses two different models. The domestic credit (OFTTC) is labour-based, while the service credit (OPSTC) is based on a broader set of Ontario production expenditures. A third credit (OCASE) targets animation and VFX labour. Ontario film and television tax credits at a glance | Credit | Rate | Base | Who claims it | | Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit (OFTTC) | 35% (40% on first $240,000 for first-time producers) + 10% regional bonus | Qualifying Ontario labour | Canadian-controlled corporations producing eligible Canadian-content productions | | Ontario Production Services Tax Credit (OPSTC) | 21.5% | Qualifying Ontario labour, production and post-production expenditures | Canadian or foreign-controlled corporations; minimum budget thresholds apply (from $1 million) | | Ontario Computer Animation and Special Effects Tax Credit (OCASE) | 18% | Ontario labour for digital animation and digital visual effects | Stackable with OFTTC or OPSTC | ## OFTTC: the domestic labour credit The Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit supports Canadian productions made by Ontario-based, Canadian-controlled corporations. It is calculated on qualifying Ontario labour expenditures — wages, salaries and certain payments for services of Ontario residents. ### First-time producer enhancement To help new producers get their first projects off the ground, the OFTTC rate rises to 40% on the first $240,000 of qualifying labour expenditure for eligible first-time producers. For a lean independent feature, that enhancement can be a meaningful part of the financing plan. ### Regional bonus Ontario adds a 10% regional bonus on qualifying labour when a production shoots a specified share of its location days outside the Greater Toronto Area. The bonus is designed to spread production activity — and spending — to communities across the province. If your business is in Sudbury, North Bay, Kingston or Windsor, this is the single most important incentive to understand, because it gives productions a financial reason to come to you. Tip for regional suppliersProductions chasing the regional bonus need dependable local partners fast: accommodation, catering, vehicle rentals, security, waste management, set dressing sources and local labour. A clear, current listing in the Ontario Directory helps location and production managers find you during prep. ## OPSTC: the all-spend services credit The Ontario Production Services Tax Credit is what most international productions shooting in Ontario claim. At 21.5%, the headline rate looks lower than B.C.'s 36%, but the base is broader. OPSTC applies to qualifying Ontario labour, production and post-production expenditures — so in addition to wages, it can include payments for services, rentals of tangible property used in Ontario, and other goods and services purchased in the province, subject to the guidelines. That difference is crucial when comparing jurisdictions. Because OPSTC reaches a larger share of the budget, the effective value can be competitive with labour-only credits elsewhere, depending on the shape of the production's spending. Ontario Creates' most recent producer guide also notes that location fees can count toward eligible expenditures, subject to a cap. ### Minimum budgets OPSTC is aimed at substantial productions, with minimum budget thresholds — starting at $1 million — that vary by production type (for example, feature films versus episodic series). Check the current Ontario Creates guidelines for the thresholds that apply to your format. ## OCASE: animation and visual effects The Ontario Computer Animation and Special Effects Tax Credit is worth 18% of Ontario labour expenditures for digital animation and digital visual effects. It stacks with either OFTTC or OPSTC, which makes Ontario attractive for VFX-heavy productions and for animation studios. Ontario Creates reports more than 7,000 post-production, VFX and animation workers in the province. ## The infrastructure behind the incentives Incentives bring productions in, but infrastructure keeps them. According to Ontario Creates' producer guide, Ontario offers: - Around 3.7 million square feet of studio space, plus roughly 115,000 square feet of LED volume stages for virtual production. - A workforce of 9,000+ crew members, 15,000+ performers and 7,000+ post, VFX and animation workers. - Capacity to support 50+ concurrent film and television projects. - An Ontario Film Commission locations library with more than 10,000 locations and hundreds of thousands of searchable, GPS-tagged images, with new film-friendly listings added every month. For property owners, that last point is an opportunity: if you have a distinctive home, business or venue, you can make it discoverable to location managers. Our Film Location Listing service helps you prepare photos and details that scouts actually use. ## Ontario vs. British Columbia: how the models compare | | British Columbia | Ontario | | Domestic credit | FIBC — 36% of eligible B.C. labour | OFTTC — 35% of qualifying Ontario labour (40% first-time producer enhancement) | | Service credit | PSTC — 36% of eligible B.C. labour | OPSTC — 21.5% of qualifying Ontario labour and production expenditures | | Regional incentive | Regional and distant location credits | 10% regional bonus on OFTTC labour outside the GTA | | Animation / VFX | DAVE credit on eligible labour | OCASE — 18% on eligible labour | | Administered by | Creative BC with the CRA | Ontario Creates with the CRA | Neither model is simply "better". A labour-heavy series might find B.C.'s 36% on labour more valuable, while a production with significant local purchases, rentals and post-production might find Ontario's broader OPSTC base attractive. Producers model both — which is why many companies maintain relationships and suppliers in both provinces. (For the B.C. side, read our B.C. tax credits guide.) ## How to claim: the process in brief - Confirm eligibility of the corporation and the production type against the current Ontario Creates guidelines. - Apply to Ontario Creates through its online application portal for a certificate of eligibility (domestic credits often apply for an advance certificate before or during production). - Track expenditures carefully by category and by Ontario residency or location, from the start of prep. - Submit the final application with cost reports (audited where required) once the production is complete. - File with the CRA as part of the corporation's tax return, attaching the Ontario Creates certificate. ## What Ontario suppliers should do now - Use a clear Ontario business address and HST number on every invoice. - Itemise labour, rentals and materials — production accountants will thank you. - Reference the production's purchase order and cost code where provided. - Keep a current certificate of insurance ready to send the same day. - If you operate outside the GTA, market your proximity to regional locations explicitly. - Make it easy to find you during prep: list in the Ontario Directory and keep your details current. ## Frequently asked questions ### Can a U.S. studio claim Ontario's tax credits? Foreign-controlled corporations can claim the OPSTC (subject to eligibility and budget thresholds), typically through an Ontario production services corporation. The OFTTC is reserved for Canadian-controlled corporations producing Canadian-content productions. ### Does OPSTC cover equipment rentals? OPSTC is based on qualifying Ontario labour, production and post-production expenditures, which can include rentals of tangible property used in Ontario. Confirm specifics in the current guidelines. ### Is the regional bonus available for service productions? The 10% regional bonus is part of the OFTTC (domestic) credit. Service productions claim OPSTC, which has a different structure. ## Sources and further reading - Ontario Creates — Producer Guide (2026 edition) and tax incentive guidelines — ontariocreates.ca - Ontario Creates — OFTTC guidelines — ontariocreates.ca - Ontario Film Commission locations library — ontariocreates.ca This article is general information, not tax, legal or accounting advice. Rates and rules can change through provincial budgets. See our disclaimer. --- # How Film Permits Work in Vancouver and Toronto: Timelines, Insurance and Community Notification URL: https://hollywoodnorth.org/blog/filming-permits-vancouver-toronto.html Published: 2026-09-04 · Category: Locations · Author: Hollywood North Editorial Team A step-by-step guide to location filming permits in Vancouver and Toronto: lead times, $2M liability insurance, resident notification letters, parking, paid-duty police and filming hours. ## Key takeaways - Both cities run dedicated film offices that issue location permits and coordinate with police, transportation, parks and other departments. - In Toronto, standard permits need a minimum of 2 business days (3 if City parks are involved), $2,000,000 per-occurrence general liability insurance naming the City, and resident notification at least 48 hours before arrival. - In Vancouver, the City's film office issues location and related permits under its Filming Guidelines, with extra guidelines for business improvement areas (BIAs). - Community goodwill is a shared resource: notification letters, parking discipline and respectful crews keep neighbourhoods film-friendly for everyone. Every location day starts long before the trucks arrive. Somewhere in the production office, a locations team has scouted, negotiated, photographed, mapped parking, drafted letters, called the film office and chased insurance certificates. Permits are the formal end of that work — and they are where productions either build goodwill with a neighbourhood or burn it for everyone who comes after. This guide compares how location filming permits work in Canada's two largest production centres, Vancouver and Toronto. It is written for producers and location teams new to either city, and for the businesses — security, traffic control, parking, catering, waste — that make a compliant location day possible. Requirements change, so treat this as a roadmap and always confirm the current rules with the relevant film office. ## Why permits exist (and why they help productions) A film permit is the city's way of balancing three interests: the production's need to work efficiently, residents' and businesses' right to use their streets and enjoy their homes, and public safety. In return for following the rules, productions get access to public space, coordinated support from city departments, and a clear framework for what is and is not allowed. Done well, permitting turns a potentially disruptive event into a predictable one. ## Filming in Toronto The City of Toronto's film office publishes detailed Guidelines for Filming in Toronto. The key requirements below are drawn from those guidelines. ### Lead times - Standard filming permits require a minimum of 2 business days, not counting the day of submission. - If filming involves City parks, the minimum is 3 business days. - Applications are accepted Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and permits are issued by the business day before the earliest filming date. Those are minimums. Complex shoots — road closures, stunts, special effects, multiple locations — need much more lead time to coordinate with transportation and emergency services. ### Insurance Before a permit is issued, productions must provide a certificate of comprehensive general liability insurance of $2,000,000 per occurrence, with the City named as an additional insured. ### Notifying the neighbourhood Toronto requires productions to give written notice to affected residents and businesses at least 48 hours before their earliest arrival. The notice must describe the location, the duration, any special effects and any road closures. For late-night filming between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. in residential areas, productions must distribute a "Have Your Say" letter that asks the community for feedback before the City will consider the request. ### Hours and frequency - Standard filming hours in residential areas are 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. - To prevent "film fatigue", residential areas are generally limited to two filming occasions per calendar year for each residential block. - Student filming is not permitted between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. ### Parking and vehicles Production vehicles with commercial (black) plates can receive parking permits; personal vehicles with passenger (blue) plates will not. Vehicles are not permitted to idle, and productions pay all associated costs. ### Police and safety Paid-duty police officers are required for pyrotechnics, simulated gunfire, prop weapons visible to the public and traffic stoppages, with costs borne by the production. ### Fees Depending on what is used — roads, City properties, parks or equipment — fees may apply, and the City provides an estimate before issuing the permit. ## Filming in Vancouver The City of Vancouver's film office issues film location permits and related permits tailored to each production's needs, and publishes Filming Guidelines, a fee schedule, information on student filming and guidance on scouting locations. The City can be reached through 3-1-1 (or 604-873-7000 from outside Vancouver). The broad shape of the process will feel familiar to anyone who has filmed in Toronto: - Scout and select locations, then contact the film office early to flag anything unusual: street closures, stunts, effects, or heavy equipment. - Submit a permit application with your location details, schedule, parking plan and site map. - Provide proof of insurance naming the City as additional insured. Confirm the current required limit with the film office, as requirements vary by activity. - Notify affected residents and businesses in writing before you arrive, following the City's guidelines on content and timing. - Coordinate supporting permits — parks, traffic management, special effects — and arrange police or traffic control where required. - Pay applicable fees according to the City's filming fee schedule. ### Business improvement areas Vancouver publishes specific guidelines for filming in business improvement areas. Commercial streets are popular because they double for so many places, but merchants depend on foot traffic and parking. Expect extra expectations around consultation, access to storefronts and minimising the impact on trading hours. ### Beyond the City of Vancouver Metro Vancouver is made up of many municipalities, and each one — the City of North Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, Richmond, Coquitlam and others — sets its own filming procedures, fees and notification rules. A single production can easily work across five jurisdictions in a week. Location teams keep a matrix of each municipality's lead times, insurance requirements and notification radius; if you are new to the region, build that matrix first. Regional shoots in BCOutside Metro Vancouver, municipalities, regional districts, First Nations and provincial agencies (for example, for parks or highways) may all have a role. Allow additional time for permissions and consultation, and engage local suppliers who know the area — they are also part of the case for B.C.'s regional tax credits. ## Side-by-side comparison | | Toronto | Vancouver | | Issuing body | City of Toronto film office | City of Vancouver film office (each Metro municipality has its own) | | Minimum lead time | 2 business days; 3 with City parks | Varies by permit type — contact the film office early | | Liability insurance | $2,000,000 per occurrence, City as additional insured | Required, City as additional insured — confirm current limit | | Resident notice | Written notice ≥ 48 hours before arrival; "Have Your Say" letter for 11 p.m.–7 a.m. residential filming | Written notification per City guidelines; additional BIA guidelines | | Residential frequency | Generally two occasions per block per calendar year | Managed through guidelines and neighbourhood impact review | ## Being a good neighbour: practical habits Most complaints about filming are not about the permit itself — they are about behaviour. The productions that are welcomed back tend to share the same habits: - Write letters people actually read. Plain language, a map, real dates and times, and a phone number that is answered. - Respect "no parking" zones you didn't reserve. Crew parking spilling into residential streets is the number one irritant. - No idling. It is a rule in Toronto and simply good practice everywhere. Battery power and grid tie-ins make it easier (see our green production guide). - Keep sidewalks open or provide safe, signed alternatives. - Leave it cleaner than you found it. Book waste and recycling services as part of your location plan. - Thank the neighbourhood. A follow-up note, a donation to a local cause or simply fixing what you damaged goes a long way. ## Where suppliers fit in Permitting is a team effort that relies on specialist vendors: traffic control and flagging companies, security firms, parking and shuttle providers, portable toilets and honeywagons, waste and recycling haulers, and signage printers. If you provide any of these services, make your compliance credentials obvious — certifications, insurance, experience with film offices. Productions under deadline pressure choose the vendor who removes risk. Find these categories in our BC and Ontario directories, or ask our sourcing concierge for a shortlist. ## Frequently asked questions ### Do I need a permit to film on private property? You need the property owner's permission and a location agreement. You may still need a city permit if your activity affects public space — for example, parking production vehicles on the street, using sidewalks, or creating noise or effects that affect neighbours. ### Do small crews need permits? Many cities have simplified processes for small or student crews, but "small" is defined differently everywhere. If you use public property, park vehicles or affect traffic, contact the film office. ### Can we film at night in residential areas? In Toronto, late-night residential filming requires community feedback through a "Have Your Say" letter. In Vancouver and other municipalities, overnight requests are assessed under local guidelines. Expect more scrutiny and plan for it. ## Sources and further reading - City of Toronto — Guidelines for Filming in Toronto — toronto.ca - City of Toronto — Letters of notification — toronto.ca - City of Vancouver — Filming in Vancouver — vancouver.ca - City of Vancouver — Guidelines for filming in business improvement areas — vancouver.ca - City of North Vancouver — Film permit application — cnv.org This article is general information. Always confirm current requirements with the relevant film office. See our disclaimer. --- # How to Market Your Business to Film & TV Productions: A Supplier's Playbook URL: https://hollywoodnorth.org/blog/marketing-your-business-to-film-productions.html Published: 2026-09-15 · Category: Marketing · Author: Hollywood North Editorial Team A supplier's playbook for winning film and TV work in BC and Ontario: who buys on a production, when they buy, how to build a film-ready rate card, and the marketing channels that work. ## Key takeaways - Productions are temporary companies that need dozens of suppliers in a few weeks of prep — timing your outreach to prep is everything. - Purchasing is spread across departments. Know who buys what: production managers, coordinators, location managers, art, wardrobe, transport and accounting. - A film-ready supplier has a clear rate card, an insurance certificate ready to send, fast quotes, flexible hours and clean invoices. - The best marketing channels are being findable during prep (directories), being recommended (relationships) and being remembered (consistent, useful contact). Film and television productions are some of the most valuable — and most misunderstood — customers a local business can win. A single series can spend millions of dollars in a region over a season, buying everything from lumber and lighting to lunches and laundry. Yet many business owners never see a cent of it, because productions do not buy the way other customers buy. This playbook explains how productions purchase, who makes the decisions, and what you need to do to become a supplier they call first. It draws on what we see every week helping businesses reach productions in British Columbia and Ontario. ## Understand how productions buy A production is a temporary company with a fixed budget, a fixed schedule and an enormous amount to do. Most go through four phases: - Development — writing, financing and packaging. Very little local spending. - Pre-production ("prep") — usually several weeks to a few months. The production office opens, departments hire crew, scouts lock locations and most supplier relationships are set up. - Production ("shooting") — the busiest spending period. Purchases are frequent, urgent and often needed the same day. - Post-production and wrap — editing, VFX and sound; the office winds down, returns rentals and pays final invoices. The lesson: prep is your window. If a production first hears of you halfway through shooting, they may already have a supplier for what you sell. If they find you during prep — when a coordinator is literally building a vendor list — you have a real chance. Speed is a featureProductions often need quotes within hours, not days. A business that answers the phone, quotes the same day and can deliver early tomorrow will beat a cheaper competitor who takes a week. ## Know who buys what There is no single "purchasing department" on a production. Buying power is distributed across departments, each with its own head and budget. Here is a simplified map: | Department / role | Typical purchases | | Production manager & production coordinator | Office space, furniture, IT, phones, courier, office supplies, accommodation, travel, medics, general services | | Locations | Location fees, security, traffic control, parking, portable toilets, waste, cleaning, signage, tents, heaters | | Art department & set decoration | Lumber, hardware, paint, signage, furniture and décor rentals, antiques, greens, graphics, fabrication | | Construction | Building materials, scaffolding, tools, metalwork, welding | | Props | Specialty items, food styling, weapons (licensed), electronics, picture-perfect duplicates | | Costume / wardrobe | Clothing, fabrics, alterations, dry cleaning, laundry, rentals | | Hair & makeup | Products, wigs, prosthetics, trailers | | Camera, grip & electric | Equipment rental, expendables, generators, batteries, lifts | | Transport | Trucks, vans, picture vehicles, fuel, mechanics, driver services | | Craft services & catering | Meals, snacks, coffee, water, specialty dietary items | | Accounting | Payroll services, banking, insurance — and paying your invoices | Market to the people who actually buy your category. A furniture rental company should know set decorators and buyers; a catering company should know production managers and craft services; a security firm should know location managers. ## Become "film-ready" Productions are risk-averse buyers under time pressure. Before they try a new supplier, they want evidence that you understand how film works. A film-ready supplier has: - A film rate card. Clear daily, weekly and monthly rates (film rentals are commonly quoted as "a week is three or four days" — know your market's convention), delivery fees, overtime and minimums. - A certificate of insurance on request. Productions often require commercial general liability and want to be named as additional insured. Being able to send a certificate the same day is a big advantage. - Simple vendor paperwork. Business registration, GST/HST number, banking details for payment, and a contact who answers. - Purchase order discipline. Reference the production's PO number and department on every invoice; productions code costs carefully for budgets and tax credits. - Flexible hours. Early calls, late wraps and weekend pickups are normal. If you can accommodate them, say so prominently. - Discretion. Productions value confidentiality. Do not post photos of sets or talent without permission — ever. If this sounds like a lot, our Production-Ready Vendor Onboarding service exists to help you set it up properly once. ## The marketing channels that work ### 1. Be findable during prep When a coordinator needs "portable heaters, Langley, tomorrow 6 a.m.", they search. Industry directories, production guides and search engines are where that search begins. Make sure you are listed in the right categories with current contact details, service areas and hours. A Featured Directory Listing places you higher in our BC and Ontario directories and adds photos, film credits and a direct contact button. ### 2. Be recommended Film is a referral industry. Crew members move between productions constantly and take their trusted supplier lists with them. Every great experience you give a department is marketing to the next five productions that person works on. Ask satisfied contacts for introductions and keep in touch between shows. ### 3. Be remembered Consistent, useful contact keeps you top of mind: a short seasonal update, a new-inventory announcement, a "we're open early through the holidays" note. Avoid generic mass emails; tailor messages to departments. Our Film Industry Marketing Campaigns combine targeted outreach to production offices with content and directory visibility, timed to production cycles in each province. ### 4. Tell your story Productions like working with people who understand the craft. Case studies (shared with permission), behind-the-scenes posts approved by the production, and clear explanations of how you solve problems on set all build credibility. Sponsored features on Hollywood North are one way to reach the film community with that story, clearly labelled as sponsored. ### 5. Show up Industry events, guild and union mixers, trade shows and training days put faces to names. Bring a simple one-page rate card and an easy way to follow up. ## Pricing for productions without racing to the bottom Productions are budget-conscious, but they pay for reliability. Rather than discounting, consider: - Package pricing for a season or a block of episodes. - Rush fees that are transparent and reasonable — productions accept them when the value is clear. - Loss and damage policies that are written down and fair. - Payment terms that match production accounting cycles, with deposits for custom work. ## Mistakes that cost suppliers the job - Waiting until shooting to introduce yourself. - Not answering the phone outside 9-to-5. - Sending a quote without clear rental periods, delivery and pickup terms. - Being unable to provide an insurance certificate quickly. - Posting about the production on social media without permission. - Invoices without PO numbers or with unclear line items. ## Measure what matters Track where each production enquiry came from, how fast you responded, your quote-to-booking rate and repeat business by department. Over a season, you will see which channels and which departments are worth your time — and which types of productions (series, features, commercials, unscripted) fit your capacity best. ## Frequently asked questions ### Do I need special insurance to supply productions? Many productions require suppliers to carry commercial general liability insurance and to name the production as additional insured on a certificate. Requirements vary — talk to your broker and keep a certificate template ready. ### How long does it take to win film work? Some businesses book work within weeks of being listed; others build relationships over a season. Consistency during each production's prep window is the key factor. ### Can a small business compete with established film suppliers? Yes. Productions value responsiveness, flexibility and local knowledge, especially on location shoots and in regional areas where established suppliers may not operate. Ready to reach productions? List your business, try the marketing estimator, or talk to our team. --- # The Production Manager's Supplier Checklist: 40 Vendors to Line Up Before Day One URL: https://hollywoodnorth.org/blog/production-supplier-checklist.html Published: 2026-09-24 · Category: Production Guides · Author: Hollywood North Editorial Team A department-by-department checklist of the suppliers and services a film or TV production needs in BC or Ontario — from camera rental and catering to security, waste and medics. ## Key takeaways - A typical scripted production engages dozens of outside suppliers; most of them should be lined up during prep, not discovered mid-shoot. - Organise vendor sourcing by department, with an owner, a backup supplier and paperwork status for each. - Collect insurance certificates, business and GST/HST details, rate cards and emergency contacts before day one. - Use the interactive checklist below — tick items as you go; your progress is saved in this browser. Every production manager has a version of this list in their head. The trouble is, heads get busy. Between budgets, schedules, crew deals and the daily avalanche of questions, it is easy to discover on a Thursday night that no one booked the honeywagon for Monday's location. This checklist is the vendor map we use when helping productions prep in Vancouver, Toronto and beyond. It is not exhaustive — every show is different — but it covers the forty suppliers and services that most scripted productions need. Each section lists the vendors, why they matter and a few questions to ask. Tick them off as you go. If you need help filling a gap, our free Production Sourcing Concierge can shortlist local options, or you can browse the BC and Ontario directories. How to use this checklistClick each item to mark it done. Progress is stored only in your own browser (nothing is sent to us). Use the reset button to start over for your next show. 0 of 40 suppliers lined up ## 1. Production office (items 1–7) The production office is the nerve centre. It needs to be up and running on the first day of prep, with space for accounting, locations, art and the coordinators who will run the show. - Office space and furniture rental — short-term leases with flexible terms and parking. Ask about after-hours access and security. - IT, internet and phone systems — secure networks, printers and help-desk support. Ask about same-day installation. - Office supplies and expendables — account-based ordering with delivery. - Courier and messenger services — scripts, contracts, hard drives; ask about overnight and weekend service. - Accommodation and travel agent — hotels and apartments for out-of-town cast and crew. - Cleaning and janitorial — office, washrooms, and post-wrap cleans. - Document shredding and secure storage — scripts and personal data must be handled carefully. ## 2. Finance, legal and insurance (items 8–12) Getting the business side right protects everyone — and underpins your tax credit claim. - Production insurance broker — production package, liability, equipment and vehicle coverage, plus certificates for locations. - Payroll services company — union and non-union payroll, residency tracking, deal memo processing. - Production banking — accounts, cards and petty cash arrangements. - Entertainment lawyer — location agreements, clearances, releases and contracts. - Script clearance and research — names, brands, artwork and locations cleared before shooting. ## 3. Locations (items 13–20) The locations department touches the public more than any other — and depends on a deep bench of reliable vendors. See our guide to permits in Vancouver and Toronto. - Location security — overnight guards, set security and crowd management. - Traffic control and flaggers — certified crews for intermittent traffic control and closures. - Paid-duty police coordination — required for certain activities in many cities. - Portable toilets and honeywagons — numbers scale with crew and background performer counts. - Waste, recycling and compost hauling — sorted streams and receipts for sustainability reporting. - Tents, tables, chairs and heaters — for holding areas, catering and weather protection. - Parking lots and crew shuttles — keep crew vehicles out of residential streets. - Signage and printing — directional signs, notification letters and parking notices. ## 4. Camera, grip, electric and sound (items 21–25) - Camera and lens rental house — packages, prep space and on-call technical support. - Grip and lighting rental — including cranes, dollies and lifts. - Generators and battery power — ask about battery/hybrid units and grid tie-ins to cut fuel and noise. - Sound equipment rental — wireless frequency coordination and spares. - Expendables supplier — tape, gels, batteries and consumables with delivery. ## 5. Art, construction and props (items 26–30) - Lumber, hardware and building materials — trade accounts with fast delivery to stages. - Set decoration and furniture rentals — prop houses and specialty rental shops. - Greens and landscaping — plants, trees and ground cover for sets and locations. - Graphics, signage fabrication and printing — cleared artwork and fast turnarounds. - Specialty fabrication and metalwork — welding, CNC and custom builds. ## 6. Costume, hair and makeup (items 31–33) - Costume rentals and fabric suppliers — period, uniform and specialty pieces. - Dry cleaning, laundry and alterations — overnight turnaround is often essential. - Hair, makeup and prosthetics supplies — plus trailer or room set-up. ## 7. Transport and vehicles (items 34–36) - Production trucks, cube vans and passenger vans — check commercial plating rules for parking permits. - Picture vehicles and wranglers — period, police-style and specialty vehicles. - Fuel delivery and mobile mechanics — keep the fleet moving on location. ## 8. Crew welfare and safety (items 37–40) - Catering company — hot meals for full crews, with dietary options and allergy protocols. - Craft services supplies — coffee, snacks and water; refill stations reduce plastic. - Set medics and first aid — qualified personnel for every shoot day. - Health and safety consultant — risk assessments for stunts, water, heights, effects and weather. ## The paperwork every vendor file should contain For each supplier, keep a simple file (or a row in your vendor tracker) with: - Legal business name, address and GST/HST number - Primary and after-hours contacts - Rate card and agreed rental periods - Certificate of insurance naming the production as required - Payment details and terms; PO numbers issued - Labour/material split if relevant to tax credit claims - A backup supplier for critical categories ## Suggested sourcing timeline | When | Focus | | Prep week 1 | Office, IT, payroll, insurance, banking, accommodation | | Prep weeks 2–3 | Camera/G&E/sound packages, transport, catering, construction materials | | Prep weeks 3–5 | Locations vendors (security, traffic, toilets, waste), set dec rentals, costumes | | Final prep week | Confirm every booking, collect missing certificates, lock backups | ## Tips from experienced production managers - Ask other departments. Your key grip or set decorator likely has trusted vendors; start there. - Book backups for the critical few. Catering, honeywagons, generators and security can sink a day if they fail. - Think regional early. If you are shooting outside the major centres, local vendors can save travel costs and support regional incentives. - Plan for sustainability. Battery power, refill stations and waste sorting are easier to book in prep than to retrofit (see our green production guide). Need a hand? Send your shoot dates, locations and gaps to our sourcing concierge — it is free for productions. --- # Green Production in Canada: Reel Green, Ontario Green Screen and Practical Ways to Cut Set Emissions URL: https://hollywoodnorth.org/blog/sustainable-film-production-canada.html Published: 2026-10-01 · Category: Sustainability · Author: Hollywood North Editorial Team How BC's Reel Green and Ontario Green Screen support sustainable film production, and practical steps for productions and suppliers to cut fuel, waste and emissions on set. ## Key takeaways - Reel Green (British Columbia, through Creative BC) and Ontario Green Screen (Ontario, through Ontario Creates' film commission) are the two main provincial programs helping productions reduce their environmental impact. - On most productions, the biggest footprint comes from fuel — generators and vehicles — followed by travel, waste and studio energy. - Practical wins include battery and grid power, anti-idling rules, reusable set materials, refill stations and sorted waste streams. - Suppliers who can document greener options — and provide data for carbon reports — have a growing advantage. Film and television productions are temporary cities. They power lights, move people and equipment, build and demolish sets, feed hundreds of people a day and generate mountains of material — often for a few weeks at a time. Multiplied across the dozens of productions working in British Columbia and Ontario in a busy year, that adds up to a significant environmental footprint. The good news is that Canada's production centres have spent years building tools, programs and supplier networks to shrink that footprint. This guide explains the two provincial programs most productions encounter, where emissions really come from, and the practical steps productions and suppliers are taking right now. ## The provincial programs ### Reel Green (British Columbia) Reel Green is British Columbia's long-running initiative for sustainable production, delivered through Creative BC with industry partners. It provides productions with guides, training, best-practice resources and tools for measuring emissions, and it works with unions, guilds and suppliers to make greener options easier to find. Over the years Reel Green has published multi-year plans to move the industry toward lower-carbon production, with a strong focus on clean power and waste reduction. ### Ontario Green Screen (Ontario) Ontario Green Screen is the Ontario Film Commission's sustainability initiative at Ontario Creates, developed with industry partners. It offers resources and guidance to help productions in Ontario measure and reduce their environmental impact, and it encourages collaboration between productions, studios, unions and suppliers. Many municipalities also have their own green production guidance. The City of Coquitlam, for example, publishes advice for green productions filming there, and the international Green Production Guide maintains a list of programs worldwide. ## Where production emissions come from Every production is different, but carbon reports from productions around the world tend to show the same pattern. The big categories are: | Category | What drives it | Typical levers | | Fuel for power | Diesel generators on location and for unit bases | Battery units, hybrid generators, grid tie-ins, right-sizing, renewable diesel | | Fuel for vehicles | Trucks, vans, cast and crew transport, idling | Anti-idling policies, electric and hybrid vehicles, route planning, shuttles | | Travel | Flights and accommodation for cast, crew and executives | Hiring locally, fewer scout trips, remote reviews | | Studio energy | Lighting, HVAC, offices and stages | LED fixtures, efficient stages, renewable electricity | | Materials and waste | Set construction, single-use items, food waste | Reuse, rental, donation, sorted waste streams, composting | ## Clean power on set Diesel generators are the single most visible source of emissions — and of noise and fumes that neighbours notice. Both provinces have strong electricity grids with a high share of low-carbon generation, which makes grid power an attractive alternative where it is available. - Battery power units can run base camps, video village, catering and many lighting set-ups quietly and with zero local emissions. - Hybrid systems pair a smaller generator with batteries, so the engine runs only when needed. - Grid tie-ins at studios, unit bases and frequently used locations eliminate generators altogether for parts of the day. - LED lighting dramatically reduces the power a set needs, which in turn makes batteries viable. - Right-sizing — matching generator size to the actual load — reduces fuel burn even when diesel is unavoidable. For equipment suppliersIf you rent batteries, hybrid units, LED fixtures or EV charging, say so clearly in your directory listing. Productions are actively searching for these categories. A Featured Listing lets you add a "green options" note and photos. ## Transport and idling Vehicles are the second big lever. Toronto's filming guidelines state that production vehicles are not permitted to idle at any time, and anti-idling is a common expectation across municipalities. Beyond idling rules, productions are: - Adding electric and hybrid passenger vans and cars to fleets where charging is available. - Running crew shuttles from central parking rather than having dozens of personal vehicles drive to location. - Planning company moves to reduce mileage and consolidating deliveries. ## Sets, materials and waste Set construction can generate large volumes of lumber, foam, paint and hardware waste. Leading productions are: - Designing sets to be modular and reusable, and storing flats and platforms for future shows. - Renting and buying from prop houses and second-hand sources rather than buying new. - Choosing low-VOC paints and avoiding hard-to-recycle materials where possible. - Donating furniture, building materials and costumes at wrap to community organisations and reuse centres. - Booking waste haulers who can provide sorted streams and diversion reports for the production's records. ## Food, water and craft services Catering is a daily opportunity to cut waste: - Refill stations and reusable bottles instead of single-use plastic water bottles. - Reusable or compostable serviceware, with clearly labelled bins. - Accurate meal counts and a plan to donate surplus food safely to local food recovery organisations. - More plant-based options, which typically have a lower footprint and are increasingly popular with crews. ## Measure, then improve Most sustainability programs encourage productions to use a carbon calculator throughout production, not just at wrap. Measuring early shows where the biggest opportunities are — usually fuel — and builds a baseline for the next season. To make measurement possible, productions need data from suppliers: litres of fuel delivered, kilowatt-hours supplied by battery units, kilograms of waste diverted. Suppliers who can provide this data easily are becoming preferred suppliers. ## Building an eco team Many larger productions now appoint an eco manager or sustainability coordinator, sometimes supported by eco production assistants on set. Their job is to set targets, brief departments, work with suppliers on greener options, track data and report results. Even on a small production, naming one person responsible for sustainability makes a real difference. ## What this means for suppliers Sustainability is moving from "nice to have" to a factor in purchasing decisions. To stay competitive: - Offer at least one greener option in your category and explain it clearly. - Be ready to report data — fuel, power, waste diversion — in a simple format. - Highlight local sourcing and short delivery distances. - Join provincial sustainability supplier lists where they exist. - Tell your story: a sponsored feature or case study can show productions how you help them hit their goals. ## A quick-start plan for your next production - Name a sustainability lead during prep. - Set three measurable goals (for example: battery power for base camp, no single-use water bottles, 75% waste diversion). - Brief department heads and include sustainability in supplier conversations. - Book battery/hybrid power and sorted waste services early. - Track data weekly and share progress with the crew. - At wrap, donate materials, compile your report and share lessons with the next production. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is sustainable production more expensive? Some options cost more up front, but many save money — less fuel, less waste hauling, fewer single-use purchases. Planning early is what keeps costs under control. ### Can battery power run a whole set? For many set-ups, especially with LED lighting, yes. High-load situations may still need hybrid systems or generators, but batteries can cover base camp and much of the day. ### Where can I find green suppliers? Check Reel Green and Ontario Green Screen resources, browse our BC and Ontario directories, or ask our sourcing concierge to shortlist suppliers with greener options. ## Sources and further reading - Creative BC / Reel Green — creativebc.com - Ontario Creates — Ontario Green Screen: About Us — ontariocreates.ca - Green Production Guide — International green production programs — greenproductionguide.com - City of Coquitlam — Green Productions — coquitlam.ca - City of Toronto — Guidelines for Filming in Toronto (anti-idling) — toronto.ca --- # Contact - BC: 15388 24th Ave, Suite 202, Surrey, BC V4A 2J2 · +1 (604) 900-8404 - Ontario: 1 Yonge St, Suite 1801, Toronto, ON M5E 1W7 · +1 (647) 499-4964 - Toll-free: +1 (888) 888-5554 · info@hollywoodnorth.org - Contact form: https://hollywoodnorth.org/contact.html