Pinewood Toronto Studios

Pinewood Toronto Studios (formerly known as Filmport) is a major film and television studio complex in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and is the largest of its kind in Canada. It is the first in Toronto capable of accommodating the production of large-scale films.[1] The studio is named for UK-based The Pinewood Studios Group. In March 2018, it was announced that Bell Media would be buying a controlling stake in the studio.

Exterior view, Commissioners Street

It is located across the shipping channel from Hearn Generating Station along Commissioners Street.

History

Construction
The Mega Stage under construction in 2008

The project covers 4.5 hectares (11 acres) of land in the Port Lands area of Toronto, a former industrial area, that is already home to a number of smaller studios. The Port Lands site was originally a brownfield site owned by Imperial Oil, and required considerable cleanup prior to reuse.

Initial work on the complex began in August 2006[2]

From Filmport to Pinewood Toronto Studios

In June 2009, the studio entered into a comprehensive sales and marketing agreement with The Pinewood Studios Group, resulting in the facility being renamed Pinewood Toronto Studios.[3]

Pinewood Toronto Studios was constructed to be a “green” facility with a number of environmental considerations.[4]

Bell Media

In March 2018, Bell Media reached a deal with the UK-based Pinewood studios group, the City of Toronto government, and several holdings companies to purchase a controlling stake in the studio. As part of the deal, Bell Media announced that an additional 170,000 square feet of sound stages would be built at Pinewood Toronto to ease scarcity of production space in Toronto.[5]

Stages and facilities

The 11-hectare lot features seven purpose-built soundstages and one converted warehouse, ranging from 10,000 square feet (930 m2) to 46,000 square feet (4,300 m2). The largest soundstage, called the Mega Stage, is more than 46,000 square feet (4,300 m2) and until 2016, was the largest purpose-built soundstage in North America. The facilities are designed to accommodate the production of five simultaneous mid-sized feature films, or two massive projects.

Filmography

References
  1. "Official site: FILMPORT". Archived from the original on 2008-02-26. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
  2. "(www.hollywoodnorthreport.com) "Ontario Liberals Boosting Film/ TV Tax Credits."". Archived from the original on April 1, 2009. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
  3. Ward, Audrey (June 26, 2009). "Pinewood takes on management of Toronto's Filmport". Screen Daily. Retrieved 2011-09-23.
  4. "Green Initiatives". The Pinewood Studios Group. Archived from the original on 2011-11-26. Retrieved 2011-09-23.
  5. "Canada's Bell Media Buys Control of Pinewood Toronto Studios (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2018-04-02.
  6. Vlessing, Etan (December 23, 2010). "Report: Columbia Pictures' 'Total Recall' Headed to Toronto". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on December 27, 2010. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  7. Vlessing, Etan. "Surging Hollywood Shoots Forces Hunt for New Toronto Soundstages". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  8. Vlessing, Etan. "Pinewood Toronto to Double Production Space as Hollywood Takes City to Full Capacity". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
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