NOTL resident, business owner pushing for a Niagara film office

Niagara’s 12 municipalities hold myriad settings for film and television production companies. Peter Donato and Nigel Napier-Andrews are wondering why the region is not capitalizing on the opportunities on our doorsteps. 

Donato, a Toronto-based television and film location scout who operates Niagara Cycling Tours locally, and Napier-Andrews, a scriptwriter and retired television producer who lives in Niagara-on-the-Lake, are urging the creation of a Niagara Film Office.

It’s something that has been on the Region’s Economic Development department’s radar at least since the release last summer of a Deloitte LLP study on Niagara’s emerging sectors.

The Deloitte report lists those emerging sectors as electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing (electrification), marine, healthcare (life sciences), active economy and sport tourism, film and aerospace. 

In May, the federal government announced that a $1.6 billion dollar battery separator plant built by Japan’s Asahi Kasei Corp. will be located in Port Colborne, a major move on the first of those emerging sectors.

“They have six things on that list they want to concentrate on,” Napier-Andrews tells The Local. “What are they doing about film?”

Appendix Six of the report is a detailed analysis of the potential of Niagara to attract some of the $4.5 billion (2022 data) the film and television industry contributes to the province’s economy. It touts the many assets across the region, including institutional buildings, natural resources and heritage properties that could attract filmmakers.

“The development of a Niagara Film Commission,” acknowledges the report, “could help promote and advocate for the region, manage a local fund and run the concierge service. Its evolution would be an indication that Niagara region is invested in this sector.”

Napier-Andrews, who has written a script for a Hallmark-style film called Love Uncorked that he would like to have filmed close to home, points out that St. Catharines, Fort Erie, Niagara Falls and Port Colborne all have film offices listed on their municipal websites. He has made inquiries to each of them but has received little helpful information. 

He and Donato, whose work as a location scout recently was on display in the first episode of Season 10 of the Amazing Race Canada television series shot in Niagara Falls, have collaborated on a business plan for what they call a Niagara Film Office. 

“The word ‘commission’ sounds bureaucratic,” Napier-Andrews opined. “We want to call it a film ‘office’. An office has a door. You can open the office door and walk in and say ‘please help’. An office sounds friendlier.”

They have discussed their initiative with NOTL Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa, who sent a letter in support of the idea to the Region’s director of economic development, George Spezza.

The duo have had the chance to present their plan to Spezza and Eric Chou of Niagara Economic Development. 

Their plan brings together existing municipal agencies and local post-secondary schools offering film studies into a one-stop shopping experience for film and television producers, promising a simplified permitting process and quick turnaround times. 

“We were told by George Spezza that film is priority number six on that list,” lamented Napier-Andrews. “They (regional government) are so focused on infrastructure. I don’t envy them having to make those decisions. But the fact of the matter is we have a viable series of propositions that will bring money into the region to support local businesses and create jobs.”

In a conversation with The Local, Spezza acknowledged the work done by Donato and Napier-Andrews.

“They certainly have great enthusiasm about promoting Niagara in the film space,” said Spezza. “There are certainly some merits to that. It is part of our ten-year economic development strategy. Creating a film commission requires staffing and resources. At this point, we don’t have council direction for that.”

Napier-Andrews says budget-wise, money would be needed to market Niagara as an alternative destination for filmmakers used to shooting in Toronto and Hamilton. Funds would be needed to accommodate visits by producers and location scouts. And there would need to be money available to provide incentives to convince production companies to choose Niagara. He estimates an annual cost between $200,000 and $300,000.

“What we’re talking about are discounts, waiving permits, opening doors, making sure the police are onside, giving them the fire department to stand by if you’re blowing something up,” says Napier-Andrews.

“That’s the job of a film office anywhere, to make it easier for you to come here,” he adds. “They also tell you who’s the best transportation and catering people, where you find all the PAs (production assistants) that you need. We have two post-secondary institutions churning out film students, too.”

Despite their knowledge of and experience in the industry, neither Napier-Andrews nor Donato wants to run a Niagara Film Office themselves. But they envision it requiring two or three dedicated staff members to pursue opportunities and arrange all the details for productions.

This month, Napier-Andrews had a tentative agreement to welcome to NOTL Carolyn McMaster, president and executive producer of Alberta-based CHAOS, A Film Company. Napier-Andrews previously worked with McMaster to bring a script he wrote called Key to Love to the screen in 2023. It was shot in Alberta. 

McMaster is looking for locations for an upcoming film, so Napier-Andrews put together a test proposal as an example of how the Niagara Film Office might work, including a budget of $5,513 for a four-day visit. 

He presented the proposal to Chou at the region, who replied via email, “At this point, Niagara Economic Development cannot fund your test project.”

McMaster is also looking at London, Ontario as a potential location for the upcoming film, where Napier-Andrews says CHAOS has been enticed by the organization Film London.

“They’re brand new,” Napier-Andrews says of Film London. “They’re far enough away from Toronto, like Niagara. They will pay to bring a producer from outside of Ontario to their area. They pay their airfare and hotel accommodations and pay for a driver to show them around.”

Spezza told The Local, “We will support an exploration visit by a film producer the same way we would a manufacturer or any other opportunity for investment in our region. We are willing to provide support on the ground, but we’re not right now prepared to provide funding for the costs.”

Meanwhile, Donato has recently spoken to NOTL’s new economic development officer Ashleigh Myers, who said she is interested in meeting with the the two men to see how she can help move things forward. 

Though he is disappointed, Napier-Andrews remains focused on making the film office a reality. 

“We think we just have to plug on and remain champions for this potential Niagara Film Office,” says Napier-Andrews. “We just have to help George (Spezza) by getting support from all the elected officials in the region so he can go to council and put forward the proposition. We won’t give up.”