NORTH SHORE STUDIOS (North Vancouver)
Year opened: 1989
Stages: 8 (132,435 sq ft)
The brainchild of renowned TV writer and producer Stephen J. Cannell, North Shore Studios was built to address the serious lack of soundstages in the Vancouver area, especially since Cannell had brought several of his shows north from California, starting with Stingray.
The need was so great that several Cannel productions including 21 Jump Street and Wiseguy, started shooting on the site several months before construction was even complete!
The site was purchased by Lionsgate in the 90s and briefly re-named Lionsgate Studios before being sold to Bosa Development Corp in 2006 and reverting to its original name.
I myself have visited this facility a couple times to do costume fittings for background work including for one episode of The Twilight Zone.
Projects: The X-Files, Jumanji, Battlestar Galactica, Psych, Twilight: New Moon, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Godzilla, Fifty Shades Darker, Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies
THE BRIDGE STUDIOS (Burnaby)
Year opened: 1987
Stages: 13
Risen from the ashes of the former Dominion Bridge Company which operated on the site from the 1930s-1970s, The Bridge Studios is one of the premiere production facilities in the Metro Vancouver area. It operates the largest effects stage in North America.
The owners have bold plans to build up to 26 additional sound stages in other parts of Burnaby within the next few years.
I once attended a production meeting for a Hallmark movie back in 2018 and ran into Christina Chang from The Good Doctor on my way out.
Projects: Stakeout, Timecop, Thir13en Ghosts, Stargate SG-1, Snow Dogs,Once Upon a Time, Welcome to Marwen, The Good Doctor, A Million Little Things, Bones of Crows
VANCOUVER FILM STUDIOS (Vancouver)
Year opened: 1987 (re-branded in 1999)
Stages: 13
Formed out of the former Northstar International Studios, Vancouver Film Studios is notable for being the only major film production facility within the Vancouver city limits. Its stages are all purpose-built with the unique needs of film and television production in mind.
The owners are passionate about environmental sustainability, championing ESG initiatives and became the first carbon-neutral studio facility in Canada back in 2008.
Projects: X2, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Fringe, Arrow, Bates Motel. The Flash, Step Up All In, Fifty Shades of Grey, Deadpool 2, Good Boys, Yellowjackets
CANADA MOTION PICTURE PARK STUDIOS (Burnaby)
Year opened: 2001
Stages: 18 (350,000 sq ft)
Located in the deep south of Burnaby, CMPP boasts a 10 acre outdoor backlot of six American city streets in addition to its ample stage space and specialty shops for construction, carpentry, paint, and props storage.
I did some background work on the site back in 2017 on the Facebook Watch series Limetown.
Projects: Cats and Dogs, Supernatural, Watchmen, Tron: Legacy, Twilight: Eclipse, Skyscraper, Man in the High Castle, Warcraft, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Lucifer, Batwoman
MAMMOTH STUDIOS (Burnaby)
Year opened: 2002
Stages: 5
Occupying the site of a former Sears warehouse, Mammoth studios has amassed quite an impressive list of credits as they are specifically geared towards providing massive spaces to big budget productions including multiple partnerships with the Walt Disney Company.
Ares, the third entry in the TRON franchise, is currently shooting on the site.
Projects: Fantastic Four, Night at the Museum, The A-Team, War of the Planet of the Apes, The Predator, Sonic the Hedgehog, Peter & Wendy, Shogun, Tron: Ares
MARTINI FILM STUDIOS (Langley)
Year opened: 2017
Stages: 8 (150,000 sq ft)
Part of the Martini group whose properties include the legendary “Silvercup Studios” in New York, the Martini Film Studios in Langley was transformed from the old Starline Windows facility.
In a addition to their soundstages, Martini other notable facilities include “Martini Town”, a 16 acre backlot, “Martini Acres”, a 150 acre are of forest and farmland for more rural-based stories, and even “Martini Aviation” a private airport complete with hangers, runways and a Boeing 767-200 set!
Being located east of the Surrey/Langley border, work at Martini is eligible for enhanced provincial film tax credits.
Projects: Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Snowpiercer, Virgin River, Snake Eyes
LUMIERE FILM STUDIOS (Langley)
Year opened: 2010s
Square footage: 1 (20,000 sq ft)
If you’re a producer with smaller-scale needs, then Langley-based Lumiere studios are for you. While most of the films I edit tend to shoot on location, several have built small-scale sets for their unique needs including some of those listed below.
Projects: Cats & Dogs 3: Paws Unite!, Dangerous Game: The Legacy Murders, Mercy