American filming in Quebec | A whirlwind start… which hides an uncertain sequel

The post-strike era of American actors and screenwriters has officially begun in Quebec. Big series like Abbott Elementary And Grey’s Anatomy are returning to the airwaves, and above all, Hollywood filming is returning to Montreal. Industry players speak of an “exceptional” recovery, but be careful: what happens next in 2024 could be much less so.

The year 2023 has not been easy for many Quebec technicians. Labor unrest in the United States has paralyzed film and television production for months. According to the annual report of the Quebec Cinema and Television Bureau (BCTQ), the strikes affected “substantially a very large part of the audiovisual industry in Quebec” (international production, visual effects, post-production).

Since January, on the other hand, things have been swarming. According to our sources, in addition Ghostsa CBS network comedy filming in Montreal since December, La Belle Province welcomes the new Karate Kid with Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio, the TV series The Last Frontierintended for the video-on-demand service Apple TV+, and Blackbirda feature film from Skydance Studios (Impossible mission, transformers).

This stormy start is welcomed.

“Currently, all professions combined, we have approximately 2,000 people employed in American production alone,” underlines Christian Lemay, president of AQTIS 514 IATSE, the Quebec technicians’ union. It’s exceptional, because in American production, at the start of the year, it’s usually dead. »

“It’s really going strong,” confirms Patrick Jutras, president of MELS studios. We are at full capacity. We don’t have a square foot to rent. »

Ahead of Toronto and Vancouver

Montreal would also have a better start to the year than Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary, three other Canadian territories against which it competes to attract foreign productions.

“That’s good because we feel a slowdown in Quebec production,” says Christian Lemay. This is symptomatic of underfunding. Broadcasters face significant challenges. We saw this when we saw the layoffs at Bell Media and TVA Group. Our industry is being tested, and that’s why American production is so important: it creates jobs. »

A “huge question mark”

This dazzling start, however, is no guarantee of the rest of 2024.

At the MELS studios, we are talking about an “exceptional, but circumstantial” winter. Same story at the BCTQ. According to the president and CEO of the organization, Christine Maestracci, the American filming which is currently in full swing in Montreal was to take place in 2023. It would therefore be a matter of catching up.

As for the rest of 2024, it represents a “huge question mark”.

Despite this temporary proliferation, one observation is clear: the decline that began in 2021 continues. “Before, we always hosted between 20 and 30 foreign shoots per year,” notes Christine Maestracci. In 2022, it fell to 15, and last year, it was 8…”

“The industry has changed,” says Patrick Jutras of MELS studios. 10-15 years ago, Quebec was one of the popular destinations. But in recent years, we have gone from 3^e rank at 10^e rank. »

Best financial incentives requested

To stop this decline, reverse the trend and attract more American productions to Quebec, the audiovisual sector is demanding better financial incentives from the government.

“The movement of American filming to other jurisdictions, such as Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, is real,” insists Christine Maestracci. We must improve our tax credits. It is the tool used all over the world to stay competitive. It’s worth it. Each time we attract a foreign film shoot, we attract new capital to Quebec. »

“You have to be able to adapt,” adds the vice-president and co-founder of Grandé Studios, Andrew Lapierre. Other jurisdictions, like Las Vegas, have just improved their tax credits. Because they know the importance of the fallout. »

According to Patrick Jutras, of MELS studios, each major American production that sets up in Quebec results in “between 80 and 100 million dollars” in economic benefits.

New strike in sight?

Another factor that makes 2024 difficult to predict: after the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and after the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA), another union, that of American technicians, will undertake negotiations with the Alliance of Cinema Producers and American TV (AMPTP). The employment contract of several of them expires in July, and although none has yet mentioned a possible “strike”, the talks between the Teamsters, IATSE and the AMPTP promise to be tough, reported Deadlinein January.

“Their demands are similar to those of actors and screenwriters,” underlines Christian Lemay of AQTIS 514 IATSE. They also fear the impact of artificial intelligence on their jobs. »

This possible walkout of American technicians could benefit Quebec, observes Andrew Lapierre. To prevent another strike from torpedoing their productions, American studios could decide to “redirect” their productions to Montreal, to film elsewhere than in the United States.

Return of the series

For several weeks, we have felt the effects of the return to work of American actors and screenwriters when we turn on our television. The new seasons of series that were to begin last fall are – slowly, but surely – coming on the air. It looks like a TV start five months late, in the middle of February. Lately, series like Abbott Elementary (ABC) have returned to the air, as have The Conners (ABC), CSI: Vegas (CBS), Blue Bloods (CBS), The Good Doctor (ABC), The Rookie (ABC) and Young Sheldon (CBS). March will notably mark the return of 9-1-1 And Grey’s Anatomy (for the 20^e season!) on ABC. Elsewhere, we can mention the resumption of filming of Stranger Things, the fifth and final season of which is particularly anticipated on Netflix. However, no release date has been announced.