Major movies that were supposed to be shot in N.S. are being put on hold while negotiations happen in the U.S
The TV and film industry in Nova Scotia is taking a hit this summer because of the possibility of a second Hollywood strike.
Members of the Writers Guild of America quit their jobs on May 2, and actors’ union members are planning to do the same if they can’t come to an agreement with major production studios by Wednesday night.
The province’s film industry has had some big summers in the past few years, hiring hundreds of Nova Scotians and helping local economies. It looked like this year would be the same.
But for local actors like Dale Willman, this year’s production season has been “dead” so far because movies and TV shows that are shot in Nova Scotia but rely on American writers and actors can’t move forward.
Willman has been an actor and coach in the TV and movie business for 13 years. She is often seen in the background on From,An American horror show that has been given the go-ahead to film its third season in Nova Scotia.
She said that she could lose a lot of money if the show doesn’t start filming soon.
“I’m not going to make enough money,” Willman said. “I’m more worried about not making enough money to keep my health insurance and dental insurance.”
Shelley Bibby from the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 849, the union that represents film crews in the province, says that a few low-budget Canadian productions have started filming.
But she said that the big productions that come here and hire the most people are the ones with American studios and American actors.
“It seems crazy that we here in little old Nova Scotia are affected by people sitting in boardrooms in Los Angeles, but it’s a global industry,” said Bibby.
Like From, CTV’s drama series Sullivan’s CrossingIs supposed to go back to Nova Scotia for its second season, but IATSE 849’s website says that it has also been pushed back. This is probably because the show’s main cast includes well-known American actors like Chad Michael Murray and Scott Patterson.
Bibby hopes that the writers’ strike and the upcoming strike by the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists will only slow down the filming season, which is usually at its busiest in the spring and summer.
“It should mean that fall and winter will be very busy,” she said. “All we can do is wait and see what happens and hope for the best.”
Adding to the local economie
The slow season this year is affecting more than just the people who work in the industry. When big productions come to town, local economies also get a boost.
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, has been a popular place to film for a long time. TheSinner, Washington Black and Locke & KeyAre some of the big movies that have been filmed in the small town since 2018.
Jamie Myra, who owns a clothing store in Lunenburg, said that productions like these bring in millions of dollars for the city’s economy.Myra is taking a break from his job as president of the Lunenburg Board of Trade so he can run for mayor in the next byelection in the town.
“Every time a show like that comes to this town, everyone in the long run benefits, either directly or indirectly,” he said.”Places like our local Legion, curling club, and campground that aren’t usually busy in April and May did very well.”
This year, though, is a different story.
Myra said that there haven’t been any big shows in Lunenburg yet this season, and he doesn’t know if any are planned for the near future.
Even though Willman is eager to get back to work, she fully backs the Writer’s Guild of America and the writers who are on strike in the U.S.
“It’s all because of greed on the part of the production and distribution companies,” said Willman.
“The only people getting rich these days are the top executives, which is wrong.”