With the work-from-home movement that’s risen from the pandemic, more and more companies have replaced the in-person meeting with video chats. Whether you’re down the block, or across the continent, video meetings have closed distances and allowed businesses to work with anyone across the globe. This, combined with the fact that US dollars get an automatic 30% multiplier when crossing the border to Canada, has made the idea of Canadian production companies much more appealing to American businesses. Oh, and there are these other reasons too:

1. Canada’s Film, Video, and Photography industry has reopened



There’s no denying that the resilience of the marketing and film production industry has been tested by the Coronavirus, with almost all productions shutting down back in March. However, as of mid-July, Canadian productions are back in action. Canada’s handling of the pandemic certainly hasn’t been perfect, like the rest of the world we have suffered through substantial outbreaks and been hit hard in long-term care facilities. However, compared to our friends in the United States and other countries globally, we have a geographical advantage that has allowed us to bounce back significantly- with one ninth of the United State’s population spread out across major city centers across the world’s second largest country. In the early stages of the pandemic, this allowed Canada to ramp up the testing more quickly and better isolate the sick, trace contacts and limit the spread. With all those advantages in the handling of Coronavirus in mind, throughout Canada productions across the advertising and film industry have now returned to production with new health and safety protocols in place. These protocols include physical distancing on set, personal protective equipment for the crews, and special personnel hired to clean-up and additional security checks.

2. While America is on lock down, content is getting made in Canada


With the advantage of Canada’s bounce back from the Coronavirus in mind, many marketing agencies and film productions are moving their productions to their Northern neighbours. Now that companies are settled into the “New Normal” this global pandemic has brought us, many marketing efforts have returned to their former glory. While American video productions remain on lockdown, the alternate opportunity is to work with local Canadian Video production agencies to execute your marketing goals. Content is being created in Canada, working with local producers and directors to finesse the marketing content which is all being filmed and edited by video production companies like Noravera and sent back to your agency for approvals and feedback. Just last week, I witnessed a commercial that was being produced in Vancouver on behalf of an American agency. The Director was in LA, and despite physical distance, they were involved for every step of the production process. From the wardrobe fitting through to the production day, they were present via zoom and facetime calls giving their feedback and direction to ensure the production was executed to their satisfaction. Technology, eh? What a time to be alive!

3. Taking your productions to Canada is easier than you’d think

Picture this, your marketing team comes up with a brilliant idea that fits your advertising needs perfectly, but with everything on lockdown it’s not realistic to execute this concept in a safe way. Rather than throwing the idea out the window or leaving it on the cutting room floor, contact a local Vancouver production company and collaborate with them to make your concept a reality. Local production companies can handle casting, props sourcing, and location scouting while getting approvals and collaborating through zoom calls with your producers and creative teams so you’re confident in the execution of your concept. The production team includes a local DOP, Director, Producer as well as Wardrobe Stylists, Hair and Makeup Artists and even Art Directors who will tackle the production days and can even give you an insight into the production via live chats on zoom or simply sharing screenshots of the set ups to get approvals throughout the production. Next, the footage is backed up and the editing process begins. Local editors work through rounds of edits and feedback with your creative team, sending vimeo links for review at each stage of the editing process. Feedback is sent to local producers via email and can even be chatted through over the phone to ensure nothing is lost in translation. At the end of the process, wetransfer links are sent with your final products and then it’s just a matter of letting your brilliant idea do the work! 

4. Canadian crews are prepared for a variety of production types


Whether your production is a feature film, or it needs several shoot days, a full cast of actors and background performers, location rentals, props and art direction and basically everything but the kitchen sink… or it’s a more simple production with less bells and whistles, Canadian crews can execute your needs. If it’s a matter of having a marketing idea, but no clue how to communicate this message, you can work with a local Vancouver production company, such as Noravera, who have internal crews who can even brainstorm creative ideas for you, write scripts and share storyboards with you to paint a picture of your marketing content, get your creative team onboard and then turn those ideas into a reality. For examples of creative marketing ideas, check out some of Noravera’s work.

5. Canada’s aesthetics are versatile


This might come as a shock, but Canada isn’t just one big snow covered country populated by igloos… in fact, I’m Canadian and I’ve never even seen an igloo before. Cities in Canada such as Vancouver, Toronto or Calgary are huge production hubs because of the versatility of their aesthetics. Let’s focus on Vancouver as an example. My earliest memory of spotting Vancouver in a movie was way back in The Never Ending Story when Bastian is trying to escape bullies at school he takes refuge in an old book store, all filmed in Gastown, Vancouver! Fast forward to today and Vancouver is the filming hub for popular series such as Riverdale, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Supernatural, the 100, X-files and films such as Deadpool, Descendants, Always be my Maybe, Skyscraper and 50 Shades of Grey, and Planet of the Apes… just to name a few. To learn what’s currently filming in B.C. check out this updated list.Vancouver allows a production to recreate iconic American cities such as San Francisco, or Seattle while Toronto often doubles for Chicago, or New York city. Vancouver also offers ocean backdrops, for beaches and boating as well as nearby Mountain scenery as close as Squamish for hiking, rock climbing and general outdoor adventure. To sum it up, if Canada was a vegetable it would be a potato because it’s the most versatile and why should you have to decide between french fries, hashbrowns or vodka when you can truly have it all.

6. Canada’s crews are professional and knowledgeable


As you may have gathered from the previous talking points, shooting in Canada is not a new phenomenon. Experienced crews have been working in Canada for decades now and as the industry continues to grow here in Hollywood North, so does the professional talent. From Producers, Directors and DOP’s to PA’s, lighting and grip departments and everything in between, Canadian industry professionals fill our Canadian film, tv and commercial sets. According to the Motion Picture Association of Canada, more than 180,000 people - from special effects technicians to make-up artists and sound editors - worked in the industry last year. I could go on and on about how resilient, talented and hard-working our industry professionals are, working 12 to 16 hour days for months at a time… but what I think should really sell you on  Canadian crews is that you’re also going to get that special charm you’d associate with Canadians, the rumours of our incessant politeness is 100% true.

If you’re looking to learn more about the logistics of how your marketing content or video production can be executed in Canada, or simply want to chat through some creative ideas with a member of our team, please reach out to Noravera at info@noravera.com. We look forward to hearing from you and hope we’ve said “eh” and “sorry” enough throughout this article that you believe it was written by a Canadian, because it was! Sorry, eh!