Latest news with #Vancouver-shot
Vancouver Sun
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
'Living in Canada is simply better': Vancouver pushes for immigration pathway for movie/TV creatives
Film director Osgood Perkins would really like to call B.C. home. The director of the Vancouver-shot, top-grossing independent films Longlegs and The Monkey , as well as the upcoming Keeper (out Nov. 14), has been working here since 2022. And, for the last year and a half, he has been trying to gain residency status in Canada. But getting that status greenlit has proven to be a challenge. To date, Perkins has been going from work permit to work permit. Every time a project finishes, he and his family must leave Canada until the next job is a go. Get top headlines and gossip from the world of celebrity and entertainment. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sun Spots will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'He can't buy a house here because of the foreign buyer ban, his family doesn't feel like they are permanently rooted here,' said Chris Ferguson of Vancouver's Oddfellows Entertainment , which produced the three films Perkins has shot in B.C. Ferguson is also Perkins' partner in the recently formed production company Phobos. Last week, the issue was brought in front of Vancouver City Council and on July 23, the council unanimously approved the motion Building B.C.'s Creative Advantage: A New Immigration Pathway for Cultural Entrepreneurs. This basically means council will be requesting that the province develop a pilot Creative Talent Stream under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (B.C. PNP), similar to what already exists for the tech and medical industries. 'At this point, the living in Canada is simply better than it is in the United States,' Perkins told Postmedia in a text. 'The people are kind and permissive, the skies bluer, and the governing powers really do seem to care for its citizens. Canada strikes me as essentially unafraid, and not interested in threats; there is a peace in the oxygen here and it is a most welcome relief to breathe it in. 'Working in Canada has changed my career entirely; the support from local artists and creative collaborators has made all the difference. I have not experienced the industry fatigue and resistance often present in Hollywood, and the freedom to work economically and quickly in Canada fosters a unique form of inspiration.' According to 2022 figures from Creative B.C., the B.C. TV/film industry amounted to about $4.4 billion in direct spending and employed 90,000 people, with 40,000 of those being full-time jobs. It is well established as an international industry force. Hollywood North, with its 36 per cent tax credit and the very low Canadian dollar, is a very attractive destination for shooting. But about 85 per cent of that work is service/manufacturing, which essentially means a Canadian company produces an American project. Ferguson believes, if the pathway to residency is made easier, many people will move here and set up production businesses. 'We're like the factory overseas that makes the product for the American headquarters. And if we can start bringing some of these people here, it changes that whole model. Suddenly, we're making stuff for ourselves, and we're building companies,' said Ferguson, who got the ball rolling with Vancouver City Council and spoke at the recent council meeting. 'If we relocate the people in charge from L.A. to here, then they're going to be even more motivated to make their next movie here, because they will want to make it at home, where they live. I realized that if we did build a system like this, we could turn Vancouver from the place that is purely a manufacturing sector and start having some headquarters here.' Ferguson said he knows of others in the industry that would love to move here permanently, and when he spoke to council on July 23, he gave an example of one such player that wants to call Vancouver home. 'We have Mike Flanagan in town right now making the Carrie series. He's done a half-billion dollars of production in Vancouver. He's made five series,' said Ferguson. 'He's been living here for years and he's been waiting two and a half years to get his (permanent resident) status. And (there's) no end in sight … These productions are going to happen here regardless, but if we can invite them to be based here, maybe they'll bring more. I think by setting up a program through the Provincial Nominee Program you create the opportunity to build a real domestic sector.' The motion was presented to the council by ABC council member Brian Montague after local industry members pointed out to him there was 'a bit of a gap in the (Provincial Nominee Program) system.' 'We've been pretty clear from when we got elected in 2022 that we wanted to be a city that was open for business. And we often forget about the creative sector as a real part of the economy in B.C. and in Vancouver, especially,' said Montague. 'We want to make sure that there is all sorts of opportunities for people to set up shop in Vancouver, start businesses in Vancouver and employ talent in Vancouver. And when folks from the industry approached me, it seemed like kind of a no-brainer.' At the end of the day, city council does not have the power to change someone's immigration status. Vancouver hopes to rally other B.C. municipalities to this issue when they meet at the UBCM in Victoria in late September. In an email to Postmedia, the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills noted that the provincial government 'is aware' of Vancouver city council's support for the program. Tasked with 'identifying key skilled worker shortages,' especially following the federal government's reduction in the program allocation for 2025 to only 4,000, the ministry noted that it 'must prioritize the occupations most urgently needed by British Columbians.' The priority, at this time, has been identified within health care services, including physicians and nurses. 'Due to the federal government unilateral reduction of the B.C. PNP, we are not able to consider new streams or pilots for the program at this time,' read the statement, which added that Minister Jessie Sunner 'will continue to advocate to the federal government to increase its B.C. PNP spots, so B.C. can continue to address its workforce shortages.' Dgee@
Calgary Herald
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
'Living in Canada is simply better': Vancouver pushes for immigration pathway for movie/TV creatives
Article content Film director Osgood Perkins would really like to call B.C. home. Article content The director of the Vancouver-shot, top-grossing independent films Longlegs and The Monkey, as well as the upcoming Keeper (out Nov. 14), has been working here since 2022. And, for the last year and a half, he has been trying to gain residency status in Canada. Article content But getting that status greenlit has proven to be a challenge. Article content Article content Article content Last week, the issue was brought in front of Vancouver City Council and on July 23, the council unanimously approved the motion Building B.C.'s Creative Advantage: A New Immigration Pathway for Cultural Entrepreneurs. This basically means council will be requesting that the province develop a pilot Creative Talent Stream under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (B.C. PNP), similar to what already exists for the tech and medical industries. Article content 'At this point, the living in Canada is simply better than it is in the United States,' Perkins told Postmedia in a text. 'The people are kind and permissive, the skies bluer, and the governing powers really do seem to care for its citizens. Canada strikes me as essentially unafraid, and not interested in threats; there is a peace in the oxygen here and it is a most welcome relief to breathe it in. Article content 'Working in Canada has changed my career entirely; the support from local artists and creative collaborators has made all the difference. I have not experienced the industry fatigue and resistance often present in Hollywood, and the freedom to work economically and quickly in Canada fosters a unique form of inspiration.' Article content Article content Article content According to 2022 figures from Creative B.C., the B.C. TV/film industry amounted to about $4.4 billion in direct spending and employed 90,000 people, with 40,000 of those being full-time jobs. It is well established as an international industry force. Article content Article content Hollywood North, with its 36 per cent tax credit and the very low Canadian dollar, is a very attractive destination for shooting. But about 85 per cent of that work is service/manufacturing, which essentially means a Canadian company produces an American project. Ferguson believes, if the pathway to residency is made easier, many people will move here and set up production businesses. Article content 'We're like the factory overseas that makes the product for the American headquarters. And if we can start bringing some of these people here, it changes that whole model. Suddenly, we're making stuff for ourselves, and we're building companies,' said Ferguson, who got the ball rolling with Vancouver City Council and spoke at the recent council meeting.
The Province
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Province
Disney drops new trailer for Vancouver-shot movie Tron: Ares
The trailer serves up a speedy look at Vancouver at night and delivers a high-octane teaser for the big-budget film that was shot here Jared Leto stars in the new Vancouver-shot Tron: Ares film. Out Oct. 10 the film's first trailer was just released by Disney. Photo by Rich Fury / Getty Images for The Recording A Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Disney has unveiled a new trailer for the Vancouver-shot movie Tron: Ares. The highly anticipated third instalment in the Tron franchise is directed by Joachim Rønning and will hit theatres October 10. The trailer serves up a speedy look at Vancouver at night and delivers a high-octane teaser for the big-budget film that was shot in Vancouver from January 2024 through to May 2024. Much of the post production for the film was done at Disney's Industrial Light & Magic office here in Vancouver. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors In a reversal of the usual Tron format where humans enter the digital world, this time out in Tron: Ares an AI program travels from the digital world (the Grid) to the human world on a dangerous mission. The film stars Oscar winner Jared Leto as the titular AI villain. Jeff Bridges is back as Kevin Flynn, the original computer programmer protagonist who was the first dude to get stuck in the video game in the original Tron way back in 1982. The film also stars Gillian Anderson, Even Peters and Greta Lee. Tron: Ares has a score by Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. The Grammy-winning band dropped the soundtrack album's first single, As Alive As You Need Me To Be, along with the new trailer. The single from the movie is the group's first new music in five years. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Nine Inch Nails are slated to play Vancouver's Rogers Arena on Aug. 10 as part of their Peel It Back Tour. This will be their first Vancouver performance since 2013. The tour will also be stopping in Toronto at Scotiabank Arena on August 23. Read More Love concerts, but can't make it to the venue? Stream live shows and events from your couch with VEEPS, a music-first streaming service now operating in Canada. Click here for an introductory offer of 30% off. Explore upcoming concerts and the extensive archive of past performances. Sports Sports News News News
Vancouver Sun
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
Disney drops new trailer for Vancouver-shot movie Tron: Ares
Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Disney has unveiled a new trailer for the Vancouver-shot movie Tron: Ares . The highly anticipated third instalment in the Tron franchise is directed by Joachim Rønning and will hit theatres October 10. The trailer serves up a speedy look at Vancouver at night and delivers a high-octane teaser for the big-budget film that was shot in Vancouver from January 2024 through to May 2024. Much of the post production for the film was done at Disney's Industrial Light & Magic office here in Vancouver . In a reversal of the usual Tron format where humans enter the digital world, this time out in Tron: Ares an AI program travels from the digital world (the Grid) to the human world on a dangerous mission. Get top headlines and gossip from the world of celebrity and entertainment. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sun Spots will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The film stars Oscar winner Jared Leto as the titular AI villain. Jeff Bridges is back as Kevin Flynn, the original computer programmer protagonist who was the first dude to get stuck in the video game in the original Tron way back in 1982. The film also stars Gillian Anderson, Even Peters and Greta Lee. Tron: Ares has a score by Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. The Grammy-winning band dropped the soundtrack album's first single, As Alive As You Need Me To Be, along with the new trailer. The single from the movie is the group's first new music in five years. Nine Inch Nails are slated to play Vancouver's Rogers Arena on Aug. 10 as part of their Peel It Back Tour. This will be their first Vancouver performance since 2013. The tour will also be stopping in Toronto at Scotiabank Arena on August 23. Love concerts, but can't make it to the venue? Stream live shows and events from your couch with VEEPS, a music-first streaming service now operating in Canada. Click here for an introductory offer of 30% off. Explore upcoming concerts and the extensive archive of past performances.
The Province
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Province
Star of Vancouver-shot Stick Owen Wilson talks golf, gambling and the Grouse Grind
Vancouver experience a hole-in-one for Sticks cast Owen Wilson, Marc Maron and Judy Greer Marc Maron and Owen Wilson play a caddie and washed up golf star in the Vancouver-shot Apple TV+ series Stick. The 10-part comedy premieres on June 4. Photo by Justine Yeung / Apple TV+ Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. For a few months last summer, there seemed to be daily Owen Wilson sightings in the Lower Mainland. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Photos of Wilson riding his bike, hiking the Grouse Grind, or out enjoying a meal were everywhere. The Wedding Crashers, The Royal Tenenbaums and Midnight in Paris star was in Vancouver filming his new 10-part series Stick, which premiers on the streamer Apple TV+ on June 4. 'I felt like people sort of would almost go, 'Oh god, there he is again',' said Wilson during a Zoom interview with his Stick co-star Judy Greer. 'It certainly felt, by the end of five months, that it wasn't, you know, how it felt in the beginning. When people are a little bit excited you're there.' As for the Grouse Grind, Wilson said he was a regular on the challenging hiking trail, clocking his best time of 53 minutes just before the series wrapped shooting last September. 'I don't know if there's a more beautiful place, you know, certainly in the summer,' said Wilson about Vancouver. 'I was so happy we shot there, because for a while it was going to be in Atlanta, which is nice. But Atlanta in the summer, it's hot, a totally different experience.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Greer too was quick to jump on the Vancouver-is-great bandwagon. 'I've worked there so much over the years. I love it,' said Greer (Ant-Man and The Wasp, Adaptation). 'A great crew. Everyone I've ever worked with there from small-budget things to big-budget things — everyone in production there is so talented.' In Stick, Wilson plays Pryce Cahill, an over-the-hill, ex-pro golfer whose career prematurely missed the cut 20 years ago. After his marriage to Amber-Linn (Greer) fails and he gets fired from his sports store job, Pryce discovers young-gun golfer Santi Wheeler (Peter Dager) and manages to convince the troubled 17-year-old and his single mom (Mariana Treviño) that he can help him make it to the show. Pryce convinces his former caddy and longtime friend Mitts (Marc Maron) to come along for the ride. Well, actually supply the ride in the shape of a motor home, to ferry the newly formed rag tag team of misfits toward golf greatness. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Stick kind of defies a straightforward label as it successfully combines the family dramedy, road trip, buddy comedy, coming-of-age and comeback genres. 'Someone mentioned it reminded them of The Wizard of Oz, about this group of people who were travelling together that all had an empty space that they needed to fill. A hole they were trying to fill, something they were trying to get. And they were going to be together and try to get it,' said Greer. 'I thought that was really, really beautiful.' Owen Wilson, left, and Peter Dager play a washed up golfer and young hot shot in the new Vancouver-shot Apple TV+ series Stick which premieres June 4. Photo by Justine Yeung / Apple TV+ While the story could have used any sport, show creator and showrunner Jason Keller chose golf because it offered him a slate upon which to draw the human condition. 'A lot of people are struggling, you know, with emotional baggage,' said Keller over Zoom. 'When I see golfers, especially at the elite level, out there alone on a golf course, that's what I see. I see someone who is very cut off from everybody around them, struggling with their mindset, hoping to sort of get it right on the golf course. Both those worlds kind of seem to fit together.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. For the golfing sequences, the production tee'd up a handful of golf courses in the Langley and Surrey area before wrapping up the show with the Pitt Meadows Golf Club standing in for a PGA event. Lots of locals were put to work as actors, golfing doubles, background actors and, of course, crew. Included on that list was Richmond teaching pro and former PGA Tour Canada golfer Nathan Leonhardt, who was the golf consultant for the series. 'I just like the guy a lot. We came to rely on him a lot,' said Keller. 'I really empowered him to speak up when he thought we weren't getting the golf right. He was key to the entire production, all the way through postproduction.' Leonhardt worked closely with Wilson. And, when the cameras weren't rolling, they could be found making some friendly golf-related wagers. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Not surprisingly, he won money from me. But it doesn't take much for me to sort of want to bet on something,' said Wilson. 'So, in between takes when you're filming on a golf course, you got plenty of opportunities to bet. I'm just glad I didn't lose more money … I felt like I beat Nathan by just losing as little money as I did lose.' Losing only a little money to a pro is impressive when you consider Wilson headed into this job having only played games with his family and completing just one 18-hole round. He left the shoot, he figures, with a 14 handicap and is now eagerly trying to lower that number. 'I had never thought that I'd become a golfer. I thought I'd kind of missed that boat. Both my brothers are good. (I thought) they're too far along. I can never catch them. But I've learned that, oh yeah, I can catch them,' said Wilson. 'The idea that I got to sort of be a part of this show and tell this story and learn to play golf, in a way, kind of makes it one of the best creative experiences of my life.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Maron, a veteran standup comedian, actor and author, and the host of one of the original and still very successful podcasts, WTF with Marc Maron, didn't have any history with golf. Luckily for him, his role only required him to talk a good game. 'The first thing that went through my mind was, why me? I don't know anything about golf, really,' said Maron when asked over Zoom if he was a golfer. 'But you know, when it became clear that my role was not essentially about golf, that it was about the emotional counterpart to a friendship that has gone on for decades that was not necessarily strained, but definitely has had its ups and downs, and that these are a couple of guys that have been through a lot in life, on their own and together, I thought that was a very interesting dynamic, and something I wanted to be part of and to explore. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Also, I'm not that unlike the guy.' Lilli Kay, Mariana Treviño, Judy Greer and Marc Maron star in the ensemble comedy Stick. The show which premieres on June 4 tells the story of a washed up golfer played by Owen Wilson who discovers a teenage phenom and sets about helping him make the PGA. Photo by Justine Yeung / Apple TV+ For Keller, Maron was indeed like that guy. 'Marc is the only person I wanted for the role. I met him for coffee, and I think he was really sizing me up when we met,' said Keller. 'I think he was sort of wondering what kind of collaborator I would be with him. And I think I was very upfront with him, and I was throughout the development and shooting of the show, that I wanted his input. He's a very smart guy. He has a really interesting point of view, very funny … that character developed certain colours that weren't on the page because Mark gave his input.' When asked about the perils of being a comedian faced with other people's writing, Maron said: 'My policy is that, if the joke fits the character and it's not there just to sort of button a scene, I'll work with it.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. And if he thought the jokes didn't work? 'There were definitely times where I thought that the jokes didn't fit the character, or were not really necessary,' said Maron, who just taped his latest HBO comedy special a few weeks ago. 'It's something that I thought about a lot when reading the scripts, because Mitts was a supporting character. In order to keep him real, I would opt for fewer jokes. And Jason and Chris Moynihan, we would talk about it, and we would sort of navigate that when there was an issue. 'Because I'd rather play it for the emotion than the joke. Because I don't think it's really that type of show. It's not a joke show.' While shooting Stick, Maron like Wilson, was spotted around Vancouver including onstage at a Jokes Please! show back in July. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Fans of Maron's WTF know he is less than happy about what has transpired politically in the U.S. and has made it clear that he's open to making a move north. He has set the wheels in motion for gaining permanent residency in Canada. 'I'm waiting. I just heard from my guy today,' said Maron when asked about his PR status. 'The world is falling apart a little bit. I just hope that I have that option. I love Vancouver. I had a nice time up there. That was definitely the longest time I'd spent there. I did a lot of comedy.' And he also did the Grouse Grind with Wilson. 'I did it once,' said Maron. 'Owen didn't tell me that he had done it a lot. So, he had already adapted to it … he's just kind of going right up it like it was nothing. And I hike a lot, but that's hard. 'I was very mad at Owen for pretending like (he'd) never done it before.' Dgee@ Read More
