Dive into Newfoundland and Labrador’s rich folklore, with tales of monsters, mermaids, and fairies that have shaped its storytelling traditions, and you will understand why movies and television series filmed on this enchanting island off Canada’s east coast have captivated audiences around the globe.
“Once you know the location and the beauty of this place — combined with its hard-rock-in-the-middle-of-the-ocean allure — it becomes a magical destination that sparks curiosity regarding the stories we tell,” says Laura Churchill, CEO of PictureNL, an organization dedicated to supporting local production and attracting Hollywood filmmakers to the province.
As Hollywood increasingly turns its gaze towards this rugged landscape, Newfoundland has surpassed the $1 billion threshold in production expenditures since PictureNL was established in 1997. This remarkable journey began with director Lasse Hallström, who chose the province’s fog-shrouded and craggy shorelines as the backdrop for his 2001 film, The Shipping News.
More recently, the stunning local scenery was showcased in an episode from the second season of Apple TV+’s Severance, directed by Ben Stiller. Additionally, this summer, Newfoundland hosted a currently untitled sea creature thriller produced by Netflix.
Newfoundland’s diverse landscapes also featured in Disney’s 2023 live-action film Peter Pan & Wendy, starring Jude Law, Yara Shahidi, and Jim Gaffigan. The third season of Prime Video’s Reacher saw Alan Ritchson portray Jack Reacher navigating through the vividly colored row houses of St. John’s, which doubled for fictional Abbotsville, Maine.
Actor-producer Allan Hawco, recognized for his work on the locally produced comic drama Republic of Doyle, which he starred in as detective Jake Doyle, has significantly contributed to establishing the local film industry. His subsequent productions include Frontier, starring Jason Momoa, Son of a Critch, and the recent Saint-Pierre. Hawco notes, “There’s something inherently magical about this place, and it inspires a creativity woven deeply into our identity as a community.”
The allure of “Hollywood on the Rock” is bolstered by cost-effectiveness and enhanced film tax credits. “The Canadian dollar offers an attractive exchange rate against the American dollar, making productions more affordable,” Churchill explains. Furthermore, the province provides a refundable 40 percent tax credit on eligible production costs, equating every dollar spent on local labor with non-local labor expenditures for both above-the-line and below-the-line crew members.
Churchill emphasizes that these incentives have set a competitive standard, reinforcing Newfoundland’s strong crew base while allowing producers access to essential specialized departments from outside the province. “The tax credit enables filmmakers to maximize their budgets and realize their creative visions,” she adds.
The province is actively seeking to attract American producers who might typically shoot in conventional Hollywood hubs such as Ontario and British Columbia. The financial incentives have birthed a wave of opportunities, elevating Newfoundland’s international stature in the film industry.
Churchill reflects on the recent filming of the Severance episode near the Bonavista Peninsula and on Fogo Island, which allowed the local industry to display Newfoundland in a nuanced light, offering a gritty and darker depiction rather than the customary sunny coastal image.
This production was soon followed by work on a six-part Netflix thriller by creator Jesse McKeown, featuring Josh Hartnett in a story about a mysterious sea creature terrorizing a remote coastal town. Churchill hopes that this project will capture the haunting beauty of Newfoundland and set the stage for a potential second season.
<p“Achieving a project of such scale and narrative scope would be exciting, especially if it leads to a return visit for a sequel,” she asserts. Veteran local producer Allison White, who has overseen shoots for Severance, Peter Pan & Wendy, and the upcoming The King Tide, credits PictureNL and the provincial government for their crucial support in establishing and sustaining a local production hub attractive to global creators.
“We are drawn here for the unique, breathtaking locations that imbue our films with character. While our remote terrains can present challenges, PictureNL’s unrelenting support helps us bring each creative vision to fruition — a level of assistance unmatched anywhere else,” White states.
Churchill also highlights how referrals have facilitated repeat business with content creators. For instance, she recounts how Severance cinematographer-turned-director Jessica Lee Gagné worked on the French film Pays, filmed on the stunningly eerie Fogo Island. Gagné then persuaded Stiller to utilize the island’s breathtaking vistas for his episode, a decision that underscores the lasting impressions left by Newfoundland’s stunning landscapes.
Another frequent visitor is Momoa, who first journeyed to Newfoundland for the Netflix-Discovery Canada series Frontier, where he played an outlaw trapper. He has since returned to film scenes for Aquaman, where Newfoundland’s Atlantic Ocean served as the backdrop for the mythical Atlantis, as well as for his local shoot of Braven, an action thriller about a father and son defending their family against drug runners in a wilderness cabin. “Jason’s enthusiasm for our province is palpable; he often promoted local products on social media, amplifying our visibility globally,” Hawco remarks.
On the infrastructure front, Latitude 47 Studios, backed by a consortium led by Schitt’s Creek producer Andrew Barnsley, has plans in motion for a 75,000-square-foot studio in Bauline, just a half-hour from St. John’s. The structure intends to feature two 20,000-square-foot soundstages alongside a 10,000-square-foot soundstage.
“Having filmed in Newfoundland and Labrador for many years, I am excited to return, welcoming the world to this remarkable filming destination,” Barnsley stated.
Based on reporting by Hollywood Reporter. Read the full story at Hollywood Reporter.