bar1967 said:
I thought they were pretty much booked through 2009 for a couple of US TV series?
Click to expand...

They are.
OHHHH the Doom and Gloomers, listening to all their negativity one would think that the world is coming to an end. :eek:

Film scene is looking bright for Toronto

Filmport, the almost one-year-old megastudio—still only in its first phase of development—is all but completely booked for production on various series, pilots, and feature films, most of them funded by major American studios.

Filmport Studios, the newest and largest film and television production space in Toronto, is booked nearly to capacity, a sign that 2009 will be a much better year for the battered industry in the city.

Ken Ferguson, president of Toronto Film Studios, said six of the studio's seven state-of-the-art sound stages are booked, with only the site's 4,270-square-metre "mega-stage" lying fallow.

"Right now, all of our stages, other than the mega-stage, are occupied. There's no place to park. So this is good news for us," he said.

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/602837
 
Last edited:
Filmport Externalaties

I would be interested to know where the people working at FilmPort are going for lunch and to run errands. Are they heading to Distillery and King Street or South Riverdale and Queen East?
 
What happened to this?

filmportalsop5681146673.jpg


After all, this is Alsop's contribution to Filmport, not any of what has been built and is being discussed in this thread.
 
Technically, the whole complex is still under construction, so I'm still hoping for it.
 
I guess this means the Bloor & Landsdowne project won't be going forward...

Pinewood expands into Canada

Pinewood Shepperton, which owns three TV and film studios in the UK, has entered into a five-year management deal with Canada's Filmport Studios, which will be renamed Pinewood Toronto Studios.

The deal will see Pinewood Shepperton, whose UK ventures are Pinewood, Shepperton and Teddington studios, earn fees based on Pinewood Toronto's revenue performance.

This is Pinewood Shepperton's first non-UK investment. The company will continue to be based in London, with day-to-day operations at Pinewood Toronto overseen by new MD Edith Myers, replacing Ken Ferguson.

Martin Buxton
25 Jun 2009
© C21 Media 2009
 
Pinewood carries a serious pedigree with it, however. Will we find Bond filming here some time in the future? (It could even lead to some on-location filming, like a swan boat chase through the islands...)

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Not much new here, but a more expanded article about the deal...

Pinewood Toronto Studios Launches
Renowned U.K. film studio Pinewood will take over Toronto’s Filmport.
Friday, June 26, 2009.

Pinewood Shepperton plc has concluded a comprehensive sales and marketing agreement for Toronto's largest studio operation, formerly known as Filmport Studios, Paul Bronfman, chairman of the new ownership consortium that will manage what will be renamed Pinewood Toronto Studios, said in a release.

Pinewood Toronto is critical to expanding Toronto's film and television industry while playing a major role in the regeneration of the city's Portlands as a media convergence district. "The Pinewood name is synonymous with quality and experience in the film and television industry. We believe Pinewood's international network and connections will take the existing studios to the next business level," said Bronfman, who will continue as chairman of the board and maintain his equity interest.

The new investor group comprises Comweb Corporation, ROI Capital, the City of Toronto Economic Development Corporation and Castlepoint Realty Partners.

"Pinewood has a worldwide reputation in the film and television industry and we are very pleased to bring our name and international perspective to the Toronto market," says Ivan Dunleavy, chief executive.

Pinewood operates three major studios in the U.K., where it is the leading European provider of studio and related services to the worldwide screen industries. Some of the recent productions that have used Pinewood's facilities include THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM, MAMMA MIA! and QUANTUM OF SOLACE.

"Toronto is a major production centre," explained Nick Smith, commercial director of Pinewood Shepperton plc. "There is a wide spectrum of film and television activity here. The Toronto International Film Festival is an important event in the global film calendar. We are very excited to be part of the Toronto film and television industry.

"Pinewood Toronto Studios will be working with a range of producers to provide a greater variety of production options. Pinewood Toronto Studios will be led by Edith Myers, managing director. "Toronto has robust film and television infrastructure, excellent technicians and fine talent," said Edith Myers. "The plan is to work with the modern, purpose-built facilities and, over time, the shareholders will look to add further enhancements.

Pinewood Toronto Studios has seven soundstages including the 46,000-square-foot Mega Stage, the largest of its kind in North America. The 11-acre site is situated in the city's Portlands district just minutes from downtown Toronto.
 
Daily Commercial News

The next phase ?
**********

FILM/MEDIA BLDG, LIVE WORK BLDGS, COMMERICAL SPACE
Proj: 1312318-22
Toronto, Metro Toronto Reg ON
PREPARING PLANS
Filmport, future development, N side of the shipping channel,E of Don Roadway(Port Lands), M4M
$70,000,000 est

Start: August, 2011

Complete: January, 2012

Note: This project is preliminary. Schedules for design, tender and construction will be set based on financing and completion of previous phases on the site. Further update late Spring, 2010.

Project: cast-in-place concrete foundation, cast-in-place concrete structural frame, structural steel frame, fuel fired heating system, proposed future development projects on the Filmport Film Studio site. Proposed projects include construction of six sound stages, ranging in size from 12,000 to 30,000 sq ft and four 5,000 sq ft workshops. Also proposed are live-work spaces; a hotel/conference facility; further retail and restaurant space in a plaza or boardwalk off the shipping channel; and development of public spaces including a courtyard entrance of the complex off the Don Roadway.

Scope: 500,000 square feet; 30 acres

Development: New

Category: Commercial offices; Misc industrial bldgs; Restaurants; Retail, wholesale services

First report Wed Jun 30, 2004. Last report Fri Apr 24, 2009.
This report Tue Sep 29, 2009.


http://www.dailycommercialnews.com/cgi-bin/top10.pl?rm=show_top10_project&id=617e2aff75244a78dc29454e39b15a54b0cf8d6a&projectid=1312318&region=ontario
 
Solaris said:
Project: cast-in-place concrete foundation, cast-in-place concrete structural frame, structural steel frame, fuel fired heating system, proposed future development projects on the Filmport Film Studio site. Proposed projects include construction of six sound stages, ranging in size from 12,000 to 30,000 sq ft and four 5,000 sq ft workshops. Also proposed are live-work spaces; a hotel/conference facility; further retail and restaurant space in a plaza or boardwalk off the shipping channel; and development of public spaces including a courtyard entrance of the complex off the Don Roadway.
Click to expand...

Doesn't sound too good for the Alsop building.
 
I thought it was to be used for corporate and production office space. I also recall its renderings suggesting that it would help frame the site entrance, along Commissioners Street.

Unless it's to be the hotel or live/work space, it doesn't sound like what's being announced, unfortunately.
 
http://www.dailycommercialnews.com/...5a54b0cf8d6a&projectid=1312318&region=ontario

FILM/MEDIA BLDG, LIVE WORK BLDGS, COMMERICAL SPACE Proj: 1312318-24
Toronto, Metro Toronto Reg ON CONTEMPLATED
Filmport, N side of the shipping channel,E of Don Roadway(Port Lands), M4M
$70,000,000 est
Start: August, 2011 Complete: January, 2012
Note: The Development Consortium has been finalized. Master Plan for the site is under review and the is subject to change. The scope of work is subject to change. Schedules for design, tender and construction are undetermined pending the Owner's decision to proceed. Further update early 2011.
Project: cast-in-place concrete foundation, cast-in-place concrete structural frame, structural steel frame, fuel fired heating system, proposed future development projects on the Filmport Film Studio site. Proposed projects include construction of six sound stages, ranging in size from 12,000 to 30,000 sq ft and four 5,000 sq ft workshops. Also proposed are live-work spaces; a hotel/conference facility; further retail and restaurant space in a plaza or boardwalk off the shipping channel; and development of public spaces including a courtyard entrance of the complex off the Don Roadway.
Scope: 500,000 square feet; 30 acres
Development: New
Category: Commercial offices; Misc industrial bldgs; Restaurants; Retail, wholesale services
First report Wed Jun 30, 2004. Last report Thu Nov 05, 2009.
This report Tue Apr 06, 2010.


http://www.dailycommercialnews.com/...e4cb93343de7&projectid=9089981&region=ontario

OFFICE BUILDING Proj: 9089981-5
Toronto, Metro Toronto Reg ON CANCELLED
Filmport Campus building, 100 Commissioners Rd, M5A 1A8
$55,000,000
Note: The scope of work and phasing were determined as part a Master plan. The full scope of work is outlined in report number 1312318. Ownership for the site has changed. Coverage of this report is discontinued.
Project: proposed construction of an office building. Possible uses may include a film school, union and guild offices, and private office space. The project will be between 9 and 12 storeys. The project may include retail and restaurant spaces.
Scope: 270,000 square feet; 12 storeys; 5 acres
Development: New
Category: Commercial offices; Retail, wholesale services
First report Fri Sep 19, 2008. Last report Mon Jan 04, 2010.
This report Tue Apr 06, 2010.


http://www.dailycommercialnews.com/...1ee383753082&projectid=9089974&region=ontario

INDUSTRIAL WAREHOUSE BLDGS, RETAIL, OFFICE Proj: 9089974-5
Toronto, Metro Toronto Reg ON CANCELLED
Filmport, Phase Two, NW corner of Commissioners St, Bouchette St, M4M 0A1
$25,000,000
Note: The scope of work and phasing were determined as part a Master plan. The full scope of work is outlined in report number 1312318. Ownership for the site has changed. Coverage of this report is discontinued.
Project: concrete foundation, structural steel frame, fuel fired heating system, proposed construction of two 160,000 sq ft industrial warehouse buildings for storage of film production equipment and technical support services. The buildings will also house office space and storefront retail space for tenants specific to the film industry.
Scope: 320,000 square feet; 4 storeys; 2 structures
Development: New
Category: Warehouse, storage bldgs; Commercial offices; Retail, wholesale services

First report Fri Sep 19, 2008. Last report Thu Nov 05, 2009.
This report Tue Apr 06, 2010.
 
This doesn't sound good... Everything that was supposed to be is being canceled?
 
Yeah, it would seem that Alsop's shiny red office tower plan is no more. After the change in ownership and the slowing of the film business here I suspected as much, but it's still sad to see the word 'CANCELLED' up there.

The new plan includes half a dozen more sound stages which are not likely to be anything but functional - but who knows, maybe there's still some hope of architectural adventure with "live-work spaces; a hotel/conference facility; further retail and restaurant space in a plaza or boardwalk off the shipping channel; and development of public spaces including a courtyard entrance of the complex off the Don Roadway".

42
 
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