By Ian Holmes

Check local listings: more TV shows choosing island for filming

Jan 27, 2017 | 2:27 PM

NANAIMO —It’s shaping up to be another busy year for Vancouver Island’s film industry, which is seeing a shift in the kinds of productions be shot, according to the commissioner of the Island North Film Commission (INFILM).

Joan Miller says more eyes from the world of television were put on Vancouver Island thanks to an entire season of a popular series shot on the mid-island region last year.

“We’ve got Chesapeake Shores returning in 2017 for an extended time, they are going from eight episodes to ten,” said Miller. “And now other television series [are] looking at coming over and potentially expand the reach of where they film.”

A report from INFILM president Stephanie Tipple indicates that Chesapeake Shores contributed 8,000 room nights and millions of dollars into the the mid-island’s economy last year.

Miller said increased interest in turning to the island for the shooting of TV series is adding to the region’s already proven track record as a destination for major movies to be filmed.

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She noted that a crew that’s no stranger to the north island from History Channel just completed filming season four of the hit show Alone on the rugged, rural northern tip of the island. Three of the series’ four seasons were shot in that area.

“They really love us and they’ve been promoting Vancouver Island, so that’s been a really good tourism draw for us as well as it’s been such a successful show that’s aired through all of North America,” Miller said of the popular reality series.

Miller says an overheated Lower Mainland film market is spilling over to other parts of B.C., including the island.

“The province is really beginning to see some benefits from the fact that the Lower Mainland and Vancouver has been so extremely busy…as so much interest has been there, at some point they have to start looking for newer locations.”

Miller points out that the island’s robust film industry continues to be propelled by the low Canadian dollar, tax incentives, high quality infrastructure and a deep, reliable crew base.

iholmes@islandradio.bc.ca

Twitter: @reporterholmes