Sudbury entering ‘Phase One’ of thriving movie industry

Phase One, a Hollywood production being filmed at various locations around Sudbury, could be the first of many other movies that could provide jobs, support local business and give the city a creative edge.

This was proclaimed at a recent press conference by Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci, Mayor John Rodriguez and movie industry officials.

Bartolucci said his government was investing in the local economy and showcasing its commitment to the arts by investing $1 million towards the production.

The film — a thriller about a human drug test gone awry — is being shot by Sudbury native, Brandon Nutt. His company, Nutthouse Moving Pictures Company, will receive the funding through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC). The announcement was made at the Cambrian Arena, one of the locations which is being used for filming the movie. The arena has been closed to the public because of the need for $2.5 million in repairs to the floor, roof, facilities and equipment. City council recently voted not to spend money on the 37-year-old structure this fiscal year.

Phase One producers include Chris Chesser (The Rundown, Major League), Karen Glasser (The Rundown, The Ten Commandments) and David Ward. Actors, direct from Hollywood, include Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galatica), Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight), Tamara Feldman (Gossip Girl) and Travis Van Winkle (Transformers, Friday the 13th). Eric Wostenberg is directing the movie.

Nutt was upbeat about the movie business opportunities in the city.

“With the continued backing of entities such as the NOHFC and community leaders such as Rick Bartolucci, the City of Greater Sudbury has the elements needed to make a run at sustaining production of feature films, television series and commercials in the region,” Nutt said in a release. He said half the film’s budget would be spent locally on goods and services.

He commended city officials - from city staff, to police, to fire authorities - for helping his production get necessary approvals to close down streets or stage outdoor sets.

Nutt said Spokane, Wash., was originally looked at for siting the film, but, after scouting through Greater Sudbury for locations during the summer, the film producer decided on switching to his home city.

Filming has already taken place at the Willet Green Miller Centre on Ramsey Lake Road. Sudbury doubles as Colorado in the film.

Brad Gratkowski, film location manager, said the building “had the look we wanted.”

Hollywood actor Travis Van Winkle, 27, originally from Atlanta, Ga., was on set in the Willet Green Miller Centre building. The actor plays Greg, a university student. He said he enjoyed working on this independent Hollywood film.

“Independents are less tightly run. They are more fun.” He said times are tougher in Hollywood now, but there is work to be found in independent films, like Phase One.

Mayor John Rodriguez said the film was really phase one of a thriving movie industry. He added that local residents held half of the more than 100 jobs involved in the production.

Greater Sudbury business development officer, Stephanie Harris, said the Phase One production is important to the city because, in the past, only parts of movie filming were done here. The film’s budget is about $3 million, far less than Hollywood blockbusters, she said.

“Though their budget is on the low side for Hollywood, it is big for us.”

Phase One has hired local companies, trades persons and a film production crew to transform the aged arena into a series of sets for the filming.

Chesser, based in Hollywood, said the transformed Cambrian Arena could be the scene of a Warner Brothers studio production.

“Other movies could be shot here,” Chesser remarked. “They should leave the walls up when we leave. It would help to make a good impression on any other production to see it the way it has been set up for our movie.”

Local tradesman, Dan Ramsay, who was busy installing lighting in the studio space, said he was making good money working on the project. He is a member of IATSE, International Alliance of Theatre and Stage Employees.

“We have 40 members in our local union chapter. Many are working here. Others are here from out of town.”

Ramsay said if the film work was not available, he might have to seek work out of town.

“My family appreciates that I am working here in Sudbury for the duration of this film.”

Larry Bernard, a set decorator for the film, returned to the city for the movie work. He said he was managing director for Cinéfest in 2001 but left the city to learn about the film industry first-hand.

“I would like to stay and help grow the movie industry here,” Bernard added.

Dennis Landry, executive director of Music and Film in Motion, said his non-profit organization had been in discussions with Nutt for a year before the project was launched.