Los Angeles is often thought of as the central place for those in the film industry to settle, thanks to Hollywood.
However, Vancouver should not be overlooked as a great place to settle whether you’re an actor, filmmaker, or someone looking to break into the movie industry in any way.
If you’re an aspiring star looking at Vancouver homes for sale, these are some things you’ll want to know about your potential new city.
The History of Hollywood North
This term is used to describe film production industries and shooting locations to the north of Hollywood, California, and it’s often applied to Vancouver and Toronto.
Vancouver has served as a filmmaking location for over a century, beginning with The Cowpuncher’s Glove and The Ship’s Husband, both shot in 1910 by the Edison Manufacturing Company.
British Columbia first established a film development office in 1977 to market the province to the Hollywood community, and it currently is the third largest production center for film and television in North America, after Los Angeles and New York City.
You Can Set Many Scenes
One of the major appeals of Vancouver for filmmakers is the variety it brings in the way of settings.
There’s wilderness, mountains, oceans, cityscapes – and all within close distance of each other. This makes it easy for crews to move from location to location.
The Vancouver Art Gallery is a favorite backdrop for films, as is Vancouver’s Chinatown, Gastown, and the Marine Building on the waterfront.
It’s Close to the Actual Hollywood
Vancouver is a three-hour flight of 21-hour drive to California’s Hollywood and sits in the same time zone.
This makes it easy for the city to work in tandem with its LA counterpart, avoiding issues with operating hours, accessibility, travel time for principals, access to filmmaking infrastructure, and experience of crews.
There Are Monetary Incentives
Movie companies love filming in Vancouver because of the many tax incentives that come along with setting up shop there.
British Columbia-controlled production companies receive a 35% refundable tax credit on eligible labor costs. As of February 2018, this incentive has been expanded to include scriptwriting.
It’s a Great Place to Live No Matter Why You’re There
Whether you’re in the film industry or not, Vancouver is simply a wonderful place to settle down.
It’s scenic, nestled near the ocean and at the foot of mountains. The downtown is a cramped and bustling area on a peninsula that affords many economic and entertainment opportunities, so you should have no problem finding a place to make a living if your acting career hasn’t yet kicked in.
It’s one of the most ethnically diverse cities in Canada; 52 percent of residents don’t speak English as a first language.
It has a large LGBTQ community and was the second Canadian province to legalize same-sex marriage.
There are ample restaurants to wine and dine at – and expand your network if you’re looking to lunch for business.
The city is a healthy one and people are very into staying well and fit.
