About Vancouver
Locals refer to it as Raincouver or Rain City due to its exceptionally high rainfall, (over twice as high as London, England), especially in November. Some might know it as the City of Glass, a name taken from a memorable book by Douglas Coupland, which provides a different take on Vancouver—one of the world’s most livable and beautiful cities.
Despite its rainy reputation, Vancouver experiences four distinct seasons, giving filmmakers different settings and vibes for their narratives. Summer and spring are best for enjoying the great outdoors, filming by the beach, and capturing the city’s tree-lined streets and lush parks. When filming in winter, you’ll probably have more productive days inside production studios, as the season brings a lot of rain. Fall in Vancouver is gentle and spectacular. It’s when the trees start changing colors to yellow, orange, and red, suitable for romantic and warm scenes.
For content creators and filmmakers, Vancouver is, without a doubt, the Hollywood of the North. It’s North America’s third-largest film production city and is home to incredible filming locations. In fact, many places in Vancouver, BC, have been used to double American West Coast areas, including San Francisco and Seattle. Whatever genre or story you want to tell, there are production spaces in Vancouver, British Columbia, to turn your creative ideas into a visual reality.
Production Options in Vancouver
- Camera and Lighting
Whether it’s a short video or a large production project, you need quality camera and lighting equipment to capture beautiful images and breathe life into scenes. If you need to use state-of-the-art filming equipment but don’t have enough budget to invest in brand-new ones, why not go to a rental company in Vancouver? Many shops and production rental firms in the city can provide everything, from cameras and lenses to lights and grip equipment at a fraction of the cost.
- Production Companies
Do you have compelling or inspiring stories you want to turn into a film? Perhaps, you have a brilliant video idea that the audience will enjoy. Look for a production company in Vancouver that can assist you in bringing your vision to life. Production companies typically cover all ground from content development and handling equipment to employing the right team and handling the post-production phase. They can take away the hassle and manage every detail.
- Cleaning Services
Who would want to work in a messy and dirty set? Hire professional cleaners to maintain the cleanliness and order in your TV production set. By doing so, not only do you provide everyone with a clean and organized area to work in but you also help reduce the risk of accidents and enhance everyone’s overall safety and health.
Production Vendors in Vancouver
- Capture The Moment Media
Photography, video production, and social media management—all in one place. Capture The Moment Media is proud to be an award-winning creative agency with locations in Victoria and Vancouver, BC. From product marketing and managing your social media platforms to capturing the essence of your brand and crafting videos that stand out, clients can rely on the team’s creativity, knowledge, and experience to reach your goals. If you don’t know how it works, they will partner with you and make the process seamless and stress-free.
- Filmgear Canada
Filmmakers and hobbyists no longer have to wonder where to get the latest filming equipment, thanks to reputable suppliers like Filmgear Canada. It’s a wonderland for filmmakers looking for high-end cameras, lighting gear, monitors, lenses, grip, and other film-related products from reputable brands like Aputure, Tilta, RODE, Atomos, Kupo, Teradek, SmallRig, Kupo, SmallHD, etc. Everyone, from film school students to content creators, goes to the store for their filming equipment needs.
- Clean Green Solutions
Clean Green Solutions is the trusted cleaning company in Vancouver for businesses, including offices and commercial buildings. What set them apart from other commercial cleaning businesses in the area are their well-trained, insured, and fully bonded staff and a detailed cleaning checklist system. They can meticulously clean any size of space and ensure that every cleaning task is completed every visit. They will send the same team to clean your production site every time to ensure consistency and use only environmentally safe and friendly cleaning products. You can leave your janitorial needs to them as they have the best people and the appropriate tools to get the job done.
Pros and Cons of Production Spaces in Vancouver
Looking to rent a production space in Vancouver for your photoshoot or film project? A well-equipped creative space can make the production process simpler and help relieve headaches along the way. But before you decide, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons to help you prepare well and make an informed choice.
Advantages
- Production space options: As the Hollywood North, Vancouver is a prime destination in the country’s film industry. You'll find tons of production spaces, from studios with sound stages to more unique locations like lofts, warehouses, historic buildings, parks, and more.
- Talents: Even Hollywood produces many projects in Canada, especially in Vancouver because of all the talent available for hire here. Many emerging and notable talents call the city home, including actors, directors, writers, and producers.
- Costs: Making a film or even a short music video is no easy task and requires money to make it marketable and successful. In Vancouver—or Canada as a whole— the cost of filming is significantly lower than it is in America. Filmmakers can also take advantage of several tax incentives for producing films in Canada.
Disadvantages
- High demand: Because of Vancouver’s growing popularity as a filming location, you’ll notice a higher demand for production resources. You might have to compete to hire a skilled crew or rent the best studios and other production spaces.
- Parking issues: Although there are parking options in Uptown Village and downtown Vancouver, these areas can be busy and crowded with no space to park your vehicles. It’s more challenging for those with a big crew and have large moving equipment.
- Lots of rain: Vancouver isn’t called Rain City or Raincouver for nothing. Expect to experience rainfall when filming in the city, especially in winter, so choose a production space with both indoor and outdoor settings.
Tips on How to Organize Productions in Vancouver
Whether you’re a film industry expert or just want to try your hand at filmmaking, there are several things to keep in mind for a successful shoot and a quality output. Renting a good production studio is only a part of the process. Here are other things you can do when organizing a photoshoot or a film project in Vancouver’s production spaces:
- Consider your story: It doesn’t matter if you’re making a music video, a feature film, or doing a photoshoot—you need a strong storyline to capture your audience’s attention. Align your every decision, from choosing a production location to hiring actors or models, with your creative vision and the story you want to make.
- The budget: A good script and visually appealing locations aren’t enough. You need sufficient funds to get started. Your budget covers everything, from equipment and wardrobe to set construction, talent and crew, transportation, and other production expenses. Create a realistic budget, then track your spending, so you don’t spend more than your budget limit.
- Build a team: No matter how good you are, you can’t do it all on your own. You need a good mix of skills in your team to produce high-quality content. Some crew members should be involved in the pre-production process, while others can be on board much later during the post-production phase.
- Secure permits: You can’t just head to Vancouver, set up your camera and lighting, and start filming. You should first get filming permits from the right agencies or city departments for any commercial project in Vancouver, including music videos, TV shows, and movies. Allocate the budget for permit fees and additional costs when using public and private spaces.
- Post-production: The filmmaking process doesn’t end when the shoot finishes. Filming is all about capturing raw videos—all the shots the script requires. When the recording wraps, that’s when you move on to the post-production phase to finalize the project. It often takes place in a production studio where you edit, sound design, enhance color, add visual effects, and more until the film is ready to go.
Famous Locations in Vancouver
- Stanley Park
You don’t have to go beyond the city center to get up close and personal with nature and fascinating animals. In the heart of Vancouver is a verdant urban oasis that captivates locals and visitors known as Stanley Park. Bask in the sun at one of the beaches at the park or get your daily dose of exercise as you jog or run around the area. While there, head to the iconic Seawall to soak in the breathtaking views of the city skyline, mountains, and ocean.
- Gastown
No visit to Vancouver is complete without a trip to Gastown, a cozy, artsy neighborhood in the east end of downtown Vancouver. As you tour the area, you’ll immediately notice the cobblestone streets and Victorian architecture that will take you on a journey back in time. At the heart of Gastown is the famous Steam Clock, belching steam and whistling on the hour. If you get hungry, you’ll find tons of restaurants and eateries serving local and international treats.
- The Museum of Vancouver
Whether you’re into history or simply a curious traveler who wants to learn about the city’s intriguing past, you should check out the Museum of Vancouver. Included in its displays are local indigenous history and cultural artifacts that highlight Vancouver’s development as a city. Thanks to the museum’s location along the picturesque Vanier Park waterfront, guests can enjoy scenic views of Stanley Park and downtown Vancouver. After a museum tour, take the time to explore the waterfront park, have a picnic, or stroll along the paths. But don’t leave yet without stopping by the museum shop for local art, books, giftware, toys, and other items you can take home.