Squamish rolled into 2015 on big screens around the world, and the new year is shaping up to be no different.
Entering 2015, Britannia Beach and parts of the Sea to Sky Corridor became North Korea in The Interview, a movie about two reporters tasked with the job of assassinating Kim Jong-un. The controversial film hit the international media spotlight when North Korean threatened action against the United States if Columbia Pictures released the film.听
Squamish is once again ringing in the New Year while being featured in a blockbuster. This time, around the Squamish Estuary, superstar Leonardo DiCaprio appears in the film The Revenant. The drama centres on a man left for dead after being mauled by a bear and his urge for vengeance on those who gave up on him. The movie, which has already been nominated for an Oscar, opened on Christmas day.听
鈥淚t鈥檚 been steady,鈥� Squamish Mayor Patricia Heintzman said while reflecting on the productions that have come through town over the past year. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had pretty good filming for several years now.鈥�
In July, Stawamus Chief Provincial Park will come to life in theatres in the newest sci-fi series movie, Star Trek Beyond. Filming last summer caused a commotion, as the climbing community questioned the possible damage to bouldering areas as a result of the filming. 听
Going into the New Year, District of Squamish staff will continue to work to ensure the financial benefits of productions are spread out throughout town and that impacts to neighbourhoods and recreational communities are minimized, Heintzman said.
In October, council adopted a new filming policy that cements both the municipality鈥檚 ongoing support to the film industry and holds the film industry to a standard that is acceptable to the community, she added. Council also enacted new filming fees to help offset the cost of district service to productions and impacts to the community, Heintzman said, noting issues such as road closures.听
鈥淪quamish has always been a desirable location for productions,鈥� she said, adding the new policy and fees will help streamline processes. 鈥淲e want to ensure that there is a balance, that the productions and the benefits they bring are spread out.鈥�
The number of productions in Squamish in 2015 was higher than 2014; however, the overall number of filming days is down slightly. This year, 33 productions set up shop in Squamish, eight more than the previous year. As of late November, overall filming days were at 105 for 2015, compared with 125 in 2014, but the number was not final.
Downtown was a popular spot for productions in 2015; as of late November, the heart of Squamish had 22 filming days.听
The A&E series The Returned spent close to 30 days shooting in Squamish in 2014. The television program 鈥� about a community in which people believed to have died show up at their families doorsteps 鈥� was scheduled to film in Squamish in the spring of 2015. However, a lack of available film crews lead to a cancellation. District staff anticipate the show may return to Squamish鈥檚 neighbourhoods this coming year.听
鈥淔ilming has been here for a long, long time,鈥� Heintzman said. 鈥淪ome of it is that we still have that small-town, anywhere look.鈥�
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Top 10 Squamish听film locations in 2015
1. Cleveland Avenue, downtown Squamish
2.听 Paradise Valley Road/Cheakamus Centre
3. Brackendale (various residences)
4. Quest University
5. Stawamus Chief Provincial Park
6. Garibaldi Highlands (various residences)
7. Squamish Oceanfront/Nexen Beach
8. Municipal Hall
9. Smoke Bluffs Park
10. Ray Peters Trail
