HBO's The Last of Us contributed to a million-dollar film production boon in the Regional District of Nanaimo, reports the Vancouver Island North Film Commission.
Brandon Lepine, INFilm regional production services manager, was in front of RDN directors Tuesday, Nov. 26, reporting on the commission's work this past year and requesting $50,000 in funding as the 2025-29 financial plan is drafted.
The series, starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, was one of four major productions in the area in 2024. Production closed parts of downtown Nanaimo in April and May, with approximately five weeks of preparation work, three days of shooting and one week of wrap-up, according to Lepine. Netflix's The Untamed was another production, filming at Nanaimo Lakes Road and Little Mountain Lookout in the Parksville area, he said, with 15 days of prep, four days of shooting and two days of wrap.
"The total spend in the Regional District of Nanaimo for accommodations and food and beverages is estimated at [$1.6 million]," said Lepine. "There's a $421,000 City of Nanaimo combined HBO and Netflix spend, an additional $1.2 million spend in Parksville, Qualicum Beach and Oceanside regions."
Sean Wood, Parksville director, wondered if the weaker Canadian dollar, currently valued at $0.71 U.S., would lead to more business. Lepine said a proposed tax incentive by the B.C. government and the province's geography bodes well for the industry locally.
"The Canadian dollar, the fact we are on the same time zone and a three-hour flight from L.A., all contribute," he said. "Vancouver Island is fiercely independent … productions are going up. We're seeing more and more independent production, more natural history, more documentary. I don't have the exact numbers, but we are somewhere, per capita, the same as Vancouver right now for film production."
Speaking to the News Bulletin, Steven Johns, Downtown Nanaimo Business Association vice-chairperson, said his Commercial Street business, Red Shelf Decor, was boarded up to look like an abandoned fast food joint during production and he didn't mind the area being closed off.
"It was a 50-50 of excitement and disruption, but the disruption was all part of the excitement," he said. "It's a pretty big deal to have such a high-level production in Nanaimo … I think any disruption was worth the price."
Filming garnered a lot of buzz downtown and the business association favours more TV or film productions coming, Johns said.
"We know more now about what it entails and it's just exciting. Anything that brings the world to this amazing city is great as far as the [association] is concerned," he said.
