Hollywood could pump a ‘monstrous’ amount of money into the Nanaimo economy this month, as crews shoot scenes for a new Godzilla flick.
Gareth Edward’s sci-fi reboot of the city-destroying Godzilla is being filmed across Vancouver Island this March, from Nanaimo’s Old Victoria Road to Ladysmith and Shawnigan Lake.
The film stars Elizabeth Olsen, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Juliette Binoche and Bryan Cranston.
More than 300 crew members are expected to land in the Harbour City for the eight-day central Island shoot and have pledged to use local extras, staff and equipment.
The buy-local effort is anticipated to pump up to $100,000 a day into the local economy, according to the Nanaimo Economic Development Corporation, which claims they helped woo the production. They helped facilitate conversations with the City of Nanaimo and made sure attempts to get permits flowed-smoothly, according to Sasha Angus, CEO of NEDC.
The economic corporation is aiming to make Nanaimo more “film-friendly” as Hollywood turns its attention to Vancouver Island. This is the second blockbuster filmed in the Nanaimo area in the last three years. The old Cassidy Hotel was scene of Superman: Man of Steel in 2011. The popular Twilight series filmed in the area two years ago.
“When films come to town there is always a huge economic impact because they rent from local companies, hire (crew) here and spend money on food and hotels,” said Angus. “So we are excited . . . this is going to be a big production for Nanaimo.”
Nanaimo has been on the list as a potential area to shoot since last October when producers were reportedly won over by the city’s industrial look. The film, whose working title is Nautilus, did a casting call in February for extras and recently notified residents along Old Victoria Road that filming is about to begin.
Joan Miller, the North Island film commissioner, says Vancouver Island will make up the first shots for the new take on the legendary radioactive monster, which is set to hit theatres next year. Crews will stay in Nanaimo hotels for three days while they shoot the scenes downtown and Ladysmith area before they move onto Shawnigan Lake.
The local work will be unique, however, because very few scenes are ever shot in the core of Island communities, Miller said. Companies usually stay in Vancouver.
