ELORA – In early 1979, An American Christmas Carol starring Henry Winkler was filmed extensively in Elora.
Many residents recall the excitement of the unusual occurrence of an American production with such a well-known star coming to town.
Onlookers gathered to watch filming, many locals were used as extras in the film, and Henry Winkler sightings were reported throughout the days of the filming.
For locals, one of the stars of the movie was Elora itself.
The area has attracted multiple productions since then, with significant growth in the past few years in film industry activity in Centre Wellington.
And a lot of high-profile production companies are now choosing to shoot scenes in the area.
“In the past we had shows that were on a smaller scale, for Canadian or even Ontario segments and viewers,” said the Township of Centre Wellington’s tourism and destination coordinator Joao Carrolo.
“We’re looking at companies like Netflix, Apple TV and Amazon Prime coming to Elora and Fergus to film. This is of course broadcasted to a world audience,” Carrolo said.
The township’s film portfolio is handled by the tourism office, and anyone who films within township jurisdiction is required to file for a film permit.
Carrolo said the office works closely with the production companies.
“Depending on the production, sometimes it is very simple and just requires that the residents be warned.”
Sometimes there is a lot more involved.
When FUBAR, a Netflix series starring Arnold Schwarzenegger filmed in Elora recently, “we had traffic stoppages and fake shooting happening where the police and the fire department needed to be involved.”
Carrolo said the companies pay for all those services, and for any parking lot and park use.
And while local hotels and restaurants can’t accommodate larger crews, Carrolo said that there is revenue generated by various aspects of filming, like hiring local businesses for props.
“There is a second stage opportunity for revenue or for economic impact,” Carrolo said.
“When these shows are aired, you have thousands of people seeing them.
“The Amazing Race (Canada) is a good case study, because the episode was aired nationwide.”
Carrolo said he believed people from across the country who watched the episode would add Elora and Fergus to their travel plans.
“So, there is incredible value there, of course hard to monitor, but something that we will see in the long run.”
Carrolo noted the funds generated by the industry help the township run all of its services, thus helping to “mitigate the impact and disturbances that these production companies always bring … residents are somewhat impacted by parking, traffic stoppages and things like that.”
“I haven’t heard any complaints about disruptions by filming companies operating in the township,” Carrolo said.
Carrolo explained he has been in his position for less than two years, so cannot speak to the past.
“Since I started, I haven’t heard complaints of any kind.”
Most companies do not want the public to know what they are shooting while in the area.
When FUBAR was filming in Elora, the production company used the decoy name Oink, Oink, on signs within the filming area.
Carrolo said it is rare that the township is required to sign a contract stipulating they will not reveal the identity of the project being filmed.
But most companies rely on confidentiality to safeguard against content being released before a production is aired.
“In some cases, we are requested to keep secrecy,” Carrolo said.
In others, the township does not know the name of the show or movie being filmed.
Apple TV recently filmed at the Elora quarry for an episode of Murderbot, starring Alexander Skarsgård, but would not disclose the name of the project to the township.
“It’s in our interest to make sure that these productions are welcomed, and know that we can keep things somewhat secret.”
Amazon Prime just finished a weekend shoot at the Belwood Lake dam, part of Belwood Lake Conservation area.
Carrolo said the township was asked to not disclose the project.
While the GRCA handled the permits and processes required for filming in its jurisdiction, Carrolo said the tourism office took care of the facility rental Amazon Prime required at the Centre Wellington Sportsplex over the weekend.
Carrolo believes the companies will come back, knowing that the township is film friendly and can be trusted.
Mark Lysadowski, executive producer of Amazing Race Canada said the township’s tourism office was great to work with.
“We have a philosophy on the race. We are guests wherever we go, and we’d like to be invited back … We’re a bit of a circus, and let’s be honest, it’s a bunch of people running through your community,” Lysadowski said.
“But I found the community be very welcoming, very, very curious. I love it when a crowd gathers.”
While the day to day lives of residents may be impacted during filming, Carrolo believes that the community also feels pride.
“I think at the end of the day, there’s something that the community gets that is quite invaluable. Like having the Amazing Race here and showcasing us nationwide, and having Arnold Schwarzenegger, one of the biggest names in Hollywood.
“I think it’s very, very special.”
