Durham Region’s film and television industry has grown significantly over the last decade.
In 2024, the region hosted 71 productions and brought in nearly $92 million worth of filming activity, according to Invest Durham’s Film and Television industry specialist Eileen Kennedy.
She said that most of what is filmed here has been big TV shows that most people would recognize.
“We’ve had Reacher here for Four Seasons. We’re now working on the 5th, The Way Home for Four Seasons. We’ve had Nightmare Alley, The Boys, Twisted Metal; all kinds of great shows have been here,” Kennedy said.
The growth points to a wider industry shift, with productions increasingly choosing Durham over Toronto for its space, location variety and accessibility, according to Kennedy.
The expansion suggests long-term economic and career opportunities as the region becomes a more established player in Ontario’s film sector.
The region now offers production studios, a backlot in Pickering and a wide range of filming locations, from large sites such as Parkwood National Historic Site to private homes.
Durham Region also has close to 400 locations listed on the Ontario Creates digital location library, making local sites visible to producers worldwide.
Durham’s growing film industry is also opening doors for workers at all levels.
Local film producer Tamar Bird said many skills translate easily into film and television work.
“It’s really easy to convert your everyday skills into film and television,” Bird said. “It’s just finding a place, finding a team that will take you on and will show you the ropes and will guide you.”
Durham College is helping students take advantage of the region’s expanding industry. Kevin Fraser, a professor in the Film and Motion Design program, encourages students to volunteer on film sets.
“The lower responsibility you can get on a film set, the better, because you can be that fly on the wall and look around,” he said, “and go, oh, maybe I want to do camera. Maybe I want to do set, maybe I want to do makeup or special effects.”
College programs provide practical experience and transferable skills, making it easier for graduates to launch careers in film and media without leaving Durham.
Entry-level roles, such as production assistants, offer hands-on experience, the opportunity to observe every aspect of filming and the chance to connect with crews.
“I always, always advocate for anyone coming in, and they don’t know exactly where they want to be,” Bird said. “Be a production assistant.”
Kennedy said there’s more than 150 different types of jobs, ranging from lighting, transportation and accounting to set construction, hair and makeup, sound, editing and visual effects.
As filming activity continues to expand, Durham Region will host a film and television industry career fair on March 10 at the Durham College and Ontario Tech campus.