TriBro Studios Sound Stage | Proposed

[rocketphish]

Greenbelt farm may become sound stage for film and TV

Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen
Updated: August 29, 2018

The last farm scientists were laid off 20 years ago and their equipment sold at auction. Now artists may move into a former Agriculture Canada lab in the Greenbelt to build a “creative hub.”

The National Capital Commission wants to turn an abandoned building across from the Nepean Sportsplex into a sound stage where television or film crews could shoot indoor scenes. There’s outdoor space available, too — a total of 9.6 hectares in the sprawling former research farm (822 hectares) that closed in 1998.

The building being considered is one of a couple of dozen former farm buildings in a central cluster. Some are rented to Bell Canada, Ritchie’s Feed and Seed and other tenants. Some are empty.

Now the Ottawa Film Office and a private firm called TriBro Studios have suggested that the building would make a dandy sound stage, likely after renovation.

But there’s a master plan for the Greenbelt, and it does not allow sound stages. The NCC wants to amend the plan. This involves asking the public what it thinks, so there will be an open house on Sept. 5, from 5 to 7 p.m. The site is at 1740 Woodroffe Ave.

Mayor Jim Watson is in favour. He writes in a letter to councillors: “Ottawa is home to several award-winning film, television and animation companies. These companies provide hundreds of skilled jobs to Ottawa residents and contribute over $100 million dollars to our economy annually …

“The proposed sound stage campus and creative hub will create approximately 500 full-time jobs during construction. It will generate approximately $40 million in new economic activity and in excess of 500 new full-time jobs within its first few years of operation.”

The ghosts of research are still apparent at the site, with photos of lab workers on the wall, and everything designed to keep germs out. There are no windows.

This centre once claimed to be the most sophisticated food research lab in Canada. The Centre for Food and Animal Research led Canadian research into food safety, the behaviour of livestock, and ways to raise farm animals without heavy doses of antibiotics.

It also fought salmonella, looked for ways to keep toxic moulds out of food, and preserved frozen embryos and sperm cells of breeds of farm animals that have nearly disappeared.

It was a high-security place: There were some buildings that people couldn’t even enter without taking two showers to get rid of germs that might interfere with research — for instance, using virus-free chickens.

But federal budget cuts in the 1990s spelled the end of the farm. Its staff was cut from 900 to 300, and finally dismissed altogether — bought out or sent to other centres.

Auctioneers sold off the last bits of equipment — welding equipment, beakers, pressure gauges and more — in 1998.

Today the potential sound stage smells of mildew, paint is stained or peeling, and the bare concrete with blood-like rust stains looks like a horror movie set just waiting for someone to go down and check the basement.

There were also some odd noises during a media tour Tuesday. It was probably just the wind.

tspears@postmedia.com
twitter.com/TomSpears1

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local...or-film-and-tv

[kevinbottawa]

Here's a rendering of the proposed soundstage.

[rocketphish]

NCC launches consultations on proposed $40M ‘creative hub’ in Ottawa’s west end

By Beatrice Britneff
Local Online Journalist (Ottawa), Global News



The National Capital Commission (NCC) has received a proposal to transform a part of the former Greenbelt Research Farm into a $40-million “soundstage campus and creative hub” – and it wants to know what you think about it, the federal agency said on Monday.

In a statement on Wednesday, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, Knoxdale-Merivale Coun. Keith Egli and Alta Vista Coun. Jean Cloutier said the proposed TV, film and animation centre would be constructed on an already developed, 9.86-hectare portion of the 822-hectare research farm, located across from the Nepean Sportsplex.

The NCC announced simultaneously it is launching consultations on the proposal, submitted by the Ottawa Film Office and Toronto-based company TriBro Studios, and will host a public open house on Sept. 5.

“We are excited to see this sector continue to develop in Ottawa, and particularly in such close proximity to Algonquin College and the Ottawa International Airport,” said Watson, Egli and Cloutier – all three of whom are running for re-election in this fall’s municipal vote.

“A project of this magnitude will have a positive impact on Ottawa’s film, television and animation industry as well as our local education, tourism and hospitality sectors.”

Agriculture Canada built the Greenbelt Research Farm in the 1960s. The entire site is bordered by West Hunt Club Road, Woodroffe Avenue, Fallowfield Road and Greenbank Road.

The research farm closed down in 1998 and many of the buildings currently on the property have been vacant ever since, the city’s statement said. The NCC then acquired the property in 2000.

The City of Ottawa has been keen for some time to turn the site in Ottawa’s west end into an “innovation hub.” Earlier this year, council voted to use $300,000 in unused project funds to get the private autonomous vehicle test track, located on a different part of the site, up and running.

The mayor and the two councillors said the proposed “creative hub” would produce approximately 500 full-time jobs during the construction phase. Once operational, it would create at least another 500 new full-time jobs “within its first few years of operation,” and generate about $40 million in new economic activity, they said.

The three city officials said “no farmland or forested area will be impacted” by the proposed “sustainable” campus. Rather, they said the project would be accompanied by a “re-naturalization of 21.5 hectares at the former Capital Golf Centre, adjacent to the Lester Wetlands.”

The NCC’s open house on Sept. 5 is scheduled to run from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the site in question on the Greenbelt Research Farm.

https://globalnews.ca/news/4412725/n...tawa-west-end/

[rocketphish]

Ottawa Film Office: Soundstage campus proposal

https://ottawa.film/soundstage/

[danishh]

not a big fan of more greenbelt encroachment.

[acottawa]

It is unclear why it needs to be on the Greenbelt. Is there no more industrial land left in the city?

[TransitZilla]

Originally Posted by danishh

not a big fan of more greenbelt encroachment.

I don't see how it's a big deal; this does not exactly appear to be virgin land.

[Buggys]

Wouldn't there be lots of noise pollution from this place, which would definitely affect the area's effectiveness as semi-natural greenspace.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by Buggys

Wouldn't there be lots of noise pollution from this place, which would definitely affect the area's effectiveness as semi-natural greenspace.

Why?

[HighwayStar]

Originally Posted by Buggys

Wouldn't there be lots of noise pollution from this place, which would definitely affect the area's effectiveness as semi-natural greenspace.

How many people wander around the area today enjoying the effectiveness of the semi-natural greenspace?

And now much CO2 and other pollutants are spewn into the atmosphere as thousands of vehicles make the long boring trek through empty fields in the middle of a city?

[OTownandDown]

Originally Posted by HighwayStar

How many people wander around the area today enjoying the effectiveness of the semi-natural greenspace?

And now much CO2 and other pollutants are spewn into the atmosphere as thousands of vehicles make the long boring trek through empty fields in the middle of a city?

Lol, also the rotting barns are doing nothing to animate the City. You hear talk of preserving greenbelt, but renting farmland to Shouldice farms so they can sell us corn and strawberries, grown in sketchy soil surrounded by old cattle testing barns (who knows what's in the soil) is not a great use of greenspace. Not to mention that Bell already uses a larger area of these barns as their lay-down/storage yard for Ottawa. Great use of greenbelt there, I tells ya.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Buggys

Wouldn't there be lots of noise pollution from this place, which would definitely affect the area's effectiveness as semi-natural greenspace.

No. Sound stages need to be sound proof to prevent outside noises from being picked up by the microphones. That soundproofing will also prevent any noise that is generated inside the buildings from escaping. I'm not sure there is much noise being generated in the first place, as much of what they are doing is recording dialog. Most of the loud parts are added in post production.

A bigger concern is its proximity to the airport's flight path may make it harder to create a quiet environment for recording. It might be far enough away to be manageable.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by roger1818

No. Sound stages need to be sound proof to prevent outside noises from being picked up by the microphones. That soundproofing will also prevent any noise that is generated inside the buildings from escaping. I'm not sure there is much noise being generated in the first place, as much of what they are doing is recording dialog. Most of the loud parts are added in post production.

A bigger concern is its proximity to the airport's flight path may make it harder to create a quiet environment for recording. It might be far enough away to be manageable.

I am pretty sure dialogue is redubbed afterwards.

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by roger1818

No. Sound stages need to be sound proof to prevent outside noises from being picked up by the microphones. That soundproofing will also prevent any noise that is generated inside the buildings from escaping. I'm not sure there is much noise being generated in the first place, as much of what they are doing is recording dialog. Most of the loud parts are added in post production.

A bigger concern is its proximity to the airport's flight path may make it harder to create a quiet environment for recording. It might be far enough away to be manageable.

This last point is addressed in the FAQ:

Q: A soundstage near the airport!? Won’t noise from planes be an issue?

A: While the soundstage campus would be located near the airport, it would not be close enough to be impacted by airport operations, nor is it directly under any flight paths. Also, like most purpose-built soundstages, it would be completely soundproofed.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by OTownandDown

Lol, also the rotting barns are doing nothing to animate the City. You hear talk of preserving greenbelt, but renting farmland to Shouldice farms so they can sell us corn and strawberries, grown in sketchy soil surrounded by old cattle testing barns (who knows what's in the soil) is not a great use of greenspace. Not to mention that Bell already uses a larger area of these barns as their lay-down/storage yard for Ottawa. Great use of greenbelt there, I tells ya.

Was this an industrial area at some time in the past?

[OTownandDown]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Was this an industrial area at some time in the past?

Yes, as in, industrial agricultural. All types of farm animals were grown on this farm, in extremely controlled conditions, to test their growth rates and patterns, in order to optimize Canadian farming.

I'm not saying there's tons of pollution around, but what I am saying is that 30+ animal barns clustered in a group, for science purposes, can't be the cleanest place ever. We all know how people abused the environment in the 40's-80's.

I'm also saying that the NCC is trying their best to lease out already used land to start generating a friggin' profit from these abandoned places that are underused. Bell already uses a large chunk of this land, along with the NCC's landscaping people (pallets of granite, rink shacks for the canal, old statues and monuments, trucks, etc.). The google maps images are pretty fascinating

It would be a shame to discount this proposal from the movie execs just because we have NIMBY's who want to conserve abandoned ghost barns and prefer the land be leased to the corn and strawberry road side stand industry.

[J.OT13]

I think this project could go a long way into improving Ottawa's film and television industry. This is a good use for what is essentially a brownfield across the street from a suburban area.

And if I'm not mistaken, this site was one that was heavily favoured for the new Civic a decade ago. That would have had a much larger impact on the environment (footprint, traffic and others). Plus, terrible site to move the Civic; downtown would have lost its last hospital.

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

People interssted in this project might be interested in this story about Doug Falconer.


Falconer played for the Gee-Gees and the Rough Riders and then spent 35 years in Los Angeles producing movies.


He is now living in Ottawa--supporting the Gee-Gees and the sound stage project. Quite a story.


https://usports.ca/en/news/2018/09/1...d-philanthropy

[rocketphish]

Plans for Ottawa film hub rolling along
Ottawa Film Office hoping NCC, city will allow construction by spring

Kate Porter · CBC News
Posted: Dec 01, 2018 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: 7 hours ago



Ottawa's film commissioner says things are moving quickly in the effort to turn a quiet piece of the Greenbelt into a sound stage for big TV and film productions.

The non-profit, arm's-length agency is partnering with TriBro Studios of Toronto to turn a former federal government research facility near West Hunt Club Road and Woodroffe Avenue into a four-stage complex, as well as office space for animation companies and training facilities.

"Things can move along pretty quickly when the interest is there from the city and the players that are involved are all serious about what they're trying to do," said Bruce Harvey, head of the Ottawa Film Office.

The National Capital Commission board approved a special exemption on Nov. 22 so the federal land could be used for the film studios, and Harvey said construction could start after the spring thaw.

Ottawa city council got the ball rolling on the necessary municipal land approvals during their meeting Wednesday.

"This is one of the most exciting projects I've been involved in since elected," said Coun. Keith Egli, whose Knoxdale-Merivale ward will host the production hub.

Egli said this film hub would help the local industry grow, create new jobs and bring in more business.

"The province of Ontario has to turn away about $260 million of production work on an annual basis, and we'd like a part of that here in Ottawa," said Coun. Jean Cloutier, a member of the Ottawa Film Office board.

Harvey said the reason Ontario turns away that business is due to a lack of sound stages — a worldwide problem.

So, if Ottawa can offer what a production needs for building sets for a dramatic series, it will be able to lure shows here, he said.

The Ottawa area currently does about $100 million in film production each year, but it could double that, Harvey estimated.

"For film and TV, all of the money that gets spent on these productions comes from outside Ottawa," with money flowing to crews, carpenters, hotels and gas stations, Harvey said.

He said the film office talks with producers from across Canada, but he's also met with the likes of Netflix, who need studio space for the new series they're creating.

The site could also become a campus for the broader industry, including the rapidly growing animation scene, Harvey said.

He's talked to animation studios about moving to the site, and to companies that do motion-capture technology for gaming.

That could see students from the animation program at Algonquin College, located just down the road, eventually doing placements there.

Having writers, animators and other creative people hanging out together could also lead to chance meetings and ideas, said Neil Turner, one of the coordinators of the animation program at Algonquin College.

"Anytime there's a place creative people can get together and just be creative is awesome."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottaw...long-1.4927271

[Kitchissippi]

This is such great news after the LeBreton bombshell. Exciting to see another non-government sector take off in the NCR. Hope it expands much much bigger as there’s enough space in there for more. Maybe it will accelerate the need for LRT extension with a West Hunt Club station serving this and the Nepean Sportsplex