The global Coronavirus Pandemic continues to disrupt many industries around the world. The Canadian television and film sector sustained significant financial losses in the wake of mandatory business shutdowns and ongoing social distancing regulations. Yet the crisis has also resulted in some innovative responses by entertainment industry leaders. The epidemic in some ways has caused striking short-term impacts for content creators, production companies, distributors, and fans alike.
One Illustration: Northern Rescue
Filmed in Toronto and Parry Sound, Ontario, the still unknown fate of the 2019 family drama Northern Rescue may illustrate some paradoxes surrounding the current situation. Don Carmody Television produced 10 episodes of the Canadian series. It was distributed in Canada by CBC Television, and subsequently streamed to a global audience by Netflix.
Northern Rescue starred William Baldwin as John West, a widower who decides to relocate his household to Turtle Island Bay in Canada from Boston following the loss of his wife, Sarah. The Canadian actress Kathleen Robertson portrays his sister-in-law, Charlie Anders. The first season of the television series began streaming worldwide on March 1, 2019 before the pandemic. It soon developed an international fan base. Speculation circulated online concerning whether or not Netflix would renew or cancel the production of a second season.
Pandemic Entertainment Industry Blues And Fan Angst
The arrival of the Coronavirus Pandemic in 2020 only served to heighten audience confusion concerning the production. Netflix opted to remain silent, neither cancelling nor renewing the Canadian series. Yet paradoxically, during the pandemic shutdowns, large numbers of viewers binged-watched the series. Northern Rescue developed a growing number of fans worldwide as its first season streamed into homes subject to social distancing orders. This summer, rumors of a possible second season generated extensive online discussions.
The initial shutdown orders impacted the Canadian film and television industry severely. Cinemas and distributors sustained especially heavy losses. The film industry globally suffered financial setbacks, with estimates standing at the equivalent of $17 billion U.S. dollars lost by the motion picture industry worldwide as of May, 2020. In Canada alone, the Canadian Media Producers Association on April 21 projected the fiscal damage from the pandemic would approach $2.5 billion (in Canadian dollars). This figure represents a huge setback for the Canadian film and television industry.
Responding to The Crisis
Now, even after many other businesses have reopened, the pandemic continues to cause problems for Canadian film and television productions. Many series remain in limbo due an inability to obtain insurance during the COVID-19 crisis. A number of popular TV series and new film productions have delayed or cancelled filming as a result of the problem.
This week, reports indicated the Canadian government will offer up to $50 million Canadian dollars to assist entertaiment projects temporarily shut down by the health crisis. Ontario has also extended funding in the form of grants. The funds will restart a number of film, TV, and interactive digital media companies.
