A Chatham-Kent native has been hired to grow the film industry in the municipality.
On Wednesday, the municipality said Ashley Renders has accepted the role of Economic Development Officer and Liaison with FLiCK (Filming Locally in Chatham-Kent).
Renders role is to investigate and research the potential for Chatham-Kent to become a film industry destination.
Renders has recently moved back to Chatham-Kent and brings years of experience in film and film production, according to the municipality.
She has worked on both domestic and international films over the last decade, working on projects like LONGING (2023), starring Richard Gere, PRISCILLA (2023), directed by Sofia Coppola, and many more.
“I’m thrilled to bring my experience in the international film industry back to my hometown,” said Renders. “Chatham-Kent has so much potential and I’m eager to uncover new economic opportunities for our community and to help highlight everything that our beautiful region has to offer.”
Director of Economic Development and Tourism Services Stuart McFadden said he's delighted to have Renders on board.
“Ashley’s well-rounded understanding of the film industry, paired with her local connection to Chatham-Kent, uniquely positions her to navigate the complexities of the film industry, while promoting the interests of the municipality," McFadden said. "We look forward to working with, and learning from Ashley over the next year as we explore the possibilities ahead.”
The FLiCK office was launched in July 2023 to offer film production companies a range of services to support their projects, including location scouting, permit assistance, and access to local crews, talent, and equipment.
The municipality previously noted that Chatham-Kent has recognized an opportunity to provide unique and attractive locations for film productions to take place with the increasing demand for film production outside of the Greater Toronto Area.
Municipal officials have said the economic spinoff that film productions bring to a community is substantial and their goal is to capitalize on the economic potential of the film industry and foster job growth in various sectors such as hospitality, transportation, and local businesses that provide goods and services to film productions.
Ontario, also known as Hollywood North, reached record-high levels of film and television production in 2022. Ontario Creates, an agency of the provincial government, said it supported a total of 419 productions in 2022, contributing roughly $3.15 billion to the economy.
Ontario's film commissioner, Justin Cutler, noted the province has been able to generate interest from production crews worldwide due to many factors, including the Ontario Film and Television tax credit, which offers a refund of up to 40 per cent of the labour expenditures and an additional 10 per cent of the labour expenditures if it is a regional production.
Toronto also reported its screen production industry set a record in 2021 with more than $2.5 billion in direct spending.
Click here for more information about FLiCK and its developments.