Saskatchewan Film & Photography Production Services & Camera Crews
Are you a media company, brand, ad agency or production company looking for film / photography production support or shooting crew in Saskatchewan? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.
Filming in Saskatchewan
For an introduction to shooting in Saskatchewan see below notes on film locations, permits, when to shoot, unique local stories, costs, tax incentives, crews, talent, equipment, communications, art department, studios, post facilities, visas and work permits for filming, transport, film-friendly accommodation, and safety advice.
Saskatchewan Film Locations
Saskatchewan is located in western Canada. The province is best known for its vast prairies broken up by river valleys and low-lying hills. Saskatchewan has over 100,000 lakes. Saskatoon and Regina are the main population centres.
Home to over 50,000 farms, Saskatchewan offers filmmakers and photographers many farms that produce wheat, barley, oats, rye, alfalfa, canola, sunflower, beef cattle, and dairy products. The province mines oil and gas, potash, uranium, copper, gold, and zinc. Energy locations include coal and gas fired power plants, as well as hydroelectric power stations.
Saskatchewan has hosted productions such as Rufus (2012), Sleepwalking (2008), Surveillance (2008), The Messengers (2007), and Just Friends (2005).
Saskatoon is the largest city. Film locations include the Delta Bessborough Hotel, Remai Modern Art Gallery, Saskatchewan Railway Museum, Western Development Museum, Ukrainian Museum of Canada, Wanuskewin Heritage Park, University of Saskatchewan campus, SaskTel Centre, Marquis Downs horse racing track, and Saskatchewan International Raceway.
Regina is the provincial capital. Film locations of note include the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, MacKenzie Art Gallery, RCMP Heritage Centre designed by Arthur Erickson , Government House, and the Saskatchewan Legislative Building.
Gainsborough and Canora are picturesque small towns.
Moose Jaw is known for the Tunnels of Moose Jaw, and the Mac the Moose statue.
Fort Walsh is a National Historic Site.
Fort San is an abandoned tuberculosis sanatorium located in Fort Qu’Appelle.
Paperclip Cottage is located in Kipling.
The T.rex Discovery Centre is a solitary contemporary structure located in a vast arid setting.
Athabasca Sand Dunes Provincial Park is located in the far north of the province.
Prince Albert National Park, located in the centre of the province, includes vast areas of forest. The park is home to elks, moose, Boreal woodland caribous, black bears, timber wolves, coyotes, red foxes, beavers, badgers, and river otters.
Grasslands National Park, located in the south of the province, has big skies and wide open plains that are home to bison, black-tailed prairie dogs, black-footed ferrets, swift foxes, coyotes, pronghorns, and burrowing owls.
The Twisted Trees are a grove of deformed trembling aspen trees located near Alticane.
Saskatchewan Film Location Permits
Proof of insurance is required for permission to film at public locations in Regina. Please contact us for location specific information.
When To Shoot?
Saskatchewan winters are long, dark and very cold with snow on the ground from November to March. Spring (April to May) is mild. Summers (June to September) are hot and dry with up to 18 hours of sunlight in the north of the province. Most crops are harvested in August / September. Fall (October to November) is mild.
The Canadian Challenge Sled Dog Race takes place in Prince Albert during May every year.
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Canada.
Unique Local Stories
Brands are looking for local stories that match their brand narrative. Our local teams are a great lead for sourcing those unique stories and characters.
If you are looking for stories for your next shoot, send us your brief and we will pitch you ideas.
If you have a unique story you would like to pitch to a brand anywhere in the world, pitch us your idea. We have well-established processes to ensure that your ideas are properly seen and protected.
Saskatchewan Tax Incentives For Filming
Tax Incentives. Saskatchewan offers a non-refundable tax credit of 25% on qualifying Saskatchewan spend. This can be added to the Canada Federal Tax Incentive which is 16% on qualifying Canadian labor spend.
Saskatchewan Film Crew & Talent
Crew. Saskatchewan has hard working crews that are experienced in working efficiently in cold weather conditions. Additional crew can be easily brought in from Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, or abroad.
Contact us if you are looking for a director, DP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, or any other film crew for your shoot in Saskatchewan.
Talent. The province’s population is predominately Caucasian and First Nations. There are 70 First Nations in Saskatchewan including the Cree, Assiniboine, Saulteaux, Dene and Dakota.
Saskatoon is more ethnically diverse. Additional casting may be required out of Vancouver, Toronto, or abroad.
Film characters synonymous with Saskatchewan include hockey players, wheat farmers, big game hunters, and long haul truckers.
Saskatchewan Film Equipment
Equipment. Some standard camera, grip and lighting equipment can be found locally and the rest can be brought in from Toronto, Vancouver, or Calgary.
Communications. Communication is key. Our agility and global experience allows us to customise the right communications systems for every shoot.
Web posted casting, scouting, and videoconferencing.
For clients that are unable to attend set we offer a virtual video village solution. This dedicated and secure high-resolution video streaming platform allows clients from one or multiple timezones to view setups without compromise and to participate in real-time with the team on set. Separate systems can be set up for the discrete conversations that are required to make a job run right. Working remotely with our local teams reduces your content production costs, turnaround times, carbon footprint, and risks associated with unpredictable global events.
Saskatchewan Studios & Post Production
Studios. Canada Saskatchewan Production Studios.
Visas & Work Permits
Previously the rules were very strict with all visiting crew required to have work permits that were very time consuming and expensive to get. The good news is now commercial advertising shoots are exempt from the work permit process on the condition the project is foreign funded. See here for more information.
For crew members who will be entering to oversee the project, Western passport holders are able to enter Canada visa-free with an eTA for a period of up to six months. This excludes US nationals arriving directly from the US, who are exempt from the eTA requirement.
Transport & Accommodation
Transportation Infrastructure. Canada has an extensive road network, particularly in the more populated south of the country. Several domestic airlines and charter services are available to access more remote areas. Major Canadian cities are serviced by most international carriers.
Accommodation. Please contact us for recommended film friendly hotels in Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw and other areas of Saskatchewan.
Final Notes
Safety. Saskatchewan is a very safe and reliable place to film. See here for up to date travel advice.
Down Time. Power down at a lake house or farm stay.
Projects. For an example of TV commercials, stills campaigns, online content, corporate videos, virtual reality 360 content, feature films, TV series and documentaries shot in Saskatchewan, please see below:
Hire Saskatchewan Production Support & Shooting Crew
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Saskatchewan, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Saskatchewan, such as a director, DoP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, please contact us.
We are able to provide you with answers, references and bids quickly.
