The most streamed show on Netflix this year – including movies – was filmed right in Maple Ridge.
Season one of The Night Agent, shot in Golden Ears Provincial Park and at a location along Abernethy Way, came in first place on the streaming platform’s annual list with people streaming 812,100,000 hours of the program during the first half of 2023, globally.
Starring Gabriel Basso, and featuring a number of Canadian actors, including Sarah Desjardins, Eve Harlow, Christopher Shyer, and Greyston Holt, the series was released on March 23.
The production, explained City of Maple Ridge film coordinator Draeven McGowan, shot here for three days – two at North Beach and the North Beach Campground in the provincial park, in addition to three days of preparation and three days of wrap-up, and one more shoot day on Abernethy Way between Golden Ears Cheesecrafters and 203rd Street.
Although McGowan does not have an accurate estimate on how much money the production has injected into the city coffers, he said that a production of this scale involves a lot of people.
“The typical cast and crew number on shooting days ranges between 150 and 200 people,” explained McGowan.
“This figure does not include additional personnel such as support staff, producers, writers, etc. On days focused on preparation and wrap of sets, the crew size is smaller but remains significant. This is due to the extensive labour required for set construction and design, which involves a variety of skilled workers,” he noted.
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By the end of September this year, there were 57 productions shot in Maple Ridge, with 162 permits going out, 202 shoot days, and 113 prep and wrap days – which has had an economic impact of more than $4 million, so far, locally.
Each production filmed in Maple Ridge represents a unique chance to highlight Maple Ridge as a prime location for film production, said McGowan, and each production that has success in Maple Ridge represents a new opportunity for continued collaboration on future productions.
“When shows like The Night Agent film here and garner a lot of attention, it can support ancillary impacts, such as film tourism, but also boost community pride and create an even more film-friendly environment,” added the film coordinator, noting the city’s goal is to enhance the reputation of the city as a “versatile and welcoming hub for filmmakers and storytellers by retaining the level of production we currently enjoy and attracting more productions through process optimization and desire for creative solutions to support the creative industries.”
As of now, said McGowan, the production company has not confirmed whether The Night Agent will continue to shoot in Maple Ridge in the new year.
But if they decide to, the liaison is ready to offer support.
Typically productions begin their preparation in studio spaces located in Vancouver, Burnaby, or Langley, said McGowan, before they look for suitable on-location filming sites in nearby municipalities.
“We expect a similar approach for The Night Agent when it resumes production in the new year,” he said.