A couple of big initiatives are underway for Ballinran Entertainment.
That includes Stageview.TV, a streaming channel focused on arts and culture, and the development of Stageview Studios, a 25,000-square-foot production facility in Stratford.
Founder, President and Executive Producer of the Stratford-based company, Craig Thompson, said Canada is reviewing its broadcasting act under the new Bill C11, encouraging more homegrown streaming channels to compete against established ones.
Thompson said Canadian broadcasters are suffering since a big switch to streaming, but there is effort to encourage distribution of Canadian channels.
“We are really trying to standup for Canadian content. And there is no arts channel in Canada. There used to be. CBC and other broadcasters did arts programming, but it is not as commercially successful.”
Thompson said Stageview, approved by the CRTC, is more of a niche offering for people who love arts and culture.
Thompson has partners for Stageview Studios and a building has been acquired next to the Bradshaw Lofts in downtown Stratford.
“We have an architect, we have an engineer, and we are currently developing the plans to build it. It’s an existing building.”
Thompson said there is a need for studio and location shoots for domestic productions.
“Stratford is unique because we have the largest props and costume warehouse east of Hollywood. We have…all kinds of creative people who can easily jump back and forth between stage and screen.
“So it’s an ideal city to develop a pilot project to show how regional production can contribute to the regional economy but also Ontario’s entire screen industry.”
Thompson believes that while Stratford is a remarkable arts community, there is a need to diversify the creative economy and use its strengths – those ‘actors, technicians, and creative people’ that call Stratford home.
