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Film production companies spent nearly $9 million in the Thompson Nicola region last year, bringing more investment than ever from the film industry.

There were 17 different projects with a combined 329 days of filming in the region, according to a report from the Thompson Nicola Film Commission.

The productions included projects like the CBC series Bones of Crows, which filmed over 19 days in Kamloops, Quilchena and Merritt. Two days of filming took place in Merritt for the series The Good Doctor.

The more than $8.7 million spent across the region by production companies included wages, food, accommodations, equipment and office rentals, and other services.

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The report estimates that the nearly $9 million in direct spending resulted in a $24 million economic impact for the Thompson Nicola Regional District.

The film commission annual summary also mentions a new film studio for the region.

While a film studio is not currently planned to be built, a report detailing what the facility could look like and include will be presented to the regional district board meeting on Feb. 3.

The concept design, prepared by consulting firm Nordicity, rendered a studio facility that would include two soundstages at 20,000 square feet each, along with two 10,000 square foot office spaces and two smaller buildings for mill shops. Those two smaller shop spaces, at 7,000 square feet each, would also double as smaller stages, if needed.

The concept, which is currently only being brought to the board as information, is estimated to cost $32.6 million if built.

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A full business case for a film studio somewhere in the region is still in progress, according to the annual report.

According to the annual report, production companies came to the region because costs were much lower than Lower Mainland locations, but the vast, varied and arid landscapes of the Thompson Nicola were also an attraction for some projects.

While the film industry brought more investment than ever to the Thompson Nicola region, 17 productions doesn't top the projects shot in 2018. That year, there were 21 projects filmed in the region, but it only represented $1.7 million in direct spending and an estimated $4.7 million in overall economic impact.

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