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The $12 million LED Volume Wall was a big win for the Saskatchewan film industry.
It arrived in March 2024 at the John Hopkins Regina Soundstage, but will leave following the production of two more films.
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Erin Dean, CEO of Creative Saskatchewan, said despite the departure the film industry is still finding success in the province.
“The departure of one out-of-province producer doesn’t negatively impact the entire film industry,” Dean said.
“Saskatchewan continues to attract both modest and big budget productions with record levels of activity last year, and we expect to be even busier next year.”
Watch behind-the-scenes footage of the LED Volume Wall in action:
The LED Volume Wall was used to make two films in the Queen City. Those two films employed 323 people and generated $32.5 million in economic impact, according to a release from Saskatchewan Media Production Industry Association.
Creative Saskatchewan has also committed to two final projects to be filmed with the LED wall.
Dean said those films will be filmed through the summer.
As for why Volume Global is leaving, Dean said it’s a private business decision for the company.
“The volume wall is privately owned,” she explained. “There’s no government investment in that technology. It is owned by Volume Global. And if they have projects that they’re going to do in another jurisdiction with that wall, that is their decision to make. It’s not ours. So what we’re focused on are the next two shows slated to come and film in Saskatchewan.”
Dean said this isn’t the end of production with equipment like the LED Volume Wall. She spoke with Anand Ramayya, who is a producer with Volume Global, who said conversations will continue about what it can bring to Saskatchewan in the future.
Anand Ramayya, founder of Karma Films, cuts the ribbon leading to the LED volume wall, along with Minister Laura Ross and Premier Scott Moe. March 22, 2024 (Lisa Schick/ 980 CJME)
Dean said while the LED wall was in Regina, it committed and supported 64 other film projects, like the action thriller Die Alone, which was filmed in areas like Regina, Fort Qu’Appelle and Indian Head.
Creative Saskatchewan gave $20.4 million to those projects, and it generated to province approximately $93.2 million economically and employed over 690 people.
The movie ‘Die Alone’ films a scene at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. June 19, 2023 (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)
Profits from productions using the LED Volume Wall and other Creative Saskatchewan films total up to over $124 million in economic spin off between 2022 and 2024.
“We’re really still hopeful to attract great shows to Saskatchewan,” Dean said.
“The door is still open for these producers to bring shows to us to consider. We may not always be able to support everything that’s put in front of us, but we’re absolutely committed to growing the film industry, developing the talent, developing the producer pool, and creating year round work for crews.”
In a statement from Saskatchewan Media Production Industry Association, it said, “with Volume Global leaving, this makes room for the many other productions interested in booking the John Hopkins Regina Soundstage to make movies and television series here.”
The LED volume wall can display images that act as sets, transporting actors anywhere in the universe. The technology is used in ‘The Mandalorian’ and other popular series. (Roman Hayter/980 CJME)
— with files from 650 CKOM’s Shane Clausing
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