Upcoming Sonic The Hedgehog movie injected millions into Vancouver Island economy

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VANCOUVER ISLAND (NEWS 1130) – The internet was abuzz with video game news April 30 as the new trailer for the upcoming Sonic The Hedgehog movie was released. The movie was shot on Vancouver Island in 2018, and injected millions of dollars into the local economy.

Joan Miller, with the Vancouver Island Film Commission, says it was just one of 31 projects filmed in the region in 2018, and this year will likely be just as busy.

“We’re really excited about the growth that’s happening and people are now expanding and building studios and looking at back lots,” she says. “Clearly there is spin-off from how busy the province is right now.”

And the shoots have had a huge impact on the local economy.

https://twitter.com/SonicMovie/status/1123207343322222599

“The crew comes, they generally like to hire as many locals as possible and when they’re here for an extended period of time they go out at night, they spend their per diem, they fill the restaurants, they purchase their clothes, they get their dry cleaning done, so there is a really great footprint that they leave behind.”

Miller says the Hallmark series Chesapeake Shores is currently shooting its fourth season in the area and an Apple TV series featuring Aquaman’s Jason Mamoa recently shot some scenes in the region as well.

Island communities are also seemingly embracing the film crews.

“Frankly, all of us enjoy going out and watching what’s going on,” Miller says. “Because filming in our region’s becoming more and more popular, but it’s still unique and it’s still fun for the locals.”

As for Sonic, Miller says it brought about $11 million into the Vancouver Island economy during shooting.

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