Lori Paris Reports on the grand opening of Filmport Studios

Toronto's film industry just got a new toy.

Listen to Lori Paris' Report

Phase one of Filmport Studios has opened along the waterfront, promising to provide everything filmmakers need for blockbuster and small budget movies, in an effort to boost Toronto's faltering film industry.

The new studios features several smaller top of the line sound stages that can be linked together to form a larger space, and the Mega Stage - the largest soundstage in North America at 46 thousand square feet.

Canadian filmmaker David Cronenburg says he's looking forward to using the facility.

"I mean for a film maker, this is the most incredibly stimulating toy you could possibly have in your own backyard. Your own studio, that's fantastic. I would love the next film (he makes) to be made here. Most of my films have been made in Toronto, and we've worked with Toronto Film Studios before. So I'd love to (make a film at the new studio). If they've got an office for me here, I'm ready to move it."

There has apparently been a lot of interest in the new Mega Stage from some major filmmakers, but Ken Ferguson, president of Filmport studios says the timing of the studio opening isn't great.

"The downside is of course, we're in a situation with the Screen Actors Guild (possible strike), where movies are not being green-lit at this moment. As soon as they are, we're pretty confident that they'll be up here. So we're probably looking at the fall.  It's a little unfortunate that we have to deal with that, but that's the way it is."