City councillor pushes for Toronto to get an IMDB page

It’s arguably the most popular site on the internet to get information on famous movies, television shows or actors and one city councillor wants Toronto to have a place on the Internet Movie Database (IMDB).

Coun. Paula Fletcher, who is also chair of the Toronto Film, Television & Digital Media Board, says getting Toronto its own page on IMDB will be a great way to promote the city’s multi-billion dollar film industry.

“Most people would think we’d be on that already but our film board members are deep in the industry and say ‘we’re missing out here. Let’s get on this page.’ It’s popular. People know it and it can help sell film,” she said.

Right now, the film industry brings nearly $2-billion a year to Toronto but Fletcher believes there’s more that can be done.

“Having a one stop place where producers can go is really important. It’s a very, very competitive industry. Being able to always be out front on the leading edge is one of the reasons why we’re such a successful film location,” she said.

This isn’t the first attempt to promote ‘Hollywood North’. Last year Mayor John Tory headed to Los Angeles around Oscar season to meet with film and studio executives with the hopes of luring them here for business.

“Toronto’s film and television sector is a growing source of jobs and economic growth,” Tory said in a statement last February.

“I will be promoting our city to studios and entertainment industry representatives in Los Angeles as part of our efforts to attract more of these productions to Toronto.”

Over the years dozens of blockbuster films have been created in Toronto including American Psycho, Billy Madison, Good Will Hunting, Moonstruck, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and X-Men.

Last year’s filming of Suicide Squad brought in more than $80-million to the City of Toronto.

“Just getting in there and having that ability to see everything that’s happened in Toronto, look at the locations, look at who’s filmed here will be fantastic,” Fletcher explained.

It will cost about $145(US) a year to set up an IMDB page. Fletcher says she hopes the page will be up and running by spring.

“It’s all about promoting film and making Toronto more of a destination than we currently are,” Fletcher said.