Updates

Superman & Lois Makes B.C. Economy Soar with More Than $95 Million Spent on First Season

December 9, 2021

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, DECEMBER 9, 2021 – New data released today demonstrates the economic impact of Warner Bros. Television’s DC drama series Superman & Lois in British Columbia, with over $95 million spent in-province on the first season alone.

The analysis by Oxford Economics found that 58 per cent of total in-province spending supported wages and salaries for local production crew and other labour, with the remaining 42 per cent spent on local goods and services from over 1,280 B.C.-based businesses.

Oxford Economics estimates just one season of production stimulated a total of 1,220 jobs in B.C., including 630 direct jobs created on the show. The series is estimated to have contributed approximately $137 million to the provincial GDP in 2020-21.

Superman & Lois is a DC Super Hero drama TV series, based on the iconic DC characters Superman and Lois Lane. The series is filmed in Surrey, Richmond, and Delta, British Columbia, and is centered on the world’s most famous superhero, The Man of Steel aka Clark Kent, and comic books’ most famous journalist, Lois Lane, as they come face to face with one of their greatest challenges ever — dealing with all the stress, pressures, and complexities that come with being working parents in todays’ society. As they return to idyllic Smallville with their sons to handle some family business, their lives are upended when a mysterious stranger enters their lives.

For more on the economic impacts of Superman & Lois, you can read the complete Oxford Economics report here. For more on the wider impacts of the production – including on B.C. communities and on the environment – please see the accompanying Backgrounder.

*All figures calculated in Canadian dollars*

QUOTES

“Film, television and streaming continues to make important contributions to community well-being as well as providing employment opportunities and support for local business,” said Bob D’Eith Parliamentary Secretary for Arts and Film. “I am proud of the hundreds of talented British Columbians whose creative and technical expertise continue to attract large-scale productions like Warner Bros. Television’s Superman & Lois to our province.”

“The provincial film commission at Creative BC is proud to have collaborated with Warner Bros. and the Superman & Lois crews on this high-profile TV series,” said Prem Gill, CEO, Creative BC. “The economic impacts are quite phenomenal, and for B.C. craftspeople, technicians, and artists working on a big budget show like this, the jobs truly build individual careers while they deepen our provincial expertise in leading edge production.”

“The DGC BC is so pleased to team up with Warner Bros. on community focused initiatives such as the Reel Thanksgiving Challenge,” said Kendrie Upton, Executive Director, Directors Guild of Canada BC. “With partners that truly understand the importance of giving back to the local areas in which these productions are made, motion picture production in B.C. will continue to thrive!”

“Like so many of our B.C. productions, Superman & Lois is fortunate to work with some of the world’s most talented cast and crew,” said Sue Palladino, Executive Vice President, Production, Warner Bros. Television. “Across every department, British Columbians are working at the top of their craft. From costume to set design and special effects, our crews are also employing green production practices that saw Superman & Lois internationally recognized with an EMA Green Seal. We’re really proud of this production and the local team that has contributed to its success.”

“Season over season, television and streaming productions stimulate jobs and growth across the economy,” said Wendy Noss, President, Motion Picture Association – Canada. “The data released today demonstrates the considerable impact just one production can have in B.C. communities where filming takes place, and right across the province with Superman & Lois generating $137 million for B.C.’s GDP in 2020-21.”

ABOUT MPA-CANADA

The Motion Picture Association – Canada (MPA-Canada) serves as the voice and advocate of the major international producers and distributors of movies, home entertainment, television and streaming programming in Canada and is an affiliate of the Motion Picture Association, Inc. (MPA). The motion picture studios we serve include: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Netflix Studios, Paramount Pictures Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Universal City Studios and Warner Bros. Entertainment.

Follow us on Twitter and check out The Credits for behind the scenes interviews with Canadian creatives.

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Wider impacts of Superman & Lois in British Columbia

Just one production can have a significant impact on the local economy. In addition to creating jobs and support for local business, productions can also make positive impacts in the communities where they film, and on the environment too. This backgrounder provides a spotlight on the wider impacts of Superman & Lois in British Columbia.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

The cast and crew of Superman & Lois are proud to support the communities in which they live and work. The production has contributed almost $50 thousand in support of local community initiatives to date, through fundraising and sponsorship efforts across the Lower Mainland and surrounding area.

Highlights include:

  • CAD $24,509 in support of nutritious meals, clothing and emergency shelter to those in need | The cast and crew of Superman & Lois raised $24.5K in support of the Cloverdale Community Kitchen, as part of a one-week digital fundraiser in support of charities that provide refuge and hope in Canada and around the world. A departmental breakdown is available here.
  • CAD $14,000 to help the Greater Vancouver Food Bank provide healthy food for those in need | Superman & Lois joined forces with casts, crews, and fans from 16 B.C. productions for the 9th Annual REEL Thanksgiving Challenge. Coming in 5th overall, the production contributed over CAD $14K to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, helping the non-profit surpass its goal of raising $200,000 in two weeks. For more information click here.
  • USD $5K in support of 126 hours of speech therapy for kids and families across the Lower Mainland | A contribution of USD $5K was made to the Reach Child & Youth Development Society on behalf of Superman & Lois. Actor Erik Valdez announced the funding on Giving Tuesday (November 30) to kick off the organization’s Gift of Speech Campaign with 126 hours of speech therapy to support kids and families across the Lower Mainland. The campaign launch video is available here.

SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION

WarnerMedia productions like Warner Bros. Television’s Superman & Lois employ best practices in green production such as cleantech (e.g. trailer battery power, LED set lighting, digital documents etc.), sustainable sourcing (e.g. FSC certified wood, compostable products, Ocean Wise seafood etc.) and waste reduction (e.g. material reuse, recycling, composting, food donations etc). Warner Bros. TV crews in B.C. manage their green production process by nominating a ‘Green Lead’ to spearhead efforts for their show, setting goals with department heads and partnering with local vendors to integrate more sustainable products and services.

Awards and Recognition:

  • In 2021, Superman & Lois was among 8 BC-based Warner Bros. productions given a Green Seal by the Environmental Media Association (EMA). | As the leading nonprofit recognizing sustainability in the media industry, the EMA Green Seal program acknowledges feature film and television productions that have implemented sustainable best practices to reduce their overall environmental impacts.

Working with Local Green Vendors:

  • Superman & Lois has a partnership with local business Keep it Green Recycling to ensure more recycling of basic materials like paper, plastic, metal and glass, as well as more difficult items such as bulbs, batteries and pens.
  • The production had zero styrofoam on set, composted all green waste at the local dump and collected recyclables during the duration of the production with the help of MiniBins.
  • Honeywagon and Hair/Makeup Trailers were rented from Big Top Rentals. These trailers can operate on battery power (solar and/or shore power charged) for several days during load in and prior to camera, helping to reduce the use of fossil fuels.

For a behind-the-scenes look at the Green Production Practices used on Warner Bros. Television shows in BC, including Superman & Lois, Batwoman, Riverdale and more, check out this short video: WarnerMedia Sustainability on Set.