Regina's LED volume wall leaving Sask. months after opening

Less than a year after an LED volume wall was introduced to the film world in Saskatchewan, the equipment is making its exit from the province.

Volume Global is the company that built the LED volume wall. The company arrived in the province in 2022 and the LED volume wall was introduced in March of 2024, operating out of the John Hopkins Regina Soundstage.

According to a post in a group on Facebook by one of the owners, the company will be leaving Saskatchewan after the two films lined up for 2025 are complete.

#Vanlife was shot entirely using an LED volume wall. (Gareth Dillistone / CTV News) An LED volume wall is a piece of equipment that combines digital cinematography, LED volumes, game engines, and processing platforms. The volume wall currently in Regina is a 28-foot by 85-foot installation, making it North America's second largest LED wall. 

It allows filmmakers to digitally create locations real or imagined. 

The films #VanLife and Hostile Takeover used the $12.5 million piece of equipment for their productions. Saskatchewan’s expanded grant system had invested $3.3 million into Hostile Takeover, with the government estimating economic spinoffs to generate approximately $14 million.

Dante Yore, chief technology officer for Volume Global, cited a change in government funding policy, crew restrictions, and slow grant approvals as the reason they are leaving the province.

"It takes anywhere from six to 10 weeks to get approved once you apply for this grant and the problem in our industry, especially with the bigger stuidios we work with, they can't wait three or four months to get a decision that their film is able to be filmed in Saskatchewan," he explained. 

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Filmmakers use a giant wraparound LED TV screen called a Volume Wall to create the illusion of being in New York City. (Gareth Dillistone/CTV News)

Two movies were produced on the set. Two more were planned for next year which will still go ahead.     

"We've got two more shows to do in Saskatchewan and we're excited to do them and we're going to be here until next summer and, you know, after that we're going to have to facilitate the next project," said Anand Ramayya with Karma Film. 

The producers are willing to talk. The government says it had no money invested in the facility and systems were in place for a reason.

"Our process is a little different than in some other jurisdiction in that we do a lot of the due dilligence up front before the project is filmed because our program allows us to do advance funding to productions," explained Erin Dean, the CEO of Creative Saskatchewan. "However, you know, every project is different."

Creative Saskatchewan says it will continue to fund films in the province and if Volume Global wishes to propose a project in the future, it would be willing to consider it.  

In a response to Volume Global’s announcement, the Saskatchewan Media Production Industry Association (SMPIA) said while that they are sorry to see the company go, they have made an economic impact on their time here.

“Since they arrived in 2022, Volume Global has produced two films, which employed 323 people and generated $32.5 million in economic impact. We look forward to their next two projects happening in Saskatchewan as well,” their statement read.

SMPIA's statement continued on to say that the company's departure doesn't negatively impact the entire film industry in Saskatchewan. 

"Volume walls are one tool in the toolbox we use to make movies. But it’s just one way of making movies, and it doesn’t reflect the totality of our vibrant, diverse industry," the statement read. 

"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."

-With files from Wayne Mantyka and David Prisciak