Number of movies and TV shows filmed in Surrey on the rise

Think of Vancouver film locations and some places will instantly come to mind: Robson Street. UBC and SFU. The Steveston waterfront in Richmond. 

But a small stretch of a community in Surrey is increasingly making its mark.

Eight productions have been shot along 176th Street in Cloverdale this year. The latest, Why We're Killing Gunther, stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and is being filmed in the community's historic district this week.

It's part of the overall film boom in Surrey as the city experiences a busy year for productions.

"In 2015 we issued 97 film permits and in 2016, year to date, we have issued 120 film permits," said Surrey film liaison James Monk.

However, he says the majority of shoots in Surrey are typically for the small screen. 

"Fifty per cent of the productions that do film in Surrey are TV series, and another 20 per cent would be commercials," he says.

"We do get a few feature films that go to Surrey ... but when they do, it's a bigger impact, because they're doing a lot."

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Allan Paplinski runs Urban Safari Vintage Store, next door to where the new Schwarzenegger movie is being filmed.

While there are always complaints about parking issues and road closures when film shoots go on for several days, Paplinski says that, most of the time, it's a small price to pay to boost the brand of the neighbourhood.

Not to mention crew members becoming loyal customers.

"The longer the ponytail or the beard, the better chance they'll be digging through the bins here. So it's worked out for us that way."

With files from Jesse Johnston