
Studio Closing
Muskoka North Film Studios is officially closing its doors on September 29, 2020!
Sorry to say that the facility will no longer be used as a film studio. ( it will be light manufacturing)
The three business partners will continue to work in the film business: Brian Jagersky, stunt coordinator, Ted Ross SPFX, and Wendy Morrow , Production Designer.
Many thanks to Mark Schmalz of Royal LePage, for helping us sell the studio. He was the one who helped us find it in the first place, and he knows the building well.
Thanks to Ontario Creates ( especially Justin Cutler, Janice Reid Johnston, and Doug Till) for their unflagging support throughout the years. ( and Donna Zuchlinski!)
Right from day one, Richard Hughes, of the Backlot Studios, has been a wonderful mentor! Thanks so much Richard! And no, I don’t think you ever will see a doe and her fawn walking across your Studio property, as they did when you came to visit our Studio!
Thanks to Tomas Hartl for creating and maintaining our website ( and Amy Burrows for graphics). You two are the best!!
Many thanks to SIM for being our tenant for several years, and employing the wonderful Mike Steinsland and Rachel Jackson! You will be missed! ( and thanks to Wendy Moss, Michael Drabot and Steve Hancock!)
And thanks to our great tenant Larry Evans, who also kept an eye on the place. Just a great guy!
Also thanks to Terry & Mike Johnson & Stephanie Yaw of Hamer Bay Marine, for storing boats at the studio to help us pay the rent in those early years!
Also thanks to Laura Murney and Rocky Crest Resort! A great place to have down the street, for visiting film crews and hosting a movie star or two!!
A special thanks to Judy Jop, for just being there whenever I needed help or to have mail picked up when I was working in Sault Sainte Marie. And babysitting our two pups!!( and for bringing along her husband Janek, her brother Steve, and especially her daughter Juanita McDougall). I feel like these people part of my extended family.
And a special thanks to Ray Patry of Ray’s Construction, who knew how to solve any problem and fix anything at a moments notice! ( and also the best landlord ever – I rent my apartment from him)
Also a special thanks to Guy Patry, GP Renovation, for lawn mowing, snow plowing, and being a right hand help to Ray
Patry.
And also thanks to his son Brandon Patry for help whenever he was available.
Special thanks to Mayor Jamie McGarvey, for his unflagging support of the film industry in Parry Sound!
Thank you CBDC Parry Sound for a mortgage ( and COVID fund- the only financial support we ever had throughout our years in the North!)
Various suppliers in Parry Sound have been a tremendous help both to the studio and to any film productions that were working out of the studio.
If any film productions are coming to ParrySound that need a suppliers list, don’t hesitate to contact me. I will always support Filmmakers using local ParrySound suppliers!
Also remember to contact our wonderful Chamber of Commerce ( of which I was a board member for a few years- awesome people!!!), BIA, YMCA employment office & LINC, as well as Parry Sound Economic Development officer Vlad Shehovtsov ( and before Vlad, the wonderful Lynn Middaugh), and Parry Sound Regional Econonomic development officer Glen Barnden.
As many of you know, I was the one partner who moved here to Parry Sound, and have been most involved in working both in the community and in the film business in Northern Ontario.
( Although, during these last number of months of Covid 19, Ted spent his time here with me, and working daily at the studio, and having the best time of his life! What a fantastic facility the studio is, both as a film studio, and as the best workshop ever! Also the best offices!)
And Brian Jagersky has been the best partner ever- a real business person with a clear understanding at all times! And just a fun guy to be around!
Moving to Parry Sound and working both here and in various centres in northern Ontario, I came to know a great many wonderful people in film, as well as so many of our local Parry Sound business owners, plus just a lot of just really nice people! So that would list would be in the hundreds!
So many wonderful friends!
Especially film friends- you know who you are! Mary Jane Gomes ( who introduced me to the fabulous Graciana
Manzanos!), Stavros Stavrides, Vince Grittani, Helen Ayers, Sarah Bissonette, Roy McKinnon, and many more.
We are all looking forward to new adventures, but want to make sure that we keep contact with the many friends we have made.
All the best!
Brian Jagersky, Ted Ross and Wendy Morrow
The Owners
The studio was owned and operated by three film veterans: Wendy L. Morrow, Production Designer (DGC) and international filmmakers Brian Jagersky, Stunt Coordinator (ACTRA) and Ted Ross, Special Effects Coordinator (IATSE).
The three owners' combined filmmaking experience was the cornerstone of their operation. Their understanding of the production process was unparalleled in the region and made any project at Muskoka North Film Studios a joy to plan and execute.