A Stunning Backdrop
The scene is already set at Parkwood – it’s a film-maker’s dream!
One visit to our beautiful Estate will definitely be enough to spark your imagination. Come and see the amazing possibilities this magnificent Estate has to offer. From the great pillars at the front entranceway and wrought-iron cantilever staircase, to its first of its kind bowling alley, fabulous 1917 kitchen and luxurious dining room, Parkwood is a moment waiting to be captured.
Film Production at Parkwood
Parkwood’s extraordinarily beautiful and meticulously preserved architecture and grounds are made for the big screen!
As a National Historic Site we have been careful not to spoil the original quality of this 100 year old Estate, making it a wonderful time-warp location for period and fantasy films, as well as historical documentaries. Over the years, we have welcomed a long list of prominent film crews and actors to Parkwood, including X-Men, Mrs. America, Umbrella Academy, Nightmare Alley, Hemlock Grove and Anne with an E, to name a few!
For more information please contact Samantha.george@parkwoodestate.com or call 905-433-4311 Ext. 34084.
Durham Region Film Commission (Film Durham)
Durham Region plays a significant role in Ontario’s multi-billion-dollar film and television industry due to its proximity to Toronto, and unique blend of film locations, supporting businesses, studios, and Canada’s largest backlot. Film Durham’s role is to attract filming and support the film and television industry through location scouting, permitting, marketing, workforce development, location tours etc.
Production companies come to Durham for our unique locations. Orono, Uxbridge, and Beaverton look like many small US towns, and sections of Oshawa look like industrial Detroit and Flint, Michigan. Port Perry resembles a New England town, and if script requires a manor home or castle, Parkwood Estate or Trafalgar Castle works well. Durham has Hollywood-type homes and a Nascar look with Canadian Tire Motorsport Park which has also been used as the US/Canada border. Off-world projects can be shot in our quarries, and military-looks at the Oshawa Tank Museum.
Film Durham is proud to partner with Parkwood National Heritage Site building valuable relationships with the film industry and bringing film-related investment to Durham Region. To learn more about this exciting industry visit here.
How Film Production Fits
While it’s not our core business, filming gives us revenue that we need to continue to conserve and preserve the Estate for our visitors to enjoy for many years to come. Filming is definitely not without its challenges because of the partial or full closures that are sometimes required, but we are doing our best to minimize the impact to each of you.
Filming is so popular at Parkwood that our Curator teaches a class to future Curators on the benefits and challenges of filming in historic sites and the best ways to deal with preservation concerns.