Filming in Langley Township is up from 2011, bringing more jobs to the community and revenues to local businesses.

"It has been a busy year," said Val Gafka, manager of engineering and business services for the Township.

"We average approximately 60 productions a year," noted Gafka, who looked at the statistics from 2009 to 2011.

This year, there have already been 60 productions visiting Langley Township, and the busy fall filming season has yet to begin.

Traditionally, a number of film crews descend on Langley in the fall, either to film Christmas TV movies and specials, or to capture the fall foliage, especially in Fort Langley.

The increase will bring an economic benefit to local merchants, said Gafka.

Direct spending in the Township by film crews last year amounted to $24 million.

Compare that to 2010, when it was about $18.5 million.

With the number of productions expected to exceed 60 by a significant margin in 2012, the spending should also be greater.

So far there have been about 25 madefor-TV movies filmed at least in part in the Township, along with four feature films either made, in production, or about to begin.

Many of the other productions running around town are TV shows. Each show is counted as one production, whether it films a single scene in Langley, or returns multiple times to film multiple episodes.

Locally made programs like Supernatural and Fringe have returned repeatedly and used multiple locations over the years.

In Fort Langley, the community hall has already been used by the TV show Once Upon a Time, and expects to appear in another of Disney's Buddies movies later this year.

Bob Rogers, a member of the volunteer board that manages the historic hall, said they try to charge no more than the rate for holding a day-long wedding.

Not all film productions have the same resources, he noted.

Using the hall for filming as opposed to community events has "been a balancing thing for us," he said.

However, it has helped fund capital projects over the years.

Gafka said that the variety of types of locations in Langley seems to be one of the major attractions for film crews.

Another is the relatively cheap cost of filming here.

The Township doesn't take much in the way of fees or licensing money from a film crew.

Using roads, trails, or other Township land requires a $100 permit.

Using any other Township facilities, such as a community hall, is also charged for on a per use basis.

"It's quite nominal," said Gafka. There are no filming permits, which keeps costs lower compared to some nearby towns, which have one or more fees, sometimes in addition to licensing costs.

Gafka said the Township has also tried to keep itself a "one-stop shop" for dealing with the requirements of crews. For example, if police will be needed to temporarily close a road or direct traffic, the Township will handle that for the crew and communicate with the local Mounties.

mclaxton@langleyadvance.com