Niagara born entrepreneur wants the region to become movie making hub
A man born and raised in Niagara is determined to make the region a major movie making centre, instead of Hollywood filming in Toronto or Hamilton.
Wes Keller spent a number of years in Hollywood, as a professional singer, and is opening Black Frame Studios in the old Audi dealership in St. Catharines.
His goal is to be a major movie director, but he's looking for help. "There's so much talent in the region, and there's so many opportunities for us here, it's just that we need entrepreneurs who push the envelope to make those things possible. And one of those things is growing the film industry right here in Niagara."
He was partially inspired by how Brock University came to be.
"They had a group of mothers who started teaching their kids in their basement, because they didn't want to send them to Toronto. It grew and grew and grew, to the point where they had so many students in their houses... basically Brock University grew because of these passionate mothers."
He adds actors in Hollywood are regular, everyday people, and the idea of stardom is super tangible. He wants to give others with movie aspirations a chance to do so in Niagara.
A ribbon cutting ceremony is June 1st at the studio on Hartzell Road, with the mayor and other dignitaries.
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