Downtown Orillia has been transformed into a bustling film set this week as the new Netflix series Precision is being shot in the heart of the city.
The production, led by WildBrain Edge Productions Inc., has taken over several businesses, including Apple Annie’s Café and Alleycats Music & Art.
Precision follows the lives of elite teenage figure skaters as they train for a world championship, with Orillia and Barrie standing in for the show’s fictional small-town setting.
Apple Annie’s Café has closed for three days to accommodate the filming. Owner Brittany Schroeder expressed excitement about the opportunity, noting the production team scouted and selected the café for its cozy, small-town esthetic.
“They’ve completely taken over and renovated it to how they want it to look,” Schroeder said. “It still has our little rustic charm but with their added decorations. It’s really cool.”
She is hopeful the shop’s on-screen presence will draw new visitors to the café.
“Our logo and everything is part of the show, so it’s going to be really visible," she said. "If the show becomes a hit, maybe fans will come check us out.”
Though Apple Annie’s staff weren’t cast as extras, Schroeder has been working behind the scenes to ensure the café looks authentic on camera.
“I’ve been showing them how to make everything and setting the space up like it’s a functioning café,” she said, noting the shop will reopen to customers on Friday.
Alleycats Music & Art has also played a role in the production.
“They liked our esthetic,” owner Mike Rothwell explained. “It has a warm environment, and it represented what they were looking for, for an episode that has a record store in it.”
Rothwell says it was “a lot of fun” to be part of the project.
“There were probably 50 people in here yesterday,” he said. “The amount of equipment in here was unbelievable.”
To show appreciation for the production bringing attention to Orillia, Alleycats is offering a $20 gift card to every crew member.
“It’s our way of saying thanks,” Rothwell said. “It’s been fun to see what’s involved with a production.”
While it’s unclear if the store’s name and logo will be used in the show, Rothwell is excited about the exposure.
“Either way, we’re happy to be involved,” he said. “It was fun.”
Alleycats was closed all day on Tuesday, and it reopened Wednesday morning.
Filming has been taking place this week along Mississaga Street between Peter Street and Matchedash streets, with intermittent traffic control in place. The city has accommodated production vehicles in designated municipal parking lots to minimize disruption.
WildBrain Edge Productions emphasized its commitment to maintaining positive relations with the community. As a gesture of goodwill, the company is making donations to the fund created by North Simcoe Victim Services to help downtown businesses impacted by last month's devastating fire.
With filming wrapping up this week, residents can look forward to spotting familiar local spots when Precision debuts on Netflix. While the release date remains unknown, the show is already generating buzz.