Owen Wilson's series Stick not returning to film in B.C., but Hollywood North insiders not worried

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A golf comedy starring Owen Wilson that filmed its first season in B.C. won’t return for Season 2.

Apple TV+ announced that the series Stick will not return to shoot in Hollywood North.

Derek Heidt, co-owner of Vancouver’s Revered Cinema Inc., a company that manufactures and builds custom camera chase systems and drones that often had a crew of six people working on Stick Season 1, understands that a golf show shooting in the winter in Canada is not something that works.

“I don’t think anyone wants to be on a golf course in the middle of December trying to make it look like it’s sunny. So, you know, I think it had a lot to do with timing for sure,” said Heidt

Heidt, who has worked in film for 25 years, says it’s a business that ebbs and flows.

“Next year, we have Shogun coming back. There’s the Last of Us coming back. There’s God of War, another big video game show that’s coming in, and we’re probably not going to have enough people in town again once those are all going,” said Heidt, who added that last year was one of his company’s best and 2025 so far is just fine.

The news broke amid the announcement of the first round of Hollywood subsidies from California’s expansion of its entertainment tax credit program.

Listed as “untitled” on the California Film Commission’s list of 22 productions receiving subsidies, the golf comedy starring Owen Wilson will be getting US$22.2 million, according to both Variety and CBS News reports.

Of those 22 shows that get a tax bump, 15 were new projects, five were recurring shows, and two relocated from outside of California. Apple TV+’s The Studio from Vancouver’s Seth Rogen and an as-yet-untitled Larry David project at HBO top the list of those in the first round of subsidies.

Stick tells the story of a former pro golfer (Wilson) who, after his wife leaves him, begins coaching a troubled teen prodigy (Peter Dager) in hopes of getting the kid into the PGA. During shooting the series teed off at a handful of golf courses in the Langley and Surrey area before wrapping up the show with the Pitt Meadows Golf Club standing in for a PGA event.

Gemma Martini, chair of Screen B.C. and the owner of Martini Studios in Langley, agreed about the weather.

“Stick is relocating to California for Season 2, but that is a weather-driven choice, from what I understand,” said Martini in an email. “It is hard to shoot a golf show during our rainy season.  That is not related to the tax credit.”

The show is apparently going back into production this winter.  Apple TV+ did not respond to a request for comment.

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“I would assume that it’s not going to be cheaper, by any way, to shoot this in California. The locations are expensive, the crews are more expensive,” said Heidt whose company also operates out of Calgary. “There’s so many parts of that, that even with a tax credit, you still will not beat what the price would be in Canada. But I’m sure there’s a pro, you know, there’s obviously a pro-America push to keep jobs in America.”

But understanding the situation doesn’t make the loss of a big show like Stick sting any less.

“It’s unfortunate,” said Heidt. “The show itself was really fun to work with. It was very creative … we loved it. It was great people. It was golf courses in the summertime. And, you know, Owen Wilson was always awesome. The crew was all awesome. So it really is unfortunate that they’re not going to be back up here.”

In a bid to woo productions back to Hollywood, California bolstered its film and TV tax credit program earlier this summer, upping its total cap from $330 million to $750 million. The new program also ups the tax credit to as much as 35 per cent for productions filmed in the greater Los Angeles area, and up to 40 per cent for projects shot outside the region. It was announced on Aug. 27 the 22 productions will get $256 million in incentives for shooting in California.

“California has long been the entertainment capital of the world — and the newly expanded film and TV tax credit program is keeping it that way,” stat Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. “We’re not just protecting our legacy — we’re reminding the world why the Golden State remains the beating heart of film and television.”

According to the B.C. government, the B.C. TV and film industry contributed CDN$2 billion to the provincial GDP in 2023 and employs about 26,000 full-time workers.

In a statement, the B.C. Ministry of Finance noted that B.C. continues to be one of the busiest production centres in North America, adding: “This year, we boosted support for the motion picture sector to ensure that our province remains a destination of choice for filmmakers in Canada and around the world.”

That support says the government increase the Film Incentive B.C. tax credit from 35 per cent to 40 per cent on Canadian content, and increasing the production services tax credit for international projects made in B.C. from 28 per cent to 36 per cent.

“These enhanced supports further B.C.’s position as a competitive, world-class destination for film and TV production.”

According to Creative B.C., there are currently close to 30 combined TV and film projects on the go throughout the province.

Martini is also optimistic about Hollywood North’s prospects.

“The outlook for B.C. is stronger than it has been in over a year. We’re seeing more bookings, more activity, more scouting, and more conversations — all a direct result of the tax credit changes introduced earlier this year,” said Martini.

“California is taking steps to stabilize its industry, and I respect that — they’ve been hit hard. But it doesn’t worry me. Here in B.C., we’re in a strong position. We’re focused on what we can control and moving in lockstep with industry leaders and government to keep building momentum.”

Dgee@postmedia.com