Mayor John Tory flies to Los Angeles Wednesday to try to convince movie studios to shoot more films in Toronto.

Tory will meet with executives from “11 prominent studios” including CBS, Sony and Warner to urge them to “expand their presence,” his office said in a news release Monday.

The studios collectively have $800 million “in development” planned for Toronto this year, the release states.

The industry typically contributes more than $1 billion a year to the Toronto economy annually and expects 2016 to be busy.

But, with the rock-bottom loonie making production in Canada a relative bargain compared to U.S. locations, and Toronto boasting much-admired studios and film workers, the mayor wants more.

Tory will be in California for three days, at city expense, with two political staff and two city staff.

He is leading a delegation of Toronto film and hospitality professionals travelling at their own expense.

They represent companies including Cinespace Studios, Pinewood Studio, William F. White and the Shangri-La Hotel.

Nine partners including the City of Toronto are paying $5,000 each to sponsor An Evening With Canada’s Stars, an annual event Thursday that showcases Canadian excellence in the entertainment industry in the week before the Academy Awards.

Tory is also meeting with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and hosting a networking reception with Canadian and U.S. screen industry representatives.

Two years ago, Tory’s predecessor Rob Ford — then mired in scandal and stripped of most of his powers — flew to L.A. to appear on comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s show. Garcetti was away at the time.

Tory has led official delegations to Austin, Texas, and London, England. In April he is leading a trade mission to China and Japan.

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