To some, the stark fire-breathing industrial features of Stelco on Hamilton Harbour have long invoked a cinematic landscape.

Those features are about to get their close-up for real: The 109-year-old steelmaker has entered into a partnership that will see a portion of its massive property used as a venue for film and photo shoots.

The partner is Skylight, a creative agency and strategic development firm based in New York City with offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago. The new venture is called "Skylight Steelworks."

Stelco will continue steel operations on parts of the site still active.

In a news release, Skylight referenced the attractiveness of Hamilton's "dynamic waterfront" and "thriving media and content production industry."

The firm explores prospects for "adaptive reuse of historic assets" and "otherwise forgotten and inaccessible physical environments," reads its website; "We unlock the potential in significant, high-profile real estate environments."

The venture with Stelco "will open doors to a local landmark that has never been accessed or activated by the creator community."

Stelco chair Alan Kestenbaum said in the release the partnership will "ensure our Stelco real estate assets generate maximum value while also supporting the exciting development of Hamilton and its waterfront."

At this point, Skylight Steelworks has one full-time employee on site at 386 Wilcox St., operating out of an existing Stelco office.

"Skylight Steelworks will first launch its film and media location services this fall," said the release, "utilizing interiors of industrial structures and outdoor waterfront landscapes."

A new film studio complex will not be built, rather the plan is to open the lands up for film, television and photo rentals, where temporary sets and sound stages can be built as needed — all managed by Skylight Steelworks.

"In the future, these operations may involve building out formal studios," said Skylight CEO Stephanie Blake in an email to The Spectator, adding that for now they will use existing Stelco structures and open lots.

Stelco controls about 800 acres of harbour lands and is the largest landholder on the harbour. (The land controlled by Hamilton's port authority, which has 130 tenants, and does not include steel lands, totals 640 acres.)

Filming and photo opportunities will be available through Skylight Steelworks on a few hundred of those Stelco acres.

Skylight's arrival in Hamilton is another building block for the city's creative industry sector, according to Debbie Spence, who is a business development consultant holding that file for the City of Hamilton, and who liaised with Skylight officials.

"It's exciting news to welcome another creative business to Hamilton and to see how our waterfront is changing ... And it's a team we're looking forward to working with."

She said Hamilton's creative industry employment increased by 16 per cent from 2011 to 2016, above the national and provincial average of 11 per cent.

The Skylight Steelworks news comes just over a month after an announcement that Aeon Studio Group plans to purchase a 12-acre site near the west harbour to create a film studio hub; the area is bounded by Tiffany, Barton, and Stuart streets south of the CN train yard.

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The city handed-out more than 800 filming permits last year.

jwells@thespec.com

905-526-3515 | @jonjwells