Hamilton is back, baby.

From witches in Dundas, zombies in the west end and turn-of-the-century detectives downtown, at least seven movie and television productions are currently being filmed in the area.

It marks a positive sequel to the doldrums that have hit the industry in the past 18 months.

Star sightings may include actors Catherine Bell (JAG, Army Wives), Sean Patrick Flanery (The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones) and cult film director George A. Romero (Diary of The Dead).

And it appears the Steel City is finally ready for its close-up, perhaps in prime time.

After several appearances as an anonymous, nitty gritty town or a stand-in for U.S. cities in dozens of productions from The Incredible Hulk to Re-Genesis, Hamilton is playing itself for once, in a pilot episode for a proposed TV series called Lawyers, Guns and Money.

Would the series be based in Hamilton? "That's what we are hoping for," said Jacqueline Norton of the Hamilton Film and Television Office. "We are hearing they are quite confident that there will be a series and go to a first season."

It's good news regardless after a bleak time for movie productions that has seen the bottom line drop faster than a Jessica Simpson film going straight to DVD. In 2007, money from 106 movie and TV productions shot in the city totalled $12 million -- but that was a 20 per cent drop from 2006.

The drop would have been even more precipitous if not for the lengthy Incredible Hulk shoot. "They were here from May until the end of October. I would guess that a good 70 per cent of the film was shot in Hamilton," said Norton.

Back then, the drop was blamed on the soaring loonie -- which meant U.S. dollars didn't go as far in Canada -- and a writers' strike that paralyzed studios and froze production planning.

As a result, a resurgence is not completely unexpected now that the loonie value has dropped and peace has broken out between the unions and the studios.

"The most we have ever had was about three years ago. I counted a few days when we had 15 crews on the road. We're not at those record levels but we are a good rate right now."

With all things being equal, Hamilton once again offers a competitive advantage. In addition to the favourable exchange rate, studios are also lured to Hamilton because some productions qualify for a tax-based regional bonus. "So they initially come because they can save money."

But cash is only a part of the complicated equation.

Just as important is the sleight of hand available to directors, stemming from the city's history and diversity.

Like a seasoned character actor able to take on diverse roles, the city's wide array of landscapes, styles and neighbourhoods, from grand to gritty, makes a versatile base for production.

Norton calls it "that old city look. Any look you could ever want you can find here.

"The Hulk is a perfect example. Some of the establishing shots were done in South America. Then you think you are still in South America, and in fact you are in an old factory in Hamilton. There is a scene where the Hulk runs and finds himself at the base of a waterfall. He is, of course, at Webster's Falls."

Hamilton also has a huge supporting cast -- the city's residents, who have made the film crews feel welcome.

"And the people here ... 99 per cent of Hamiltonians are still very excited to see this kind of thing going on here."

blawson@thespec.com

905-526-2463