Big City Filmed in Alberta

The Sofia News Agency comments on Big City, a western movie produced by French media company Gaumont. After recently filming in Alberta, the production has moved on to Bulgaria to continue shooting:

The filming of Big City started in the lush landscapes of the Canadian Rockies in southern Alberta, where the acclaimed and controversial Brokeback Mountain was shot. The team moved to Sofia suburbs at the end of August, to wrap it up at the end of October.

Full article available at the link above. English translation of the film's premise is available by clicking here.



In addition: An interview with the film's producer reveals his thoughts on Bulgaria's film industry, which in the future, could compete and collaborate with Alberta's film and television production industry.

Bulgarian production photos: Yana Blajeva / Sofia News Agency.

AMPIA and Partners Group Address Film and TV Emergency Funding Issue

In 2 recent documents: a Key Messages letter to the media and AMPIA members, and an Open Letter to the Government of Alberta, Alberta Motion Picture Industries Association and the Partners Group have responded to the provincial government's decision to NOT support the industry by providing 'emergency funding' requested by the Alberta film and TV industry. A positive decision would have ensured that new productions in Alberta would not have to wait 2 years (the period now required to catch-up) before seeing a financial return, and therefore, be reviewed and approved promptly.

With other Canadian provinces (and American states) receiving governmental support, catch-up funding (in addition to increased financial incentives) would ensure Alberta is not dismissed as a production location and help foster continued growth in what is becoming one of Alberta's key industries.

The key points regarding the issue are:

The Alberta film and television industry has proven to be a wealth generator for the Province.

The provincial film and television investment program is not a subsidy. It’s an investment that delivers a 100% direct return to the Province through provincial taxes paid as a result of production activity in Alberta.

The Alberta film and television rebate is designed so that the return of the Province’s investment is not just guaranteed, but actually occurs prior to the investment being made.

Alberta’s film and television rebate has attracted such prestigious projects as Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain, The Assassination of Jesse James starring Brad Pitt, and Steven Spielberg’s Into the West. These blockbuster films and television programs attract tourism dollars to every region of the province in addition to returning 100% of the province’s investment in the film.

The recent international attention from the likes of Brokeback Mountain and the filming of Jesse James with Brad Pitt puts Alberta in a great position to market. Coming off of many award nominations from Brokeback Mountain and the most Emmy nominations for any program this year. Many going to our local crew.

Alberta’s film and television industry employs over 3,000 highly skilled professionals. We are continuing to lose a substantial amount of these professionals to busier jurisdictions, such as Winnipeg, Regina and Vancouver.

The Alberta film and television industry is environmentally friendly and provides revenue for rural areas and small towns as well as urban centers.

Since its inception, Alberta’s film and television rebate has triggered steady annual growth in the industry, creating new jobs, new infrastructure, and new opportunities for related businesses in the province. That is no longer the case.

Alberta’s film and television incentive was an effective trigger for the industry when it began eight years ago, but is now critically under financed.

Alberta is losing a significant amount of film and television production to other provinces, states and countries where more competitive incentives exist. With that loss of production activity there is a loss of tourism and related business infrastructure, and the departure of our highly trained crews, cast and production companies.

2006 is the second consecutive year of contraction in Alberta film and television industry, based on the current oversubscription of the film and television rebate program.

The Alberta film and television industry has lost nearly $50 Million in production activity in the first eight months of 2006 due to inadequate investment by the Province in the rebate program.

Film and television production is highly mobile and ruled by financing. Alberta cannot effectively utilize its breathtaking locations, world-class crews, or established production companies because it can no longer compete in the world marketplace.

The Alberta film and television industry needs an immediate investment in its rebate program in order to pay out current production rebate obligations, for which the Province has already received a 100% financial return.

In addition to an immediate investment to cover the Province’s current obligations, the Alberta film and television industry needs to have its Three Year Strategic Business plan, which was developed in concert with Alberta Economic Development, implemented within the next six months in order to regain its competitive advantage, ensure the stability of the industry and begin to rebuild what has been lost.

Based on the competitive incentive environment developing globally, producers have many location options. Internationally governments are recognizing the economic and spinoff benefits of film, and new programs continue to emerge

We have developed an industry here – there is a complete infrastructure in place for film & television production. The investment from the Province is all that we need to flourish.

You can read the Open Letter by reading the PDF file this link.

While the immediate issue is the emergency funding, the 'bigger picture' is that of solidifying the industry, making sure it continues to thrive while offering production, training, and employment options for local and foreign film and television productions.

I would further urge companies, film and TV professionals, and those looking into careers in film and TV production to write the Government of Alberta through Alberta Connects and/or contact your MLA to voice your concerns.

Film and TV production was once a key industry in Alberta. With your support, it can be again.

Thanks.

Star Wars Fan Film Begins Shooting in Edmonton

Fan Films aren't new. They've been around as long as home movie cameras have been available. From Super-8 recreations of Close Encounters of the Third Kind to MiniDV epics featuring original Star Wars tales. Whether shot-by-shot recreations such as Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation (coming to this year's Calgary International Film Festival), or original spin-off stories such as the moody Batman: Dead End and the highly-amusing Troops, which features Star Wars Stormtroopers in a Cops-style spoof, fan films are made by fans for fans. Since legally, they could be considered copyright violations, and thus can't turn a profit, the films are often made with miniscule budgets and distributed freely over the Internet, on DVD, and VHS tapes.

While many of the films are made for nothing more than a few hundred dollars and a bit of fun, others are created with larger scale budgets in the hopes of attracting the attention of Hollywood's powerful decision-makers and talent seekers. Some opponents may argue that the larger budgets cancel out the 'fan' aspect and that lower budget films are usually much more closer to being called a true fan film. They also argue that original films and filmmakers deserve the recognition directed towards fan films since it generally require more effort to come up with original properties. However, even skeptics can't discount the determination and effort required to 'homage' our favorite films.

One such filmmaker, Edmonton's Mark Twitchell has commenced shooting his feature-length fan film at the Northern Alberta Institue of Technology recently. The Edmonton Sun reports:

The 27-year-old Edmonton director begins shooting a feature-length independent Star Wars spin-off film at NAIT Saturday (July 29), and has amassed $60,000 to bring his dream to life.

“I’m the only guy crazy enough to do this, because I’m not allowed to turn a profit. The film is for hardcore fans who miss the character development of the original trilogy.”

The film, titled Secrets of the Rebellion, is set in the days prior to the original Star Wars Episode IV, A New Hope.

Actor Jim Siokos of Davenport, Iowa, will re-create Harrison Ford’s Han Solo character, as he wins the Millennium Falcon from Lando Calrissian. The film will delve into the the downfall of the Jedi, the theft of the Death Star blueprints, and the Empire’s efforts to reclaim them.

“We’ve taken (Lucasfilm-approved) storylines and expanded them, to fill in the gaps between Episode III Revenge Of The Sith, and the original,” Twitchell said. “It’s for the fans.”

Check out the full article at the link above. Another article on the film can be found at this link on TheForce.net.

We wish Mark Twitchell and his crew the best of luck on the production in Alberta.

Star Wars, Star Wars Logo, and related characters © Lucasfilm Ltd.

Event: The Fringe: Acting Up Debut

Panacea Entertainment's The Fringe: Acting Up debuts tonight.

LOCATION/TIME:
Friday, August 18, 2006
Global Family Stage 12 (a.k.a. the PCL Studio Theatre – Transalta Bus Barns)
Edmonton, Alberta
9:30 p.m. and 10:40 p.m.
Tickets $10.00

The film, described as a hilarious one-hour documentary filmed at the 2005 Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival, runs through August 26.

Jessica Alba Films with Penguins in Edmonton

The Edmonton Journal's Laura Drake reports on the filming of Good Luck Chuck in Edmonton, Alberta with Jessica Alba and some African penguins:

Alba's character is a penguin keeper, which is why the animals were required, [film publicist] Vigars said.

There are only three cities in North America -- Edmonton, Montreal and Chicago -- where African penguins are kept and the Alberta capital was the most accommodating, he said.

Despite lightning striking their plane on the flight in, Alba and Cook have taken a liking to Edmonton, Vigars said.

Although she hasn't been to West Edmonton Mall yet, Alba went straight to Winners to do some shopping as soon as she arrived last weekend.

Vigars said the star has bonded with the penguins, and has taken a particular shining to one named Tweeblik.

African penguins are ideal for acting since they do not require as cold an environment as other types, Evans said. The birds had three to five handlers with them on set at all times to ensure they were property treated.

The penguins won't be the only Edmontonians on screen when Good Luck Chuck hits theatres. Fifty local actors were hired as extras for the shoot, which wraps up today.

"Edmonton has been absolutely wonderful," Vigars said, adding that when the film is released, there is a possibility of having a premiere here with the penguins on hand."

Be sure to check out the full article at this link. Canoe JAM! also posted a story on the filming.

Photo: John Lucas for the Edmonton Journal.

Famous Movies in Famous Places: Netflix Rolling Roadshow

This is always a pretty fun concept. Take a popular film and screen it in the location it was filmed at or site that inspired the movie's creation. That's exactly what Netflix and Austin's Alamo Drafthouse are partnering up to do beginning today.

Some of the locations include:

Martha's Vineyard, Massassachusets. Where a famous Great White Shark attacked beachgoers in Steven Spielberg's Jaws.

Red Bank, New Jersey. Where Jay and Silent Bob made their debut in Kevin Smith's Clerks.

Dyersville, Iowa. Home to the cornfields and baseball diamond seen in Field of Dreams.

Estes Park, Colorado. Home to the Stanley Hotel, where Stephen King wrote half of The Shining.

Monument Valley, Utah. Where John Wayne starred in John Ford's The Searchers.

San Francisco, California. Where Clint Eastwood was able to Escape from Alcatraz.

In some cases, there'll be Q&A sessions with a director or cast, a location tour, musical performances, and/or other activities. For the most part, tickets are free, but it is advised to arrive at the events early. Since I'm currently in Iowa, and have always wanted to see the Field of Dreams filming location, we're hoping to make it to that screening.

Check out the official Netflix Rolling Roadshow website for the complete list of films and details about each screening event.

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For amusement, I can use the 'six degrees of separation' theory with these films to find connections between them and myself:

Field of Dreams, which takes place in Iowa, was based on the book, Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella, born in Edmonton, Alberta, just as I was.

Kevin Costner, who starred as Ray Kinsella in Field of Dreams, directed and played a lead character in the western, Open Range, shot in my home province of Alberta.

Also filmed in Alberta was the Academy Award-winning film, Unforgiven, by director Clint Eastwood.

Clint Eastwood directed The Bridges of Madison County near Winterset, Iowa, about a 45-minute drive from where my wife and I have our U.S. residence. We visited some of the main bridges made famous by the book and film.

John Wayne, star of The Searchers was born in Winterset, Iowa.

I have visited the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. An imposing structure to be sure, and a place that has its share of spooky stories. There's other links I have too, but it's the Alberta ones that I'm most proud of.
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I can also see screenings like this taking place in Alberta. There already was the Brokeback Mountain Movie Truck Tour. But imagine:

Watching X2: X-Men United in the rockies of Kananaskis, home to the fictional Alkali Lake base where Wolverine was 'modified.' Or even an outdoor screening of The Edge with Sir Anthony Hopkins or Alec Baldwin.

A frightful night screening of Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning at Fort Edmonton Park.

Viewing Cool Runnings at Calgary's Canada Olympic Park.

An old-western town showing of Unforgiven or Open Range.

Enjoying River of No Return, starring Marilyn Monroe in Jasper National Park, Alberta.

Experiencing the wonder of the Alberta badlands with T-Rex: Back to the Cretaceous or Shanghai Noon.

A barnyard or wheatfield showing of Richard Donner's Superman or Terrence Malick's Days of Heaven.

Southern Alberta's foothills as a backdrop for a screening of Legends of the Fall.

There are so many other possibilities, and while people could create the experiece for themselves, what could be more fun than enjoying a movie with a group of like-minded movie fans?

Lurie Puts Up His Dukes

Another report from the Calgary Sun on the filming of Resurrecting the Champ:

Any acclaim will undoubtedly translate to good news for the Calgary film community.

Unlike the vast majority of projects shot here, including last year’s Brokeback Mountain, Champ is an urban drama. No cowboy hats or hard-bitten actors sluicing tobacco as they head towards the final shootout (or pup tent, in the case of Brokeback).

It wasn’t an easy sell at first. Calgary film commissioner Beth Thompson remembers when she first approached the producers, they were surprised there was even a city here.

Now, she hopes more Hollywood filmmakers will view the city as a viable urban location.

“It’s a great opportunity for us and there’s optimism right now that it will mean more productions shooting downtown … Everybody (involved with Champ) has been very complimentary.”

Helping to sway Lurie’s opinion was Brokeback Mountain director Ang Lee.

“Ang talked to me about the quality of the crew — the crew base and the actor base. And he was absolutely right.

“Normally speaking, you shoot at least 12 hours a day and this crew is working with such efficiency they’re getting me out at nine, 10 hours.

“I think it’s really part of … the Canadian work ethic. ‘Get the job and get the job done without complaint,’ which I love.

“I’m really tempted to try to shoot everything I can up here, because I’ve just had a really good time and Calgary, in particular, is very interesting because not a lot of movies have been shot downtown.”

While the script was originally set in L.A., the story will now take place in Denver, which more closely matches Calgary’s topography.

“I chose (to set it in) Denver because I chose (to film it in) Calgary,” says Lurie. “I don’t know if that’s ever been done before.”

Cameras will soon relocate to the Deerfoot Inn and Casino for a scene with Teri Hatcher. The Desperate Housewives star is flying in for one day to film her role.

Her involvement is a coup — it’s her first film role since Desperate Housewives.

By all accounts, Jackson and Hartnett (who brought along girlfriend Scarlett Johansson) enjoyed themselves in Calgary

Jackson, an avid golfer, took to the links. Among restaurants and bars cast members frequented, Lurie cites the Metropolitan Grill as well as Mynt Ultralounge and the Ship & Anchor. “We were just there last night, in fact.”

Full article at the link above.

Photo: Chris Large for the Calgary Sun.

Dino-sized Fun

Tara Merrin filed a report for The Calgary Sun on the currently-filming series, DinoSapien.

Show producers Rick Siggelkow and Jim Corston say choosing Alberta for the show’s location was carefully thought out.

“We wanted to be some place where there had been big dinosaur digs and then I saw this documentary on CBC about Drumheller. The landscape looked so perfect, so we hooked up with Alberta Filmworks,” says Siggelkow.

“It all seemed pretty logical and it couldn’t have worked out any better. The locations are amazing, the cast has been fantastic and this is easily one of the best crews we’ve ever worked with.”

Check out the full article at this link.


Albertasaurus sculpture by Brian Cooley. Photo © Chad Kerychuk.

Drumheller is home to the Royal Tyrrell Museum, easily one of the finest dinosaur museums on the planet. Having worked with the facility's scientists, and being a repeat visitor to the exhibits, I highly recommend it as a must-see stop on your Alberta family vacation or movie location tour.

If you're into checking out more dinosaur-related areas, drive a few hours south to Dinosaur Provincial Park and marvel at the otherworldly expansiveness of the badlands of Alberta, some of the richest area for fossils in the world. I've had the good fortune to be in DPP on some fossil excavations with Palaeoblogger, Dr. Michael J. Ryan, and film with the Phaeton Group, and am always looking forward to going back on another adventure.

Brokeback Mountain Truck Perfect Vehicle to See Alberta Scenery

Screenshot from CBC TV video about the Brokeback Mountain truck tour.

CBC.ca posted an article about 2 men who recently toured Alberta in the truck from Brokeback Mountain:

Bob and Jeff Welsh, a father and son from Indiana, won an auction on eBay for a tour of the Brokeback Mountain sites in the 1950 pickup truck used in the movie.

"Great scenery ... lot of friendly people and absolutely stunning," Jeff Walsh said after spending Saturday touring the Kananaskis area where the mountain scenes were shot.

"It was really interesting now that on some of the scenes we've looked at how close they were to the roads. So you know there was just a couple of scenes where we had to walk off on a trail and not for a great distance," he told CBC Radio.

The article also mentions the father's enjoyment of the trip:

"I'm a little 76-year-old guy. In 1950, I had a truck just like that ... brand new ... $1,100. But at any rate, I enjoyed riding in the truck — I enjoyed driving the truck — brought back old times."

The tour was also the perfect way to spend time with his movie-loving son.

On Sunday, they visited the Rockyford and Carseland areas, where the bank, rodeo and bar scenes were filmed.

Check out this link for the full article and a video (Real Media) from CBC.

Broken Trail Encore Presentation

In case you missed the first airing, the Walter Hill-directed AMC movie, Broken Trail, will air again on July 18 at 8PM/7C.

The movie, starring Robert Duvall and Thomas Haden Church, was filmed in Alberta, Canada.

In addition, AMC will air Open Range, also filmed in Alberta, on July 16 at 8PM/7C. The feature film stars Robert Duvall and director Kevin Costner. Click here to see the trailer in QuickTime format.

Image © 2006 and courtesy of AMC.

Johnson Talks About Moondance Alexander

Don Johnson, in the Calgary area filming Moondance Alexander, spoke to the Calgary Sun regarding the film and his past role as Miami Vice detective, Sonny Crocket.

From the article:

In the meantime, he’s preparing to wrap Moondance Alexander this week. The production, which has been shooting for the past month in High River, Okotoks and around Calgary, finds Johnson — as a down-and-out ex-horse show rider who mentors a young girl named Moondance Alexander (Kay Panabaker) — far removed from the cocaine-fuelled glamour of Miami’s seedy underworld.

Which is, he adds, the idea.

“I was looking for a family picture so my young kids can see it because a lot of my stuff they can’t.”

Moondance, which producers are intending for the big screen, is being directed by Michael Damian, an ’80s teen idol, thanks to his role on The Young and Restless and co-stars Lori Loughlin (Full House) as Moondance’s mother. The size of the project — low-budget independent or large-scale Hollywood fare — “has never really mattered,” Johnson says. “For me, I just enjoy the work. Like I said, this was a sweet film my kids could see.” For the actor, the shoot marks a return to Calgary where he’s previously headlined such productions as the 1989 thriller Dead Bang and the 2003 TNT movie Word of Honor.

This past weekend, he reports, “I did my obligatory trip to the Stampede. It was great. I say obligatory because I’ve been there half a dozen times, I think, so it’s like an annual sojourn at this point. I enjoyed it. Every year it gets better and better.”

Check out the full article at this link.

Ridin' the Dusty Trail With Robert Duvall

The Chicago Sun-Times talks about Broken Trail in its Entertainment section.

From the article:

Writer Alan Geoffrion strived to make Broken Trail as genuine as possible, right down to the "therapeutic papers," people dying of tick fever, and a lamb shepherd who wears a mishmash of fur around his shoulders.

"He even had cowboys read it and check it for authenticity," Duvall says.

Duvall and Geoffrion pitched it to Hollywood as a movie, but studios didn't bite. They ended up at AMC, where Duvall was happy to be, but he had to fight to keep others from turning the miniseries into a nail-biting adventure.

"They kept saying it needed a 'B' plot. I'm not sure it needed that. We had a lot of problems with the rewrites. They would rewrite, and then Al and I would come in at night and rewrite the rewrites.

"The thing was going off in another direction, with gunfights and action. This is a character-driven piece, so we had to make sure we could keep it on track that way."

The dialogue isn't filled up with a bunch of throwaway cliches, although Duvall's character has a few lines of wisdom to dispense, like "Never use money to measure wealth," and "It's a great life, when it ain't rainin' or snowin'."

Read the full article at the link above.