Film industry

Robert Buckley and Mattia Castrillo are among the actors in The Christmas House II currently shooting in Sidney. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Sidney blanketed in snow during final days of summer

Crews spread holiday cheer for Hallmark Christmas movie shoot

Robert Buckley and Mattia Castrillo are among the actors in The Christmas House II currently shooting in Sidney. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Three of the movies included at this year’s Free-B Film Fest: Tammy and the T-Rex (1994), Moonraker (1979) and The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956). (freebfilmfest.com)

Free-B Film Festival moves to Victoria’s Royal Athletic Park

Low-budget movies and cult classics will hit the big screen Friday and Saturday nights

Three of the movies included at this year’s Free-B Film Fest: Tammy and the T-Rex (1994), Moonraker (1979) and The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956). (freebfilmfest.com)
A film crew prepares for a shoot downtown on Broad Street this week in Victoria. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

Victoria buzzing with filming activity so far this year

But South Island film commissioner worries the pandemic-delayed uptick could be short-lived

A film crew prepares for a shoot downtown on Broad Street this week in Victoria. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
The Netflix series Maid shoots in Sidney in November 2020. The show stars Margaret Qualley. (Bob Orchard photo)

Healthy lineup of filming set for Greater Victoria in 2021

Netflix series Maid leads the charge into the summer

The Netflix series Maid shoots in Sidney in November 2020. The show stars Margaret Qualley. (Bob Orchard photo)
Love A’fair explores the world of farmers’ markets and craft markets on Vancouver Island. (SCREENSHOT FROM LOVE A’FAIR TRAILER)

Film series hopes to explore Vancouver Island farmers markets, craft fairs

Love A’fair is currently in pre-production

Love A’fair explores the world of farmers’ markets and craft markets on Vancouver Island. (SCREENSHOT FROM LOVE A’FAIR TRAILER)
Cast and crew of the Hallmark Channel series ‘Chesapeake Shores’ as they film at Parksville beach on April 15, 2021. (Mandy Moraes photo)

Fifth season of ‘Chesapeake Shores’ looks to showcase Parksville Qualicum Beach region

Executive producer: ‘We’re really excited for the fans to experience the fifth season’

Cast and crew of the Hallmark Channel series ‘Chesapeake Shores’ as they film at Parksville beach on April 15, 2021. (Mandy Moraes photo)
The ‘Chesapeake Shores’ film crew at the Leigh House on Second Avenue in Qualicum Beach on April 13, 2021. (Mandy Moraes photo)

COVID-19: Qualicum Beach officials say TV crews follow strict health and safety protocols

‘Chesapeake Shores’ back in PQB area and some residents aren’t sure it’s a good idea

The ‘Chesapeake Shores’ film crew at the Leigh House on Second Avenue in Qualicum Beach on April 13, 2021. (Mandy Moraes photo)
The rainbow crosswalk at Glover Road and Mary Avenue in Fort Langley has been temporarily covered up for the filming of a movie. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)

Fort Langley rainbow crosswalk covered up for filming of Sonic the Hedgehog sequel

The crosswalk will return in late April

The rainbow crosswalk at Glover Road and Mary Avenue in Fort Langley has been temporarily covered up for the filming of a movie. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)
The 10-part Netflix series Maid, which is being exclusively shot in Greater Victoria, was filming near Prospect Lake in Saanich last month. (Photo courtesy Fred Haynes)

Province announces $150,000 towards South Island film studio, fulfilling B.C. NDP promise

Investment to fund movie studio feasibility study at Camosun College

The 10-part Netflix series Maid, which is being exclusively shot in Greater Victoria, was filming near Prospect Lake in Saanich last month. (Photo courtesy Fred Haynes)
Colourful costumes were part of the Pioneer Days setting for The Baker’s Son. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Our view: Moviemaking generates appeal for more visitors

Exposure on the big and small screen a good thing for Vancouver Island

Colourful costumes were part of the Pioneer Days setting for The Baker’s Son. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Mark Brandon has discovered there are more acting roles available for seniors now than ever before. (Photo submitted)

Act your age means more movie roles for seniors like Mark Brandon

Island-filmed The Baker’s Son provides a prominent role as a news anchor

Mark Brandon has discovered there are more acting roles available for seniors now than ever before. (Photo submitted)
“Taste The Bread!” declares Walter Rasmussen, the mayor of fictional Windward, Washington (Haig Sutherland) during filming of The Baker’s Son in Chemainus Friday. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Parallels between Island community and fictional town evident in Hallmark movie

Tourism boost likely down the road for Chemainus from publicity after a week of filming

“Taste The Bread!” declares Walter Rasmussen, the mayor of fictional Windward, Washington (Haig Sutherland) during filming of The Baker’s Son in Chemainus Friday. (Photo by Don Bodger)
“Taste The Bread!” declares Walter Rasmussen, the mayor of fictional Windward, Washington (Haig Sutherland) during filming of The Baker’s Son in Chemainus Friday. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Parallels between Chemainus and fictional town evident in Hallmark movie

Tourism boost likely down the road from publicity after a week of filming

“Taste The Bread!” declares Walter Rasmussen, the mayor of fictional Windward, Washington (Haig Sutherland) during filming of The Baker’s Son in Chemainus Friday. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Willow Street between Mill Street and Victoria Street is a busy place Monday as filming for The Baker’s Son gets underway. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Island community provides the perfect small town atmosphere for movie shoot

Chemainus takes on the persona of Windward, Washington for Hallmark production

Willow Street between Mill Street and Victoria Street is a busy place Monday as filming for The Baker’s Son gets underway. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Willow Street between Mill Street and Victoria Street is a busy place Monday as filming for The Baker’s Son gets underway. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Chemainus provides the perfect small town atmosphere for movie shoot

Community takes on the persona of Windward, Washington for Hallmark production

Willow Street between Mill Street and Victoria Street is a busy place Monday as filming for The Baker’s Son gets underway. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Vancouver International Women in Film Festival kicks off March 5.

Women in Film Festival features two B.C. filmmakers

The 16th annual festival kicks off March 5, 2021

Vancouver International Women in Film Festival kicks off March 5.
The Gordon Head Recreation Centre stands in as the Quimper Regional Hospital on Feb. 23 for filming Maid, a 10-part Netflix series. (Greg Sutton/District of Saanich)

Netflix transforms Saanich recreation centre into hospital for filming

Facility was closed to public Feb. 23 for filming of Maid

The Gordon Head Recreation Centre stands in as the Quimper Regional Hospital on Feb. 23 for filming Maid, a 10-part Netflix series. (Greg Sutton/District of Saanich)
Arabella Costello, left, from Parksville, played the role of Cher in ‘All-in Madonna’, while Clayton Neuwirth, right, from Bowser, played the role of Victor. ‘All-in Madonna’ plays at the Victoria Film Festival through Feb. 14. (Submitted photos)

Island actors all-in for their roles in ‘All-in Madonna’

Feature film, directed by Arnold Lim, currently showing at Victoria Film Festival

Arabella Costello, left, from Parksville, played the role of Cher in ‘All-in Madonna’, while Clayton Neuwirth, right, from Bowser, played the role of Victor. ‘All-in Madonna’ plays at the Victoria Film Festival through Feb. 14. (Submitted photos)
Langford’s Heather Charlton had dozens of her custom cookies featured in two Hallmark holiday movies. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)

How one Langford baker got her homemade cookies featured in Hallmark films

Film company ended up ordering over 11 dozen cookies

Langford’s Heather Charlton had dozens of her custom cookies featured in two Hallmark holiday movies. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)
The COVID-19 pandemic had an effect on film production on central and north Vancouver Island, says Vancouver Island North Film Commission. Pictured here, production of TV series Resident Alien in Ladysmith earlier this year. (Black Press file)

Film commissioner says COVID-19 cost central Island $6 million in economic activity

Jurassic World: Dominion, Chesapeake Shores among productions halted due to pandemic, says INFilm

The COVID-19 pandemic had an effect on film production on central and north Vancouver Island, says Vancouver Island North Film Commission. Pictured here, production of TV series Resident Alien in Ladysmith earlier this year. (Black Press file)