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Ladysmith woos film crew
By Rebecca Aldous
The Chronicle Jul 17 2007

BPI-Hollis Film Inc. was in town last week to use Ladysmith as the backdrop for a made-for-T.V. movie starring American actress Sissy Spacek. The film should air on CBS in November.
 

It was lights, camera, action in Ladysmith last Friday.

The BPI-Hollis Film Inc. crew rolled into town to shoot Pictures Of Hollis Woods, a Hallmark made-for-T.V. movie starring Academy Award-winning American actress Sissy Spacek. The film revolves around a girl in foster care and her journey from home to home before her adoption.

“We are shooting all over the south Island,” the film’s location manager Tim Haughian says. “From Ladysmith to Sidney.”

First Avenue, between Roberts and Gatacre, was the site of a Christmas season scene. Haughian says in the movie Ladysmith is supposed to be the village of Hancroft, New York.

“(The filming company) fell in love with Ladysmith,” he says. “I did too, and I had never been here.”

Filming also took place at Save On Gas and Transfer Beach Boulevard. At Transfer Beach, the scene involved the towing of a car while the actors perform inside. RCMP were on hand to escort the vehicle. Haughian expects the movie to light up television screens around November for the American Thanksgiving on CBS.

 

   The Town of Ladysmith received financial compensation for services provided. Ladysmith Economic Development Coordinator Caroline Spira says staff are still working out the total sum.

“(Film shoots) are beneficial for the community because we are able to encourage (crews) to use local services and products,” Spira says.

Films also help bump up the town’s reputation, Spira says. Ladysmith works closely with Film Cowichan to lure the film industry to this region.

A film studio under construction in Maple Bay will be an added draw to the Island, Film Cowichan manager Louise McMurray says. Last year, six productions were shot throughout Cowichan Valley.

“This year we are growing in the amount of work that is going on here,” McMurray says.

She notes the region is under consideration as a location for a T.V. series.

“I think we will start really seeing the impact of that starting in the fall,” McMurray says.

Film Cowichan runs on an operating budget of approximately $30,000.