BY WENDY ELLIOTT
Kings County Advertiser/Register
Ventura Place Productions was busy working in Wolfville and surrounding area until August 13.
Because the Hallmark TV movie November Christmas is set in both winter and summer seasons of 1985 and 2010, location manager Gary Swim says there are lots of complexities in scheduling street scenes.
“We also have two crews working, sometimes together, other times on different schedules,” he adds.
For the most part, townsfolk enjoyed having Christmas in August. The sidewalk outside Acton’s Restaurant was turned into a winter scene August 9, with batting and biodegradable snow. Looking forward to another Christmas day in Wolfville, one merchant joked last week, “They spent all day yesterday hanging lights in front of the store. Now I know why I don't do it!”
The highlight was a nighttime shoot August 12. Main Street was blocked off Christmas lights blazed. Several hundred people followed the slow motion action and directions from logistics staff.
According to Swim, 35 locations from Halifax to Port Williams were used for the filming. About 100 people were employed painting and creating sets.
The cast and directors stayed at the Blomidon Inn, while other crewmembers were housed at the nearby Slumber Inn.
Swim adds town councilor Carl Oldham was “a Godsend. He knows everybody in town.”
November Christmas is based on a children’s book by the same name by Tammy Miller and Vanessa Marks. Copies were on display in a case outside the old Royal Bank building, which was tweaked to look like the fictional Sullivan’s Pond Public Library.
The movie is slated for broadcast Nov. 28 at 10 p.m. on CBS. Rumour has it a copy of the film will be made available for a screening at the Al Whittle Theatre.
welliott@kentvilleadvertiser.ca
