Busy summer for B.C.

Vancouver – While television production is still iffy on the West Coast – despite the lucrative new tax credits and discounted lures from local unions and suppliers – features seem ready to drive local volumes in B.C. this summer.

For instance, New Line’s sequel Final Destination 3 began production March 21 and goes until June 9. This horror-sci-fi installment of the franchise – about teens who cheat death – follows the survivors of a roller-coaster accident. The X-Files alum James Wong (who directs) and Glen Morgan are producing.

Another New Line show, The Martian Child, with John Cusack, is scheduled to go May 2 to July 9 in Vancouver. Inspired by the novel by David Gerrold, the feature tells the story of a man who adopts a six-year-old boy only to think the child might be from Mars. Dutch writer/director Menno Meyjes (Max) is at the helm.

Sony’s US$40-million-ish romantic comedy Catch and Release, with Jennifer Garner, is on the B.C. Film list. Production in Vancouver runs May 16 to July 29 on the feature about a woman coming to terms with secrets kept from her by her late husband. Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich) is the writer/director.

Meanwhile, Sony’s I Dream of Jeannie – with either Kate Hudson or Lindsay Lohan in the lead – has taken up space at Mammoth Studios in Burnaby – where The Chronicles of Riddick shot. The Jeannie prequel, telling the story of how Kate or Lindsay ended up in the bottle, is a sizable US$75 million. Director Gurinder Chadha (Bride & Prejudice) makes her Hollywood debut.

Long-awaited blockbuster X-Men 3 has hired location manager Ann Goobie again, but full-fledged preproduction will wait until after commissioning studio Fox finishes reshoots April 5 for Fantastic Four, Vancouver’s biggest feature last year. Production, with all or most of the main X2 stars returning, could begin this summer.

On-again, off-again In the Land of Women has finally set up in Victoria. Production on the US$15-million-ish comedy with Meg Ryan and Adam Brody (The O.C.) is scheduled for May. It’s about a comedy writer who becomes involved with a house of women.

Wicker Man, a Universal horror-thriller remake, is budgeting Vancouver for a July start, with Nicolas Cage in the lead. Neil LaBute (Nurse Betty) will direct the story about a sheriff investigating the disappearance of a young girl on an island off the coast of Maine.

Emmett Furla, producer behind the Vancouver-shot Edison, is expected to return with Al Pacino for 88 Minutes, the Touchstone thriller about an FBI forensic psychiatrist who receives a death threat telling him that he has only 88 minutes to live. James Foley (The Corruptor) directs. Ian Edwards

Willis on the block

Toronto – Local bars and single women take note, Bruce Willis is due in Toronto next month – presumably after wrapping Lucky Number Slevin in Montreal – to shoot the thriller 16 Blocks, his first pairing with director Richard Donner of the Lethal Weapon franchise and, more recently, Timeline. The story follows an aging cop as he escorts a witness to a nearby courthouse.

The pic is scheduled at Toronto Film Studios into June, exec produced by Millennium Pictures’ Boaz Davidson, Danny Dimbort and Trevor Short and by George Furla. D.J. Carson is production manager. Sean Davidson

Montreal or Moscow?

Montreal – Montreal is doubling for Moscow in World of Trouble, a one-hour pilot for NBC currently shooting in and around the city.

While this is U.S.-based executive producer/writer Peter Noah’s first time shooting in Montreal, he is already impressed with what the city has to offer.

‘As advertised, Montreal is incredibly well-suited for this production, in terms of both the physical location and crews,’ says Noah.

The intended series follows an FBI team dedicated to investigating crimes committed by U.S. citizens overseas. The pilot follows the team to Moscow to investigate the murder of an American editor of a Russian magazine.

Although the series would take viewers to locations all over the world, Noah says the production could base itself in Montreal.

Noah currently has a small crew shooting in Moscow. Using digital FX, actors shot in certain locations in Montreal will be digitally implanted in footage of Moscow locations.

The GEP Productions pilot, starring Idris Elba and Vinessa Shaw, started shooting March 17 and wraps April 5. Laura Bracken

I came, I Saw…

Toronto – Sequel to last year’s horror hit Saw 2 is set for a four-week stay at Cinespace Studios in Toronto, putting director Darren Bousman under returning producers Gregg Hoffman and Dan Heffner of Twisted Pictures. The picture has been rushed to production in hope that a second Halloween release will repeat the strong numbers of the original. Lions Gate Films will distribute. Sean Davidson

Bates steers Ambulance Girl

Halifax – Kathy Bates is in Halifax shooting Ambulance Girl, a docudrama about how Jane Stern, a food-critic-turned-paramedic, was able to beat clinical depression. The 20-day shoot started March 20.

Bates directs and stars in the MOW from L.A.-based Zerneck-Sertner Films for Lifetime Network. Frank von Zerneck, Robert M. Sertner, Patricia Clifford and Alan Hines produce. Robin Thomas (The Contender) also stars. Local talent includes Susan Leblanc-Crawford, John Dunsworth and Ayesha Gibson.

Also gearing up to shoot in Halifax, April 4-29, is the Lifetime/Fox MOW The Dive from Clausen’s Pier, directed by Nadia Tass (Guns, Money and Home Cooking). Michael Mahoney (She’s too Young) produces, with Nancy Cotton (Evel Knievel) and Brenda Friend (Jenifer) exec producing. Laura Bracken