Production is underway in Merritt and the Lower Nicola Valley, B.C. on Allan Hopkins’ feature comedy Indian Road Trip.

Written, produced and directed by Hopkins, the film was one of 18 projects selected last summer for Telefilm’s 2016/2017 Micro-Budget Production Program.

Inspired by Hopkins’ experiences as a young man growing up on the Reserve, Indian Road Trip tells the story of two young Native men who are forced to drive a cranky elder across the reserve so she can make peace with her dying sister. It soon becomes apparent though that a supernatural force is trying to slow their journey.

Andrew Currie (Fido) serves as executive producer on the project, alongside co-producer Mise’l Abram, director of photography Vincent de Paula, line producer Patti Poskitt and art director and production designer Doreen Manuel.

The project was developed through a number of programs, including the Aboriginal Filmmaker’s Fellowship program at Whistler in 2015, as well as the festival’s Praxis Screenwriters Lab in 2016.

Indian Road Trip stars Ajuawak Kapashesit, who recently starred in Indian Horse, an Ontario/B.C. coproduction from prodcos Screen Siren Pictures, Terminal City Pictures and Devonshire Productions. The film also stars Paul C. Grenier (Blackstone), newcomer Dale Hunter, Miki Whiskey Jack (Rhymes for Young Ghouls), Evan Adams (Smoke Signals) and Jordyn White (Blackstone).