Clear shooting in Vic

Vancouver: Clearing is the last of the six Vancouver Island MOWs ordered from executive producer Brightlight Pictures by CHUM. The horror, directed by Carl Bessai and shot by DOP James Liston, who makes his long-form debut, tells the story of what happens after a logging company starts playing with the genetic makeup of trees and loggers get infected.

It’s like 28 Days Later in B.C.’s old-growth forest, says Brightlight producer Andrew Boutilier. Production wraps three weeks of work in and around Victoria Oct. 19.

Paul Campbell (Ill-Fated) and Sarah Lind (Punch) are among the cast in the $1-million script written by Bessai and first-timer Travis McDonald.

Brightlight oversaw production on Lies Like Truth, Cable Beach, Pink Ludoos, Marker and Johnny Too Tall, before starting Clearing. CHUM, says Boutilier, is being flexible about the productions in that some might hit the festival circuit before going to the small screen.

Boutilier expects to take Clearing to the American Film Market, Nov. 3-10 in Santa Monica, CA, to test its potential with distributors as a video release.

The final production was supposed to be the thriller They Wait, which was taken back by the originating producer who wanted to further develop the script, says Boutilier.

Also in Victoria, the USA Network MOW Murder at the Presidio wrapped three weeks of production Sept. 29. Lou Diamond Phillips, Jason Priestley, Martin Cummins (Dark Angel) and Leslie Easterbrook (The Devil’s Rejects) star in the murder mystery set at the San Francisco military base. Canadian producers Evan Tylor (Evolution Pictures, Vancouver) and Chad Oakes (Nomadic Pictures, Calgary) are overseeing production for L.A.-based Once Upon a Time Films. John Fasano (The Jitters) directs. Ian Edwards

100 and counting

Vancouver: Consumer affairs series The Shopping Bags is giving thanks Oct. 11 when its 100th episode airs on W Network on Thanksgiving Monday. At press time, the half-hour episode was in post-production.

In the milestone episode, hosts and creators Anna Wallner and Kristina Matisic clear the air on cigars, reveal which cake mixes rise to the challenge, and uncork a winner in a white wine taste test. And from testing hairspray on a roller coaster to bashing luggage with bumper cars, they’ll reflect on their most creative product tests from the previous 99 shows.

The Shopping Bags, produced with Vancouver’s Force Four Productions, also airs in the U.S. on the Fine Living Network. Ian Edwards

Mo’ MOWs from Filmworks

Calgary: Alberta Filmworks recently completed principal photography on an MOW in Edmonton and surrounding areas, with another currently underway in and around Calgary.

The Twelve Days of Christmas Eve, directed by Martha Coolidge, went to camera Sept. 29 and wraps Oct. 23.

Filmworks is coproducing with Granada USA. Producers include Filmworks’ Tom Cox and Jordy Randall, who are working with Craig McNeil and Murray Ord. Executive producers include Jean Abounader, Stephen Davis and Jody Brockway. Stephen Webber (Stradivarius) stars in the MOW written by J.B. White and shot by Derick Underschultz.

Filmworks is also coproducing A Friend of the Family, a $4-million MOW for CTV, with Toronto’s Slanted Wheel Entertainment. Cox is executive producing with Jon Slan, and Randal is producing with Elaine Scott.

Stuart Gillard directs Laura Harris (24, Dead Like Me), Eric Johnson (Smallville) and Kim Coates (Pearl Harbor) in the story about notorious rapist and murderer David Snow. Michael Amo penned the script and Manfred Guthe is the DOP.

Nineteen days of principal photography started Sept. 27 in and around Calgary. The shoot is due to wrap Oct. 29, with delivery planned for Feb. 11, 2005. Lions Gate Films is handling international sales. Laura Bracken

Script contest gets adventurous

Vancouver: Seemingly picking up where CBC British Columbia left off, the Whistler Film Festival and the Vancouver-based Alibi Unplugged script-reading society are calling on B.C. screenwriters to participate in their first annual theme-based short film scriptwriting competition. The Short Scripts contest asks for eight-minute drama scripts on the theme of Canadian Adventure. Scripts are due Oct. 25

Three projects will be short listed and participate in a scriptwriting workshop at the 2004 Whistler Film Festival, Dec. 2-5. One project will be awarded a production package valued at $20,000. The winning project gets a screening at the 2005 Whistler Shortfest.

Previously, CBC hosted a contest for B.C. writers on themes like Salmon and 50.

For guidelines, visit www.whistlerfilmfestival.com. Ian Edwards