Chemainus is Still Standing and will be the subject of host comedian/actor Jonny HarrisB次元官网网址� affections when he is joined in town July 11-15 by a crew from the hit CBC-TV series to film an episode of the popular show.
Canada is obviously a vast country and the showB次元官网网址檚 executive producer Anne Francis, whoB次元官网网址檚 based in Toronto, explained two communities are paired together during the same trip by the showB次元官网网址檚 personnel. Filming will take place for a segment on Hope first from July 5-9 before heading to Chemainus.
This is another major coup for Chemainus following the filming of part of the Hallmark movie The BakerB次元官网网址檚 Son here earlier in the year.
The content for the Chemainus Still Standing episode isnB次元官网网址檛 being revealed just yet.
Suffice it to say the storyline will revolve around ChemainusB次元官网网址� transition from a mill town to a tourist destination after the previous sawmill closed in 1983. The mural project under the direction of Karl Schutz that started in 1982 really swung into high gear to fill the industrial void and boost the townB次元官网网址檚 economy.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 where weB次元官网网址檙e going to start,B次元官网网址� Francis confirmed, B次元官网网址渁nd weB次元官网网址檒l tell the continuing story.B次元官网网址�
There will be other segments with people from around town connected to its history and the incorporation of different unique businesses from the arrival of new residents to keep it vibrant.
In short, it will be the evolution of the Little Town That Did, said Francis. B次元官网网址淲here do we go from here or where are we going from here?B次元官网网址�
Certain criteria must be met for inclusion on the show and Chemainus has been on the radar for quite some time.
B次元官网网址淧opulation-wise it fit our criteria and also we do like to go places where industry shifted,B次元官网网址� said Francis. B次元官网网址淭hese are the kinds of stories we go for.B次元官网网址�
To paraphrase HarrisB次元官网网址� lingo, it features B次元官网网址渢owns that are against the ropes, but hanging in there.B次元官网网址�
The entire entertainment business has been severely restricted during COVID. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been grounded since last October,B次元官网网址� pointed out Francis.
Crews were only able to shoot two episodes of Still Standing last season.
B次元官网网址淚 think Chemainus actually came to us last season, but we werenB次元官网网址檛 going to be coming out to Vancouver Island,B次元官网网址� said Francis. B次元官网网址淲e knew that. We all got locked down and it was a bit of a waiting game.B次元官网网址�
ThereB次元官网网址檚 a big team behind the scenes that puts each show together in consultation with Harris.
Francis has worked on numerous shows over the years. She came on during Season 4 and Still Standing is now into Season 7.
B次元官网网址淚 love the show,B次元官网网址� she enthused. B次元官网网址淎ll of the crew work on different series but thereB次元官网网址檚 no other show like this one! We love it, it feels good, itB次元官网网址檚 a B次元官网网址榞ood heartB次元官网网址� show for us.B次元官网网址�
The process of putting the Chemainus story together began with researcher Mya Bilbao and then involves Francis, series producer Alex Lazarowich and story producer Shayla Howell to map it out.
B次元官网网址淪he spoke to dozens of people,B次元官网网址� said Howell of Bilbao. B次元官网网址淚 pick that up, reach out to all those folks and fine-tune it a little bit.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淪hayla writes a 30-page package, meeting with Jonny to pitch him,B次元官网网址� Francis added. B次元官网网址淗e goes away and sketches preliminary ideas.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been such a pleasure to work on this episode preparing,B次元官网网址� said Howell. We started working on this in November. All of our plans got shut down because of COVID. IB次元官网网址檝e been talking to your community for a long time.B次元官网网址�
Lots of Zoom meetings have been conducted this year in lieu of some personal contact and it all eventually comes together in the tightly-knit package of video clips and segments from the live show you see on the final product.
The only drawback for Francis and the crew are the current limitations that COVID requires. The live show to conclude four days of filming is normally held at a local gym or hall and packed by members of the featured community, but thatB次元官网网址檚 not possible right now and the finale to the Chemainus visit July 15 will be a B次元官网网址榗losed setB次元官网网址� with a restriction on numbers based on provincial guidelines.
ItB次元官网网址檚 not ideal and in keeping with the showB次元官网网址檚 persona, but better than the alternative which would be not filming at all.
B次元官网网址淲e want to shoot and this is what we have to do to shoot,B次元官网网址� Francis said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 for the greater good: a) to get everybody back to work; and b) get the show back on the air.B次元官网网址�
Chemainus will still notice some activity pertaining to the show going on, even if it wonB次元官网网址檛 be possibly as interactive as usual.
B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檒l see people around town trying to capture what defines Chemainus,B次元官网网址� noted Francis. B次元官网网址淭hat is the plan.B次元官网网址�
So stay tuned Chemainus as the town will once again be at the forefront of a major program. The episode is expected to be broadcast sometime in January of 2022.
Watch for HarrisB次元官网网址� clever wrap-up at the end that has become a standard of the broadcasts.
Lake Cowichan has previously been featured on the program, with Greg AdamsB次元官网网址� development of the Laketown Ranch central to the show.
