A local production company and the city’s film office are not prepared to comment at this time about the making of a Christmas-themed movie in Sault Ste. Marie over the course of the next month.
According to the Cultural Industries Ontario North (CION) website, a feature film produced by 180 Sisterhood Productions, A Christmas Letter, will be shot in the city throughout the month of May.
SooToday’s request for an interview was denied Thursday in an email signed by producers Trish Rainone and Rebeka Herron.
“Thanks for reaching out. We are quite busy with production but would be happy to speak with you once we have completed filming May 23rd,” read the email.
The film office at the City of Sault Ste. Marie has also shunned SooToday’s request for an interview.
News of the filming created some buzz on social media Wednesday with Facebook users questioning the logic behind allowing a film production to go ahead while the province is under a mandated lockdown.
The Reopening Ontario Act currently allows for commercial film and television production, including related activities like hair, makeup and wardrobe. The set of a film or television production can be located in any business or place, even if they are businesses or places required to be closed under the provincial act.
Film and television productions must meet the following conditions:
- No studio audiences may be permitted to be on the film or television set
- No more than 50 performers may be permitted to be on the film or television set
- The set must be configured and operated in such a way as to enable persons on the set to maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from other persons, except where necessary for the filming of the film or television production
- Persons who provide hair or makeup services must wear appropriate personal protective equipment
- Singers and players of brass or wind instruments must be separated from any other performers by plexiglass or some other impermeable barrier
- The person responsible for the film or television production must ensure that the production operates in accordance with the guidance document titled 'Film and television industry health and safety during COVID-19' issued by the Film and Television Health and Safety Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, as amended from time to time
Another feature-length film, Cascade, is slated to be shot in Sault Ste. Marie over the course of July, according to the CION website.