Rowleywood has a new–old look following its transformation for a German feature film production.
The Drumheller Mail brought readers the story of The Cut, a German film that spent time in the Hamlet of Rowley in its March 20 edition.
Despite some weather issues, which are expected in April in Alberta, they were able to wrap.
“We finished shooting on a beautiful day. They got the blue sky, which they really wanted, and it worked out quite well,” said Doug Steeden, who worked on the production.
The movie centers on a family torn apart in the early 1900s in the aftermath of what is known as the Armenian Genocide. A father goes on a quest to find his family. Rowley served as a town in North Dakota in the 1920s.
Some of the crew and cast from the movie The Cut at the Rowley Elevators last month.
To do this, many of the buildings received a facelift and were featured in the show. Since the production some of the buildings have been returned to the look they had before the show, while others have been freshened up. Chris Foessier of Rowley said not long before filming the post office had been painted. For the movie however, the crew set about antiquing the building, and then reapplying a fresh coat of paint before they left.
Steeden said the crews enjoyed working in the area and were amused each morning seeing the “Rowleywood” sign on the highway. He said Rowley is an asset for the industry.
“It is good to know that it is available in the province there’s always a call for that. It is good they have kept it up and the grain elevators are in short supply these days,” said Steeden.
It was a welcome sight to see a local production, and Steeden said he has seen a little more work in the province lately.
“It’s definitely not what it was before, but things have picked up the last couple years with the series in Calgary (Hell On Wheels) and Heartland is now going into its seventh year… and there is always people looking around,” said Steeden. “I’ve always said that as long as people are still looking at the province, even if they are not coming here, it bodes well for it.”
He said a number of factors have led to the slow down in the film industry. Made for television movies are becoming more of a rarity. Tax credits also have a bearing on where crew will go.
“Nowadays you can shoot anywhere in the world with visual effects,” said Steeden. “But it does come down to where there are more tax credit dollars available.”
In the mean time, while the talent pool has remained relatively strong, many have left for greener pastures.
“They have gone where the work is…but I know they would come back if they knew the work was going to be steady here.”
