By Steve Hubrecht
Radium Hot Springs, get ready for ‘All Night Wrong’ — the new movie that will start filming in the village soon.
The Pioneer reported earlier this fall that the Columbia Valley was to be the backdrop and shooting location for the independent comedy film, which stars Maria Bakalova and Zach Cherry.
Up until now, however, details on where and when that filming will take place have been kept under tight wraps. But it recently became clear that several scenes will be shot in Radium, after film industry location manager Matheson Kincaid and Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce business advisor Theresa Wood appeared before Radium council seeking its blessing to start filming.
“It’s a really exciting opportunity, not just for Radium, but for the entire Columbia Valley,” mayor Mike Gray told the Pioneer. “A lot of the film will be in Radium this time around. But maybe it will be Canal Flats next. Or part of (Regional District of East Kootenay) Area F.”
If the filming goes well, there’s a chance for similar projects in the future, he noted.
“This is an industry that much larger communities would love to have, so if we can attract it here, and establish it here in a smaller community, it could open a lot of doors for us,” said Gray.
The Columbia Valley has a unique location in terms of both natural setting and options for filming venues, he outlined.
There will be a considerable economic impact, especially for the food and beverage industry, catering, accommodators, and potentially also for electricians, carpenters and other contractors, added Gray.
“That will be direct jobs and direct income in our community,” he said.
Gray didn’t know exactly where in Radium all the filming will occur, but said several locations had been scouted and that film industry representatives have been making arrangements with the neighbours. He wasn’t sure how long filming will last, but guessed it may be approximately four weeks.
The cameras haven’t started rolling yet, but “enough people know about the film that there is some excitement already,” said Gray. “Once the film crew start work, we’ll probably see a lot more buzz about it.”
Bakalova earned an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress in ‘Borat Subsequent Moviefilm’ in 2020 and also starred in ‘The Apprentice’, released earlier this year. Cherry earned critical acclaim for playing one of the lead roles in the 2022 series ‘Severance’.
