Redwood Meadows and Bragg Creek scenery can now be viewed on the flat screen with the release of A Miracle on Christmas Lake, an Alberta filmed directed by John Kissack and produced by Calgary-based actor turned producer Jayson Therrien.
“This is like a Field of Dreams meets Mystery, Alaska with some Christmas sprinkled in there,” Therrien explained.
The 110-minute film was released On Demand – through Telus, Rogers, Bell Media and Shaw – earlier this month and will be available on DVD at Walmart, Best Buy and Costco on Dec. 6.
“I shot a film a long time ago, as an actor at the (Redwood Meadows) fire station … the area is beautiful,” Therrien said.
“We basically (scouted) every rink in Alberta and we felt because of the evergreen covering the whole arena, it was exactly what we wanted.”
The film used several locations in the area, including the Redwood Meadows fire station and skating rink.
The film’s plot summary reads, “after suffering the loss of his best friend, Charlie, on Christmas Eve, 16-year-old Bobby Whiteside ventures out onto the lake where they played countless games of winter hockey. Upon shovelling the ice surface, he makes a shocking discovery – a magic, perfectly groomed hockey rink that appears only at night and only in his presence. When a local construction company purchases the land for development, Bobby must join forces with his high school crush, rally the town, and play one last game on the night pond – with an old friend.”
The independent film premiered at the 2016 Calgary International Film Festival, starring Will Sasso, Anne Hawthorne, Therrien and Bragg Creek starlet Maddie Dixon-Poirier.
The 11-year-old local actress has guest-starred in multiple episodes of the TV show Hell on Wheels, and performed in the Dreams of Broadway performed at the Wright Theatre at the Mount Royal University earlier this year.
“Everywhere I look (the movie) is available – it is unreal for a first feature film,” Therrien exclaimed.
“Redwood Meadows is very film friendly, they were excited and helpful.”
Therrien does not hide his favouritism for the area, as the producer also just wrapped up shooting for a second film shot in the area, Everfall – “a Black Swan meets The Shining.”
“I am just about to buy another script and (hopefully) start shooting over the summer,” Therrien said.
When asked if he would use the area again, he said the audience will have to wait and see.
For more information about the film go to the official Facebook page at “A Miracle on Christmas Lake.”
