“Foreverland” film crew coming to Ucluelet, Tofino

February 14 2011

Screen Siren Pictures Inc. and Bron Studios Inc. are producing Foreverland, a road trip movie about a young man with cystic fibrosis.

Dan Carr, the production’s location manager, said the crew will spend one day in Tofino February 13 and the following day in Ucluelet Mon., February 14.

“Amphitrite Point is the primary location in Ukee,” said Carr.

Carr added that two more local scenes will be captured on camera: a drive-by shot of Little Beach and another scene on Marine Drive between Victoria Road and Matterson Drive.

The crew also plans to film in downtown Tofino and on south Chesterman Beach.

Patricia Abdulla, Ucluelet’s district planning manager, says public access to the Wild Pacific Trail will remain open, but parking space will be limited while the crew is filming.

“District staff wish to inform the public that there will be no parking available in the Lighthouse parking lot between 4 p.m. on Saturday, February 12 and Tuesday morning, the 15th,” wrote Abdulla in an email to the Westerly.

“Passengers may still be dropped off at the Lighthouse parking lot and pedestrian access to the trail and lighthouse will still be available.”

The district public parking lot at the Wild Pacific Trail loop will remain open for parking, she added.

Flag persons will be directing traffic during the time needed to film the street scenes, according to Abdulla, though she says she expects minimal interruptions to traffic.

Carr said the crew is prepared to film in rain or shine.

“We’re quite aware of the reality of the weather of Vancouver Island,” he said. “We’re just gonna roll with the punches when it comes to the weather.”

Foreverland tells the story of Will Valley, a young man stricken with a terminal illness, who is tasked with delivering his friend’s ashes to a legendary healing shrine in Mexico.

Joined by the sister of his fallen friend, Will embarks on an epic journey down the Pacific Coast Highway to the desert heart of Baja, encountering a memorable cast of characters along the way.

In 1988 Ucluelet council adopted a filming policy in order to encourage and facilitate the motion picture industry through a centralized process for filming-on-location in the district.

“It goes without saying that we are always pleased and happy to accommodate the movie industry in finding locations to shoot locally,” said Abdulla.

Julia Prinselaar, Westerly News
Published: Thursday, February 10, 2011

—reporter@westerlynews.ca