An independent horror film has just about wrapped up shooting in Port Hope.
The film was the vision of Port Hope resident, and entrepreneur Miranda Lukaniuk who has worked in the film industry for decades.
” I just decided on my time off between working for big productions, to revive the Port Horror Festival and produce my own horror film.”
Lukaniuk, owner of Local BG Talent Agency has been in the film industry for over 30 years and has been involved in a number of productions including the record breaking box office horror movie IT which were filmed in Port Hope.
As the creator of the Port Horror Festival Weekend in 2019, Lukaniuk decided to make a horror film with local talents she has worked with along with a number of local artists and business owners.
Taking the unconventional approach of not writing a script, Lukaniuk had a basic plot that expanded from that point using improv techniques with local videographers Tyler Matoff of New Oculus Imaging, and Eric Shurman, a seasoned camera man known for Shining Time Station and National Geographic.
One trailer for the film features Today’s Northumberland reporting at the scene of a murder at Olympus Burger in Port Hope.
“I started talking to my friends around town and local artists. Everyone got excited about it and jumped onto the project.”
The plot is about a “ cute ” small town with a strange past regarding an infestation of chipmunks every 10-years. People keep turning up dead without their heads alongside this dicenial infestation.
It is thought by the town that there is a serial killer but they have never found who is responsible.
“We are slowly picking off iconic cameos of local business owners and known characters in the community throughout this film”
Originally the film was set to be a short film horror production, but as the excitement grew, volunteers came forward and now they have a full production crew.
Lukaniuk said it may turn out to be a full-length film.
One of the last scenes shot for the film took place on Sunday, November 14, 2021 in a forest just off Victoria Street South and featured MPP David Piccini.
Piccini was walking with his fiancé and their two dogs when he heard a scream in the woods nearby.
Piccini goes to investigate and comes face to face with the killer.
Speaking on-set, Piccini said jokingly that politics is never a guarantee so he gave acting a try.
“I’m a big supporter of the film industry and know how important it is for our community. Obviously it has a strong and major impact on Ontario’s economy.”
Looking back on the scenes and checking over the shots he was in, Piccini said, “it was a lot of fun – really cool. I had a good time.”
Lukaniuk said with the number of movies and series shooting productions in and around the Port Hope area it’s becoming very well known in the film industry.
“I want everyone to get excited about filming in Port Hope and a creative film industry to thrive here.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
