Sam's Lake, filmed in Nanaimo, Cedar, Yellowpoint and Nanaimo Lakes in the fall of 2004, made its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in five separate screenings April 28 to May 6.
According to Tribeca's website (www.tribecafilmfestival.com), writer/director Andrew Erin's frightening feature debut, is a story about a brutal murder from the past that haunts the small towns surrounding Lake Sam.
"What is so exciting about this haunting movie is not only that the movie features Nanaimo area talent and locations, it was one of the first major movies filmed here," said Gwen Harmen, commissioner of the Nanaimo Film Office.
Sam's Lake set up its production office in downtown Nanaimo and shot at ten locations in Nanaimo, Nanaimo Lakes, Cedar and Yellow-Point. The production hired 27 local crew of which seven were department heads, purchased services from 16 local businesses and utilized 1,000 hotel room nights and 500 rental car days.
"The Nanaimo Film Office and local businesses, such as Budget Car and Truck Rentals, Days Inn, Howard Johnson and the Longwood Brewpub hosted the director, producer and production team on a promotional scouting tour prior to the production setting up it's office here," Harmen said. "It is because of the community's high level of film friendliness, service and support that we are able to land productions such as this in the Nanaimo area."
View the movie's trailer by clicking on www.samslakethemovie.com.