Over the past several years, the Ottawa Valley is quickly becoming known as an ideal location for shooting movies and this year is no exception with Lutes Cousins Films getting set to film its latest production this summer.
The film company and director Brian Lutes has issued a casting call for its latest movie: Not a Love Story.
Anna Mary Grattan, one of the producers, tells myFM the film is a gritty story based on real-life experiences.
The two are reunited about 10 years later and both have battle scars and a lot of secrets. Their two families were feuding the whole time, which kept them apart.
“So, this is the story of Chenoa and her family and all the people that she encounters over the years,” she said.
Grattan said they are inviting all actors to apply for the roles but in particular are looking to recruit Indigenous actors to apply for the principal and supporting roles.
The call is also out, however, for supporting roles, extras, as well as crew.
Not a Love Story is related to the two most recent Lutes films, the award-winning Painted Sharks and Pictures of Us, which were also shot in and around the Ottawa Valley.
Generally, Lutes does a movie every two years, explained Grattan, but because Painted Sharks, Pictures of Us and Not a Love Story make up a trilogy, the timeline was able to be condensed.
“The three of them are similar with some of the characters involved and based on real life experiences during the ‘70s and ‘80s,” she said.
This is Lutes’ seventh feature film, three or four of which have been filmed primarily in the Ottawa Valley.
Grattan explains that Lutes loves the historic charm in the Valley, as the crew can find plenty of buildings and scenery that still have that period look which fits their work.
Not a Love Story will be filmed from June to September and Grattan said the company is pleased with the ongoing support from local communities.
“We certainly have a lot of support from each municipality, the City of Pembroke, the Town of Petawawa, the schools, the people of the Ottawa Valley. So, the support is there and we certainly appreciate it, we couldn’t do a movie without that. It’s one of the key reasons why we love shooting here in the Ottawa Valley,” she said.
Director Brian Lutes is currently in California editing Pictures of Us, which should be ready for a first viewing this fall.
For more information visit ‘Lutes Cousins Films’ on Facebook or send an email to info@lutescousinsfilms.com .
(Written by Sherry Haaima)