Lights, Camera, Dundurn
Vampire film shoots in small town
By Stephanie McKay, The StarPhoenix
In a small Saskatchewan town, past empty storefronts and Big Mur's Tavern, people mill about the local legion hall on an impossibly warm February day.
There is a still in the air that has nothing to do with the Saskatchewan landscape. All is quiet on the set of Rufus, a new feature film being shot in Dundurn, as the cast films its last few scenes before lunch.
Several people yell "cut" and the crowd disperses, as actor Merritt Patterson runs to throw her arms around her co-star Rory Saper, a huge smile on her face.
A film crew has descended on the town of 600 to shoot the supernatural tale written and directed by Saskatoon filmmaker Dave Schultz (45 RPM, Jet Boy). Shooting began at the end of January and will wrap on the last day of February.
On the zero degree day, Schultz pulls on a cigarette and blesses the weather for being abnormally temperate.
"If it had been a typical Saskatchewan winter, we never would have gotten it shot in 22 days. But that's all we have," he says.
Rufus tells the story of a young boy who arrives in a small town with a great big secret: He's a vampire. Though bloodsuckers have been popular fodder for pop culture recently, the director says he's avoiding vampire stereotypes.
"It's not like there's a Transylvanian or a coven," he says. "Because I don't watch vampire movies I just made up the rules."
Schultz is confident this, his third feature film, is his best yet. He candidly admits it's "a hell of a lot better than 45 RPM." Yet, even though the two films are quite different in both content and quality, according to the director, Rufus marks the end of a trilogy of sorts.
"It's me telling my life story over and over. I kind of think of it like this is the end of my wooden boy trilogy, about a boy trying to be a real kid."
The film is being co-produced by Saskatoon production company Karma Film. It's the company's second feature film shoot in the last three months. A feature called Ferocious was filmed in Saskatoon in December. Calgary's Bruce Harvey, a longtime friend of Schultz's and a producer with Illusions Entertainment, is also working on the film.
Schultz says while it's nice to film where he lives and get the opportunity to go home at the end of a long day, filming in Saskatchewan is extremely pricey. Because there isn't much of an existing film infrastructure in Saskatoon, most crew members have to be flown in. Then there's accommodation costs.
Accommodation and transportation alone is costing the $2.1 million production $150,000.
Harvey says it's important not to take money away from the movie itself to pay for things like hotel rooms. But having enough money to make Saskatoon and area a viable filming destination will take government help.
"The government has to be committed to telling stories from all over the country. I know Telefilm is working very hard to make that happen and SaskFilm is trying to help out, but it's trying to balance what the real cost is versus the subsidies you can get to come and shoot there. It's a money game. We never have enough."
But Dundurn had the perfect small-town look that Schultz was searching for. He says the town's locals, including the mayor, have been great. It's the kind of place where you can knock on the door to ask a neighbour to use a local car in a shot and he turns out to be Big Mur himself.
The film stars U.K. newcomer Saper, a 15-year-old with teen heartthrob potential. The boarding school student was discovered after a casting agent found some short films he and a friend posted to YouTube.
Schultz knew right away the young actor had what he was looking for, even with his limited experience.
"We looked at about 300 kids. It's really tough to find a 15-year-old. Casting agents usually give you someone who is 18, 19," he says. "Rory came in at the last minute and when he walked in, I thought, 'This is the kid.' Of course, the producer is all stressed and says, 'We looked at 300 kids and of course you're going to choose the one that's never acted.'"
When Saper found out he got the role he was totally freaked out, but thrilled. He also needed to figure out where Saskatchewan is.
"My mom and I looked over the map and realized it was a lot bigger than Dave said it was. He said it was this tiny place that no one had heard of, but we found it pretty easily," he says, smiling.
Sitting in a small, nondescript trailer, the shaggy-haired teen is soft-spoken but alive with enthusiasm.
"I'm having the time of my life," he says. "I've been here three weeks and it feels like I've been here a day."
Saper dealt with some bouts of nervousness on the set because it's his first time and he's also had to deal with the challenge of speaking with a brand new set of fangs in his mouth.
"It's so hard to speak. It's ridiculously hard," he says with a laugh.
Saper always thought he might want to become an actor, but his experience on the set of Rufus has solidified his career ambition. When shooting wraps up at the end of the month, Saper will return immediately to school, but hopes more acting opportunities will come his way.
The Rufus cast also includes young Canadian actor Patterson, a pretty brunette who, like her co-star, bubbles over when talking about being on set. The Whistler, B.C. native, who now lives in Vancouver, plays Tracey, the unconventional girl next door who befriends the strange new boy in town. In addition to being excited about the acting opportunity, Patterson is comfy in her character's attire, a long parka and printed Sorels.
"I usually get typecast as the mean girl and have to wear uncomfortable high heels," she says, sitting in one of the sets built in the legion-turned-studio.
Rufus also stars David James Elliott, best known for his starring role on the TV show JAG, and The O.C.'s Kelly Rowan. Saskatoon native Kim Coates makes an appearance, too.
Elliott plays Sheriff Hugh Wade and was attracted to the movie because it wasn't your typical genre flick.
"It had a lot of heart and depth. Also, I'd never been to Saskatchewan and that intrigued me a bit. Now I've been here and I'll never have to come again." he says with a laugh, as the sun beats down on the snowy ground. "It's a harsh environment, not for the faint of heart."
After its theatrical release, Rufus will be shown on Movie Central and The Movie Network.
Source: Star Phoenix
