Starting on Monday morning, film trucks rolled in, one after the other in the early hours of morning and then late in the evening. By Tuesday afternoon, 120 film crew personnel had dispersed around the island for the filming of a pilot for a TV series called ‘Shooter.’
A waterfront home in Arbutus Point was staged as the home for the main character. At the house, an outdoor play-set and picnic table are set on the lawn with ocean views beyond. From around the woodshed a jeep squeals up to the house with the main character, played by Ryan Phillippe at the wheel.
Off-set, thick cables necessary to power the sound and lighting are laid out through the woods. Over the deck of the main house, a 100‘ “lift“ stretches out over the deck for aerial shots, An American flag flaps from a pole in the sunshine while a ferry passes by. This is what Production Manager, Genevieve Bridges, calls “the Hero House.” No longer Bowen Island, this location has transformed into the outskirts of Seattle.
Locations manager Casey Nelson-Zutter says he began scouting for locations a month ago and is happy with Bowen. Admiring the view from the south side of Bowen, looking out across the water, he comments that “this view back to Vancouver is pretty rad.” A dozen or so trucks and trailers, including hair and make-up, park at the golf course. On Tuesday morning they are mostly empty though the people in charge of hair and makeup are on hand to show their trailer filled with a long line of highly lit mirrors and swivel chairs.
The primary drive to bring filming to Bowen, helping to boost the economy is the Executive Producer, Grace Gilroy, an island resident. Gilroy has helped bring other films to Bowen, including The Fog, and Harper’s Island.
According to Production Manager, Genevieve Bridges, they won’t know until 2016 whether or not the show will be picked up and turned into a series. If the project goes ahead, Bowen may be used again as the location. “There’s a lot of variables that come into play,” says Bridges; the financial factors of filming are a big part of a final decision for location. Over the course of a few days the production is paying for some accommodation, location rentals and a filming fee to the municipality. Though five houses on Bowen were used for staging only two of the homes were used for sets. The other homes were in shots as part of the neighbourhood.
With municipal location charges that range from the initial application to the film licence and parking for three days, Bowen will receive around $1000 from the production. In addition, Cormorant Marine has been hired to shuttle crew members to and from the location. Marine coordinator Jason Crosky says he’s been working with Cormorant Marine for many shoots on Bowen including Tale of two Sisters and Wicker Man. “I always enjoy shooting here,” says Crosky.
He adds that this is an “easy shoot,” as they aren’t doing any shots from the water.
While on Bowen, shooting takes place day and night and different members of crew may work a 12-hour day. Crew members either shuttle back to the mainland or they are hosted by local Bed and Breakfasts.
Last year, Bowen was used for four different shoots, including a day of shooting still shots, a couple commercials and one 20-day film shoot. Whispers, The Killing Productions, The Company You Keep, and Cousins are some of the films that have been partially filmed on Bowen.
Shooter is based on a book series by Stephen Hunter, the first of which was Point of Impact. It was then made into the 2007 movie Shooter starring Mark Wahlberg as the main character, Bob Lee Swagger.
The story depicts an ex-militia man, known as a sharp-shooter who has removed himself from society. The character, Bob Lee Swagger, played by Ryan Phillippe, is drawn back into action to defuse a plot that threatens the life of the American president. An action show, the plot line twists to keep things interesting.
