A decade ago, in a devastating blow to the film industry, the Saskatchewan government ruthlessly severed the lifeline that was the film employment tax credit.
Their reason? The province claimed it bled their coffers dry, heedless of the creative souls left in ruins.
The scars of that merciless decision still haunt the industry, but today – the industry rises again.
Saskatchewan, known for its vast landscapes and picturesque beauty, has become the backdrop for an upcoming post-apocalyptic thriller. “Die Alone,” directed by homegrown talent Lowell Dean, follows an amnesia-laden protagonist on a harrowing quest to find his missing girlfriend amidst the ruins of a devastated world.
Dean, a proud Saskatchewan product, expressed his excitement about filming in his home province. “We’re shooting all over, Fort Qu’Appelle, Regina, and Katepwa. This film will be a beautiful showpiece for what Saskatchewan has to offer. It’s not just the ideal place to shoot a movie, but also to survive a real pandemic.
Dean says his inspiration for the dystopian drama came to him well before the world was struck by the COVID-19 pandemic – a case of life imitating art.
“The main impetus of the story is a pandemic. I actually wrote this long before any of us had lived through COVID-19. It took all of us living through a pandemic to make the idea relatable.
Dean continues that the film’s script turned into a dark fantasy of “What if” exploring what we would all do if we had to face a catastrophic event.
So what “viral agent” led to the Saskatchewan Film Industry’s zombie like rebirth?
The production is only possible thanks to the generous support of the Creative Saskatchewan Film and Television Grant Program and the Canadian Film and Video Production Tax Credit, “Die Alone” has received the necessary funding to bring its ambitious vision to the silver screen. The grant program and tax credit have enabled the production team to realize their creative vision while highlighting the immense potential of Saskatchewan’s burgeoning film industry.
The production crew working on “Die Alone” have descended upon various locations throughout Saskatchewan, transforming them into hauntingly atmospheric landscapes ravaged by an unknown catastrophe. From abandoned urban centers to sprawling prairies choked with overgrowth, the province’s diverse scenery sets the stage for the protagonist’s relentless pursuit.
As Saskatchewan once again edges closer to becoming “Hollywood North” – embracing its role in the production, local communities have witnessed the transformative power of filmmaking firsthand. The influx of cast, crew, and associated production activities will undoubtedly generate economic opportunities, bolstered tourism, and foster a sense of pride among those who call the province home.
As the cameras roll and the story unfolds against the backdrop of Saskatchewan’s awe-inspiring landscapes over the next 20 days, “Die Alone” will be heralded as one of the first projects spawned, as the province’s film industry claws it’s way out of a shallow grave – to take over the prairies once more.
