When Hallmark movie crews are shooting Christmas movies in picturesque downtown Chilliwack, sometimes fans will snap a pic to capture the filmmaking action for posterity.
The Royal Hotel of Chilliwack is holding a fun contest, looking for people’s favourite snapshots of Hallmark productions taken when the streets were decorated for the holidays.
READ MORE: Movie-making magic DT
More than 30 Hallmark Christmas movies were in production for the 2018 calendar year – with many partially filmed in Chilliwack and most completed in just a couple of weeks, said Laura Reid, of the Royal Hotel staff.
Fun fact: most of the Hallmark Christmas productions are actually shot in the summer.
“Downtown Chilliwack fits the bill with its character-filled small-town look that is the signature stamp of heart-warming Hallmark movies,” Reid adds. “In addition the Royal Hotel’s interiors and exteriors are also a favourite for Hallmark productions.”
There are some true-blue movie aficionados who like to travel around and scope out Hallmark locations. Check out a Facebook page called “I’ve scene it on Hallmark” which happily shares some of those fan exploits.
Chilliwack has become a popular shoot location. And because of industry tax incentives many productions look for locations “out of the zone” of the Greater Vancouver area; Chilliwack, Langley and Maple Ridge, which all benefit because of their close proximity to Vancouver. It’s a burgeoning industry.
Recent shoots:
Lifetime – Christmas Lost and Found
Lifetime – Christmas Toy Swap
Hallmark – It’s Christmas, Eve
Hallmark – Time for Me to Come Home for Christmas
The Royal Hotel is giving away a one-night stay at the historic hotel to coax people to enter the contest, and post their photographs of Christmas movie shoots on the Royal Hotel’s Facebook page, or pics can be emailed to info@royalhotelchilliwack.com
“We will post them on our website and share on social media!” says Reid.
The deadline is Jan. 30, 2019, at which point they will draw the winner of the night’s stay at the historic hotel.
@CHWKjourno
jfeinberg@theprogress.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.