Locally-shot thriller Exile opens the qathet Film Fest March 3

BY GARY SHILLING

Exile is a heartfelt movie about trying to reform and atone for your mistakes. Ted (Adam Beach) is a man who is just getting out of prison for killing a family in a DUI incident. He receives a threat from the man whose family he accidentally killed, that if Ted tries to reunite with his own family, they will be killed. Tormented by grief, Ted decides to exile himself and lead a reclusive life. His wife Sara (Camille Sullivan), manages to track down Ted, and finds a man more broken than she had imagined. Adam Beach, gives the finest performance of his life, as a man who desperately needs some form of redemption.

When director Jason James began scouting locations for his new film, he first looked at Vancouver and then Squamish – they didn’t have the feeling he was looking for. A few years prior, Tony Papa had brought Jason up to the Powell River Digital Film School, where he gave a talk to the students. Tony showed Jason around the region and together they began brainstorming about basing a production here.

Star Adam Beach, a still from Exile

Fast forward three years, and Jason reached out to Tony about shooting his new feature in qathet. Tony came onboard as associate producer for the film. Being the liaison for the city and regional district, Tony was responsible for local casting, crew hire, locations, negotiations, some marketing, transportation, accommodations, and extras, among other things.

Jason and his co-writer Mike Beaton re-wrote the script to reflect this specific place, and for its beauty to be a character in the film. They worked with the local government and had access to city hall, streets, buildings, and the local police service. They employed many qathet locals as actors, musicians, extras, and crew on the shoot. According to Jason, “All of this helped to create a world that felt unique, authentic, and honest to the material. Powell River was such a wonderful community that opened its arms to our production.”

Students from the Digital Film School were on the crew. Mel Yerna worked in the lighting department and Ryder Fletcher was a production assistant. Two film school graduates were also hired – Max Chiasson in the camera department, and Paul Human as the Key Grip.

Tai Uhlmann’s children were cast as Adam Beach’s character’s (Ted) children. She describes it as a wonderful opportunity for her children, one that is rare for a small community like ours. “As a filmmaker it was especially exciting to have our kids learn about the process of filmmaking from auditions, to costumes, to set dressing, to rehearsals and then – Lights. Camera. ACTION…take after take after take!”

Tai’s daughter Wrenwin Angell loved the experience. “I learned how movies are made and it was really fun to meet new people and act… We did a lot of takes and there was some waiting involved but I didn’t mind because we just got to play around and improvise with Adam. When we were done a scene, we would run around to the monitor to watch the rest of the scene. It was a great experience!”

EXILED? NO EMBRACED!: When Exile filmed here last year, several locals worked in the cast and crew. They include Wrenwin and Wilder Angell pictured with star Adam Beach. The film screens at The Pat, March 3 and March 12.

Her son Wilder Angell enjoyed it too. “My experience was really fun and I would recommend it to others. My character didn’t have a big role, but I learned a lot of backstage stuff.”

The production worked closely with the Tla’amin Nation to gain permission to shoot on their ancestral territories in the most respectful way possible. They started each day with a land acknowledgment to honour the place they were living and working as guests. They hired cast, extras, and crew from the Tla’amin nation as well as rented equipment and locations from them.

“It was a wonderful experience all around,” says Jason. “Our lead actor, Adam Beach, was invited to visit the Tla’amin Nation where they welcomed him with a song and he – in turn – sang a song back to them. They went whale watching and saw a playful pod of orcas… a sign of good luck. We are honoured to showcase this naturally beautiful region in our film and know the Tla’amin Nation will be proud.”

Jason is certain that Exile could not have been shot anywhere else. “The communities we collaborated and engaged with helped make this possible. We are excited to go back to Powell River and the Tla’amin Nation and host a screening at the Patricia Theatre – Canada’s oldest continuously operating movie theatre!”