Rom-com production brings Christmas in July to Southeast Event Centre

In the midst of a grueling July heatwave, passersby of the Southeast Event Centre on Monday could have been forgiven for giving a doubletake as reams of white felt, several Christmas trees and a dozen people wearing parkas and mitts lingered around the facility entrance under the wilting sun.

Great American Family Productions, a faith-based production company affiliated with Hallmark, chose Steinbach’s SEC to serve as an airport terminal entrance for its upcoming movie The Christmas Yes List, which will feature Hollywood veteran actors Danica McKellar and Sam Page.

Being adapted from bestselling author Melissa Ferguson’s novel of the same name, The Christmas Yes List is the second feature to be made from Ferguson’s popular romantic comedy books. Ferguson has developed a considerable following for her faith-forward themes and has become a favourite among readers of Christian romance novels.

The movie’s plot sees Chloe, played by McKellar who is best known as Winnie Cooper on The Wonder Years, as a chronic people pleaser who decides to challenge herself by intentionally collecting 10 holiday celebration rejections before Christmas. Her scheme is foiled by James, played by Page of Mad Men and House of Cards fame, who as a chronic workaholic is determined to not say no to any holiday invitation he receives.

This latest feature will add to a steadily increasing collection of holiday features, many of which have been filmed in southeast Manitoba and are providing Manitoba’s film industry with much-needed production activity year-round. Despite the heat and winter gear, the extras on the set couldn’t be happier about that opportunity.

Answering an open call from local talent agency Next! Casting, based in Winnipeg but with ties to Niverville, aspiring actors turned up at the SEC in full winter attire to play extras crowding an airport terminal for the Hollywood veteran stars. The extras received their direction from the set director outside in the high temperatures, but were kept inside the air-conditioned facility until the last second before filming to keep them from heat exhaustion or dehydration.

Production crews were not so lucky as they struggled with heat and wind gusts to keep Christmas trees, white felt sheets and lighting equipment in place before the winter-geared actors made their outdoor appearance. A utility hose meant for watering the facility plants became the favourite tool on the set.

Additional filming will take place in Selkirk, Ste Anne and Steinbach throughout July, with the straight to TV production being released later in the fall for this holiday season.