Downtown Nanaimo is has transformed into New York for the Hallmark drama series Chesapeake Shores.
The TV series has filmed in Nanaimo this week and wraps up filming today (June 14) at the Nanaimo courthouse, the Modern Cafe and in the downtown core near Front Street.
Jacqui Kaese, owner of Spotlight Academy and the extra casting director, said more than 150 Nanaimo area extras are on scene working on the project.
“It’s an absolute dream come true,” said Kaese, adding it's amazing to see a big film crew in downtown Nanaimo.
The film and crew head up Island tomorrow and start filming in Parksville and the Qualicum area. Film crews return to Nanaimo at the end of June to film at the Queen’s.
Kaese said about 5,000 hotel rooms were booked in Nanaimo to accommodate crew members and actors.
“The economic impact is absolutely huge,” she said.
The crew and actors are using Nanaimo as a base of operations and commuting to the film sets up Island.
An additional casting call is being held at the Queen’s Wednesday and Thursday (June 15-16) from 6-8 p.m. for extras between the ages of 20 and 40 years old. The extras will be cast as law students taking the bar test and the crowd at a concert.
The Hallmark series Chesapeake Shores is based on the book by Sheryl Woods. According to Hallmark’s website, the multi-generational story follows Abby O’Brien, played by Meghan Ory, a divorced mother of twin daughters. She travels from New York to her hometown of Chesapeake Shores. Once she arrives home, she must face people from her past, including a high school sweetheart, played by Jesse Metcalfe, an uncompromising father and grandmother.
For more information, please go to www.hallmarkchannel.com/chesapeake-shores.