Fun Facts about Film in Edmonton

Action!
If you are a movie fan, you might already know that Greater Edmonton is a frequent choice as a location for films. As you tour Edmonton, you can see a 19th-century railway carriage used by Brad Pitt playing Jesse James, or visit a popular setting for Christmas fantasies. And as you travel around the city, keep your eyes open for celebrities – some of your favourite stars could be working on a “shoot” in Edmonton.
 
Here are some fun film facts about movies made in Edmonton:

• Several different projects have been filmed in West Edmonton Mall, including Christmas in Wonderland, Mentors, 100 Days in the Jungle, Selling Innocence, and The Christmas Blessing. 
• The return on investment on the film industry in Alberta is: for every $1 invested, $8 goes back into the local economy. 
• Several scenes for The Assassination of Jesse James, starring Brad Pitt, were filmed in Fort Edmonton Park.  Learn more about Fort Edmonton Park through the stories of people who've experienced it at www.edmontonstories.ca.
• Approximately $8,000 was spent on antique carpet for the train carriage that was used in The Assassination of Jesse James. Then dirt was poured on the carpet to make it look old. 
• After filming was complete, producers from The Assassination of Jesse James donated the original movie train carriage to Fort Edmonton Park. 
• Scenes for the period piece Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee were filmed in the Wedgewood Room at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald.  Learn more about the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald through the stories of people who've experienced it at www.edmontonstories.ca.
• The War Bride, a must-see feature film, was shot at Fort Edmonton Park and is available to rent at most video rental stores. 
• Snow Day, starring Chevy Chase, Chris Elliott, and Sissy Spacek’s daughter Skyler, was filmed primarily in Glenora, Government Hill Toboggan Park, and several parks around Edmonton. 
• Edmonton is home to Film Alberta Studios, a 15,000 square-foot sound stage built exclusively for film, television, and video production. 
• Studio Post is Edmonton’s state-of-the-art production facility, with a comprehensive post production centre, a film processing lab, HD facilities, animation, visual, and special effects. 
• Edmonton has professional, talented crews who take projects from pre to post production on time and on budget. 
• Edmonton’s film industry has done it all, including commercials, music videos, episodic television, reality television, made-for-TV movies, and feature films. 
• From 2005 – 2007, production budgets in Edmonton totaled approximately $45 million. 
• 100 Days in the Jungle was based on the true story of eight oil pipeline workers (one American and seven Edmonton area men) who were kidnapped in Ecuador in 1999, held for ransom by guerrillas, and marched through the jungle for 100 days. 
• The West Edmonton Mall penguins starred alongside Dane Cook and Jessica Alba in scenes from the movie Good Luck Chuck. 
• The penguin dive tank and playground in the movie Good Luck Chuck was built in Edmonton’s Film Alberta Studios.

Famous Faces Seen Here

Here are some of the celebrities who have filmed in Edmonton over the years:

• Aiden Quinn 
• Alex Baldwin 
• Brad Pitt 
• Carmen Electra 
• Casey Affleck 
• Chevy Chase 
• Chris Kattan 
• Dane Cook 
• Farrah Fawcett 
• Jessica Alba 
• Patrick Dempsey 
• Patrick Swayze 
• Preston Lacy 
• Rob Lowe 
• Ryan O’Neal 
• Sam Shepard 
• Sarah Jessica Parker 
• Sir Anthony Hopkins 
• Tim Curry 
• Tom Green

For more information about film production in Edmonton,visit the Film Office section of Edmonton.com.