StettlerLocal.com June 15, 2023 at 8:20 pm
By Jewel Theatre Staff Stettler's Jewel Theatre is one of a handful of independent Alberta theatres to be featured in a documentary in production this summer.
Magic Hours is a self-described "love letter" to independent cinemas and the people who run them. It will be shown on CBC's Absolutely Canadian later in 2023 or early 2024.
"By shining a spotlight on some of these magical places and the challenges they face, we aim to celebrate the vital role they've played in our communities," says filmmaker and director Levi Holwell of Back Road Productions.
Holwell and his crew are visiting Alberta cinemas in both small towns and large cities to share their unique stories.
The first shooting date at the Jewel was on June 13 to interview staff and film inside the theatre. The film crew plans to return for the Jewel's 70th Anniversary Gala on June 30. Holwell says he felt an immediate connection to the Stettler theatre. "It's the sort of theatre I was really hoping to discover when I started working on this documentary," he says. "It has a feeling of care and love, much like the Globe Theatre in Calgary. It's like a sacred space – and of course a filmmaker would say that." He also feels a connection to Stettler itself, especially with its historic main street. "Some small towns have a charm and a history that appeal to me," he says, "and I feel that here." Production on Magic Hours is scheduled to wrap in October, with the CBC broadcast date to be announced later. The Jewel Theatre's 70th Anniversary Gala is Friday, June 30 at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $50 each, and are available at Reel Good Coffee. Check jeweltheatre.ca for details.
–Reprinted with Permission
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