A film crew descended on Okotoks earlier this month to shoot a short digital series that could pique the interest of Heartland fans. Enthusiasts of the CBC hit show can expect some of their favourite characters and settings in the short series, Hudson, which tells the story of two Maggie’s Diner waitresses vying for the title of manager. Portions of the series were shot in Okotoks July 10 and 11. Okotoks’ Scott Lepp, associate producer of Heartland and producer of Hudson, said scenes were shot in Okotoks at Grand Central Bar & Grill on Elizabeth Street and on the banks of the Sheep River under the Southridge Drive overpass. The series was then filmed in High River at Maggie’s Diner and various town locations. “We had a lot of challenges, but we had an incredibly hard-working crew that overcame everything,” said Lepp. “We’re going to get started on editing pretty quickly and I just can’t wait to put it all together.” Among the challenges faced by cast and crew was the hot weather, Lepp said. “When you’re working long days in the heat, especially in an interior set, it just takes a lot out of you,” he said. “There was also construction going on behind Maggie’s the whole time, which was very difficult for crew, especially sound and getting work done with incessant noise.” When filming at the river, Lepp said they cordoned off a section to allow for shooting. “We had to control a small area,” he said. “We had people set up there while we filmed so we could keep the public out of the shot. Everybody was incredibly accommodating.” Both Okotoks locations functioned as hangout places for the characters of Hudson, Lepp said. “We wanted to get them off the street and away from Maggie’s,” he said. “The Grand Central plays an integral part of the story. It was chosen because of its unique look and style. It’s going to look amazing.” Although the characters and the setting mimic those of Heartland, Lepp said the two series have nothing to do with each other. Hudson stars Heartland’s Jade, played by Madison Cheeatow, and Sloane, played by Bianca Caroca, who are the waitresses vying for the manager position. The series has special guest appearances by other Heartland cast members, including Lou, played by Michelle Morgan, who directed three of the six-part digital series, which run seven to 10 minutes in length. Lepp said the idea of the digital series came from CBC. “My job on Heartland is to create digital media for the show to enhance the world of Heartland,” he said. “Every year CBC comes to me and gives me an idea of what they’re looking for and I pitch ideas back and we decide what to do.” When CBC expressed interest in a short series, Lepp said he jumped all over it. “Knowing you can do a show within a world of a fan base that’s huge, it’s just a great opportunity,” he said. “It’s an opportunity for me to continue to build my reel and producing repertoire, it’s an opportunity to give people a chance to do more.” The digital series not only gave Lepp the ability to produce, but also the chance to promote Okotoks as a great place to film. Lepp also filmed the full-length thriller Ice Blue in Okotoks and surrounding area last year. “One of the most important things about working in this industry in Alberta is to promote Alberta as a viable place in the film industry,” he said. “Now that I’ve lived here long enough and I’ve seen the beautiful parts of town, I want to bring work here. It’s a way for us to help inject business and promotion into the town, but also for me I’m familiar with it, I know where to go and what to do. I want to promote Okotoks as a film location that people can use.” Hudson will be available on CBC TV’s app and across its digital platform in Canada this fall. A release date has not yet been set.
