Written by on Nov 20, 2012. Posted in Production News

Alaska-set period feature to film on location in Canada for better accessibility

A new feature set in Alaska will film on location in Alberta, Canada. Race to Save Nome is based on the true story of efforts to reach a remote Alaskan town when it fell victim to a diphtheria outbreak in 1925.

Nome, in the far west of Alaska, is as inaccessible now as it was in the 1920s and can be reached only be sea or air, which was likely a factor in the decision to build the town in Alberta. The actual shoot will take place near Calgary, the Calgary Herald reports, meaning it’ll be easy to get to and the production will qualify for Alberta’s filming incentives.

Damian Petti is President of Local 212 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts. He spoke to the outlet: “It’s a rather large build; we’re looking at 150 carpenters to start ... It’s really good for us to have some larger-budget projects this time of year."

Alaska is channelling some USD200 million into its filming incentives over the next ten years, but the programme has polarised opinion. Lower crew pools and sometimes limited regional infrastructure seem to deter big-budget productions that can find similar, easier locations in Canada.