Teen vampire movie filming in the Okanagan as Hollywood North migrates east

The north Okanagan is playing the role of Napa, California in a teen vampire movie being shot entirely in the area.

Drink Slay Love is one of an increasing number of productions being drawn to the Okanagan.

According to statistics from the Okanagan Film Commission, the number of productions filming in the area has steadily increased in the past few years.

Not including animated pictures, at least 28 productions have already shot in the region this year, up from 24 last year and 18 in 2014.

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“It is not over exposed,” said Drink Slay Love executive producer, Sheri Singer.

“You look at movies that have been shot in Vancouver, especially if you are a producer, you say, ‘Oh, I’ve shot there. I’ve shot there.’ It’s not shot out. I hope it never gets shot out.”

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Singer said they choose to shoot Drink Slay Love in the north Okanagan because of the locations available here.

Those working on the film say the Okanagan is also very film-friendly.

“What we often find is we will come here and we’ll look at a location and they will be like, ‘Do you need extras? Do you need flowers?’ It is refreshing to have people that are excited about it,” said producer Tina Pehme with Sepia Films.

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It’s good news for locally-based crew members like Sallie Ritchey who was born in the Okanagan and moved back to try and help build the industry here.

“I moved from Vancouver to come here hoping that it would eventually migrate here,” said Ritchey. “It’s now picking-up.”

However, the local film industry hasn’t picked up enough for Ritchey to have steady work in the Okanagan. She still finds herself commuting to Vancouver for work.

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Drink Slay Love is expected to air on television in 2017.

“It’s basically a teen vampire movie meets mean girls meets a twisted family drama,” explained Singer.

It’s shooting at a number of locations around the north Okanagan including the Mackie Lake House, and the historical Coldstream house is being used as the set for the vampire family’s home.