Who started out with ice in his veins and ice in his brains? Movie character ‘Sure Shot’ Dombrowski might have been a puck short of a full net but he sure made an impression on audiences.
If you enjoy movies like Slap Shot and Goon then you really need to look into this 2007 Edmonton-made feature and its sequels, all written, directed and produced by Tim McKort. McKort is now scouting locations for the next instalment in the series about hockey's greatest two-way player. The series has become progressively more family-friendly as he has explored the character’s earlier life.
All of that has led to A Very, Merry, Sure Shot Dombrowski Christmas, set to start filming in late fall. One can easily imagine that a winter setting is necessary not just for a hockey playing character but for a family-friendly seasonal tale such as this. All of the ducks seem to be lining up nicely, according to the filmmaker.
“Things are going pretty well. Can’t complain. We don’t start until the second week of November. Around the 17th is our first day in Morinville to shoot. The Santa’s Parade, which we’re also going to be incorporating into the movie, is a week later. That’s where we’re getting a lot of our Christmas-y stuff,” McKort said.
“We’ll probably go into the new year, which doesn’t really matter at all to us. They’ve got a couple of other festivals that are ongoing through the winter. We’ll want to capture some of that just for B-roll stuff.”
B-roll refers to supplemental images that can be shot separate from a main scene and then added into the final film.
Right now, Dombrowski Christmas is in pre-production, that phase of a film where locations are scouted and secured, sets are built, the script is as close to perfect as possible before the cameras roll, and all of the props and pieces of wardrobe are figured out. It’s also when the production schedule gets hashed out.
That’s why McKort has been spotted in Morinville a lot recently, checking out places like the Ray McDonald Arena.
“I’ve always wanted to do a Christmas movie. It’s very wholesome, very family enriching, a very strong storyline.”
In this movie, Dombrowski’s grandfather becomes ill so the whole family needs to come together and cope with the stress and the unknown. Don’t worry though: hockey is still the centrepiece of the show, McKort averred. There is a theme of inclusivity and a mysterious figure plays an integral role that should thicken the plot some, plus a storyline involving a big hockey tournament.
“That’s the bow on the Christmas present. It’s a fun movie. It’s all about the Christmas spirit and the season of giving.”
One of the presents that the production will give back to the town will be wide recognition on the big screen. McKort has taken these films to festivals all across North America and the locations have always been as recognizable as the stars.
“I’m not changing the name of the town. I’m not Americanizing it. We’re western Canadian. We want to make sure that this is as much of a travelogue of what we’ve got going on in Western Canada as it is movie entertainment.”
He said that the look and the historical and cultural elements of Morinville were what drew him there to choose it as his filming location.
McKort said that he intends to have a meet and greet with the townsfolk in September, but right now he still needs to sign up some actors, especially hockey players aged 15 to 18 who want to be in the film. He is also open to businesses that wish to provide product placements or take advantage of other sponsorship opportunities. Enquiries should be sent via email to [email protected].
