Any resident startled by the sound of gunfire here last weekend will be pleased to learn the only thing getting shot was a film.
Harriston native Chad Snider, a student of the Toronto Film School, brought a crew consisting primarily of his classmates and other volunteers to town to shoot a few scenes from the short film A Done Deal, which he wrote, produced, directed and acted in.
One of the scenes shot in Harriston (some filming was also done in Listowel) required firing blanks with a shotgun. Snider had advised Town of Minto officials of the plan in advance and received an exemption from the town’s noise bylaw. The OPP were also advised of the activity.
The town also co-operated by allowing the Minto Fire Department’s rescue unit to be filmed in some scenes, which attracted some attention at 191 King Street South on Sunday, as the vehicle was parked out front and the residence surrounded by police tape.
Snider said A Done Deal is his graduation project for the film course. The short film, designed to promote awareness of the dangers of drug use, is also a very personal story.
“What I am trying to do is create more drug awareness and inspire people not to make the same choices as my characters do,” said Snider, adding the film is based on the true story of his own six-year battle with addiction to crystal meth.
The plot of the film revolves around a meth-addicted character who gets caught by his boss getting high in a bathroom stall. After kicking his addiction with the help of a long-time friend, he is drawn back into the drug culture when offered a job as a delivery boy for a dealer, which leads to a disastrous turn as a collector/enforcer.
“We had an amazing time shooting in Harriston,” said Snider, adding his cast and crew “loved the town” – but not the cold weather – as they worked hard to get the segments shot in four days between Jan. 24 to 27.
Snider said he and his team appreciated the support from local residents.
“Thank you to all the people from the town who opened their homes to us and were so hospitable. Without the support from the community, this would have never been possible,” he said.
Once the film school project is completed, Snider is planning to submit A Done Deal to some film festivals, including the Toronto International Film Festival, in an attempt to obtain wider distribution.
