Movie mania has overtaken the Ottawa Valley again this summer with the shooting of another Lutes Cousins Films project.
This time, the movie being filmed is ‘Not a Love Story,’ a prequel to Pictures of Us, which was shot here last year.
Director Brian Lutes explains how ‘Not a Love Story,’ third in a trilogy that also includes the locally filmed Painted Sharks, came to be.
Lutes describes Pictures of Us as a Romeo and Juliet-type story that is very gritty. Throughout that movie, there’s Romeo’s older brother, who is in the hospital. The film is set in 1979-1980 when the Aids epidemic was going on, said Lutes.
This summer’s shoots have taken place at a variety of locations in the Ottawa Valley, particularly in Pembroke, an area that has proven to be an ideal location to shoot these movies.
And the reception and response Lutes and company have experienced – from the provision of retro vehicles to the enthusiasm of extras to the willingness of property owners to lend their space – are just incredible, said Lutes – not something he’d ever experience back home in Los Angeles.
It’s been the same for every film he’s shot in the Ottawa Valley, said Lutes, noting he appreciates the support and enthusiasm.
As shooting continues, so too does last-minute post-production work on Pictures of Us, which is expected to premiere this October. Watch the teaser trailer here.
More information on all Lutes Cousins Films projects can be found on social media and the website.
(Written by Sherry Haaima)