FILE PHOTO - A film set for National Parks working out of Penticton's Wholesale Club parking lot.

(STEVE ARSTAD / iNFOnews.ca)

The South Okanagan is bustling with film productions including a new series produced by Kevin Costner.

Jon Summerland, Okanagan Film Commissioner, said in a press release the 2021 film and television production schedule keeps expanding with new projects, as new companies are coming to film in the South Okanagan and individual companies remain committed to filming in the Okanagan.

“One of the productions filming right now is the ABC pilot National Parks, with big names associated with it," he said. "This is a bright star in our region.

The drama series will follow a small group or elite agents as they solve crimes while protecting the national treasures in the U.S. park system, according to Variety.

"A pilot of this magnitude is putting this region on the path to a long-format television series that would employ hundreds of people over a long period of time, and we are super excited about this prospect,” Summerland said.

READ MORE: Film crew in Penticton to shoot pilot for Kevin Costner-produced TV series

The series is one of three productions being shot in the South Okanagan, Summerland said.

Production company Reel One Entertainment is currently filming their sixth movie of the week, Home For Christmas. Since January, the company has already shot Christmas Au Pair, Love Song For Noel, Waiting For Christmas, Home For My Heart, and Falling For Christmas, Summerland said. 

“Reel One producers Gilles Laplante and Costa Vassos are contributing substantially to building this region’s recognition that we are benefitting from. They are also hiring and training so many local young people in the process,” he said.

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