TOWER- The Lamppa Civic Center in Tower was transformed into a movie set last week as a film crew, along with actors and extras, filmed scenes for a movie titled “Bigfoot Woods.”
The civic center was chosen as a set for part of the film that takes place at a Bigfoot conference. The majority of the film is being shot in Ely.
“We picked Ely because it’s a beautiful town,” film producer Megan Huber said. Huber and her team had looked at other locations on the Range, but they ended up picking Ely. In addition, the film’s screenwriting team, Bruce and Abel Pavalon, have family living in Ely, so were familiar with the location.
The civic center exterior got a fall harvest theme makeover, and the interior was transformed with booths advertising bigfoot swamp tours, a cryptid face-painting booth, and bigfoot plush toys for sale.
Bigfoot does not make an actual appearance in the film, in case anyone is wondering.
The main actors in the movie are professionals, but some area talent was hired for smaller roles. Filming was expected to wrap up in Ely by Oct. 23, Huber said. Producers had to rearrange some of the shooting schedule due to a COVID outbreak among the cast and crew. Those working at the civic center last week were all wearing masks, except during the actual filming.
Huber is familiar with the Iron Range, having moved to the region two years ago after establishing herself as a Hollywood producer, with several films to her credit, including the 2021 award-winning “Hollywood Fringe,” which took the audience choice award at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival. She also filmed a movie in Park Rapids, titled “Three-Day Weekend.”
Many extras were on set, and were enjoying the experience of watching a movie being made, though they admitted their day was mostly spent waiting.
Two retired women from Ely said they had brought things to do, but mostly were keeping busy making new friends with the other extras. And the fire hall, adjacent to the civic center, was set up as a canteen for those on set.