New movie to be filmed in Penticton this month

An all-Canadian motion picture starring Eric McCormack and directed by Stephen Campanelli will bolster the recent slate of Okanagan-made movies.

The “coming of age” movie is called Change of Pace and will start filming in Penticton Sept. 28.

"We are truly honoured to have a director of this calibre at the helm of Change of Pace and know that Stephen will capture the true essence of hope and resilience at the heart of this story," Graham Fraser of Suitcase Charlie Films said in a press release.

“The addition of Eric McCormack to the role of Hank Freshwater elevates Change of Pace to a new level.  Eric brings a wealth of talent and quality with his credentials and acting abilities and I could not be more thrilled to see Eric bring Hank to life.”

Born and raised in Toronto, McCormack started his career on the stage with Canada’s Stratford Festival, and eventually starred on Broadway in Tony-nominated productions of The Music Man and Gore Vidal’s The Best Man.

He is known around the world for his work on the iconic television series Will & Grace.  That role earned him six Golden Globe nominations and four Emmy nominations, ultimately winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 2001. The series’ reboot in 2017 was a huge hit with critics and fans alike.

Campanelli has a long history of working with Clint Eastwood and is known affectionately as "Clint's Eye". He became a camera operator on Eastwood's "The Bridges of Madison County " and continued on the Eastwood crew for over 25 years, working on such films as Million Dollar Baby, American Sniper, Sully, Gran Torino, The Mule, and Richard Jewel.  His other works as a camera operator include A Star is Born, Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri, and The Maze Runner.