British Columbia town relishes financial benefit from Disney film
Thursday February 06, 2003PRINCE GEORGE, British Columbia (AP) Disney's decision to film ``Miracle'' in this northern British Columbia town is a financial miracle for the struggling logging community, Mayor Colin Kinsley says.
Officials confirmed Wednesday that a major part of the movie about the underdog 1980 U.S. Olympic team, which won a gold medal by upsetting Russia and Finland, will be shot this spring at the Prince George Multiplex arena.
A makeover will be done to make the arena look like the Olympic rink in Lake Placid, N.Y. Work on the movie is scheduled to begin in April and last about six weeks. Kurt Russell is starring as Herb Brooks, Team U.S.A.'s coach.
A few parts of the movie will be filmed in Vancouver, about 320 miles to the south, and some exterior scenes may be shot in the Kootenays in southeastern British Columbia.
Ken Veldman, vice president of Initiatives Prince George, estimates the production will bring about $5 million (U.S. $3.25 million) into the local economy in a short time period.
With the forest industry long on the skids, ``the timing couldn't be better for having this kind of new money coming in,'' Kinsley said.
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