The Filming of Hallmark’s Moriah’s Lighthouse! An Author’s Journey (Part 13)
April 11 Monday
I awaken, check email, and find that I’ve been contacted by a local woman, Anne-Marie, who wants to find a copy of Moriah’s Lighthouse in French. I tell her that it has not yet been translated into other languages, but that I am on set and would love to meet her. I also describe what I’m wearing, and tell her that if she wants it, I have an English copy with me that I’ll give her if she finds me.
She’s delighted with this and says that she’s getting to be an extra in today’s marketplace scene and will be looking for me. She spots me at lunch and comes over with a huge grin. We start chattering back and forth in our respective languages. Neither of us understand a word the other one is saying, of course, so we engage Google Translate. Our conversation goes something like this: I’m SO happy to meet you! Thank you for the book! I love your town! What a great marketplace costume! Can we get a selfie?
She tells me that she is originally from a town in southern France but married a local doctor and moved here. She’s passionate about photography and runs a small art shop in town.
- (Serena and local shopkeeper, Anne-Marie, taking a photo together)
The scenes today will mostly be filmed within the courtyard in the middle of the town. I wish there was a way I could sit beside those who view this movie and tell them that this is REALLY how this place looks! This isn’t a movie set someone designed and built. The shops, the bakery, the candy store, are exactly like this!
Soon, Borga finds me and takes me to meet Agnes Bristow, Leif’s wife, the woman who wrote Dancing Through the Shadow. She has traveled all the way from Toronto over the weekend.
The best way to describe Agnes is to say that she’s the kind of woman I wish lived next door. We connect quickly and deeply. I tell her how much I enjoyed her book. That leads into a conversation about the issues of research, writing, and how hard it can be to write accurately about someone else’s life.
We are informed that a scene between Moriah and Bridgette is ready to be filmed inside the candy store. Agnes and I cut our conversation short to hurry inside where we can watch it all unfold. We get to chat a little more between takes, but time has grown short and there is still much we need to do.
Before the day ends, Rachelle agrees to do a quick interview.
