A second big-budget TV series that was partially filmed in the Southern Interior of B.C. has made its small screen debut, providing yet another showcase for the Thompson-Nicola area.

Tracker, starring Justin Hartley, premiered on CBS on Feb. 11, airing immediately after the broadcast of Super Bowl LVIII. More than 123 million people watched this year91裸聊视频檚 Super Bowl, making it the most-watched program in US TV history, eclipsing the 1969 moon landing, and the Thompson-Nicola Film Commission91裸聊视频檚 Terri Hadwin suspects that many of those viewers watched at least the opening minutes of Tracker, which were filmed west of Kamloops between Cache Creek and Walhachin.

91裸聊视频淭o have a premiere immediately following the Super Bowl is generally viewed as a pinnacle for releasing a new series on television,91裸聊视频� says Hadwin. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 the most lucrative prime time you can have on TV, so I91裸聊视频檓 hoping that Tracker got some spillover, particularly as we were in the first five minutes.91裸聊视频�

The filmmakers were in the area in 2022, with filming taking place in the same area as, and almost back-to-back with, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters starring Kurt Russell, which debuted on Apple+ in November 2023.

91裸聊视频淭丑别 Tracker crew was in our area for about two weeks, with prep, filming, and wrap, and we made it into about five minutes91裸聊视频�-worth of the show,91裸聊视频� says Hadwin. That might not sound like a lot for a multi-episode TV series, but the film commissioner is buoyant.

91裸聊视频淭丑别 desert landscapes of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District are generally a huge draw for film productions of all sizes, and what91裸聊视频檚 exciting is that productions tend to use it in key moments. We get high action or really exciting scenes, or the opening scene like in Tracker or Jurassic World to really excite the audience.

91裸聊视频淲e may not have a lot of screen time, but we have quality time.91裸聊视频�

Tracker 91裸聊视频� based on the book The Never Game by Jeffery Deaver 91裸聊视频� centres on the story of lone-wolf survivalist Colter Shaw, who has extensive tracking skills. He travels the country in his Airstream trailer as a 91裸聊视频渞ewardist91裸聊视频� who helps police and private citizens solve crimes and find missing people in exchange for reward money. Shaw is played by Justin Hartley, who previously had prominent roles in Smallville, This Is Us, and The Young and the Restless.

Hadwin says she understands the appeal of the dramatic landscapes near the McAbee Fossil Beds east of Cache Creek.

91裸聊视频淚 think it91裸聊视频檚 the very drastic desert and commanding presence. You can be in places where there are wide open fields of nothing, or a backdrop of hoodoos in some places. There are acres and acres of land where you can have different appearances.

91裸聊视频淭丑别 close proximity to Ashcroft and Cache Creek for quick amenities doesn91裸聊视频檛 hurt, and you91裸聊视频檙e close to Kamloops for hotels for the talent.91裸聊视频�

While Hadwin can91裸聊视频檛 say much about what projects might be coming to the region, she is optimistic about the outlook for the rest of the year.

91裸聊视频淚 think 2024 is shaping up to be one of our better years, just with how busy it was in 2023 with scouting and trying to assist productions in finding their locations. Last year wasn91裸聊视频檛 a good year because of the writers91裸聊视频� and actors91裸聊视频� strikes during our prime time for filming, so [filmmakers] weren91裸聊视频檛 able to move forward, because productions were on pause for so long. Now they91裸聊视频檙e really itching to get out there and get creating, so I think 2024 is going to be monumental.91裸聊视频�

She adds that a good year for filming in the area translates into a real economic boost, with filmmakers spending about $18 million in direct spends in the Thompson-Nicola region in 2022. 91裸聊视频淚t was about $2 million last year, but we91裸聊视频檙e probably looking at closer to 2022 numbers this year.91裸聊视频�

Hadwin notes that the local landscape features in the main poster materials for Tracker, and says she91裸聊视频檚 thrilled that residents can tune in and see an area that91裸聊视频檚 familiar.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 so great when people can recognize that work is being done here and celebrate it. That doesn91裸聊视频檛 happen everywhere. It can really drive tourism, especially if the show develops a cult following. There91裸聊视频檚 the spin-off of 91裸聊视频榃ow, I didn91裸聊视频檛 realize I could have that type of a landscape when I visit this area.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淎nd it will definitely impact filmmaking, because when people want to film in desert-like locations they91裸聊视频檒l say to someone 91裸聊视频楬ey, I know you worked on Tracker, where did you film?91裸聊视频� They talk to each other, and that91裸聊视频檚 where you get bang for your buck.

91裸聊视频淛ason Hartley with his Airstream in our area is very much free advertising that I91裸聊视频檓 thrilled to see. You can91裸聊视频檛 purchase that.91裸聊视频�