WATCH: Highway 19 is closed from Horne Lake Road to Cook Creek Road between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. each day through Friday, as the much anticipated Sonic the Hedgehog movie takes it over. Detours around the area are in effect, which means the shoot’s turning into booming business for Fanny Bay.
As rain poured down on film crews blocking access to the movie shoot on Highway 19 Monday, Roxanne Milligan was cheerfully setting the tables at her Fanny Bay Inn just down the road.
“There’s 12 people coming in to have lunch,” said Milligan. “So I’m getting them all setup, which will be great.”
“It’s fabulous. It’s been the talk of the town now for about a month. So we’re anticipating lots of people around and there has been for the last few days and its great,” said the owner of the Fanny Bay Inn.
She knows she’ll be busy with all the traffic on Highway 19 being detoured around the shoot onto Highway 19A, mixing with the hundreds of workers on the Sonic the Hedgehog blockbuster filling up this pub that’s a local favourite.
“It’s the excitement of it all too,” said Milligan. “Of a small town to have people in that we can learn from and talk to its exciting for us.”
Officials say its impacting businesses all over this region.
“Local businesses are loving it,” said Joan Miller of Vancouver Island North Film Commission. “Production comes to town and you know the Comox Valley is going to feel the big boost of having 300 extra people there, you know eating at night, staying in hotels,” said Miller.
For Roxanne Milligan though, there is just one person she is watching for. Her favourite movie star Jim Carrey is on this film and is hoping to get a glimpse of the Hollywood star.
Though no sightings of him just yet.
“None yet that we know of. We’re anticipating maybe Jim Carrey,” said Milligan. “It would be awesome.”
Skye Ryan
