Sudbury-shot film 'genuinely illuminated' mental illness

The latest feature film to shoot in Sudbury looks a lot like the east coast.

Work on An Audience of Chairs started in Newfoundland earlier this summer. The project is a joint effort between producers on the east coast and in Ontario, so production moved to Sudbury earlier this month.

Producer Eric Jordan says the crew was able to make use of local aesthetics.

"We had a big wedding scene that we shot at the Church of Christ the King on Monday," says Jordan.

"Even though the church was supposed to be Newfoundland, it was built in a way that could match a big cathedral-type church there."

Listen to interviews from the set of An Audience of Chairs here.

'We all have struggles'

The film is based on the 2006 novel of the same name by Canadian author Joan Clark. It details the story of a woman who's trying to reconnect with her children as she struggles with a mental illness.

Beyond the setting is a timely story, says director Deanne Foley.

"I found the story really heart breaking and beautiful and genuinely illuminated a person with mental illness," says Foley.

"I think we all have struggles, but Maura's struggle is just a little bit more intense than the average person."

Foley says her Canadian cast really brought this story to life.

"You start with your script and it's like a blue print," she says.

"Then you have these incredibly talented actors walk on set, and they just blow you away because they make choices you never saw. It's been an emotionally-charged journey making this movie."

The film wrapped up production in Sudbury on Friday, with an expected release date sometime next spring.