Sarnia-based director Aaron Huggett is bringing another real-life southwestern Ontario historical drama to the big screen.
Filming has begun on The Black Donnellys, the story of an Irish family that emigrated to the Lucan area in the 1840's. Their farm was burned down and five family members murdered in 1880, following a long-standing conflict with other residents.
Huggett says he plans to tell an honest story, including a love triangle between Will Donnelly and two local girls.
"It's a piece of Canadiana that's set right here in southwestern Ontario that means a lot to a lot of people," he says. "We're doing it because we enjoy the process of film-making and to serve the local history."
The first round of filming has wrapped up in Petrolia and the ghost town of Napier just outside of Alvinston.
"We'll be shooting some more scenes in Petrolia and in Guelph. We've had great community support in both places we've filmed so far," says Huggett.
Filming should wrap up in May with the 43-minute movie's premier in Sarnia in the fall. Huggetts previous biopic about notorious bank robber Red Ryan, who met his demise in Sarnia was met with high acclaim.
