Industrial Filming in Powell River Our Own Version of Hollywood

by Carolyn Smith, Visitor Services Assistant

With the recent filming taking place throughout the qathet Region, staff at qathet Museum & Archives have been reflecting on the history of production in the area. Although Hollywood seems like a world away from the serene landscape and isolated communities of the qathet Region, the early residents were given a small glimpse into the world of film. Despite no early blockbuster films being shot in the area during the 1940s and 1950s Powell River did become globally recognized for their two colour films; River of Paper and The Powell River Story, which identified the industrial work taking place on the West Coast of B.C.. Initially, the intent of the production of these early films was to promote the Powell River Company's product at an international level, but it was soon realized the films would also hold educational value globally.

River of Paper: Powell River's First in Industrial Film

In 1945, the Powell River Company (owners and operators of the Powell River Pulp and Paper Mill) released a movie titled River of Paper that was shared with various industrial companies across B.C. and later the world. The film outlined all the manufacturing phases for Powell River newsprint, showcasing the qathet Region as vital to Canada’s greatest manufacturing industry (continued)

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The film was used globally as an educational and entertainment feature that shared the story of the Powell River Company from its inception. By its second year, the film was seen by over 680,000 people including viewers located in Canada, the United States, Australia, Phillippines, the United Kingdom, and South America. Although the primary filming took place in the Municipality of Powell River, scenes also took place in Desolation Sound and showcased loggers working the forests of Haida Gwaii.

As was reported by the Powell River Digester, "The Powell River Company hopes that by means of these scenes, taken in its plant and at its logging camps, the public will appreciate something of the great industry that serves them with their paper requirements. We hope that our own employees have gained a new perspective on their work and the industry which employs them. We hope our consumers and prospective customers will see something of the foundation, the men, machines and the organization on which Powell River’s reputation has been based."

(Powell River Digester October 1945 Pages 4-5)

The Powell River Story: The Company's Follow-Up

Filming did not stop in the 1940s as The Powell River Company released a second coloured film with its industrial movie, The Powell River Story. The new film described the full range of the company's operations: “newsprint and pulp mills, sawmill and corrugated box plants, and logging and towing operations.” Narration of the film was done by renowned Canadian author and historical journalist,

Bruce Hutchison. Although the primary purpose of the film was to outline the story of Powell River, the company hoped it would hold a similar educational value to that of their first movie, River of Paper “At the Kootney [sic] Film Festival, now recognized as one of the major film festivals in Canada, the Company film was awarded first place for overall excellence in the industrial section” (Powell River Digester 1956). The filming was no easy task; many scenes were retaken due to the adverse west coast weather and film producers flew over 6400 kilometres between logging camps and other operations of the Powell River Company.