Film crew in Penticton to shoot pilot for Kevin Costner-produced TV series

If the intent was to not attract attention, it was pretty hard not to notice dozens of trucks, trailers and tents set up on the parking lot of Penticton’s Wholesale Club.

Yet official sources are secretive regarding a film production crew in Penticton, and did not respond to requests for information about the production.

Okanagan film commissioner John Summerland said he could not discuss the project due to a non-disclosure agreement.

“It’s exciting, big. It’s kind of what I’ve been waiting for in the region, exactly what we need for us to have longevity in the industry," Summerland said.

According to a crew member on site who isn’t authorized to speak, the entourage in the parking lot is a film production crew in Penticton filming a pilot for a possible television series called National Parks.

The drama series for ABC is being produced by Kevin Costner, who coming off a recent success with the drama series Yellowstone, which he both stars in and produces, according to Variety. The show biz magazine says the National Park series will follow a small group or elite agents as they solve crimes while protecting the national treasures in the US park system.

The crew member in Penticton said the grocery store parking lot is providing a staging area for film crews working in and around Penticton.

“You can never tell if this is a real attempt to produce a new TV series or whether this is intended to be a tax write-off. It’s too bad restaurants in town aren’t open. These people like to spend a lot of money,” the crew member said.

The trucks began setting up on Good Friday and are expected to be at the site until this Friday.

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