Baffin region a magnet for TV and movies

­Inuit have traditionally welcomed strangers into their homes. But few visitors arrive with television cameras in tow.

A three-person film crew from England recently dropped by the Mike home in Iqaluit to film their everyday life. For a full week, they followed every move of Meeka Mike, who runs Qimuq Adventure Tours, her father, James Mike, from Pangnirtung, and her 11-year old daughter, Jessie.

“I’ve helped out a lot of film crews,” said Meeka, “but this was the first time I was actually part of a production.”

The finished documentary will teach British school children more about Inuit life of today and yesterday.

Brits interested in culture

“Children grow up fascinated with Inuit and igloos,” said the films co-producer, Pamela Williams.

That’s because when students in Great Britain learn their alphabet, “I” stands for Igloo.

Williams’ production will show them more about Inuit traditional skills and technology. That’s why the crew came to film during Toonik Tyme, when many traditional activities are demonstrated.

Three generations of the Mike family seemed like ideal subjects.

James Mike came to Iqaluit from Pangnirtung for the filming, throwing himself enthusiastically into the project.

When some scenes had to be filmed over again. James never balked.

Pangnirtung man a “natural”

“I was happy to do it,” said James. “It’s for a good purpose, to help school children understand more about Inuit life.”

In the final version, James Mike will be seen by millions of schoolchildren, as he shows granddaughter Jessie how to carve soapstone.

The film crew also visited Jessie’s class at Nakashuk School to observe the new computers students use as part of their education.

“And I wasn’t even embarassed,” said Jessie.

The Mike family kept its good humor throughout the production, even when, on one warm, spring day, it meant posing in heavy, caribou parkas.

Productions mean big bucks for local economy

Turner Network Television is also in Iqaluit this month filming a made-for-cable-television movie.

The movie will tell the story of the North Pole expedition of Afro-American Matthew Henson and Robert Peary in 1909, and is being shot at various locations around Iqaluit.

The movie stars Henry Czerny and Del Ray Lindo in the lead roles.

With a budget of close to $10 million, the film’s producers have brought a crew of about 60 people to Iqaluit, hiring locals to drive skidoos, to build sets and to stand in as extras.

Rick Hamburg of the Regional Parks and Tourism Department, said movie-making is good for the local economy.

“Because of the TNT production, at least a half-million dollars will be left in the community, and that’s a conservative estimate,” Hamburg said.

Word is spreading that Nunavut is open to film-makers.

TRISTAR, a major movie-making company from the United States, is currently scouting possible locations around Iqaluit and Pangnirtung for a $100-million feature film on Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton.

Pond Inlet is also attracting its share of productions. Next week shooting begins on a series of TV advertisements for a company based in England.

Meanwhile, researchers for a German documentary on English explorers Henry Hudson and Martin Frobisher are also in the community, scouting out possible sites.

Hamburg isn’t surprised by this increasing interest in Nunavut. Every year the Northwest Territories sends a representative down to Los Angeles to meet with representatives of the movie and television industry.

“The government invests around $10,000 for a return of millions,” says Hamburg. “That’s a pretty good return.”