Barrie hits the big screen at children's film fest

Google alert from BarryAdvance.com
Author: Leigh Blenkhorn, STAFF
Date: Apr 16, 2009

Gooby, a new children's movie starring the city of Barrie, will make its debut at Sprockets, the Toronto International Film Festival for Children this weekend.

The film, written and directed by Wilson Coneybeare, was shot in Barrie last summer and stars Robbie Coltrane, David James Elliott and Eugene Levy.

Coneybeare said the film came about because he wanted a movie he could take all four of his children to see.

"The story itself came about from my own son, who was about seven at the time," Coneybeare said. "I basically wanted to write a story for him that would be fun but also have something to say to kids and parents about the importance of imagination."

Gooby is the story of Willy, an 11-year-old who is afraid of moving to a new house and the evil space aliens that live there. Willy wishes for someone to save him and then Gooby, a full-size furry creature comes to life. The film is the story of their adventures together.

Gooby was shot in a number of locations in Barrie, including Sunnidale Park and downtown.

"Everyone was extremely co-operative; the cty reached out to help us in anyway they could and we were able to shoot right downtown without any problem," Coneybeare said. "We were able to find a factory for rent where we could shoot our interiors. We just had a fantastic time."

Coneybeare said one of the best things about filming in Barrie was that no one was really star struck. Most people just went about their normal day, ignoring the cameras.

"There was one day we were filming at Dunlop and Bayfield with Gooby, who looks like a six-foot furry monster. We had the camera on one side of the street with Gooby and the boy walking along, and I thought for sure we were going to cause traffic accidents. We start rolling and the cars just kept going by. It amazed me."

Coneybeare is no stranger to filming in Barrie; his company Coneybeare Stories filmed the YTV show Monster Warriors in the city as well.

For more information on Gooby or Coneybeare Stories Inc., visit www.coneybearestories.ca .