A movie producer born and raised in Chatham is ready to shine at the Canadian Screen Awards later this month.
Garrett VanDusen, who is now based in Vancouver, has earned a nomination for Best TV Movie at the Canadian Screen Awards in Toronto at the end of May.
The movie's titled 'The 13th Wife: Escaping Polygamy, Part 1.' It's about a woman who recounts her forced marriage to a cult leader after a violent massacre tied to the cult makes headlines.
VanDusen told CK News Today it's an honour to get nominated.
"The first of many. I feel like I'm just getting started. Very, very humbled and surprised, but very hungry to see what's next," said VanDusen.
He said the script was dropped on his lap, and he was tasked with finding a location and tax incentives to bring the movie to life.
"We set an example of what a new TV movie needs to look and feel like. What we were able to do with the money that was allocated and the size of that budget, I think we set a new standard, and I think you see that when watching the movie. We were able to get Felicity Huffman in the movie. So, we have a little bit of star power," VanDusen noted.
The movie was ultimately shot in Kelowna, B.C., after scouting places in Mexico and Utah because it required desert scenes.
VanDusen said he respects the other nominees, but he believes his movie should win.
"I'm going to tell you why it's a winner. The west coast in Canada doesn't get recognized enough for awards and enough for producers and I think the organization and committee needs to spread the love just to make it a fair playground," he conveyed.
The 2026 Canadian Screen Awards takes place May 31.
