By David Wiwchar

Hollywood returns to Alberni

Jul 28, 2025 | 8:04 AM

The bright lights of Hollywood have returned to the Alberni Valley.

“Harmonia” will be filming for the next month at various locations in the area including Great Central Lake and McLean Mill National Historic Site.

McLean Mill Manager Elliot Drew says the big budget movie will help sell the mill and the Alberni Valley to the world.

“This is going to help promote the mill,” he said. “Whenever things like film or entertainment gets into the zeitgeist people want to go and experience that for themselves. They want to see where that film was shot. It introduces us to new places and experiences, so we’re really hoping that through these films that we’re going to be getting the word out about how interesting but also how beautiful a spot McLean Mill is.”

Drew says this is the third production to feature the mill within the past year.

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“We of course had the large ‘One Mile’ production that was with us for almost two months and then we had a short one day shoot for a foreign film and now we’re really excited to welcome this production,” he said.

Harmonia is about a women’s commune in the 1980’s and two daughters rescuing their mother from the cult.

It stars Carrie Coon from White Lotus, Lily James from Mamma Mia, and Bella Ramsey from Game of Thrones and Last of Us.

Drew says the movie crew consists of more than 100 people, contributing more than $500,000 into the economy during the next few weeks.

He says local government and community support shows the movie industry that the Alberni Valley is open for business.