Elegance, Intrigue, and Resilience can be found at “Château Laurier”

In Ottawa, Canada, the grand Hotel Château Laurier becomes more than just a backdrop; it’s the stage for the captivating dramatic series, “Château Laurier.” The show, which explores the lives of Edwardian newlyweds Hattie and Vivian, heirs to this storied establishment, unfolds a narrative filled with slings, arrows, enemies, opportunities, and strife.

James Stewart is the producer and director of Château Laurier and has a deep connection to Ottawa. Stewart also maintained a lifelong dream of bringing the tales of Château Laurier to life. In an exclusive interview, Stewart shares insights into the show’s creation, challenges, and the allure of this historic setting.

Stewart’s inspiration for “Chateau Laurier” stems from his upbringing in Ottawa. He speaks fondly of the hotel, describing it as a place where intrigue, politics, money, power, and even ghosts have left their mark over the past century. The series aims to imagine the conversations and stories that could unfold within its walls.

“It is full of all kinds of intrigue, the wealthy stay there, the famous stay there, the infamous stay there and it’s just always intrigue me” said Stewart. “I thought if the walls could talk and what would the show look like and that is what we wanted to do with our show Château Laurier.”

One of the standout aspects of production was the recreation of 1912 Ottawa. Despite budget constraints, the team successfully brought authenticity to the costumes, hair, makeup, and sets. The result is a visually compelling and fascinating portrayal of the time period, with remarkable performances that capture the essence of the era.

“We had some incredible performances, and some really talented artist, working on the show. I think the characters come off, looking incredibly compelling and fascinating, and we captured the time period perfectly.”

Stewart reveals that filming during the COVID-19 pandemic presented unique obstacles. With masks on all actors and background performers, coordinating hair, makeup, and costume changes became particularly challenging. The production team implemented strict safety measures, including bubbling the cast in a hotel for the entire shoot. Fortunately, they navigated through without any COVID cases or shutdowns.

“We had to bubble the cast and keep them in a hotel for the whole production.  I am glad we don’t have to wear masks anymore.”

Reflecting on the experience, Stewart shares that if given the chance to go back in time, he would adjust the shooting schedule. “Film things according to what takes the most time – in our case on a period drama it’s the hair, Make-Up and Wardrobe that takes up the most time, so I think I would everything based on how long it takes to do a wardrobe change or a hair change.”

Stewart offers valuable advice for aspiring filmmakers. He recommends working as much as possible, network extensively, and be prolific in creating content. “Just make things because one project always leads to another project and that’s how you build up your work reel and your network in the industry.”

To catch “Chateau Laurier,” viewers can attend the 2024 Utah International Film Festival, where the series will be showcased. Additionally, the show is available on AppleTV and Amazon Prime. Stewart invites audiences to connect with him on his company website http://www.genevafilmco.com, follow “Chateau Laurier” on Facebook, and stay tuned for his upcoming feature, “SWAY,” premiering in February in Los Angeles and making its way across the United States later this year.

“Château Laurier” is an Official Selection of the Utah International Film Festival and will screen at Maven Cinemas in American Fork, UT. The festival runs February 12-17 in Utah County.