THUNDER BAY -- A local edge-of-your seat thriller hits theatres in April for world premiere.
The Pineville Heist has been an eight-year ardour for director, producer and Confederation College film professor Lee Chambers..
Chambers' first feature film is based on his 2012 novel of the same name, which has sold 42,000 copies around the world.
"The book has carried me through by being something that is energized and getting people passionate and excited about the project but it's always been about putting it on the big screen," Chambers said.
"I get tons of messages all the time from people wanting to see the movie, not just locally. This is a global thing."
The film follows 14-year-old Aaron Stevens who comes across the aftermath of a $5-million bank heist. Hiding under a canoe, the boy catches the murder of one of the robbers but manages to grab the money and heads for safety.
Chambers said the idea came from when he was playing hide-and-seek as a child.
"I was hiding underneath a canoe. They couldn't see me but I could see them from the feet down," he recalled.
"It sort of was this idea of what would happen if something really bad had happened and so it turned into this crime of murder, mystery and bank robberies."
Despite this film being Chambers' first time directing a feature film, he's had ample experience directing over the years.
"I wanted to make sure that when I made my first feature film that it was quality -- that it looked good, sounded good, had good acting and a really good story," said Chambers.
"I invested everything in it -- blood, sweat and tears."
The Pineville Heist recently received a nomination from the Toronto International Film and Video Awards for the best mid-budget narrative feature film.
From publishing to directing, casting to post-production, Chambers has brought his childhood tale to life.
"It's a journey and every part of the journey has its ups and downs. You can't get to this point without going through the entire journey. You have to embrace it and be part of the process."
The Pineville Heist World Premier takes place on Apr. 6 at 6 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. at Cineplex Silvercity. Admission is by donation and proceeds go to the Free the Children charity.
