Hollywood comes to Winnipeg with a high-profile feature film currently shooting in town

Winnipeg’s film industry has seen dozens of productions this year alone, but few are bigger than November 1963, a feature film starring John Travolta, which is shooting in town until the end of July, chronicling the days leading up to the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

“This was really the height of organized crime’s power, and I tell it as such, and Roland, and the actors Mandy Patinkin, Dermot Mulroney, John Travolta, Jefferson White, all of them are just fabulous actors, and they all saw that, that this was not a throwaway film, that this was more about the characters,” said Nicholas Celozzi, the screenwriter and producer of November 1963.

“I mean, the hotels, restaurants, every bodies been so welcoming, that I would absolutely come here and shoot again.”

Celozzi is the nephew of notorious gangster Sam Giancana, who was infamously tied to the Kennedy Assassination. He derives the story from firsthand experiences told by his other uncle, “Pepe”.

“Him and I were very close, so as I got into the film business, over a period of time, I’m going to tell you what actually happened because I was with my brother those two or three days during this whole assassination situation,” said Celozzi.

With the film taking place in Dallas and Chicago in 1963, Celozzi’s producing partner suggested Winnipeg as a potential option for the shoot, because of the unique downtown cityscape and versatile rural locations. He says that as soon as he showed up, he knew this was the perfect place.

“They looked at locations, we spent three or four days, I was shocked. I said you know something, we can do Chicago over here, look at this street over here!  Then you have the exchange, and I go, ‘What a perfect little area here.’ So we were finding these little nuggets that I never realized had existed here.”

Celozzi says he’s also thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with what he calls a hard-working local crew.  And while Star John Travolta was not available for an interview, all indications are that he too is loving live filming in Winnipeg.

“Loves the hospitality, we took him around to some of the locations, he goes ‘Wow, you guys really pulled this off, even I’m a little surprised.’ So he’s excited to be here, and we’re excited to have him,” said Celozzi.

The film’s release date is yet to be announced.