Ghost town: Alberta community transforms for Ghostbusters 2020 shoot

Residents and visitors to Fort Macleod have spent the last few days hanging out on main street, hoping to catch a glimpse of some famous faces.

The southern Alberta communityhas been transformed into a picturesque mid-western American town as the cast and crew of Ghostbusters 2020film thelatest instalment of the franchise.

• New Ghostbusters film takes shoot to Fort Macleod
• Jason Reitman shares 1st photo from Ghostbusters 2020 set in Calgary

The movie's location manager, Laszlo Uhrik,previously told CBC News thedirectors and production managers were drawn to the classic look of the town, about 170 kilometres south of Calgary.

"Specifically, the main street that block of buildings that has been maintained the way that it looks nowgives a look that is timeless, in a sense," Uhrik said.

"It's really a beautiful block of buildings."

Let Him Go, an upcoming drama starring Diane Lane and Kevin Costner, was shot in Fort Macleodin April.

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Annette Peacock, who owns a retail store on Main Street, said shethinksthe architecture keeps Hollywood coming back.

"Our buildings are so historic and they're all in use, so they're all kept up," Peacock said. "There's a lot of play there for being able to transform them ...Not to mention, if they're doing any shooting outside of town, I mean, the scenery here is amazing. We're so close to the foothills and stuff."

Peacock's store has been revamped to look like a steakhouse during filming. It's so convincing, she's heard visitors tothe town asking about the imaginary restaurant's reputation.

Shooting makes it difficult for some customers to access localbusinesses, she said,but sales to cast and crew members have helped balance things out.

"Overall, the big picture: it's good for the town," Peacock said. "It puts us on the map a little bit more and it brings the community together, too. Everybody is chatting about it."

• Something strange in the neighbourhood? Next Ghostbusters to be filmed in Calgary

Christopher Friesen drove more than four hours from Edmonton to try to get a glimpse of actor Dan Aykroyd and the famed Ghostbusters car, the Ecto 1.

"That's just who I am," he said. "I love movies, so if you get a chance to see [the action],especially a movie like Ghostbusters being filmed,it doesn't come around to Alberta very often."

No updateon whether he spotted Aykroyd, but the Ecto 1 has been seen by many all over town.

Filming is expected to continue in Calgary and surrounding areas until October.