Carrie Series Films In Old Hamber Building

Photo Credit: Elvis Meng

A miniseries adaptation of the classic horror film, Carrie, is filming in the old Hamber building, and many Hamberites have been able to participate in the production as background actors.

In 1974, Carrie was written and published as a novel by Stephen King. The novel follows an awkward teen named Carrie White who is constantly bullied and ostracized by her peers while attending high school in Maine. At home, she receives a similar cruelty from her unstable, religious mother, Margaret White. 

In 1976, the book was adapted into a movie, which was subsequently adapted into three remakes. Now, in 2025, a new miniseries is being developed based on Carrie and is expected to be finished filming in mid-October, according to Hollywood North Buzz. 

Many scenes in the series were filmed in the old Hamber building, which was slightly remodeled for the show. For instance, the front entryway of the school was painted blue, and the lettering was changed to fit the set of the show.

The production opened the floor to Hamber students to be featured as background actors in the show. In late spring of 2025, Eric Hamber posted the opportunity on Hamber Hub. The announcement quickly sparked excitement among students, especially those in the Drama Department.

Christine Tanh (11) was one of the background actors in the film. She said that she had never heard of Carrie previously, but was still happy for the opportunity to expand her acting career. She signed up to pursue her love for acting and movies, and to earn some extra cash. Tanh enjoyed being on set; however, her work hours were long, with call times reaching as early as 6:00 AM.

Sophie Jung (12) and Jenin Carino (12) experienced these long hours as well, acting as rioters on set for twelve hours straight. “We stood on the ramp at the front of the school doing the same scene for two freezing cold days. We were there from 5:30 AM to 5:30 PM,” said Jung.

Tanh, Jung, and Carino all had different experiences during filming, which included interactions with the main cast. While Tanh “was not really allowed to talk to the main actors unless they talked to [her],” Jung shared many instances where cast members held conversations with her. 

Siena Agudong, who is known for her Netflix series, No Good Nick, was fun to speak with, according to Jung. She and Agudong talked about common interests like Shawn Mendes and Whistler Mountain. Jung also met other stars like her favourite actress, Josie Totah. 

The student actors also struggled to manage both school and filming as they were on set for extended periods of time. “It would be stressful, especially if I know I have an upcoming quiz or test,” said Carino. “I pulled some all-nighters, just to study.” Although she highly recommends the experience and would do background acting again, she warns of long and unexpected filming hours.  

Jung shared a similar opinion, saying that the filming was “definitely worth the experience.” She mentioned that “seeing [...] behind the scenes of making a show gives clarity on why it takes so long for some shows and movies to come out.”