A local band that made a name for itself playing country music from the back of a pickup truck is heading to the small screen.
Husband and wife team Pat and Megan Whalen formed Deep Southwest as a way to keep their creative juices flowing during the COVID-19 pandemic, and have become a staple at fundraisers and events across Chatham-Kent.
Now, the pair have signed a deal for a six-episode show with Bell Fibe TV, available across a large portion of Canada next year and streaming online for the next five years.
Megan says the show will be a quirky comedy featuring their own original songs.
“We get to create a six-episode comedy-musical series based, shot, filmed, everything in Chatham-Kent,” Whelan explains. “It’s based on our band, a heightened version of ourselves, Deep Southwest, and they’re trying to make it to the big time so they can get a manager, so they can play world-wide, so they can fix their basement because it’s leaking.”
The show, titled Due Southwest will be entirely filmed in Chatham-Kent. directed by Gavin Michael Booth, best known for his award winning music video career. The production team also includes local cinematographer Ben Srokosz.
There’s still a lot of work to be done before filming begins, and Pat says they’ll need all the local help they can muster.
“We’re going to need people to come in, play extras in the scenes we’re going to have, dance, play characters, we’re going to need all kinds of assistance.”
The show also provides an opportunity for local businesses with 15 second commercials, product placements, and filming locations.
Produced by Whalen Entertainment and partially financed by Bell Fibe TV1, Due Southwest is seeking additional funding through regional sponsorship opportunities.
“We’re looking for local businesses and investors to sponsor and showcase everything our community has to offer. When we’ve done this project will be shown to 2 million subscribers across Canada!”
A fundraiser is being planned for September at Red Barn Brewing Company in Blenheim, featuring a concert by Deep Southwest and a question and answer session about the show.
For updates, follow Deep Southwest on Facebook, Instagram, and their website.
Listen to the full interview with XS Mornings co-host Robyn Brady: