INUVIK - Inuvik's aspiring actors will have their chance to shine in the sunlight.

Tropicana will be coming to town in January to shoot its newest commercial during the Sunrise Festival on Jan. 9.

Samir Mallal, left, a documentary director, and Michael Haldane, Film Group's executive producer, stopped by the Legion on Sunday. The two were scoping out the town for a planned film shoot for a Tropicana orange juice commercial. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

The commercial's producer Michael Haldane of Film Group travelled to town from Vancouver last week with documentary director Samir Mallal, who will assist in the production, to do some research. Mallal also filmed parts of the Christmas concert held at the Igloo Church.

Haldane said the plan is to invite the community to Jim Koe Park on the morning of the festival where a breakfast, among several other events, will be held on site. For the commercial, the company will bring in a 15,000 pound helium balloon equipped with 40,000 to 70,000 watts of electricity all the way from France. After being released, it will hover above the park emitting a soft orange light which is meant to mimic the sun.

Haldane and the film crew will record the scene and the crowd's reactions.

"It is a sight," he said. "It will light up the whole park while it's suspended in the sky. It just looks like a planet. You look at it and it fills you with this sense of awe. It's going to conjure up some major reaction from the people."

Although all the particulars haven't been ironed out, Haldane said the commercial will switch to different scenes in the community, ending off with a family drinking Tropicana while rejoicing at the sun's return as it glows through the kitchen window.

"It's not really about the orange juice; it's about the feeling that the sun brings. People are rejoicing about the light."

The celebrating darkness concept was originally conjured up by someone from an advertising agency in Toronto who went to Sachs Harbour for a winter adventure holiday with his father. He then proposed the idea to Haldane's company. The project nearly died but Haldane fought to make it happen.

He said the commercial will air in Canada in certain regions of the country starting March 1, and he said he hopes it might eventually go global. People who are part of the film will be compensated well, he said.

"We want the whole community to come out," he said. "Whoever's in the final cut, we will be keeping track while we're filming and they will get actor session fees and then residual broadcast fees. It can turn out to a nice paycheque."

He said he and Mallal have been overwhelmed by the hospitality shown to them during their stay.

"It's really, really cold, but the people are warmer than elsewhere in the world," he said. "Everyone is open to talk about anything. It's just amazing how everyone works together no matter where you are or where you're from."

Mayor Denny Rodgers had been helping Haldane out and getting him in touch with the right people and institutions such as the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. He said he will participate in the big event and the festival activities, including fireworks and a bonfire throughout the day.

He added he's thrilled about the exposure the commercial will bring Inuvik, especially as a business and tourism conference destination.

"There's no better advertising than word of mouth," said Rodgers.