The 2024 Hallmark movie Shifting Gears takes us on a heartwarming journey set against the backdrop of the bustling city known as Motor City itself, located in Detroit, Michigan.
The movie centers around Jess Barro, a passionate mechanic fighting to save her family’s auto garage from a corporate giant.
In order to raise some money, she participates in a car restoration competition and learns that her ex-boyfriend Luke is her main competitor.
The movie holds a special place in the heart of Hallmark fans as this marks the directorial debut of longtime Hallmark actress Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe under the network’s “Make Her Mark” initiative that empowers female directors.
Where was Shifting Gears filmed?
While the story takes place in Detroit, Shifting Gears was filmed entirely in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada over a period of four weeks. The shooting began in October 2023 under the working title ‘Love in High Gear’ and wrapped in the first week of November in the same year.
Ottawa, Ontario
Many of the urban setting scenes were shot in the capital city of Canada.
The city boasts a picturesque waterfront, perfect for capturing a bustling urban vibe. Its grand victorian architecture gave a touch of old-world charm.
From the historic ByWard Market to the picturesque Rideau Canal, these Ottawa settings added an exciting urban dimension to the movie’s romantic narrative.
Carleton Place, Ontario
One of the major filming locations for Shifting Gears was the quaint town of Carleton Place, located in Eastern Ontario.
The historic Grand hotel, with its elegant Victorian architecture and warm ambiance, provided the perfect setting for several pivotal scenes on On October 24th and 25th, as per Canadian Gazette.
According to owner Rod Scribner, the production team transformed the entire second floor, wedding suite, and fine dining room into a production set to capture scenes.
Pembroke, Ontario
With its wide-open spaces and automotive heritage, Pembroke provided the perfect backdrop for the high-octane scenes that showed the obsession of main characters for classic cars.
This is the place where Jess collides with Luke for the first time at The Alden Classic Car Bash & Summer Fest.
Many vintage cars were taken on rent and also, a bunch of helpful Canadians brought up some of their own vehicles to add more authencity to the film.
Almonte, ON
Just a stone’s throw away from Carleton Place lies the charming town of Almonte, which also played host to the Shifting Gears crew.
On October 26th, the cameras rolled at 58 Bridge Street, the location of the popular eatery, Mr. Mozzarella.
For approximately five hours, the cast and crew worked their magic, capturing both interior and exterior shots that showcased the town’s undeniable appeal.
Ottawa has emerged as a popular filming among seasonal film producers. Some of the recent productions that were done in Ontario includes A Widow Seduced, Mistletoe Match, and Paging Mr Darcy.
Behind The Scenes
Director Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe couldn’t have been happier with the experience.
In a LinkedIn post by the Ottawa Film Office, she shared her enthusiasm:
“Loved shooting in Ottawa! The team there was a beautiful group of incredibly talented people. I’m proud to have shot my first film with Hallmark there.”
She also posted some behind the scenes in a short video on Instagram. See her post below.
Hynes shared the joy of filming with his mom, Betty, who visited the set regularly.
This marked a special moment for both of them, as it was her first time on a set with him in over 20 years, since his days as a child actor.
But the family fun didn’t stop there! Hynes’ nieces, Ella and Haylie, also got a taste of the spotlight.
Fans who follow Hynes on social media have seen the girls grow up through his posts, and now they’ll get to see them on the big screen for the first time.
In a scene with Hynes and his co-star Kat Barnell, Ella and Haylie will appear, making their official film debut.
Hynes is known for having a lovely relationship with her nieces. He even revealed in a 2021 tweet that his brother asked him to become their official guardian. So cute!!!
Shifting Gears Cast
The cast of Shifting Gears include:
- Tyler Hynes as Luke
- Katherine Barrell as Jess Barro
- James Burke as Ray
- Kristin Booth as Teri
- Ray Galletti as Wayne Larouche
- Colton Royce as Pete
- Joseph Claude Dubois as Car Collector
Where to watch Shifting Gears?
Shifting Gears premiered on 23 March 2024 at 8/7c on Hallmark Channel and on W Network inside Canada. The movie is also available to stream on Peacock upto 72 hours of its original premiere.
If you have missed the premiere, you can also rewatch the movie on the following dates on Hallmark:
- March 24 at 7/6c
- March 28 at 8/7c
- April 6 at 10/9c
- April 16 at 7/6c
- April 28 at 5/4c
