When Hamilton Mountain comic Mike Mitchell wrote his new Bell Fibe TV1 series, This is the Thing, he wasn’t sure how he’d be able to get it from the page to the screen.

He wrote the show in April 2020 and production got the go-ahead that July. However, Mitchell said he was aware that the production would face some challenges.

“Our best laid plans kind of got thrown out the window because of COVID restrictions, so we had to get really creative with how we shot things,” Mitchell said. “We had some characters we had written in that couldn’t do it, because their day jobs were essential workers or they worked in health care.”

Mitchell said the production reached out to Hamilton’s comedy and music scenes to fill roles and gather extras. He said the production wanted to make sure those on set were following COVID-19 restrictions, while showcasing Hamilton talent.

“We wanted to make sure we gave back,” Mitchell said.

The show follows two record store employees, Mike and Tim, who dream of ditching retail and making it big. Mike wants to be a full-time standup comic and Tim wants to go viral on YouTube.

Hamilton is no stranger to the film industry, with shows like The Handmaid’s Tale and films like Stephen King’s It being filmed in the lower city. However, the show’s assistant director, Ashley Sloggett, said that This is the Thing is different because Hamilton is essential to the show’s story.

“There are a lot of really funny moments that are for people in Hamilton specifically,” Sloggett said.

From filming in Sam Lawrence Park and Lime Ridge Mall, to featuring a drunk heckler in a Ticats jersey, right down to featuring local craft beer from Clifford Brewing Company, Mitchell said there are a lot of little details in the show that make it distinctively Hamilton.

“I think it’s going to resonate very well with Hamiltonians,” Mitchell said. “I think we made something very interesting and we had a blast making it.”

This is the Thing is out now and available through Bell Fibe TV1.