It's a holiday movie scheduled for release next year in which Chase plays a nasty school principal who is determined to cook a goose for Christmas.

What only the young hero knows is Randall the goose can talk, so he and his friends set out to rescue the bird.

This is the second time Chase has filmed a winter movie in Calgary and, as he did back in 2000 when he filmed Snow Day, Chase brought a Chinook with him when he touched down in the city.

It wasn't exactly balmy as Chase and his costars were filming a street scene in Mount Royal Nov. 27, but there was no sign of snow anywhere.

"This is a delightful film and in Nicholas Kendall we have an absolutely delightful director. To him it doesn't matter whether he's working on a $5-million or $50-million picture. It's only about getting the shot and he knows how to do it. He gets all his shots," said Chase during a brief break.

It's actually a $8.5-million picture Kendall is shooting for Calgary producer Wendy Hill-Tout and her partners Colin Neale and Alex Brown.

Chase was doing as little talking as possible, trying to preserve his voice as the damp Chinook weather has played havoc with several of the cast.

Canadian actress Kari Matchett lost her voice on the weekend, so all her scenes had to be juggled.

"I got to be a prima donna without even trying," said Matchett. "As an actor it's terrifying and creepy when you lose your voice."

When Chase was in town to film Snow Day three years ago, snow making machines had to be used.

Hill-Tout says there are no plans to start shredding ice to make snow for The Great Goose Caper.

"Fake snow isn't in our budget. We'd love to have a few real wintry scenes and we're pretty certain the weather will eventually oblige, because we're filming until Dec. 15."

Hill-Tout says Chase "has been a joy to work with. The only request he made was to have a piano in his hotel room. He loves to play the piano to relax.

"When we were filming in Banff he gave an impromptu concert at the Banff Springs Hotel and when we were at (Rideau) school he headed for the music room."

Chase says it was actually his wife Jaynie who requested the piano, but admits "it was a wonderful surprise."

Chase was also genuinely surprised to learn that Snow Day was a box-office hit.

Made for $15 million US, Snow Day grossed $60 million in North America.

"I should check into that. Maybe they owe me some money," says Chase.

Matchett says Chase constantly amazes her: "When it comes to comedy, he's absolutely fearless. He trusts his instincts and just lets himself go. It's really exciting..."

Hill-Tout says she and her producers are thrilled to have cast Chase, who turned down the Kevin Spacey role in American Beauty the year he filmed Snow Day.

Hill-Tout feels Chase, the father of three daughters, is: "ideal for family films because even when he's playing the villain, as he is in The Great Goose Caper, he brings a certain vulnerability to the role."

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