Vancouver: Real or Movieset?

Did you know that Vancouver has the largest film industry in Canada? A lot of movies and television series are made right here. The Public Library is particularly popular in the film industry. It is featured in movies and television shows such as Battlestar Galactica and X-Men: The Last Stand.

The popular television show Smallville is also shot right here in the Vancouver area. The high school exterior and the first few episodes where shot at Vancouver Technical Secondary School located on 2600 East Broadway, Vancouver. The Daily Planet building is in real life the Marine Building, located on 355 Burrard Street, in downtown Vancouver. The Luthor mansion is in real life the Hatley Park National Historic site, which houses the Royal Roads University. Even the Kent Farm exists somewhere in BC. The show itself is shot at the studio located in Burnaby.

Other popular television seriesthat are shot in Vancouver are X-files, Sliders, Stargate SG-1 and the Andromeda series.

Because there are so many movies and TV series being made here in Vancouver, you might be lucky and see a movie star. Jeff Goldblum has been seen playing piano at a downtown lounge; Robin Williams sometimes visits a Chinese restaurant on Burrard Street. Even Gwyneth Paltrow, Barbara Streisand en John Travolta have been spotted right here in Vancouver.

To see what movies or TV series are in production in Vancouver, visit the BC Film Commission Film List, for the latest news.

So keep you eyes open for anything that could like a movie set or go to one of the chic downtown hotels to where you might get lucky and see a glimpse of your favorite star! If you do happen to spot a celebrity, let us know!

Free Toronto Event!

FREE, FREE, FREE! You heard me! For those of you in Ontario’s capital, don’t miss out on the city’s Doors Open Toronto event taking place May 29 and 30, 2010. One weekend, once a year, 150 bulidings of architectural historic, cultural and social significance open their doors to the public for a city-wide celebration.

The program allows visitors free access to properties that are either not usually open to the public, or would normally charge an entrance fee. Many locations have organized guided tours, displays and activities to enrich the visitor experience.

Participating buildings include heritage landmarks, modern structures, hidden gems, green roofs, places of worship, halls of learning, boardrooms, bedrooms, breweries, lighthouses, mansions, museums, theatres, national historic sites, centres of rail travel, cemeteries, factories, banking halls, architects’ offices and more.

Doors Open Toronto invites you to get to know the city, whether you’ve lived in Toronto all your life or you’re visiting for the first time. See Toronto like you’ve never seen it before!

This event is free, so I don’t know why you wouldn’t want to go!

Click here for a list of the participating structures, or get your Doors Open Toronto program guide in the Thursday, May 27 issue of the Toronto Star.

Have fun and let us know on Facebook what you thought of the event!

Cheers,

Laura