Orlando Bloom, who was here filming Needle in a Timestack, is one of several stars who recently breezed through Vancouver.
As the weather has been heating up, so is film and TV production activity in town.
To say there’s a lot going this week is an understatement. There’s a frenzy of feature films coming and going, plus some TV series starting up.
It’s no wonder that it’s so busy: British Columbia logged a record year for film and TV productions in 2017-2018, with $3.4 billion spent. Not too shabby at all.
So with all that in mind, here’s a quick overview of what’s going on in Vancouver’s ever-hectic screen scene this week.
Jacob Tremblay
First up, a bunch of good boys are coming to town. But mind you, they’re R-rated good boys. Go figure.
The feature film Good Boys started up yesterday (July 23) and runs until September 11.
Directed by Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky (The Office), this comedy follows a pack of four 12-year-old boys who skip school for a day of misadventures in the San Fernando Valley while on a quest to get a broken toy fixed before their parents get home.
The cast is led by none other than Vancouver’s Jacob Tremblay, along with Keith L. Williams, Brady Noon, Molly Gordon, and Midori Francis.
Seth Rogen
Vancouver’s Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg are among those producing the film.
It’s slated for release on August 16, 2019.
Amanda Seyfried
As that one gets going, quite a number of feature films are finishing up this week.
Production on The Art of Racing in the Rain came to close yesterday (July 23). It started on April 30 and shot around Vancouver, Coquitlam, and other B.C. locations.
The film, based on the 2008 novel by Garth Stein, centres upon a dog named Enzo, who reflects upon what he has learned from living his his race-car driving owner (Milo Ventimiglia), his wife (Amanda Seyfried), and their daughter (Ryan Kiera Armstrong).
Milo Ventimiglia
It’s being produced by actor Patrick Dempsey.
The cast also includes Gary Cole, Kathy Baker, and Martin Donovan.
Seyfried (who is starring in the recently released Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again) shared seveeral snaps from shoots around B.C. on her social media.
Today (July 24), Needle in a Timestack calls it a wrap. It started shooting back on April 30.
Freida Pinto
This sci-fi drama, a big-screen adaptation of a short story by Robert Silverberg, follows a couple who are struggling to maintain their relationship in a reality where the past and present are ever-changing and a time-traveling rival threatens their marriage.
Directed by John Ridley (12 Years a Slave), the cast includes Orlando Bloom (Pirates of the Caribbean), Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire), Leslie Odom Jr. (Murder on the Orient Express), Cynthia Erivo, Jadyn Wong, and more.
The release date hasn’t been announced yet so we’ll have to wait to find out when we can this one.
The film shot in Vancouver and Vancouver Island, including Tofino.
Both Pinto and Bloom shared a number of images of their time in B.C. on social media.
Meanwhile, Timmy Failure, which started shooting on June 18, ends production on Friday (July 27).
The film has shot around Vancouver and Surrey, including Cloverdale Fairgrounds.
Directed by Tom McCarthy (Spotlight), this Disney film is based on Stephan Pastis’ children’s book series which follows an 11-year-old detective, his imaginary friend, a 1,200-pound polar bear, and his best friend Rollo Tookus.
Neither the cast nor the release date have been revealed yet unfortunately so it’s a bit of mystery at the moment.
Radha Mitchell
Also wrapping up is the feature drama 2 Hearts, directed by Lance Hool, which ends production on Saturday (July 28), after starting on June 14.
Details about the story still haven’t been released but the cast (which includes a number of Canadian actors) features the likes of Jacob Elordi, Radha Mitchell, Tiera Skovbye, Tahmoh Penikett, Kari Matchett, Adan Canto, Anthony Konechny, Jordan Burtchett, and more.
David Giuntoli
On the home-screen side of things, two TV series get going this week.
The family drama A Million Little Things, which shot its pilot here earlier this year, starts shooting its first season on Tuesday (July 24) and continues until December 12.
The series follows a group of friends living intertwined lives, who are forced to reassess their lives when one of them dies.
The ensemble cast is comprised of David Giuntoli, Ron Livingston, Romany Malco, Allison Miller, Christina Moses, Christina Ochoa, James Roday, Stéphanie Szostak, and Lizzy Greene.
Grace Park
A recent addition to the cast is Vancouver star Grace Park (Hawaii Five-O), who will replace Anne Son from the TV pilot.
Eline Powell stars in Siren
Then on Thursday (July 26), the mystery-thriller series Siren launches into production on 16 episodes for its second season, which will keep going until March 15, 2019.
This dark take on marine mythology centres around Bristol Cove, a seaside town steeped in mermaid legends.
After an unusual woman (Eline Powell) shows up in search of her sister but begins wreaking havoc upon the town, two marine biologists (Alex Roe and Fola Evans-Akingbola) work together to figure out what she is all about.
The cast has also previously included Ian Verdun, Rena Owen, and Sibongile Mlambo.
Alex Roe
Well, phew, that was a lot to get through so if you’re still with us, thank you, dedicated reader.
Needless to say, we’ll have more for you in upcoming installations so check back in with us again in the near future for what’s coming or going from Vancouver’s busy screen industry.
