Saturday, March 28, 2020

That's a wrap, pre Covid-19

The Good Doctor filming came to an end on March 3rd. The final episode of Season 3 will air Monday, March 30th at 10 p.m.. It didn't take long for Ritsue to lay claim to the "striped tomato", one of the shows picture cars.
The Covid-19 virus has completely shut down the film industry in Vancouver.
Let's stay safe everyone.
Before all the bars and restaurants shutdown, I had the privilege of junior buying me a pint at Dageraad Brewing in Burnaby. Concerning times, it may be awhile before we can do it again.

One of my morning hangouts back when I was working, the breezeway between Burrard and Howe St., downtown Vancouver. It's right beside the early, open at 5:30 a.m., Starbucks.

The 2nd to last week of filming, I switched gears, again, and went out scouting with, what was supposed to my next job. The Sony Pictures televison show, Tomie  was due to start filming at the end of this month, but is on hold indefinitely.
We started at one of my favourite filming locations, the Crease Clinic at Riverview Hospital in Coquitlam.

One of the main sets would have been the old Willingdon Youth Detention Centre in Burnaby.

Not the cheeriest of places.

I have been here for the filming of a lot of shows, this is the first time I ever noticed this smoke stack. (I could not find any info about it's purpose)

We were on the road looking for houses, these two were in New Westminster.

I've been told before my voice trails off with my sentences, but I could of sworn I said "Monty".

I was looking forward to a couple of filming days in Hope, B.C., about an hour and a half east of Vancouver.

The mighty Fraser River in Hope.

The theme to this small town is the many wood carvings around the downtown core.

If you are ever in Hope, I recommend the mushroom burger at Rolly's restaurant.

They were looking for a small town, next stop was Mission.
Later in the week, back to homes in New Westminster.

Back at the Good Doctor studio, they are packing up for the hiatus.

Only other cast driver's that pick-up cast at the Sutton Hotel, downtown Vancouver, will appreciate being the first one into the restroom. (but you better be early!)

Special Saturday top secret pick-up of the Good Doctor creator, David Shore, at the University of British Columbia.
Out for dinner with some Teamster peeps. Funny (or not) we all thought, way before it became a pandemic that this was pretty humorous.

We started our evening at the Kobe steak and seafood house on Alberni St. in Vancouver. I had never been before, it was quite an experience.

Rocky, Ward, and John's wife Jody were watching in anticipation.......

.....there it goes!.....

......the volcano!

Then it was time to walk a block, and head to the Good Doctor season 3 wrap party. The drink of the night was the "code blue". (not quite sure what it was, but with the blue liqueur, curacao?, it was quite tasty!)

Then it was photo op time! Ritsue has become the newest surgeon at St. Bonaventure hospital in San Jose!
Now I have a strict rule about taking pictures with the cast, but it was a special occasion, and we bent the rules a little, lol. Here Ritsue is hanging with Will Yun Lee, who plays Dr. Park on the show.

Why stop there? Next it was Antonia Thomas, who plays Dr. Browne.......

......followed by Christina Chang, who plays Dr. Lim.......

.......Fiona Gubelmann, who plays Dr. Reznick.......

......and last of the main cast that attended on this evening, Nicholas Gonzales, who plays Dr. Melendez.

Into the photo booth. It was a great night!

Only two days of filming left, and because of the Covid-19, I'm not sure when I will see the Sutton Place hotel again.

Cast driver 9-11, getting Richard Schiff (Dr. Glassman) his beloved wrap from catering.

A special last lunch put on by my fellow Teamster peeps, the catering department.
It was quite a spread, and once again, who knows when we will get to enjoy their culinary skills again.

Just a sample teaser of the seafood that was so abundant for us on that day.

Ed Rocker, background performer extraordinaire, was also lucky enough to working on this last day of filming.

Quite a jumble on set, as we all got in on the cast and crew season 3 photo. 

.....and then that was it, the sets were shut down until the start of season 4, whenever that may be.
No more city lights of San Jose.

....this hospital set will be empty while outside the pandemic continues....

....without giving it away, Dr. Melendez will be the last in this hospital bed......
Watch the season finale............'nuff said.

The 4 cast that worked on the last day.

The following day, the season wrap began, including counting all of the 2-way radios used during the season.

Fellow cast driver Jim and myself had a very special mission, going over the Good Doctor's place and helping him move some of his things. (He is moving during the hiatus.)

My last duties were taking cast members to the airport to go home for the break. Hanging by Trout Lake in Vancouver, my last move was taking the medical consultant for the show, Susie to the airport so she can go back to her home in Los Angeles.
After the wrap, and before the Covid-19 stay at home phase, we had a chance to go out and celebrate my bro Skip's big ole 60th!

We went to the Keg Steakhouse downtown.

Ritsue was enjoying taking in the sight of her baseball steak

I had the prime rib. (Sorry to all the vegans and vegetarians.)

Surreally, I wont be seeing these guys in person anytime soon.

Skip is always game for a celebration.

A week before they shut down all the public facilities, Ritsue and I had a chance to knock off the rust, and try to remember our lack of skating skills.

Oh yes, 2 minutes in the penalty box for looking so good!
......now, it is all about too much time on our hands.....