the Magicians, end episode 105, begin 106

Another week on "the Magicians". Hanging out on Main Street Vancouver in Chinatown, seems we are filming a lot down here on this show.

But first, I was dragged kicking and screaming out of my cushy 7 passenger Chrysler Town and Country, and thrown into this flatdeck, hauling one of the two-room star trailers out to U.B.C. (I try not to let on that I can actually drive the trucks, but every now and then I'm busted.)  

So then to punish me more, I had to drive the props truck and then the camera truck. It's ok, change is good

Our circus was bordering the Pacific Spirit Regional Park

The day started with me back in my 7 passenger van, picking up some of the actors in Gastown, where they are temporarily living until the filming ends mid December.

Nice view I had this morning while waiting.

The set at UBC was at an elementary school gymnasium. Here the crew is getting ready for another long day. (the scene involved the actors participating in a magic game challenge against other schools, and there was 170 extras brought in for  the day.

outside, a giant crane hoisted a large black screen........

that represents a huge black hole that had the potential to consume all of the particpants in the competition. (The visual fx on this show will be epic. )

pyramid power, I was parked outside of this church chapel beside the school.

Later in the week in was across the Lion's Gate Bridge to North Vancouver.

I've been to a lot of locations, but Princess Park in North Vancouver was not one of them until now. Another hidden gem in the lower Mainland.

the local regulars to the park must have noticed a little increased activity today.

strange to me, an aluminum statue of  tree in a park full of beautiful cedars. Art?

read it and weep (click on pic to enlarge)

the light was waning, we had to stop filming early today.

from the forest to the concrete jungle, back downtown again

always fascinated by the cloud formations

This water truck is blocking my view of the set. Wait a minute, it's actually a "picture vehicle", used for an outside shot. (notice the Brooklyn's finest on the side of the truck).

this pic constitutes a  boredom escape

and then the rain, making for a soggy day for crew

the last day of the week found us at Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver. I have driven though and by here many times, did not know there was a duck pond.

above the duck pond was one of four sets that they used tonight. (we filmed from 230 p.m. til 530 a.m., yuck, that's why it's called a "fraturday".) The next two sets were by the Bloedel Conservatory.

and then there was the roof-top nude scene.... (this roof top was actually made for the scene, and it was a closed set)

the "dancing waters" fountains actually came into play for one on the scenes.
Next week, awww, who knows.

The Magicians, episdode 105

Episode 105,  the script needed a couple of "dive bars", and two down on Main Street in the the east end of Vancouver fit the bill. The first was the Cobalt, at the east end of the Georgia Viaduct. I remember this place when I used to drive for Greyhound, and our garage was right behind this infamous building. Here is a story about the Cobalt from 2008

So today was a lot of back and forth on the viaducts from my hotel pick-ups and the sets and circus of "the Magicians".

The second "dive bar", was the Ivanhoe, also on Main Street, kitty corner from the bus and train station.

The front view. ( I wonder how many regulars we displaced for the 3 hours we were shooting in there?)

waiting for a green light on Quebec St., on my way to the circus (our base camp) by Rogers Arena, I can see the "Trans-am Totem", a sculpture that quite frankly, I am not a fan of.

Called out of my cast vehicle once again to drive the big green beast, the 10 ton grip truck, to the next set. ,

back at the studio, this sign will adorn one of the university sets. (if you can't read it, it says: The greatest motivation to a magician is to tell him what is impossible- Van Pelt (you will have to wait till the show comes out next Januay to figure that one out)

The next day we were shooting at another mansion in the Point Gray area of Vancouver. Our circus was parked on the Musqueam First Nation Reserve, which I did not know even existed. It is close to UBC, and Pacific Spirit Regional Park. It is on the south side of Marine Drive.

Along side the mighty Fraser River

and across the water from Vancouver International airport.

Across the street from set someone was moving this very cool old panel van.

on set on Marine Crescent, another old tudor style mansion, used for a diffrent scene, but very similar to another mansion we have used already, and will use again tomorrow...........

on Marine Drive, same era, or same builder?

heading back downtown, leaving the west end of Vancouver

Later in the week, we were shooting at a cottage close to one of the hidden gems of Greater Vancouver, Deer Lake in Burnaby.

I have been here many times myself, both in film and for some walking and cycling.

our circus was parked across Highway 1 by Burnaby Lake, a larger lake alongside of the freeway, that I am sure a lot of people do not even know is there.

We finished the week back at our studio. At the start of the week, I could see our crew building something very interesting.

Shall we go inside....?

This is a lot of chains raining down in a dungeon. The scene is one of the Magicians transporting himself to a mythical land to see some people trapped inside the dungeon. (They beg for his help and he is confronted by "the beast".

The set as scene from inside the studio

Once again the attention to detail was amazing. This might be one show I may actually watch.

and the lights dim on another week in the world of the Magicians, it's 2 a.m. Saturday morning, time to take the director home and call it a week.