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.

Magicians, flying along, episode 104 and into episode 105

Cute as it is, you will not catch me in one of these. (unless you have to move it for an actor, which I did. Was like driving a go-kart.) (This is a right-hand drive vehicle, what I think is a Subaru Domingo)

The week started with the end of episode 104 and the start of episode 105 of "the Magicians". Part of my gig, standing by to pick up an actor at his residence in Gastown in Vancouver.

parked beside this ornate gate (wow, I'm a poet and I don't even know it!) leading into an alley way of shops and businesses.

Waiting for another actor at their hotel, the clouds were reflecting off of the office buildings

inside the studio at one of the sets, the camera gear sits idle as the crew has broken for lunch

outside the studio, the obstacle course of cable needed to power the trucks, trailer and equipment needed for a shooting day.

also part of my day to day duties, heading out to Vancouver International Airport to pick-up an actor flying in from Los Angeles.

another day, another actor pick-up in Gastown, this time on Cordova St.

In the side mirror, looking back towards the downtown core

and across the street, to me, looks like a scene staged for a film set.

random in front of me at a stop light, wondering what in the heck it would be used for shot.

waiting at the hotel for an actor, what a gorgeous September day in Vancouver.

and "Suki" is coming along for the ride. (a lot of the actors have companion dogs that travel with them)

random they still put bad pun comics in the Double Bubble gum shot.

Friday night, finished for the week at the studio, the only activity inside is the crew packing up their gear. (We are on the road next week)

when I got home, at my front door, I had to turn around this unwanted guest, and send it in the other direction.

r & r on the week-end including going to B.C. Place to see our B.C. Lions football team. (the night before, someone came up to my son in a restaurant and gave him the tickets.)

Not a good night for the home team, losing to the Ottawa Redblacks. (and a poor turn-out of just over 17,000 fans)

 I parked the car, which seemed like a good spot with lots of other cars around, close to Main Street. When we came back, mysteriously, the cars were gone, and all these homeless people were hanging around. We actually had to get a guy to remove his legs from underneath the vehicle. I guess we're lucky it wasn't up on blocks!

Magicians: episode 104

Far, far away from make believe land, after a long week on the start of episode 104 of "the Magicians", lies a little piece of solitude outside of the Okanagan Valley. (t.b.c. later in the blog.)

Back out at the University of British Columbia (U.B.C.), the hot summer weather has ended, and the much needed rain was still a shock to the system.

The good news was the filming was indoors today, at the Chan Centre for Performing Arts.

I was very busy this week, round and round we go, (again), (as always). I spied this Rolls Royce at the hotel in downtown Vancouver while I was waiting to pick up one of the actors.

and then filming back at this early 1900's tudor mansion on Marine Drive in Vancouver. This place is over 8,000 sq. ft., and had been vacant for 10 years, after the last resident passed away. On 2 acres, it recently just sold. (It was listed for 8.5 million, with an estimatated 2 million in upgrades needed.)

Our circus, or base camp, was located a block form this intersection I crossed many times this week at 41st Ave and Dunbar St.

After the rain, a much needed car wash was in order.

The ever changing landscape, tonight, one of the actor's needed a ride out ot a buddie's place in Tsawwassen, on the southwest corner of the lower mainland, close to the U.S. border.

Lately, another duty is to take any gear, (including the ring shown) for the camera department to Sim Digital, a place everything camera, including processing the film shot during the day.(In the yellow case)

Never quite sure whether I'm coming or going, heading west, looking back east as I get farther from Vancouver.....

and back out to U.B.C., to pick up an actor from our 2nd unit, which was filming there today, and take her to our main unit in downtown Vancouver.
Allow me to elucidate. The 2nd Unit is (to offer a brief definition) the secondary film crew (and it is indeed an entire crew in itself) that is mostly devoted to filming anything that doesn’t directly involve the film’s main stars.
So yes, anything you watch that doesn’t have a speaking actor on screen is likely going to be done by the 2nd Unit. An establishing shot of a building’s exterior will be shot by the secondary crew while the primary crew is back at the studio shooting the interiors. This is a hugely efficient way to work, as it allows the film to be shot in half the time. The primary director is often too busy working with actors and consulting designers and photographers to shoot, say, a short shot of what the hero is looking at across a pond. That brief shot would be left to the second unit. I hate to snuff out some of the wonder, or throw a wrench into the grinding minds of any of the more devout young film students who subscribe a little too religiously to the auteur theory, but in many cases, a large chunk of the film (anywhere from 25% to 75%) can be shot entirely by the 2nd Unit

 

and hockey season is getting even close as we find ourselves parked back across from Rogers Arena

After a day downtown, we were back at the studio, where the sets continue to amaze me.

This room with a view, is actually in the studio, and out the window, that is not  outside.

The attention to detail at this university dorm room is so impressive.

And once in awhile, I am called upon to utilize my truck driving abilities. Today, it was bringing this green beast from downtown to the studio.

back inside the studio, on of the Brakebills University classrooms.

complete with this medical dispensary.

A week of round and round, the world is seemingly topsy-turvy as I head out for the long week-end to the Okanagan. (this crooked shot was on the Coquihalla, hard to take a shot at 120K.

A little road trip within a road trip. My sis, daughter and I drove up to Apex ski resort in Penticton, wow, ain't so pretty without the white background.

Farther along is the old Barrick Gold, Nickel Plate gold mine, which halted operations years ago.

but just a little southwest and downhill from there, you get this humbling view of the Similkameen Valley.

On the way back, random water tower shot, part of the mine operations at some point.

A day in my home town of Penticton, my favourite view up Okanagan Lake.

My son Taylor goofing around at the Japanese gardens at Okanagan Lake.

Trying to loose a finger.

Looking north up the mouth of Ellis Creek

ended with a "pit stop" creek shot on the Coquihalla heading back to the chaos of the lower mainland, and "make believe land"!