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I know people that have been in movies, small parts. I've seen a few over the years, but not like friends who work downtown. They pretty much see just about anyone that's working in town. From Lady Gaga shopping, to Donald Sutherland coming in for a morning coffee habitually for a few weeks. Ryan Reynolds walking with his wife and kid around town. Just famous people doing everyday things.
Years ago when Katherine Hepburn was living in the West End, I believe while shooting something here, she was seen a few times walking the seawall in Stanly Park.
Quebec being the way that it is, I have a bunch of acquaintances or people with 1 or 2 degrees of separation from me whom I see periodically on Quebec TV or in "our" movies. For example, last week I found out that one of the main actors in a groundbreaking Quebec TV series from earlier this year that was watched by my kids and all their friends, is actually the daughter of a guy I used to work with, and grew up a few blocks from where I live. (I and my kids knew this actress was from Gatineau, but did not know the link was that close to us.)
A lot of these people appear periodically in small roles in Hollywood films - when these are shot in Montreal of course.
Just the other day I was watching a Hollywood blockbuster and all of a sudden I saw the son of a woman I used to work with playing an FBI or CIA agent alongside a trio of A-list American celebrities.
I didn't watch it all, but from what I could see the setting for the film was "neutral North America". I don't recall seeing any conspicuously planted American flags (common in these productions), but there may have been some. The actors had very neutral accents.
To us Europeans it's all the same, at least generally I can't tell the difference. I recall a movie which was supposed to take place in the US and someone walked out a 'Bank of Canada' or something like that. In that case it was obvious but otherwise not so much. The French street signs everywhere could be a dead giveaway too. I heard they replace them for English signs when they shoot a movie.
I always watched the X-files thinking it took place in the US but later I found out it actually was filmed in Canada.
I've had drinks with Sir Ian Mckellen in his rented penthouse while he was here filming X-men. A friend that was in the business one night asked if me and another friend wanted to meet " Gandalf ". We laughed but he was serious. Made a call and a few minutes later Sir Ian was showing us around his amazing penthouse and made us drinks. We stayed about 2 hours. Kind of fun.
My degrees of separation from famous American movie stars is one. My grandparents lived in Hollywood from the 1950's to the 1980's. My grandfather worked in the business and met many famous people. My grandmother danced with Red Skelton, Dean Martin and once with Eddie Fischer, but with Eddie, it was at a shoe store opening
I also have a close friend in LA who works in the business..has for over 30 years in production. He knows a lot of famous people. When I'm visiting I haven't really gotten to see any of them, but he has let me wear jacket that was in a movie and worn by Matthew Broderick. He gave me one, worn in the Last Days of Disco. Grade B movie type stuff.
To us Europeans it's all the same, at least generally I can't tell the difference. I recall a movie which was supposed to take place in the US and someone walked out a 'Bank of Canada' or something like that. In that case it was obvious but otherwise not so much. The French street signs everywhere could be a dead giveaway too. I heard they replace them for English signs when they shoot a movie.
I always watched the X-files thinking it took place in the US but later I found out it actually was filmed in Canada.
You may be surprised at how many US TV shows and movies are filmed in Canada. Google and see.
Most people don't even know what Minnesota or other states look like because they don't live there so it's not difficult to pass off a Canadian city for an American one.
Canadian cities are clean I think because it is a crime to litter and we have city and town departments that clean up and sweep the streets. I don't know what cities or towns do this but wherever I have lived in Canada the streets are clean. Personally I will put my candy and gum wrappers in my pocket until I find a trash bin.
Films shot in Alberta, Canada: The Revenant, War for the Planet of the Apes, Shanghai Noon, Forgiven, Game of Thrones, Interstellar, Superman (and II, III), Brokeback Mountain, Inception, Legends of the Fall, Fargo series, Hell on Wheels... many of these because of our wide variety of landscapes from the mountains to the badlands and prehistoric features.
Vancouver has by far the most movies shot in Canada (492 page list), then Toronto (430 pages), then Montreal with 295 pages, and the behind that Hamilton and Winnipeg (73P) as compared to Edmonton (32P) and Calgary (21P).
Most people don't even know what Minnesota or other states look like because they don't live there so it's not difficult to pass off a Canadian city for an American one.
I don’t think you could pass Vancouver off as Miami or Honolulu.
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