TORONTO – a.k.a. “HOLLYWOOD NORTH”.
At the height of the film production boom (and the low-point of the Canadian Loonie) it was possible to witness as many as 50 film and television productions being shot in Toronto on almost any given summer’s day.
Television series production continues throughout the winter. Whether you know it or not a lot of your favorite programs were (and are) produced right here in Toronto.
The online Independent Movie Database (IMDb) lists 4,515 titles listed as produced in Toronto (as of today).
Even the pilot episode for the current hit series “Blue Bloods” (starring Tom Selleck and Mark Whalberg, a film depicting the New York City Police was filmed in Toronto. As was the Catherine Zeta Jones musical “Chicago” and the “Hulk” starring Ed Norton).
The popular TV series “Flashpoint” (on the CBS and CTV Networks) is a drama about the daily work of a Police Tactical Unit. It is not a puerile shoot-em-up show but a thoughtful, insightful and somewhat cerebral depiction of police work.
It stars Hugh Dillon, Enrico Colantoni and Amy Jo Johnson.
The series, now in it’s second season, is unusual for a series popular in the United States. Normally Toronto is “made up” to resemble a generic U.S. Metropolis but the backdrop for Flashpoint is unquestionably Toronto.
Yesterday, the Flashpoint cast and crew came and filmed an episode right inside the Canadiana!
How cool is that?
In case you haven’t seen the series, here are the links:
(IN THE U.S.):http://www.cbs.com/primetime/flashpoint/cast/
(IN CANADA): http://shows.ctv.ca/FlashPoint.aspx
(OVERSEAS):http://www.free-tv-video-online.me/internet/flashpoint/
(The Canadiana featured Episode will air sometime in August on CTV (Canada) and CBS (United States).
