2020 has been a wild year with lots of upheaval and uncertainty. However, as this unpredictable year draws to a close, one thing we feel certain about is that production in Ontario made a remarkable recovery thanks in large part to our Membership’s commitment to safety and adherence to COVID 19 protocols. With the GTA reaching max capacity by late summer, many productions began to truly embrace the range of stellar locations available in our province.
Did you know some of your favourite TV shows use cities all across the province as their backdrop?
The Umbrella Academy
For Season 2 of The Umbrella Academy, Hamilton was turned into 1960s Dallas, TX. Ottawa St N & Britannia Ave were used extensively for the exterior shots, store windows were dressed to mimic the period with the Dallas skyline added digitally to the background.
On the Blog
Mrs. America
The Emmy-nominated limited series takes place during the 1970s, with Hamilton (and other parts of the GTA) standing in for such American cities as New York, St. Louis, Washington, D.C., and Miami. Notably Hamilton Convention Centre by Carmen’s, Auchmar House, FirstOntario Concert Hall, Central Presbyterian Church and Temple Anshe Sholom were central locations.
“The real challenge in this case was not to make Canada look like the U.S. but making it look like the past. “Being set in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s, it’s hard to find those locations in 2019,” said Alexander. “You have to really scour.”
DGC Ontario Location Manager Scott Alexander, Toronto Star
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Self Made: The Life of Madam C.J. Walker
Self Made: The Life of Madam C.J. Walker takes us through Walker’s life from Mississippi to St. Louis, Indianapolis and New York with Hamilton’s Liuna Station, Scottish Rite and the town of Dundas all featured.
Dive Deeper Into The Story
Read more from Britt in Architectural Digest:
Self Made Shows the Rise of America’s First Female Self-Made Millionaire
