How I almost met the stars of Beauty and the Beast

I have had a very busy week and there have only been 2 days so far.

April showers have come which put a bit of a damper on star spotting (or location stalking), but I'll get to that later.

First off, Monday I found a set of trucks lined up along the street near my office. While fetching lunch for my bosses, I spotted the trucks and just had to know who was filiming in my area. I delayed my return to the office long enough to check out the wagons and trucks for signage. It was hard too. The one that looked like a star wagon had no signs on the windows so I felt discouraged. How was I going to find out who belonged to these trucks? I couldn't go much further than the one wagon because of having to get back to the office with my box of food.

Behind that one wagon was a pick-up truck, on the dashboard was my answer. A black case with a florescent page attached to it saying "BATB Signage Kit". My heart beat faster and my feet became light as I knew there was potential to meet the stars of the new Beauty and the Beast show.

I returned to location stalking on my lunch break that day. I spent 45 minutes wandering in circles around the area looking for the star wagons because the ones I found earlier were all tech. I could not find them.

After work I wandered the line of tech trucks again trying to find someone to talk to and to thank for working on this show that I melt over the romantic stories of. I found a lackey wearing a vest from another awesome show (Covert Affairs who were back in studio on Monday according to twitter feeds of Chris Gorham, Peter Gallager and Piper Perabo), but he knew nothing about this location. Saddened that I wouldn't see anything or meet anyone, I went home in the rain. Turns out the shoot location was one block further east than I went. D'oh!

Yesterday I left for work in the morning and saw a bunch of the signature orange location cones set up along the street outside my house (2 blocks total on both sides of the street) and anticipated returning home on the off chance that whoever it was would still be working so I could find out who.

I completely forgot about it until I got within 3 blocks of home and the streetcar driver announces "There's a movie shoot happening so it will take a while to get through". I almost jumped out the window wanting to get on foot over to the shooting location to learn who was in my hood.

As I approached the tent covering the monitors for the production staff I saw the bright lights of a location and a giant grey cart that moves equipment branded in black electrical tape with "BATB" and a few claw marks.... I imediatly tweeted "OMG!! BATB is filming in front of me" or something like that. From 3 stores away I was able to see Kristen and the back of Jay's ball cap clad head. And after watching a take I actually saw his face as he returned to his mark to do it again.

After a couple of takes in the rain, they called lunch. Kristen and Jay were ushered across the street and into vans to head back to wherever their trailers were kept and I was left on the street very disappointed.

I headed home (only a block away from the shooting location) and proceeded to turn into a pumpkin as I was feeling ill. I curled up in a ball and watched online episodes on my iPad because I was too unwell to venture out in the rain and stalk the lovely pair again.

Kristen and Jay (and the crew of BATB) I hope you enjoyed Cabbagetown. Please come back when I'm well and it's not raining, I'd really love to meet you. Thank you for making a great show with fantastic romantic storylines.

Beauty and the Beast airs Thursdays at 9pm on Showcase in Canada and on the CW network in the US. All us Beasties are still waiting to hear if we'll get to enjoy a second season which would give me the opportunity to try and find them again.

Hotness Alert

Anyone who has read my posts about Lost Girl knows that I have an awesome upstairs neighbor who works in the TV industry and is a crew member on Lost Girl. He has gotten me swag in Season 2 (signed pictures and crew only soundtracks) and has offered to take me to the set (though that has yet to happen).

With Anna Silk (Succubus Bo, the lead character) about to have her baby, filming of Season 4 has been delayed. They usually go back to set in April and wrap in the August/September. Since Anna's still pregnant at this point, that's a little hard to do. The filming for Season 4 has been pushed to June as they wait for Anna to have her baby and be ready to return.

What is my most fabulous neighbor to do? He needs to work and wants to work. My Neighbor will be working on a new show until Lost Girl gets up and running again.

There's a new kid on the block in Toronto and it's name is Bitten. Let me tell you what I know.

Bitten is based on a novel of the same name by Canadian author Kelly Armstrong. I've requested this book from the library and will be receiving it any day now so I'll have more knowledge of the plot/world once I've read it.

The show will be set in Toronto and the GTA and focuses on the only female werewolf known. Since there is only one female werewolf, there has to be a lot of hot guy werewolves... this logic rings true based on the casting notice I read today. Holy Crap Hot Guys!!!! I really hope my neighbor can hook me up (with swag, I love my husband, mind out of the gutter). 

The main character Elena will be portrayed by Laura Vandervoort (SuperGirl from Smallville). Supporting her are a host of hot males. Here is a picture of the guys with their character name (and a couple of supporting females).

I don't know when I'll be able to see this fantastic cast do their thing on the small screen, but I eagerly await it's coming. 

More info can be found here. I'll post more when I know more, until then I'll settle for the book and have these faces in my head when I'm reading.

Spring is coming

I know I haven't posted in a while. I've been busy with my life, family and changing jobs.

I really want to get back into blogging about the awesome television and movies filmed in Toronto. And with the warming of the seasons the location trucks will be easier to spot as I ride bikes and walk through the city.

I know that there is a new werewolf show "Bitten" being filmed in the city at this time. My awesome upstairs neighbour is working on it while Lost Girl is between seasons. Lost Girl goes back to filming in July thanks to a delay due to star Anna Silk having her baby.

Beauty and the Beast is almost wrapped for the season. Nikita is still shooting the end of their current season and there are many others that will be starting up over the summer and into the fall. Warehouse13, Suits, Rookie Blue and the list goes on.

I love Toronto and the tv/film industry. I will do my best to pop in and write about anything I see, hear or can speculate on. If you are out there and care, stay tuned.