Tag: British Columbia

To the West Coast and Not Beyond! Shot in Vancouver: Adventures in Hollywood North Dives Deep Into Pop Culture History in BC!

Shot in Vancouver traces the productions that helped shape British Columbia’s screen industry. Sam Wiebe’s book rewards curiosity with familiar favourites and local discoveries, although its preview copy leaves some gaps.

Shot in Vancouver
Available to order on Amazon USA

The one thing I immediately noticed in Sam Wiebe’s book, Shot in Vancouver: Adventures in Hollywood North, is the lack of an index in the preview copy I received to read. When I’m trying to find out whether a certain movie or television production was filmed in town, at Terminal City, or somewhere else, having an index would come in handy. If that’s intentionally part of this book’s design, I hope the retail copy will be different. That’s because of the way he’s built the chapters, which move back and forth in chronology and purpose.

And along the way, the details he offers can make or break a section. That includes historical anecdotes about when Yvonne De Carlo made this city her home and why some Asian movies were filmed here. When downtown Vancouver was part of the Rumble in the Bronx set and the biggest running joke amongst fans during release was why are there mountains in the background? Even I looked at this chapter rather than to start on page one to see if that concern was ever addressed by the producers. Even today, there’s no official statement. Had this film historian sought an answer, I’d be pleased. But instead, all he wrote about is how this film helped certain talents begin their legacy.

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Halloween 2026 in Victoria, BC: From Spooky Performance Theatre to Wicked Markets, This List Has ‘Em All

No this in’t Pokemon, but it seems Halloween 2026 in Victoria, BC will be packed with enough variety to please little ones and big ones with this collection of top picks on what to do that isn’t corporate sponsor related.

Halloween 2026 in Victoria, BC with Chibi EdThis year’s list of theatrical style events for Halloween 2026 in Victoria, BC is looking good. How much I can take on depends on whether these ol’ bones can still rattle with the best of them! If I had to limit myself, my top picks would include High Moon, which the producers say will be louder and bloodier. It’ll be an improvement upon what I said in my review, or one can read my interview with the creators here. And along with Dread Noir, Final Curtain, and Witches in the Closet, this year promises to be a spooky good time.

That’s technically four, but I’d include Halloween Market YYJ because it has an entertainment component, music from DJ Brian Boitano, workshops, and pumpkin beer. Now in its fifth year, it’s worth mentioning! The following is a list of everything I’ve compiled with the assistance of the great community of Theatre Victoria on Facebook!

Live Theatre Productions

An All-Drag Cast: Rocky Horror

Rocky Horror LipsDate(s): Oct. 22–25, 2026
Venue: Greenhouse (1411 Quadra Street)

Drag Sunday Productions’ all-drag parody of The Rocky Horror Picture Show returns for its fifth year. This strictly 19+ audience-participation event invites guests to dress up, shout callbacks, and use props while the cast serves up a campy, high-energy take on the cult classic. ID is checked at the door.

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Victoria’s Collectable Scene Is Booming, But Is There Enough Pie for This Explosive Growth?

Victoria’s collectable scene is getting crowded with back-to-back monthly events. Whether this city has enough collectors, vendors, and discretionary dollars to sustain them all is a bigger question than whether we gotta collect ’em all!

Victoria's Collectable Scene

It’s a gamble and a roll of a die, or tossing of a dart, to see which event is worth checking out!

It seems more nerdy swap meets are taking place in my hometown, and I doubt a weekly schedule of events is going to work. When everyone wants a piece of the pie, and there isn’t enough to go around, the bakery is going to run out. That’s how I describe what’s happening to Victoria’s collectable scene this year.

Once upon a time in this part of the world, there was only a biannual toy fair, a quarterly comic book swap meet and Cherry Bomb’s Nerdy Days of Christmas. In what was once a homegrown scene, things have changed into something else. There are three newcomers thinking there’s gold to find in them thar hills, and they will be individually revealed further down this editorial.

When this city only has so many nerds who want to give “used” stuff a new home, even the post-secondary crowd living in dorm rooms and temporary spaces has only so much room for more stuff. The problem isn’t necessarily that Victoria has too many collectors. It’s that there are only so many customers, vendors, weekends, and discretionary dollars to go around. A collector who spends $200 at one show isn’t likely to have more money to spend at next weekend’s event.

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So What’s Hot or Should That Be Shot in Vancouver? A Prediction on What Adventures in Hollywood North Will Be Recounted.

The upcoming book Shot in Vancouver may not be comprehensive, but it will feature nearly every film and television production that decided to make the Greater Mainland home for many years while that story was being filmed.

Shot in Vancouver book cover
Available to pre-order on Amazon USA.

Release Date: October 6, 2026

When film aficionados and television professionals talk about the work they’ve done in the upcoming book Shot in Vancouver, published by Arsenal Pulp Press, it’s safe to say the entertainment industry is booming. Over time, even viewers have learned to recognize certain city landmarks, the backdrop of the Rockies and the foundations supporting the SkyTrain.

That’s because similar architecture is used throughout the world to keep those rails moving. Technically, there are more than just these telltale signs when one starts exploring the region. Whether filming takes place near Steveston in Richmond, Surrey or even Abbotsford, the diversity is enormous. That’s why filming in the Lower Mainland is not only lucrative, but also tells a story of its own.

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Who’s Bleating now? King Arthur’s Night, The Documentary in Review

John Bolton’s King Arthur’s Night blends documentary filmmaking with a filmed theatrical production, creating an unusual take on the Arthurian legend. While the hybrid approach doesn’t always work, the performances and music make it a memorable tribute.

King Arthur's Night Poster ImageScreening at the VIFF Theatre (Vancouver, BC) July 14 and 18th. Please click here to purchase tickets in advance.

Set against the backdrop of Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia, John Bolton’s King Arthur’s Night is a bold reimagining of the tale told by Thomas Malory. It offers a meta-look at the play through the lens of preproduction and filmmaking rather than focusing solely on the play itself. While that approach is not altogether bad, the presentation is misleading. When all I want is to see the two separate than apart, I can at least stay fixed to the fiction. The non-fiction can live in it own world.

Because we see bits of filming take place in-betweeen the edited cuts, I’m left begging for just the myth to be told. Perhaps that will change. Until there is an announcement that there is a story only cut, what we have is a work that feels like This Is Spinal Tap!

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Island FanCon 2026 Convention Report: Still Working It Out

Island FanCon returned to Langford for its third year, and the question of what it wants to be is still being answered. Here’s what worked, what didn’t, and why The Viking Group’s shadow looms over all of it.

Island Fancon 2026As Island FanCon enters its third year, it faces an uphill climb. Managing expectations will be tough. What exactly is it trying to be? The identity introduced from the get-go is obvious: help the City of Langford grow. When this event is sponsored by The Viking Group, that detail is hard to miss. And this year, they’re the first thing everyone spots when entering the arena.

When this event is one of the few gatherings still existing for Greater Victoria, geeks are noticing. As for comparing it alongside larger regional conventions in the Lower Mainland, anyone attempting to do so doesn’t really understand the difference between fan-run and corporate.

When this event’s cousins, Metro Con and Northern Fan Con, share the same vibe, expectations need to be lowered accordingly. And as the Island show is still shaping its identity, patience is required. Some attendees come looking for something similar to Fan Expo Vancouver, and honestly, that’s not what Island Fan Con is about. It’s not a full-scale show, and it was never meant to spotlight every geek operation in the municipality.

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