Britt Robertson in Under the Dome

With all my excitement over Austin Butler in The Carrie Diaries, I am more excited that Britt Robertson (Fellow Life Unexpected castmate, and Secret Circle cast mate) will be in Under the Dome.

Deadline reports:

Britt Robertson has been cast in a drama series for the CW sister network CBS. Robertson has joined Under The Dome, CBS’ 13-episode summer series from Steven Spielberg and Stephen King. Based on King’s bestselling novel, Under The Dome is set in Chester’s Mill, a small New England town suddenly and inexplicably sealed off from the rest of the world by an enormous transparent dome. The town’s inhabitants must deal with surviving the post-apocalyptic conditions while searching for answers to what this barrier is, where it came from and if and when it will go away. Robertson will play Angie, an attractive young waitress and aspiring nurse who’s always dreamed of escaping the town of Chester’s Mill.

It seems the CW loves her (LUX, Secret Circle) so surely she will continue with a great career, I just hope the shows last longer... I was so upset over the cancellation of both LUX and TSC (both Vancouver productions too by the way!)

Has anyone read Stephen King's novel that this show is based on?

Dave Franco... and a million other things

So I am watching Charlie St. Cloud the other night...

I had meant to watch it sooner, it was filmed here in Vancouver and the island, I actually met Zac Efron - see blog here, the bubble of pretty who floated towards us one summer day.... but I am watching the movie on demand and I see this kid is on it, he has a goofy grin and he looks JUST like James Franco, and I am thinking, how do I know this kid?

Then, last night, I go see Incredibly Loud and Extremely Close and then The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and there is a trailer for 21 Jump Street. I am super excited because, obviously, Channing Tatum is in it... but then, this kid pops up again with his big "James Franco-esque" grin. And I am thinking, "I need to imdb this kid"

So tonight as I am laying in bed I remember - and I look him up...

Sure enough, he IS a Franco.... James Franco's brother, Dave Franco, and I know where I have seen him before... Privileged as Zack... remember Privileged?

Joanna García (Reba's tv daughter on Reba)

Well Joanna Farcia was the tutor for two rich kids... Rose & Sage... played by Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars - originally filmed in Vancouver ALSO, but relocated sadly, just like Vampire Diaries who filmed the pilot here then bailed to GA)

along with and Canadian Ashley Newbrough (who has't done anything since)

I thought for a second Sage had been played by Phoebe Tonkin (Secret Circle, also filmed in Vancouver) but I was wrong....

OOH side note (as if this whole blog isn't one already....) Phoebe Tonkin has been linked to Ed Westwick - omg rawr!!! (also Tom Felton, Angus McLaren and numerous other hotties - lucky gal)

ANYWAY.........

That is how I know that kid... he looks like James Franco, because he is his brother, I have seen him on Privileged and now... I should sleep LOL

Which is hotter? Hmmm...

Another connection I just made while blogging this... Michael Cassidy played Charlie on Privileged, was also on The OC and Smallville (filmed in Vancouver also) and saw him this week as a "red head" on "Are you there Chelsea?" That 70s Show's (DONNA - Laura Prepon) new sitcom....

AND Water for Elephants star Mark Povinelli is also on Are you there Chelsea

This is how my mind works at 2am.... linkinf fromone topic to another.... rant over

GOODNIGHT

Thomas Dekker is the Bella Swan of The Secret Circle - video

The Secret Circle S1E2 Bound #TSC

Episode two of The Secret Circle aired tonight and it was more fun and witchery as well as more familiar sets around my city.

First, thanks to Emily who commented in my last post on the Secret Circle. She recognizes the house from heritage home tours and said when Cassie pulls up to the house she passes by Queen's Park in New West and the house is apparently 321 Fourth Avenue, New Westminster BC

"Please, do you own a shirt" ha ha (Cassie)

"Rule #1 do not breathe in the vapours" ha ha (Science Teacher)

"It's like I'm living in a Harry Potter Movie" "he has a wand" ha ha (Adam & Cassie)

"We are friends now" "right, bound for eternity" ha ha (Cassie and Adam again)

I love the comedy in the show, amongst the drama and fun... In the beginning, Cassie tries to light a candle by asking for light and instead gets sunlight. She tries to close the curtains but instead her neighbours window slams shut. Cassie realizes now she has powers but is completely uncertain how to use them

Later Adam tries to help Cassie use and control her magic, but the chemistry between them seems to make it difficult to... stay in control. I laughed out loud, literally, when the light bulb they lit blew up, I couldn't help but think of it as a metaphor for other things tee hee.

Faye's grandpa Henry is in town and investigating something, we can assume his hunch that witch craft is happening again. He talks to a few of the parents and starts to worry about the kids practicing. When he confronts Faye's mom, his daughter-in-law she seems shocked. Of course this is b.s. because she helped get Cassie in town and she immediately goes to Gale Harold angry Henry is on to them. She also takes away his crystal... whatever that means... it shows she is running the show.

At "seafair" Cassie tries to 'escape' the circle and be normal, but the other's won't let her. She does start to learn more about her mother by talking to the locals.

After some powerful individual magic causes harm to a friend, faye's mom uses the magic crystal to heal her so that she doesn't die leaving Faye with guilt. Henry sees this and after threatening to go to the elders to report the magic and demanding to have the crystal, Faye's mom kills him. OOh she is bad ass.

After all the craziness, Cassie agrees to bind the circle. This means that their individual powers will weaken, but as a circle they will be more powerful. Of course when their parents last did this, meany lives were lost, so we can only imagine what is to come if they are to bind the circle.

Adam reassures his gf that she has nothing to worry about with Cassie, kisses her then drives by and picks up Cassie, his friend. Another light bulb explodes - ha ha

At the beach, by a bon fire the witches unite to prepare for binding.

I should add the music was pretty awesome in tonight's episode.

Now for some familiar local sets... and some unfamiliar ones too...P> Pull up to the resturant again, which I believe is Sockeye City Grill again

More Chance Harbor School aka Kitsilano Highschool

(At least extyerior, the interior looked different, and I heard they used two different schools from pilot to regular season. Not entirely sure)

The Magic House:

i am determined to find out where this old house is, could be studio, but I will keep trying to find out. Sea Fair This festival was set up on the piers in Steveston BC. I found the name "Sea Fair" interesting, since there is an annual seafair in Seattle every year in August, which is around when this was filmed.

Bon Fire This beach is likely in Steveston BC as well, but it was dark and I couldn't recognize any landmarks to be sure. From what I saw (trees, mountains, stones) I would say it looks more like North Vancouver to me, but I shall try and find out for sure.

NEXT WEEK

Stand Together, or Die Alone. Now the witches can't use magic unless someone else in the circle is with them. And someone is after them... ooooh!

Thoughts on tonight's episode? Sets you recognize? Episode One Review and Set Guide

September TV Time - Fall Premieres

** UPDATED **

Well, I went to set my PVR (DVR) tonight for the week and I just about died at how many shows conflict!

What did we do before DVRs? I know I used to have a vcr tape in one room and another in the other if two shows were on at the same time. Now, I have EST c hannels and PST so if more than 2 shows are on at 8pm I can record two at 8pm EST (5pm here) then the other(s) at 8pm PST.

My DVR can only record two at once. There is one I could get that does three at once, but my husband says that is "pushing it" ha ha

Anyways, this week brings back some favourite shows as well as some new shows.

What I hate about new shows is that few last. I will record and get really into them only to have them cancelled. My new "technique" is to let several episodes build up before watching. Though I did that with Combat Hospital and I still haven't seen a single episode. Off the Map was similar I finally watched half the season a week ago! The Event... same thing!

Anyways, here is what my PVR looks like this week, don't judge!

Monday

DWTS - New season starts, I actually care less about this show each week. I really want to but it is a lot of time to watch and after a summer of non-stop SYTYCD (The obviously better dance show) I am not sure how much I can committ. I will likely start watching Tuesday only with the highlights and results. We will see. Plus, I do not see any "stars" this season - I mean really?

Hells Kitchen - Finale. I am pulling for Will at this point.

Two and a Half Men - Ashton takes over for Charlie Sheen - this will be interesting. My husband claims he won't watch now that Charlie is gone, yet asked to make sure all my "crap" didn't interupt taping it ha ha. FUNNY PHOTO.

The Sing-Off - More singing shows. I always at least give it a chance.

Hawaii Five-O - I gave up on this a while ago because I was just too busy, but I want to watch.

2 Broke Girls - This looks hilare and is short and sweet.

Playboy Club - Looks good!

Roast of Charlie Sheen - Can't wait to watch this ha ha oh Charlie Sheen you are fucking cray-cray!

Starting soon also Gossip Girl which I LOVE!

Other shows I don't follow but you may be interested in:

HIMYM (I love it but haven't caught it consistently

Castle

Tuesday

DWTS - Already said my bit - may actually watch tuesdays First results here

90210 - Was disappointed with the opening last week but I am loyal since the 90s so I will stick it out.

NCIS - A Show much husband and I both enjoy, often he more than me.

RINGER - SMG returns, excited about this new show.

Unforgettable - Love Poppy and this look really really good.

Body of Proof - I missed a ton last season and the series record is still up so we will see.

Glee - obviously a must-watch every week!

Camelot - Really loving this mini-series despite some criticism.

New Girl - This looks so awesome I love Zooey so hard!

Wednesday

the Kennedys - I want to watch, but I keep missing it.

Survivor - Looks like a good season with Ozzy and Coach returning as well as some interesting new characters.

X Factor - Simon and Paula are BACK YESSS!

Criminal Minds - Prentis sure didn't "die" for long eh?

CSI - Ted Danson joins the cast? Yes Please!

Reven8e - This looks super awesome, i know so little about it except a girl got screwed over and returns to the town to seek revenge - bad ass!

First episode review and summary here

H8R - Same guy who does Bachelor brings "celebs" to face their haters and try to make them lovers, or less haters.

ANTM - All Stars - as in past failures... See details from 1st episode here.

Modern Family - I love this show but have never watched it regularily I need to catch up

Thursday

Big Bang Theory - love love love

Vampire Diaries - evil Steffan rawr

The Secret Circle - new, locally filmed, momma likes! See Pilot review and set locations here

Grey's Anatomy - old faithful

Charlie's Angel - new, giving it a go

Person of Interest - looks really great, perfect casting

X Factor - as above

Starting Soon: Private Practice - Miss this show

Not for me but yuou may want to know: The Office, The Mentalist.

Friday

Nikita - filmed in TO. love love everything about it

A gifted Man - Looks strange, but worth checking out at least.
Also: Fringe, Supernatural, CSI NY, Blue Bloods (All awesome, but I am not caught up on and don't watch on tv but dvd complete seasons or waiting for them)

Sunday

Amazing Race 19 - I always try to watch this but can never stick with it lately (past few seasons)

Animation - I watch this with my husband, Simpsons, Family guy etc. he is more into it than i am but I blog as it is on in the background usually... good laughs.

Desperate Housewives - I haven't watched the most recent series but seeing as this is the last one I want to watch, but feel like I need to catch up or something.

Pan Am - This looks awesome! Christina Ricci for the win

Boardwalk Empire - returnssss such an epic show

Mythbusters - husbands show but i enjoy it too

What Shows are you watching?

Secret Circle - Pilot - Review and Filming Locations

The new CW show The Secret Circle premiered last night and I thought it was really great.

Written by the same author of The Vampire Diaries, L.J. Smith has another great series turned television show.

The show follows Cassie, played by Brittany Robertson, who is no stranger to Vancouver after filming Life Unexpected here, after her mother dies and she must move in with her grandma. The town is filled with witch teens, who's parents used to practice magic until there was a terrible accident, so now the teens practice in secret.

Gale Harold, Brian Kinney from Queer as Folk and more recently Hellcats (another Vancouver filmed, and canceled show) is one adult who seems "in" on the current practice of magic and within the first few minutes, make that seconds, of the pilot, shows himself to be a "bad guy" by using magic to kill Cassie's mother, forcing Cassie to move to her grandmothers and, after learning about her magic skills, joining, or completeing "the circle"

The pilot was awesome, I loved Phoebe Tonkin as the bad girl and of course Thomas Dekker as the "heart throb"

I am excites to see where this show goes and glad they kept it in Vancouver (unlike The Vampire Diaries, who moved to ATL after filming the pilot in Vancouver)

Like all Vancouver shows, I recognize sets and although I did not go to any, I wanted to share where they were.

Here are sets from the Pilot, if you know more feel free to add them in the comments:

Moncton St Steveston, BC

Town Shots, like this one when Gale Harold's character meets Brittany Robertson's character (did you know off-screen these two have been spotted hanging out a few times?) are filmed in Steveston (Richmond BC) The address on the building tells us it is 3580 Moncton

Boathouse Restaurant

There are multiple locations for the Boathouse, but since much of the filming was in Steveston, BC, I would assume the one we see in the pilot is the one in Richmond. (8331 River Road)

The abandoned house (Where they tell Cassie she is a witch) LOOKED like one in Langley I know Supernatural has used, but given the amount of filming in Richmond, I imagine they found an old house there to use, though I would need to see more of it to be sure. Though this still of them inside was probably studio, as many interiors are, but you never know.

Cleavland Dam

When Cassie runs away from the old house, after being told she is a witch, Adam catches up with her and together they chant "drop of water, light as air"

Sockeye City Grill was spotted in the ending scene when Faye summons the rain and a massive storm erupts. (3780 Bayview Street, Steveston)

The highschool scenes were filmed at Kitsalano High School.

I had been told they were at Point Grey Secondary for the pilot (but that is incorrect) and then switched to Templeton after the pilot (Where a number of shows and movies film, including Diary of a Wimpy Kid 3 a few weeks ago) So I am not sure if/where they moved after the pilot, I will watch future shows and see.

But the pilot was DEFINATELY Kitsalano High School as you can see in this photo of "Chance Harbor"

The fishing town and docks were also done in Steveston.

There were some scenes filmed along the water near Finn Slough.

That's it so far. I know I am loving this show, so perhaps I will try to post more locations and maybe even visit one at some point.

The Secret Circle at SDCC

I am quite excited about this show because it films in Vancouver and has kept Gale Harold (Hellcats) and Brit RObertson (Life Unexpected) in my city for filming. I am a huge fan of both, but especially Gale Harold from Queer as Folk days - Hello Brian Kinney!

Anyways, here is some info on the show:

Cinema Blend writes:

The Secret Circle
Premieres Fall 2011 on The CW

Based on L. J. Smith’s novels, this new CW drama follows a teen girl named Cassie (Britt Robertson) who goes to live with her grandmother after her mother dies in a mysterious fire. She’s quickly drawn in by a group of witches who believe she’s meant to be a part of their circle. And so begins your typical teen drama with a magical twist. Dangers lurk not far in the distance as these kids begin to dabble in powers that might have them in over their heads very soon.

My guess is that The Vampire Diaries fans are going to be on board with this one. The pilot was a little campy at parts, but it does offer a similar kind of glamorous danger to some of the other supernatural-themed TV dramas out there. Fans of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles may recognize Thomas Dekker, playing one of the teens that befriends Cassie.

I don't knwo about you but this sounds pretty awesome - we will see..


Kevin Williamson had plenty to say about the new show:

“This is not as a violent show,” says Williamson. “VAMPIRE DIARIES as emotionally epic it is with its love story, there’s something very masculine about it with the vampires, and werewolves. THE SECRET CIRCLE, this is witchcraft – it’s not so in your face violent. As you saw from the pilot. He drowned the man, just by describing it. It’s just a different type of horror and menace. And that’s the challenge of it – you can’t take a knife and stab somebody.”

That said, Williamson is trying his best to make THE SECRET CIRCLE very edgy and scary too.More...

“I’m the horror movie guy,” says Williamson. “I like scsary.I like the occult. I like ROSEMARY’S BABY. I like the devil worship. I like the voodoo. I like the stuff that goes bats**t crazy. The challenge is how to imbue that with witchcraft to make it scary. Who’s evil and who is not? How evil can you go?”

In terms of developing the series, many changes had to be made according to Williamson, but it helps when you have great source material like the worlds Smith creates.

“These mythology shows are so hard to sort of develop and create, but it’s also what makes it challenging and exicting,” says Williamson. “I really like mythologies. I love building a world from scratch. I have help. Which is so nice because the source material gives us a lot.”

The series will also explore three generations of witches, which will likely open up the CW demographic a bit.

“There’s this young circle, this brand new circle, and you have sort of the next level which are the parents and then you have the grandmother who is in the elder circle,” says Williamson. “I was fascinated by the idea of which powers the have, what they can do with them and how they can do it. And some of the elders, in some sense, don’t believe there is a place for witches anymore. Others feel differently.”As for whether THE VAMPIRE DIARIES and THE SECRET CIRCLE exists in the same universe (think about the crossovers), Williamson says he’s adhering to the book worlds of both – one in which they don’t exist in each others universes.

“We’re playing these two more as companion pieces,” says Williamson. “They’re two separate worlds. Chance Harbor doesn’t exist in the same world as Mystic Falls.”

So does this mean no cross-over shows? BoO!


Expect to see the show air Thursdays at 9pm, following The Vampire Diaries (who filmed their pilot in Vancouver, then moved to ATL for production) I hope The Secret Circle stays in Vancouver.