Lights, camera and action for the creative arts at Doors Open Toronto

   One-Tank Trip for May 12/18

 

   (c) By Jim Fox

   It will be a weekend of “lights, camera, action” for movie lovers in Toronto.

   Visitors can experience the city’s fascination with film and the creative arts and involvement on May 26 and 27 during Doors Open Toronto.

   The program swings open the doors to many buildings and sites not normally available to the public, all for free.

   Why wait for the world-acclaimed Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September, check it out now.

Ontario Place has reopened the iconic Cinesphere and screens a variety of films for all ages year-round.

   Irene Knight, Tourism Toronto’s media relations manager, said this year’s theme is “Film: The Great Romance” and explores the city’s film and television industry.

   This includes “spaces where actors, designers, carpenters, makeup artists, animators and writers hone their craft and help make Toronto North America’s third largest screen-based production centre.

   It allows visitors an opportunity to go backstage in the buildings where more than 30,000 creative talent work.

   As well, Knight points out that Toronto features numerous film festivals throughout the year in addition to TIFF and Hot Docs with ongoing feature screenings.

   Visitors can also tour locations of some famous films and enjoy restaurants frequented by celebrities when they are in town, she added.

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Reference Library will show a 35-mm film and give tours.

   “Take a fascinating tour of the TIFF building and learn about its architectural design, history of film and the area. Then, enjoy a movie at one of the most technologically leading-edge theatres in the world.”

   Mayor John Tory said the weekend provides an opportunity to discover many significant sites that collectively shape the city’s identity as a film centre.

   There’s everything from historic cinemas, film, television and digital media studios to the post-production houses, artist-run centres and film-training schools for the city’s “thriving film industry,” he added.

   The event, presented by Great Gulf, features more than 130 buildings, including 55 new sites, city-wide walking tours, speakers, music and special programs in a “celebration of architecture” and film.

   Screening launch

   The weekend begins on May 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ontario Place Cinesphere with the screening of Voyage of Time: The IMAX Experience followed by a discussion.

   This labour of love is from the “visually exciting filmmaker” Terrence Malick with his first foray into documentary storytelling.

Shaftesbury creates content for TV, film, digital and brands and will give tours of its funky turn-of-the-century warehouse office in the Studio District.

   Throughout the weekend will be a showcase of films screened in partnership with more than 30 of Toronto’s local film festivals, organizations and historic cinemas.

   The Doors Open to Music program features live music in six special spaces and an Open Studio program explores 10 architects’ studios for an inside look into how buildings are designed.

   What’s the Story Here? on May 26 is a panel discussion about architecture, film and Toronto.

   Toronto OnScreen, in partnership with ReelCanada, on May 27 will provide a glimpse into the creative process of renowned architects, filmmakers, art directors and production designers from the Handmaid’s Tale, Last Night and other productions.

 

The Revue Cinema since 1912 still shows movies and is called a “monument to the mass phenomenon of movie-going.”

   Don’t miss

   - Toronto City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square will host activities and give rare access to the mayor’s office, council chamber and 27th floor observation deck.

   - Family-friendly activities of short films and an exhibition of original costumes from film and TV productions will be shown.

   - Toronto Poet Laureate Anne Michaels will read excerpts from Michael Ondaatje's novel “In the Skin of a Lion.”

   - There’s an interactive experience by Lego artist Ekow Nimako and a virtual reality experience of eight Doors Open Toronto sites at city hall.

   - Walking tours delve into the history and architecture of neighbourhoods, many of which have been backdrops for films. Details: toronto.ca/doorsopen

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Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com

For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca