 Hi, art lovers! | | |  | What We Do in the Shadows stunt coordinator Tig Fong (left) with actor Kayvan Novak (Tig Fong) | | | Canada is one of the hardest-working actors in Hollywood — it’s a fact folks from Vancouver to Almonte, Ont., know too well. And even if you’ve never seen your hometown on screen, everyone knows you can’t believe everything you see in the movies.
Toronto is just anonymous enough to play anything from New York to an alien planet. Sometimes, a location brings more meaning to the story than you’d expect (I was today years old when I learned the Ontario Science Centre was crucial to the making of Station Eleven). More often than not, however, the city’s just doing its job — and recognizing a local landmark is just a weird little Easter egg that’s yours to discover. Take the case of What We Do in the Shadows (my favourite vampire comedy of all time — and not simply because I’ve never seen another). For six seasons, Toronto has played a suitably dreary version of Staten Island, the setting for the show. Production on the series’ final season wrapped earlier this year, and in this week’s roundup of top stories, you’ll find a feature about the show’s local design crew. If the prospect of nerding out on behind-the-scenes minutiae doesn’t sound like a trap set by Colin Robinson, then please direct your attention to these bonus links: decoding a season’s worth of wardrobe with the show’s costume designer; how art history is part of the show’s (hilarious) world-building; plus unpacking the art references in the opening credits. And if that’s still not enough, here’s an analysis of one painting from the set: a portrait of Nandor. | | | | | And because we promised you eye candy ... | | | | |  | Chris Hyndman | | I’m about to tell you way too much about my browser history. Because I was reading about What We Do in the Shadows, I decided to Google a scene from the first season. It’s the one where Nandor’s out shopping for party supplies and he keeps on calling crepe paper “creepy paper” (I think it’s funny. Maybe you do too). So I searched “crepe paper” + “art” (I was feeling lucky). This is what popped up! It’s a piece called Monster and it’s by Chris Hyndman, a Chicago-based artist who was born in London, Ont. Technically, it’s acrylic and tissue paper on canvas — but wow! | | | | |  | Amy Feigley-Lee | | From “creepy”’ paper to wallpaper. This collage is by Amy Feigley-Lee, and you’ll definitely want to zoom in for a better look. She has some close-up photos on her Instagram. | | | | |  | Emily Pope | | Illusion of Another World by Emily Pope. Emily will be showing some of her paintings in Picton, Ont., later this week. | | | | |  | FX | | | | | The sixth season of What We Do in the Shadows will be its last. Meet the team behind its spooky sets and stunts. | | | | |  | Art Gallery of Hamilton | | | | | Junior Boys producer Jeremy Greenspan has released a five-track recording based on This Is the Nemesis by William Kurelek. The painting depicts a nuclear attack on southern Ontario, and it’s a key work in the Art Gallery of Hamilton’s permanent collection. It’s hanging there now in fact, and should you visit, you’re in for a one-of-a-kind audio experience. | | | | |  | Robert Tinker | | | | | | | Ma-Buhay! is the story of three young Filipino performers competing in a major singing contest. Now playing in Winnipeg, it’s written by Joseph Sevillo, who was inspired by another all-Filipino production, Prison Dancer. | | | Share this newsletter | | or subscribe if this was
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I’m Leah Collins, senior writer at CBC Arts. Until next time! | | | | | |
