“They are mainly on the North Shore, and a couple of downtown penthouses. It's the A-list people who are taking those; all the stars of the (biggest) movies.” For Hollywood's elite, Vancouver's west side usually doesn't offer enough privacy, he added.
Uva wine bar and the Keefer Bar in Chinatown are also favourites of the Hollywood North crowd. The hotels of choice among film industry insiders include Shangri-La, The Loden, Opus and, of course, the Sutton Place, which has been a favourite haunt of the film industry for decades.
The Sutton Place Hotel: one of Canada's only Triple-A, 5-Diamond hotels. With unrivalled luxury and a location deep in the heart of central Vancouver, it's easy to see why the Sutton Place Hotel has long been one of the city's most famous celebrity accommodations.
And while it's no secret that most actors find themselves drawn to L.A. or NYC, there are plenty of other great cities for actors in the United States—and even Canada. Here are the 13 best cities for aspiring actors to start on their path toward stardom.
Apartment rentals are a great option for long-term shoots where actors won't be changing locations too frequently, such as filming a TV series in one general area. Apartment living is more spacious and homey than living out of a hotel, allowing actors to settle in and get comfortable while they're on location.
It might come as no surprise that the home of Hollywood is the setting for most movies, with 543 films shot in Los Angeles. These include the Back to the Future trilogy and the Fast and Furious franchise. London comes in at a close second place, with an impressive 529 movies being made in the UK's capital.
How do actors find housing when they get gigs out of town?
These days, many actors and other entertainment professionals turn to the Lee List, a by-invitation-only peer-to-peer platform that posts ads for the apartments and houses that its members are offering for rent in cities around the country and around the world.
Justin Bieber, Drake, Rachel McAdams and Shawn Mendes all have properties in Toronto. Many Canadian celebs who are from Canada's West Coast, like Pamela Anderson, Kim Cattrall and Michael Bublé continue to live in B.C.
Hollywood North is a nickname that refers to major locations in the Canadian film industry. It is most often used to describe the cities of Toronto and Vancouver. Toronto is home to the majority of Canada's national media outlets, as well as one of the industry's biggest festivals, TIFF.
Actors working on location stay in hotels that are arranged and paid for by the production or find apartments on their own (for longer jobs like full seasons of a television show.)
One of the main attractions for the film industry to choose Vancouver as a shooting location is that the city enjoys 4 distinct seasons of mild weather, and each season provides its own natural beauty.
Vancouver's two most famous, vibrant and popular streets are arguably Granville and Robson. Other streets though are favourites for different people. Honorable mentions include Georgia Street with all its skyscrapers and Hamilton and Mainland in Yaletown with their restaurants.
One of Hollywood's most beloved actors, Ryan Reynolds, is a proud Vancouverite. Known for his charismatic wit and performances in films like "Deadpool" and "The Proposal," Reynolds, along with his wife Blake Lively, has embraced the tranquility and natural beauty of Vancouver.
This relative proximity, diverse geography, educational capacity, and local talent, coupled with government subsidies, is a major factor in the growth of Vancouver's production industry.
It's no surprise that many well-known figures have chosen to make it their home. The list of famous people in Vancouver includes Ryan Reynolds, Seth Rogen, Rachel McAdams, Steve Nash, Michael Bublé and many others.
With its scenic views, mild climate, and friendly people, Vancouver is known around the world as both a popular tourist attraction and one of the best places to live.
Known worldwide for the quality of its crews, locations, and competitive production environment, Vancouver is the third largest Film & TV production centre in North America.
Is Vancouver one of the most beautiful cities in the world?
Vancouver has always been regarded as one of the most beautiful places to live, not just in Canada but also in the world. The city has immense natural beauty, a trendy urban life, diverse cultures and altogether is regarded as the most livable place.
Cruise spent part of his childhood in Canada; when his father took a job as a defense consultant with the Canadian Armed Forces, his family moved in late 1971 to Beacon Hill, Ottawa. He attended the new Robert Hopkins Public School for his fourth and fifth grade education.
In Canada, some of the best cities for actors to break into the industry or simply further their careers are: Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, and Halifax. Toronto is known for its robust film and television industry and bustling theatre scene, hosting major film festivals such as TIFF.
Head a little way out of the city proper, and you'll reach Elton John's mansion in Stouffville. John recently moved with his husband to the Bloomington Road retreat, a towering, energy-efficient mansion situated on 25 acres of scenic Ontario land.
Can actors claim business travel expenses? Absolutely, as long as the expenses are business-related. For example, you can claim a percentage of your monthly Oyster / MetroCard, plane tickets, cab fares, and vehicle expenses when traveling to and from auditions, classes, rehearsals, performances, and more.
Overall, work hours for an actor can be extensive and irregular. An actor's work hours may include early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays. Filming days can run from twelve to as many as twenty hours. Feature films may involve working five days a week and can last up to three months of shooting.
Do you have to live in the same city as your acting agent?
Those actors who live in areas far from any acting markets should not sign up with an online agent. Agents need to be in the city they serve. They work hard to network and have a familiarity with their regional contacts. You'll need to be willing to drive to the nearest city with an acting market for auditions.
