The Mortal Institute - Toronto

On the Sensor
TMI Set Day 13


Last week I went down to the new set location and grabbed several shots of Luke’s store before filming began and I headed down yesterday to check out the sight after a few days of shooting had already taken place. 

I arrived at the location at 3:00PM, I knew I was early but I thought there’d be cast and crew on set prepping for the long day ahead. Unfortunately, nothing happened! I walked around the neighborhood a little, sat in a cafe, had some lunch, read a few chapters of the book I’d brought along, met two TMI fans also hoping to grab a few shots and then headed back to the sight...nothing!

I decided to lay back in my car for a bit and put my swollen feet up for a little (I’m 33 weeks along people, this belly’s getting heavy!) As I rested for a while slowly, one, two, then three crew members arrived and so did some of the equipment, driving right past my car so I got out my camera and snapped these shots.




I left the sight at 6:45PM and headed further downtown to the film festival where we (me, Jon-husband and Sam-BF) were going to see On The Road starring Garrett Hedlund *sigh* Kristen Stewart and Kirsten Dunst. We waited in line for… a very long time! The movie was running an hour and a half behind so by the time the stars hit the red carpet and everyone was seated in the theatre it was almost 10:30 when the movie was supposed to start at 9:00PM. 

The movie was great and after it finished the director answered a few questions as well as each of the cast members that were there. 


Garrett Hedlund, Kirsten Dunst, Kristen Stewart
Kristen Stewart talking about her role.

We dropped Sam home and made our way home too but not before stopping off at the TMI set again. It was 2:00AM things were quiet but the street was lit up and sooooo bright. We parked the car and thanks to this guy

Jonathan, my husband
He wouldn't let me take a pic of him last night so I pulled a random one off my computer.

We were able to snap a few shots of what was going on. It seemed like they were in between scenes, the actors may have been taking a break, they weren’t around but Harald was there laughing and chatting with some other crew members


Also, we noticed that a fire truck had recently pulled up so they must have been preparing for something fantastic!



Especially since they had this landing pad on a crane high up in the sky!! Some crazy stunts must have been in the works.


We snooped around a lot of the buildings, hiding in the shadows, checking out the locale. I think Jon was really enjoying himself, he’ll probably want to go down to the sets with me now all time! He really didn’t want to leave but finally I convinced him that it was time to go. It had been a longgggg day, it was almost 3:00AM and he had to work in the morning...well in a few hours. 

Though I didn’t see much action on set this time I’m really excited about what I did see and what it all means and how they’ve brought parts of the book to life, expanding on scenes, giving us some foreshadowed segments or elaborating on certain parts. 

I know a lot of people are panicking that things about CoB will be altered for the movie but that comes with the territory! Any movie adaptation of a book will never be identical to the original story and that is something that needs to be accepted. The studio will always expand and elaborate parts because that’s part of bringing the story to life! So with that said, I absolutely am embracing everything that is unfolding before my eyes and having seen the props and equipment on set yesterday has only lit the firecracker inside that is waiting for next year when The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones  hits theaters. 


On the Sensor
TMI Set Day 8




Greetings fellow Nephilim! and Downworlders too! Things have been quiet on the set lately. The cast and crew have been filming in Hamilton which is quite far away from Toronto so the CoB peeps have been flying under the radar lately. Luckily for me Hamilton actually is not that far away from me! So I couldn't let the opportunity pass to check out the set on day 8 of filming when it might as well have been on my doorstep! 

I hopped in my car, snacks piled up on my passenger seat and headed toward ‘The Hammer’ and got there in no time, 20 minutes maybe. I parked my car on the same street as all the trailers and to my luck there was still 28 minutes in the meter Saweet!! I dropped in two quarters giving me an hour and snapped a few shots of the trailers. 




























And that’s when I saw this!



Could this be the vamp motorcycle Jace and Clary ride away on from the roof of the Hotel Dumort? There’s no guarantee that it is but I’d like to think otherwise. 

I walked over to the trailers and trucks, snapped another shot and spoke to a very friendly crew member who told me exactly which building they were filming in (a fact I already knew but I was grateful for his willingness to help regardless) he told me to cut through the parking lot so that I wouldn’t have to walk around the whole block and I slipped in between a few cars and grabbed a couple of shots of the old hotel. Perfect Hotel Dumort if you ask me, complete with broken windows and everything!




I rounded the corner and saw a handful of crew members moving cords and set elements around outside of the building so I took a seat on a large rock and waited. This is when I met a TMI fan who was eagerly waiting with her CoB book in hand. She eventually came over and sat with me on the rock and that’s when it happened!

I looked up and casually strolling out of the building and through the parking lot was RObert Sheehan! I sucked in a loud breath and jumped to my feet. He looked back at me and I started to run toward him. He put his arms out to stop me and called out, “Jesus! Don’t run, you’re pregnant! Very pregnant!” he moved back toward me and I asked him if I could quickly take a pic with him. He said, “Sure, quickly.” @1|2bloodprincss took the pic for me, thx! :)



As he signed her book I asked him if he had just become a vampire because of the his grey toned skin, red rimmed eyes and dried blood on his chest. He touched his shirt and   said, “…it looks that way doesn’t it, based on all this” he gestured to his clothes and the scenery around him. I then made a joke that I will not repeat and he laughed and said I was mean but that it was his kind of joke. I then snapped a shot for @1|2bloodprincss and Rob went on his way. As we walked back to the large rock to sit. I shouted, “Thank you!” and he gave a thumbs up and waved calling out, “No problem and congrats by the way!” he’s so nice! I wish the pic of us showed my belly so that later on I can show my daughter and let her know that while she was busy kicking me in my ribs I was taking a picture with Robert Sheehan!! Lol

We sat on the rock for a while longer and out came Jamie, Kevin and Jemima for a quick smoke break. We headed over to the group and I asked for a picture which I knew they’d say no to, we were right on set! Instead each one signed their autographs for the two of us and were very friendly. Kevin sat on the steps of the hotel, Jemima popped a few treats into her mouth and had a beautiful smile and Jamie stood quietly adjacent to them. There was a brief moment of awkwardness as they looked at my large belly and didn’t know what to do with their cigarettes. They apologized as they tried to sign my paper and I assured them it was was fine. All of them were very nice and willing to take a few moments away from their short break for us and I was very grateful.



I went back over to the rock, the cast went inside and Lily’s stunt double came out and walked through the parking lot with a crew member, probably going to her trailer. Meanwhile I noticed in front of me two crew members had three large blades set in front of them and it seemed like they were sharpening them, maybe polishing them is more accurate. Could these be Seraph Blades? I think so considering there were three of them and three shadowhunters in the building. 





I waited around for another 20 minutes or so and realized not much was happening so I decided to call it a short day and headed back to my car—and just in time I might add! The parking police guy was two cars away from mine and as I hurried to my car I saw that my meter had run out, phew! Close call! The ticket would have totally been worth it though! 

Until next time my TMI friends!! And next time will be real soon ;)  

                               On The Sensor
                                                    day 2 on the set of City of Bones
Witchlight, Camera, Action!!


Well as you all know I was stuck in the infirmary without a healing rune, without a special Hodge concoction, without anything! So as much as I was dying to go down to the set on day one of filming I was also dying at home with this terrible head cold and I just couldn't do anything about it. I’m sure you can imagine how upset I was, I spent the day sulking in bed and blowing my nose. Luckily for us we had the amazing Sandra @shadowhunting come over from Montreal and she did an AWESOME job finding the cast, finding the set and getting lots of pics from day one. (link her post)



Day two came and as sick as I was I knew I had to pull it together and get down there. So I did. And boy was it a struggle but I managed. As I neared downtown I knew there was no way in my state I’d make it much further so I called my parents and convinced my dad to drive me around to the different locations. To be honest not much convincing need to be had, he was ready and willing, he loves this kind of stuff and I think my parents think it’s really cool all this stuff I’m doing. So I pull up to my parents house, my mom greats me with some hot steaming eggs and a glass of orange juice. I gobbling it down (I’m sure it tasted great, but I can’t taste anything!) As my mom loaded up the car with bottles of water, a box of tissue and small garbage bag for those tissues, I attempted to explain what I was setting out to do to my grandma… Oh that was fun! Try explaining Twitter to a 90 year old. Or the fact that I could take pictures on my cellphone, or that my cellphone is rectangular...or that it’s glass! Eventually my dad was like, “well this is fun...but it’s time to go!” 

We hopped in the car and drove down the street, turned right and pulled down a side street where my dad parked, yes my parents live that close to where they were filming yesterday. I jumped out the car with my camera in hand, cellphone in pocket and walked  onto set. I said good morning to everyone and had a quick chat with a few of the background actors as the crew finished setting up. 

I was told immediately, “No cameras on set!” ok… I slung my camera around my shoulder and watched as they called ACTION. Jamie Campbell Bower leaned against the wall, Lily stood across from him, they said their lines, the extras walked across both ends of the alley, New York City cabs drove past slowly. 

NYC Cab


The scene was beautiful! The bright graffiti decorated alley walls, narrow and intimate. The cracked asphalt ground, deep coloured and slick from water they continually poured to give the ground depth. The sun just right in the sky. It was early morning and the sun cast this beautiful orange glow that made it seem like sun down. Jamie dressed in all black, Lily, a pair of jeans rolled up, hightop Doc Martins and a plaid shirt, hair let down and flowing, It was perfect. 
The Alley


It’s one of my favorite scenes in City of Bones. When Jace and Clary really talk for the first time. The first time Jace takes Clary’s hand to look for her Shadowhunter’s mark.

Clary burst through the doors, terrified that Jace would have vanished into the alley shadows like a ghost. But he was there, slouched against the wall. He had just taken something out of his pocket and was punching buttons on it. He looked up in surprise as the door of the coffee shop fell shut behind her. I the rapidly falling twilight, his hair looked a coopery gold. (City of Bones, Chapter 3, Shadowhunter)

Jace: I wouldn’t be so quick to brand myself as ordinary, if I were you. Let me see your right hand.
Clary:  My right hand? If I show you my hand, will you leave me alone?
Jace: Certainly. 


And one of my fav Jace lines: 

Jace: Your friend’s poety is terrible.  It sounds like he ate a dictionary and started vomiting up words at random. 

And this fun conversation: 

Clary: Why would you want to talk to me?
Jace: Because you know the truth now. There hasn't been a mundane who knew about us for at least a hundred years.
Clary: About us? You mean people like you. People who believe in demons.
Jace: People who kill them. We're called Shadowhunters. At least that's what we call ourselves. The Downworlders have less complimentary names for us.
Clary: Downworlders?
Jace: The Night Children. Warlocks. The Fey. The magical folk of this dimension.
Clary: Don't stop there. I suppose there are also, what, vampires and werewolves and zombies?
Jace: Of course there are. Although you mostly find zombies father south, where the voudun priests are.
Clary: What about mummies? Do they only hang around Egypt?
Jace: Don't be ridiculous. No one believes in mummies.
Clary: They don't?
Jace: Of course not.

After watching a few takes of this scene I walked around the block where they were filming the other parts of the scene. Clary gets the chilling phone call from Jocelyn, she runs out of the alley toward home. I stood on the corner, where there were tons of other people standing, a man on a bike who looked like a bike messenger and other casual people. A few cars were being held back by a police officer. I stood with the crowd, I thought they were filming and the police officer was holding everyone back until they called CUT. Little did I know I was standing with all the extras and then they called BACKGROUND ACTION! And all the people around me started crossing the street, the bike messenger rode his bike across, Clary comes running out of the alley and crashes into him, knocking him off his bike. Oops… I realized I was in the scene! I had my large paparazzi camera strapped to my shoulder still and as they cut and called ACTION again I crossed back the other way to where I originally was. I guess my role was pregnant tourist lol. 

Clary Stunt Double


I slipped off to the side and stood against the wall out of the way and not too far from the cameras. And that’s when my friend slipped around the corner from the alley (he was working on set) and we stood together and watched several takes of that scene. When my friend was called back to work I walked back to where my dad was parked, around the other end of the alley and sat on a bench a watched a little more. I saw Jamie and Lily again having their makeup touched up and desperately wanted to snap a few shots but of course, because I was literally on set, no pictures allowed and my camera was too big to even try and sneak anything. Not that I would of course, I don’t want to break the rules! I’ve learned that some rules just aren’t worth breaking… completely ;)

I chatted with a few background actors for a little and then they began to take apart the set and break for lunch. 

The Alley (set dismantled)
The Alley (set dismantled)

My dad and I decided to grab a bite to eat as well and we drove over to the other location at the cemetery but nothing was going on their. Another set however was filming a local show called Rookie Blue. As my dad and I sat in the car eating our bagels and cream cheese a cop car on a a gurny with cameras set up inside and out fled down the street. My dad and I looked at each other, wide eyed and my dad quickly threw his bagel on the dash board and sped down the street after the prop police car. It was like we were on stake out. We weren’t sure if it had anything to do with TMI but I thought maybe it could have been the scene after Clary meets the ravener demon and the cops show up at her place. I took pics anyway.



I later found out it was for that other show I mentioned before (Rookie Blue) oh well, still tons of fun chasing a cop car!!

After that my dad had to get back to his life, lol, so we wet back to my parents’ house I got in my car an drove back to the first site. Not too much was going on, they were mainly filming just background stuff so I thought I’d go home. My cold was really starting to catch up with me. As I made my way down the street I looked to my right and there he was, just standing there, Robert Sheehan, dressed as Simon, signing autographs or something. So I parked my car and headed back to the set. This time I stayed off the actual set and stood across the street from the Java Jones with a handful of excited fans. That’s when I met up with Sandra (@shadowhunting) and we hung out together for the rest of the evening. While I was over there I chatted with Karen, the head of PR for the movie about my taxi cab pic I tweeted and how tons of fans found the set location based on the little bit of brick wall behind the parked cab. (YOU ALL ARE NUTS!!! AND SOOOO DEDICATED) then we talked about some…we’ll call it stuff that you all can look forward to in the near future. 

A while later Karen brought Jessica Postigo(the screenwriter) over and she was just lovely. She signed people’s books, she took pics with anyone who wanted one.



We chatted about my baby and when I was due, she was excited about me having an October since her birthday is in October and just a few days before I’m due. She also told us that she’s working on adapting City of Ashes into a script! SO EXCITED!!! 

They had just finished filming the brief scene where Clary and Simon walk into Java Jones and then they were filming inside the cafe I believe because we could see Robert Sheehan sitting inside the cafe at a table. 

Not long after Lily was wrapped for the evening and she came over and signed a few more autographs, no pictures allowed :( I had no paper or anything with me besides my camera and my phone (I left my house with work on my mind, I didn’t eve think about fangirling!) I found a recipe in my bag and she signed the back, instead of a picture. I suppose for now it’ll do!


Lily: What’s your name?
Shannon: Shannon
Lily: Ohhhhhh, Shannon!!! 
Shannon: O.O yessss
Lily: It’s great to meet you!
Shannon: O.O *blinks several times* It’s great to meet you too!!

Lilly said her goodbyes to everyone and headed back to her trailer I suppose. I missed a bit after that. I had a phone call I needed to take, we chatted about some more fun teaser things and contest stuff. I can’t wait to share those things with you guys!! 
A tired Lily after being wrapped


A text from Jamie perhaps?

Harald, Lily

Then the stunt double took over and they began shooting the scene from the morning with the bike messenger from a different angle and added in a taxi cab with a stunt driver who skids and makes the car swerve sideways to avoid hitting “Clary” as she runs across the street as another car pretty much hits her and bangs onto the front of the car before running off. For this part I stood close by Harald, the director, who was very pleased with the scene after just two or three takes and then he thanked everyone for the day and called it a night!

The street

Bike Messenger, Stunt Double

I headed back to my car with Sandra and Sharon (Sandra’s friend) and they walked to their’s parked just a little further than mine and I drove home on a complete TMI high!!


On The Sensor
August 15, part 2



I patrolled the streets down Cumberland in Yorkville, continuing to scan each face as I went. My heart leaped whenever I saw red hair, it didn’t matter the shade, it only mattered that it was red. None of those men or women were Lily but I did make it to Yoco, the self-serve frozen yogurt joint Jamie and Lily were spotted at the day before.



I sampled almost all the flavors and after my sampling I had no real desire to buy any, I had got my fill but I couldn't very well walk out, he guy giving out the samples pretty much was following behind me. So I filled a cup with a little raspberry, lemon and vanilla yoghurts and topped it all with some fresh raspberries, blueberries, mango and mochi gummies, yum! 

When I got to the cash I asked the guy (who had been following me around) if he had seen two celebrities in the shop the day before. I described what they looked like he said maybe, so then I showed him the pic of Lily and Jamie on my phone and he was like, “Oh yeah! I remember those two, I didn’t know they were celebrities!” I told him about the movie, he said the only celebrity he would ever recognize was Nicholas Cage… :/ 

I took my yogurt outside and sat in the main square near the fountain in Yorkville and ate my yogurt while I chatted on the phone with my husband so that I would look casual and not like some crazy frantic pregnant lady whose head was whipping from side to side looking at every single person who strolled by me. 

Then it was time to meet Mark, my dear friend who works at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and who has been a major source of movie related things for me in the past few years. We met in front of Sassafras, where all the celebs hang out and we continued to trace Jamie and Lily’s steps. We sat at the tables where they had first been spotted, the first time they were in Toronto.




Then we walked around trying to find where Lily and Jamie were snapped the other day (other than the frozen yogurt place.) We found it instantly.




Finally it was time to eat!! We walked back down Cumberland St. to Rawlicious, the raw, vegan restaurant we were going to eat at. I had been anticipating my meeting with Mark all day because he told me he had a special gift for me and I was so excited!!

We sat down, and I was bubbling with anticipation to receive this gift but Mark wanted us to order first (he was building suspense). So I quickly ordered the Olive, currant and pumpkin seed salad and a lemonade and Mark ordered the Taco Wrap. 




THEN IT HAPPENED!

Mark asked how all the TMI blogging was going. I filled him in on all...and I asked him to stop stalling and give me my surprise. He buckled and slid this envelope across the table.



I opened it and saw this



Hmm...I gave Mark a funny look. What could this be? 
HERE IT IS!!
Yes friends! I have the golden ticket!! (Thanks to Mark who I am FOREVER indebted to.) I have official TMI movie filming locations and dates in my hand and I will bring you all the news that I can get. Photos, video footage you name, I’ll have it! Only at The Mortal Institute. 



On The Sensor
August 15, part 1


Wednesday August 15, I arrived in Yorkville just after lunch. I stepped out of the subway station and onto the busy downtown streets with no real plan in mind. So of course this meant I was walking real slow...mind the fact that after today’s prenatal appointment and a lot of poking and prodding at the baby, she’s sitting in an awkward position in my belly and I’ve got a mega waddle too! People were brushing past me in a hurry, possibly even frustrated as I slowly strolled the streets scanning every single person around me, looking for red hair, looking for blonde hair, looking for dark brown hair, looking for a 6’4” warlock, looking for crew members, looking for ANYBODY vaguely familiar. 

I came to a stop light and started off my mission with receiving a free sample of hummus and pita chips—sweet!— I hadn’t actually packed a ton of snacks this time, just a XXX Vitamin Water. This was a complete score and something about free food given to a pregnant lady rejuvenated me and as the light turned green and I shoved my samples in my bag (because there was another sample lady on the other side and I was hoping to double score) I formulated my plan. I decided to retrace Jamie and Lily’s steps from yesterday’s posted pictures. Now I know the chances of them doing the exact same thing two days in a row was slim-to-none but hey, it’s a start right? 

So, first I walked around the long block along Bloor, window shopping and using the storefronts‘ reflections as my eyes for the people perusing around me, then I circled around onto Bay and briefly walked through one part of Yorkville. Then I needed to rest (these swollen feet can only go so far.) So I entered the underground mall (Cumberland Terrace) and walked through the below ground Holt Refrew section and the Holt Cafe. Then as I continued to stroll I decided to stop in and get my eyebrows threaded, hey why not! I asked the lady for Lily Collins eyebrows, she had no clue what I was talking about. I showed her a picture, she shook her head ‘no’ she said I didn’t have enough hair, she said my eyebrows were too patchy lol. Either way she did a great job! After that I continued my underground stroll, stopped in at American Apparel, I didn’t look at any of the clothes, I just looked at the people. Nothing. 

Hungry, I walked to the Starbucks across from the underground section of Holt, bought myself a tomato and mozzarella sandwich, a protein platter and an iced decaf Americano with lactose-free milk. That’s where I am now, as I write this portion. I’m sitting at a table facing the walkway, watching the people go by as I type. It’s more of a communal bench thingy and the lady sitting across from me keeps giving me strange looks as I vigorously type not looking at my screen or keys but scanning each person that walks by in the hallway. Should I tell her that I’m a TMI paparazzo? Hmm, maybe not, she’s turned sideways away from me, hahahahahaha. Oh now she’s gone, she may have realized I’m talking about her because for a while there I was just staring at her as I jotted down these sentences. Ok, on to the next venture. I’m going to hit up Yoco Frozen Yogurt where those pics were taken yesterday. Next update coming soon!



City of Bones Cast...so far


Filming for The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones begins in less than a month in Toronto and we're all eagerly anticipating the last remaining bit of news regarding the cast. Only a few characters' shoes are left to fill.

We have Lily Collins in the role of Clary, Jamie Campbell Bower in the role of Jace, Jemima West as Isabelle, Robert Sheehan as Simon, Godfrey Gao as Magnus Bane, Lena Headey in the role of Jocelyn, Jared Harris as Hodge, Robert Maillet as Blackwell and Kevin Durand in the role of Pangborn.

Rumours about Alec will be clarified soon, Luke will be announced, Eric; Simon's friend and bandmate and of course Valentine!

Who do you think will be announced first? Who do you think will get the parts? Chime in below in the comments box. I'd love to hear what you're all thinking!



On the Sensor

no.1

So we were all shocked and super excited when word spread that Jamie Campbell Bower and Lily Collins were spotted in Toronto by a TMI fan on July 9 so naturally the next morning I packed a large bag filled with snacks and lots of cold water (I am six months pregnant!) and headed into the heart of the city to do a little scouting of my own.

I had spent some time studying the pictures that were released of JCB and LC and headed directly some of those key spots (I'd like to point out that by this time I had already eaten all of my snacks and my water supply had seriously diminished) so my first stop was to check out that Starbucks that the two were snapped at canoodling at.

I met my BFF and we sat at a table, camera phones in hand, my list of questions resting under my iced passion tea lemonade and we nibbled on our slices of lemon poppyseed loaf and waited... and... waited... and waited some more. Nothing!

We left the Starbucks and decided to walk around Yorkville a bit, with eyes peeled we stared at every single person with blonde hair, guy or girl and same for any long haired brunette. We definitely got some strange looks from people as we searched up and down.

Later in the afternoon, Sam (my BFF) and I decided to have dinner at a swanky Yorkville restaurant where we sat on the patio and continued to scout as we ate our meals (if you're wondering... I had the gazpacho to start, the vegetarian option for my main and a chocolate peanut butter cream thingy for dessert— it was a summerlicious, the menu was set with 3 courses, set price, quite delicious.)

After that we walked around Yorkville and the surrounding area a bit longer but as the sun went down we knew we probably wouldn't find them. Nonetheless we didn't give up and stayed in the area until about 10:30 that night, thinking they might head out for some nightlife fun but...unfortunately nothing!
So I went back home, soaked my swollen feet in some water and put me and my unborn baby to sleep.

The next day we found out Lily and Jamie had been doing some screen testing with the Simon hopeful and the day after that we found out about Robert Sheehan, so my guess is when I was out scouting, they were screen testing. But that won't stop me! Now that we have a more complete cast I'll have more people to keep on my radar as August quickly approaches and I'll be sure to keep you all posted.
Make sure you check back in often for news directly from Toronto, only at THE MORTAL INSTITUTE!


Twitter 'buzz' on a Possible Magnus


Though we’d all be happy with whoever is cast as Magnus Bane, clear fan favourite Shannon Kook sent TMI fans into a Twitter frenzy the other day when he tweeted pictures of himself getting his hair cut (or military buzzed, as he put it) for a guest starring role in the television show XIII.  Well, yesterday in Toronto Shannon, along with other Degrassi cast members, rapper Drake’s DJ, Future The Prince and host, Much Music VJ T-RexXx, took place in a celebrity charity basketball game presented by Muzik for a youth festival held at The Canadian Exhibition Place.



Muzik Charity Basketball Flyer
Shannon posted a number of pictures on Twitter yesterday from the event and it is clear that his hair is definitely not buzzed! We’ll call it “trimmed” so all is safe on the Magnus front, and he may very likely still be in the running to play the part in the upcoming CoB movie.
Shannon Kook and cast of Degrassi



















In fact, yesterday (Saturday, June 23rd) Cassie Clare sat down for a chat with fans to talk further casting details. While she didn’t disclose who would be playing the role of Alec Lightwood, she did shed some light on other roles that seem to be close to filled! According to yesterday’s chat it seems that the Magnus auditions are complete, Cassie said:

 "I think we have a Magnus..." and "There's a Magnus everyone agrees on but he isn't cast—they have to officially offer."


From there a fan asked her if the actor cast as Magnus was “relatively known,” Cassie replied:

"Well—I knew who he was!"


So, like I said before, though we’d be happy with any of the potential Magnus’ when we look closely at Cassie’s hint, I think it’s safe to say that we can lean in the direction of Shannon Kook for the part. And that hair... it can definitely grow out in the next two months or so!

Nonetheless, good luck to all the Magnus hopefuls in the next coming days as you begin to hear back from the studio. Thanks for being such gracious and eager actors who just want to do the character proud. All of us TMI fans truly appreciate all of the hard work and effort you put into snagging the role.

Yours truly,
Shannon, your Toronto TMI correspondent


 

City of Bones Coming to Toronto


The Toronto Star featured an article today on the much anticipated City of Bones movie set to begin filming (as stated in the article) on August 20th in Toronto. So for all those who have not been to Toronto let me tell you about it.

I was born and raised in downtown Toronto, a city filled with an array of cultures, styles and nuances. All around the downtown core you can find hipsters lounging on cafe patios, b-boys break dancing by Dundas Square and colourful street art lining the walls of various buildings. Indie bands play at local bars, the nightlife is always vibrant, swanky shops line the streets, tattoo parlours buzz with business. Toronto is a city like no other...well, except for in the case of filming! Then Toronto is very much like New York City.

You see, even though Toronto has its own unique identity, it is also a chameleon. Toronto is easily camouflaged as New York because the architecture of the two cities are very similar.

I think a lot of the filming will take place in and around Bay Street, which is our version of Wall Street. In that area there is a bevvy of tall buildings that fill the entire financial district and is easily interchangeable with New York. Dundas Square is another mark, for sure. It’s like a smaller version of Time Square and along those streets are tons of old and new stores that have been the focal point for many movies that are said to be in New York. Slap a few New York style signs on garbage cans or public transit buses and you’d never be able to tell the difference.

Union Station is a replica of Grand Central Station, it’s just smaller, but identical and all along Front Street (where most of Robert Pattinson’s Cosmopolis was filmed) gives the illusion of New York City with very little effort. All these areas are very close together and I strongly believe filming will take place primarily in these spots. There are a few really old churches that could easily be the Institute. I haven’t yet determined which one seems the best but I’ll have some pics of those spots soon.

There’s so much that can be done with Toronto for this movie and with an unofficial budget of 60 million dollars (which isn’t really that much) I can guarantee that a huge majority of filming will be done here and I’ll find all the hot spots for you guys!

Your Toronto TMI Paparazzo
-Shannon


Check out the article for yourself below

City of Bones coming to Toronto

 Lily Collins
Jamie McCarthy/GETTY IMAGES
Mirror, Mirror actress Lily Collins is set to star as Clary Fray in City of Bones.


By Bruce DeMara
Entertainment Reporter
Jun 22, 2012

City of Bones is coming to Toronto.
 
Oscar-winning producer Don Carmody (Chicago) confirmed the first book in the wildly popular Mortal Instruments urban fantasy book series will begin shooting in the city around Aug. 20.

“We’re very, very pleased and looking forward to working in Toronto again,” said Carmody, who is teaming with his partners from the highly successful Resident Evil film franchise, which had four installments earning more than $675 million worldwide.
“It is a great series,” said Carmody of the six-book Mortal Instruments, adding his daughters are huge fans of the fantasy books involving demon hunters and vampires in the mean streets of modern-day New York by author Cassandra Clare.
Variety has reported the film’s budget at $60 million, a figure Carmody would not confirm. But he said the film would be a big boost for Toronto’s film production industry, especially for visual effects companies.

While a small portion of filming will take place in New York City, the lion’s share will be in Toronto, Carmody said. Lily Collins, who recently starred in Mirror, Mirror and is the daughter of U.K. rock legend Phil Collins, has been cast in the lead role of Clary Fray and U.K. actor Jamie Campbell Bower (Caius in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn) will play Jace. Other major roles, Alec and Isabelle Lightwood, Simon Lewis and Magnus Bane, have yet to be cast.

Carmody said the film has the potential to have the same cachet among young audiences as the Twilight series, based on the vampire novels of Stephenie Meyer.
The film comes with the backing of Screen Gems, a subsidiary of Sony’s Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group. Screen Gems has hired Norwegian Harald Zwart, who helmed the reboot of The Karate Kid (2010), to direct.

The film is slated for release in August 2013.




POLL: Who do you like for Alec?


Who do you like for Alec??? We want to know! Here's the top fan choices with fan fave for Magnus Bane, Shannon Kook. Vote in the poll after the photos!


#1 Tom Sturridge


#2 Max Irons


#3 Christian Cooke


#4 Ed Westwick
Vote below the comments and let us know who you love best!!!!

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Casting News: Meet our new Isabelle Lightwood - Jemima West


Finally, after all the anticipation, we have some more casting news thanks to the wonderful Cassie Clare! TMI fans meet Isabelle Lightwood!

The role of Isabelle will be portrayed by British actress Jemima West, born in Paris on August 11, 1987. Jemima is best known for her work on the French television show, Maison Close (roughly translated as Brothel) in which she has starred in seasons one and two of the show as the character Rose since 2010. The series takes place at the end of 1871 in a luxurious Parisian brothel called Paradise where three women are trying to escape the lifestyle. A young Rose arrives in Paris in search of her mother a former prostitute. Rose is captured and forced to work at the brothel while Vera, a 35 year old prostitute realizes that her career is close to an end and Hortense, who owns the brothel wants to take her daughters away from the place but struggles under the pressures of a local thug who demands  money from her regularly.

In 2012 Jemima gained the role of Vittoria in four episodes of the popular Showcase show The Borgias (2011) about the historical family and their rise to power in 1400s Italy. You can find Jemima in the episodes titled, Stray Dogs, The Beautiful Deception, Paolo and The Borgia Bull.

Jemima has held roles in both French and English television and film. She starred in the French program Joséphine, ange gardien (Josephine Guardian Angel) (1997) and the blockbuster hit Joan of Arc (1999)

Her list of television and film accomplishments are:

     1997: Josephine Guardian Angel
     1998: Joan of Arc (movie, 1999)
     2003: I'm an Actress
     2004: The Guardian
     2004: Madam Principal
     2004-2006: 15A: Cassidy Payne
     2005 -: R.I.S. Forensic Science: Chloe Muller
     2007: The Company of ice
     2007: Eternal
     2008: Trouble paradise: Louisa
     2008: Ben and Thomas Karlsson Liselott
     2009: Camping paradise
     2009: Josephine Guardian Angel: Pauline
     2010: Brothel (TV series): Rose
     2012: JC, like Jesus Christ of Helen Mirren: Jemina
     2012: Lines of Wellington Raoul Ruiz and Valeria Sarmiento

- Shannon

 

Meet TMI director Harald Zwart

 

As we all know, Harald Zwart is the new director of the upcoming The Mortal Instruments movie slated to begin filming in late August 2012 in Toronto and New York. But how much do we know about the famed director who is taking on Cassandra Clare's heavy-hitting book series about shadowhunters, demons, vampires and everything other worldly?

According to Wikipedia Zwart was born July 1, 1965 in the Netherlands and was raised in Fredrikstad Norway. He always had an interest in film and at the age of eight began making short films. Later, he went on to attend the Dutch Film Academy in Amsterdam where he won great praise for a student film that was then televised.

Zwart has had great success winning numerous awards for his various short films, music videos and commercials and then went on to direct popular films like the crime-comedy, One Night at Mccool’s (2001) starring Liv Tyler, Matt Dillion, John Goodman and Michael Douglas and the comedy Agent Cody Banks (2003) starring Frankie Muniz and Hilary Duff. Years later, Zwart found great success directing the remake of the cult classic The Karate Kid (2010) starring Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan and Taraji P Henson.

I think The Mortal Instruments (movie) is in good hands, as producer Robert Kulzer (more on him in an upcoming post) said, “Harald Zwart really understands the visuals and heart of The Mortal Instruments. That was crucial to us…” and Cassandra Clare herself said, “Harald is awesome...” She further stated that he had no problem asking her a ton of questions about characters, portals and specifically, Valentine.

If you watch The Karate Kid, there are some really great visuals so I think this means we have a lot to look forward to from city shots of New York (and Toronto pretending to be New York) to character close ups and maybe even some really cool flashbacks!

**Apparently Zwart's trademark is to include memorabilia from the Fredikstad football club  in all of his films, so make sure to look out for that in the movie!**

-Shannon

1 comment:

  1. Wow! Thanks for sharing your experiences and you are so fortunate to have the inside track on filming. It was so sweet of your dad to drive you for the second day of filming. The pictures and your experience sound awesome. happy it was worth your time and you met and saw so much coolness :-D

    ReplyDelete

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