Filming in Vancouver: Dirk Gently, Miranda Sings, Shah Rukh Khan, and more

May 1, 2017
CT
ByCraig Takeuchi
5 min read

This week, there’s some serious girl power in the mix: a gaggle of smart gals call it a wrap, a hilariously untalented girl keeps the laughs coming, and a girl’s harrowing story of survival is getting told. In the boy department, there’s a detective duo getting ready to start shooting and one of Bollywood’s biggest boys (well, men) paid Vancouver a visit.

With that said, let’s take a look at what’s coming and leaving town.

The latest season of Project MC2 wrapped up today (May 1), having back started on March 6.

Set in the fictional town of Maywood Glen, California, the series follows the adventures of some super smart and science-savvy teen gals who work for a top-secret government agency, comprised of female agents, called NOV8.

Colleen Ballinger plays the lipstick-challenged Miranda Sings on <em>Haters Back Off</em>.

The youth series helps to encourage a new generation of girls to challenge gender barriers stereotypes, and underrepresentation in the fields of science and technology.

The cast is comprised of Mika Abdalla, Ysa Penarejo, Victoria Vida, Genneya Walton, Alyssa Lynch, and Belle Shouse.

Real-life mathematician and former Wonder Years star Danica McKellar stars as the group’s chief intelligence agent at NOV8.

Colleen Ballinger plays the lipstick-challenged Miranda Sings on <em>Haters Back Off</em>.

Meanwhile, there’s been a TV series about a much, much, much less talented girl that’s been filming in town.

The comedy series Haters Back Offfollows the misadventures of Miranda Sings, an overconfident and socially awkward girl obsessed with fame (despite having no perceptible talent) who is played by Colleen Ballinger (based on the character Ballinger created on YouTube).

Colleen Ballinger plays the lipstick-challenged Miranda Sings on <em>Haters Back Off</em>.

The series continues shooting eight episodes of Season 2 until June 5.

The cast includes Angela Kinsey, Steve Little, Erik Stocklin, Francesca Reale, and Matt Besser.

Colleen Ballinger plays the lipstick-challenged Miranda Sings on <em>Haters Back Off</em>.

On a more serious note, a TV production that depicts a story of survival amid grim subject matter will be the TV movie I Am Elizabeth Smart will shoot all month in town, from May 1 to 29.

It’s an authorized movie about the kidnapping of 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart in 2002. She was abducted from her Salt Lake City home by religious fanatic Brian Mitchell, who was assisted by Wanda Bazree.

Smart was taken to an encampment where she was chained, starved, drugged, raped, and forced to participate in bizarre religious rites. But after nine months, she managed to escape to freedom.

Although a 2003 made-for-TV movie was filmed about the ordeal, Smart herself is the executive producer and narrator of this version which will focus on how she managed to survive.

Colleen Ballinger plays the lipstick-challenged Miranda Sings on <em>Haters Back Off</em>.

Next week, the TV series Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agencyis scheduled to start shooting 10 episodes of Season 2, starting on May 8 and continuing until August 30.

Based on the Douglas Adams novel series, the sci-fi-comedy series stars Samuel Barnett as Dirk Gently, a quirky detective who solves supernatural cases in unconventional ways.

Elijah Wood (The Lord of the Rings) plays his reluctant sidekick Todd, who assists him.

The cast includes Hannah Marks, Fiona Dourif, Jade Eshete, and Mpho Koaho.

Colleen Ballinger plays the lipstick-challenged Miranda Sings on <em>Haters Back Off</em>.

This past week, one of the biggest movie stars in the world touched down in Vancouver.

Bollywood’s Shah Rukh Khan visited the city to participate in a talk at the TED 2017 conference on April 27.

Social media lit up with sightings of the star, known as King Khan, and some were even lucky enough to snap a pose with Khan.

Khan sent out a series of his own Vancouver-related social media posts himself, including a video:

Off to Vancouver. Last long stint there was during the Pardes shoot…now for TEDtalks pic.twitter.com/zFXdLi3dAf



— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) April 24, 2017
Ami KKR…!!! pic.twitter.com/cgyCqDlIha



— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) April 26, 2017
Thank u @TEDTalks @TEDchris @julietrblake for a wonderful time. All who came to lov me in Vancouver…my lov 2 u. pic.twitter.com/FJD3yWgxsQ



— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) April 28, 2017

While Khan mentioned he had previously shot the 1997 film Pardes in Vancouver, he hasn’t filmed anything since then, even though he has visited Vancouver several times for concert appearances.

Keep your fingers crossed and perhaps he’ll be filming something in the near future.

After all, you never know who’ll be turning up next here in Hollywood North—or Bollywood West…

Filming in Vancouver
Dirk Gently
Miranda Sings
Shah Rukh Khan
girl power
detective duo
Bollywood
survival story