The B.C. legislature is hardly what you’d call “the happiest place on Earth,” especially when controversial topics such as the teachers dispute and the Agricultural Land Reserve are being debated.
An exception was when it became what seemed at first glance like a slice of Disneyland, the theme park that inspired that tagline, during closeups for Descendants this week.
The legislature seemingly became part of the magic kingdom itself — Auradon — when it masqueraded as a fairy-tale castle for the film with the working title Off the Island.
Nattily attired, flag-waving background performers bowed and cheered as the Disney Channel original movie’s young stars, Dove Cameron and Mitchell Hope, pulled up in a white horse-drawn carriage.
“It’s so magical!” observed Ella, a seven-year-old visiting from Chicago.
That word was heard repeatedly on the sun-kissed legislature lawn, where hundreds of snap-happy onlookers watched director Kenny Ortega and crew create movie magic.
“We didn’t realize you had a Disneyland,” quipped a visitor from Washington, marvelling at the royal blue carpet on the legislature’s staircase, and blue-and-yellow banners flapping in the wind.
Some local royalty — Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin — even dropped by, and presumably not to angle for a walk-on role like the one he landed in Gracepoint.
“I’m here to talk to the producers, actors and actresses to make sure they’re having a great time, and that our city is a welcoming city they want to come back to,” Fortin said.
“Especially with the [six per cent distant location] tax credit, we continue to have the opportunity to grow. I love the intangible benefits as well as the tangible ones movies bring to Victoria.”
Not surprisingly, there has been a tsunami of questions about the nature of the contemporary action comedy featuring the sons and daughters of classic Disney heroes and villains, its cast and the behind-the-scenes movie magicians. While most details are being kept under wraps, here’s what we can tell you:
Its Emmy Award-winning director is also executive-producing with Wendy Japhet (An Education, The Italian Job) and doing choreography with longtime collaborator Paul Becker (So You Think You Can Dance Canada), the Victoria native and former Stages Dance Co. student using dozens of local dancers chosen at an open casting call at Kim Breiland’s studio. It was written by Josann McGibbon and Sara Parriott (Desperate Housewives), with Mark Hofeling (High School Musical ) as production designer and Kara Saun (Project Runway) as costume designer.
In present-day Auradon, Ben (Australian newcomer Hope), teenage son of King Beast and Queen Belle, is poised to take the throne. He offers a chance for redemption to the trouble-making teenaged descendants of defeated villains exiled to the remote Isle of the Lost. The villains’ progeny have been granted permission to attend prep school in the kingdom with the Disney heroes’ kids.
Cameron, star of Disney Channel’s Liv and Maddie, plays Mal, daughter of Maleficent, played by Kristin Chenoweth (Glee, Wicked). Newcomer Sofia Carson plays Evie, daughter of the Evil Queen, portrayed by Kathy Najimy (Hocus Pocus, Sister Act).
Booboo Stewart (Twilight, X-Men Days of Future Past) plays Jay, son of Jafar, whom Max Jobrani (The Interpreter) is resurrecting. Cameron Boyce, star of Disney Channel’s Jessie, plays Carlos, son of Cruella de Vil, the classic villainess brought to life by Wendy Raquel Robinson (The Game).
Other cast members include Brenna D’Amico as Jane, the Fairy Godmother’s daughter; Zachary Gibson as Dopey’s son Doug; Jedidiah Goodacre as Chad, son of Cinderella; Sarah Jeffery as Sleeping Beauty’s daughter Audrey; and Dianne Doan as Lonnie, daughter of Mulan.
Dinner and a movie
It has been 28 years since Oak Bay Theatre closed, but film buffs haven’t lost their appetite for neighbourhood moviegoing.
The Oak Bay Beach Hotel is filling the bill with its popular Tuesday Movie Nights in the David Foster Foundation Theatre.
For $24 plus tax, you’ll get a pre-show gourmet snack — a turkey dog with brie cheese and caramelized onions, fries and an ice cream sandwich when we saw The Shawshank Redemption this week — and a bag of popcorn at showtime. Beverages can be purchased and there’s complimentary valet parking.
“We switch up the menu to keep it fresh,” said marketing manager Kris Morash, adding theme menus are occasionally offered, such as spaghetti and meatballs at a family movie event.
Programming movies “is an art because we’re somewhat limited in what we can choose,” he said.
“We’ve learned that movies most people will go to the theatres for aren’t necessarily going to be popular for a second run.”
The Great Gatsby was an exception.
“We hit that one out of the ballpark.”
Info: oakbaybeachhotel.com
