In a celebration of cross-border camaraderie, Cinespace Film Studios is making its Chicago and Toronto studio facilities available to host both Canada Day festivities for the Canadian Consulate in Chicago on July 1, and Independence Day festivities for the U.S. Consulate in Toronto on July 3.
Toronto-based Cinespace is North America’s largest owner and operator of film and television production space, having expanded into Chicago in 2010 and doubling its holdings to more than 2 million square feet on more than 100 acres.
Cinespace Toronto was approached last November by staff of the U.S. Consulate in Toronto, seeking an interesting location for their Independence Day event. NBC Universal, which produces the SyFy original series Warehouse 13 at Cinespace, later cleared use of their sets for the special day.
“The Cinespace studio facility we have chosen is a singularly unique venue, and thanks to NBC Universal’s kind accommodation of our request, we will mark Independence Day inside a similarly distinctive and wonderfully imaginative television series setting,” said the Consul General of the United States in Toronto, Jim Dickmeyer. “It is a most fitting backdrop, given the strong cultural and economic ties between our two countries, especially those in the film and television industry, and we are looking forward to a memorable and enjoyable day at Cinespace, where we will celebrate the 237th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America.”
In early 2013, Cinespace founder Nick Mirkopoulos approached the Canadian Consulate in Chicago, and offered up a similar venue inside the City Hall set of Boss, the Starz television series starring Kelsey Grammer that shot in Chicago for two seasons. The show’s fictional Chicago City Hall set was acquired from Lionsgate Television after the series ended and was maintained by Cinespace Chicago.
“Both the United States and Canada have played roles in our success as a company,” said Mirkopoulos, “And I can think of no better way to mark our 25th year than to host on-set celebrations for our friends on both sides of our common border, in the same week.”
“We are thrilled to celebrate Canada’s national day inside the studio facilities of a Canadian company that has brought its renowned business model to the U.S. and is thriving,” said Canadian Consul General Gitane De Silva, “This is a testament to the strong bond between Canada and the United States, and it will be in this spirit of collaboration and friendship that we will celebrate Canada Day on Monday with our colleagues and friends in Chicago.”
