Fifty Shades of Grey hit theatres in February, though by now Mr. Grey's saucy antics are old news to Vancouverites. Much of the innuendo-packed production was shot in downtown Vancouver - though the story is set in Vancouver, WA and Seattle - and half the fun of watching the flick is identifying familiar attractions (The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver! Gastown!).
Hip café Rainier Provisions hosted Christian Grey's first seduction-with-a-side-of-coffee with naïve college student Anastasia Steele. Post-filming, the restaurant shipped a table, some chairs and a place setting to L.A. so the cast could film additions to the scene.
Further action in Gastown include the scenes where Grey saves Ana from a cyclist near the Gassy Jack Statue and presents her with a new car outside her apartment (at the corner of Powell and Columbia streets). Throughout filming, the cast and crew unwound after long days on set at nearby Shebeen Whisky House.
The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver doubled as Portland's Heathman Hotel where Ana's friend photographs Grey for a newspaper article. The scene was shot in the hotel's swanky Lieutenant Governor's Suite, and yes - that unforgettably steamy elevator episode was filmed here, too. (Fun fact: the book's author stayed at the hotel for the duration of filming).
Downtown Vancouver's Bentall 5 office tower doubled as Grey House. Shots here include Grey climbing into a silver Audi.
Simulated rain was required to drench Grey for a jogging scene that took place in Coal Harbour near The Westin Bayshore Hotel.
Your delegates may be interested in the additional productions that have recently taken over the streets of Vancouver - better known as "Hollywood North" among filmmakers worldwide - which include creepy TV series Bates Motel (currently filming season four), fantasy fairytale Once Upon a Time (also filming season four) and feature film Tomorrowland (starring George Clooney). This summer will be particularly "Enterprise"-ing as Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and the rest of the Star Trek cast arrive in Vancouver to commence filming the series' third installment.
IT’S GETTING HOT IN HERE: FIFTY SHADES STEAMS UP VANCOUVER
