Interactive experience brings Last of Us Vancouver filming locations to life
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With the lights barely out on Season 2 of The Last of Us, fans can hit the streets of Vancouver to feel closer to the hit HBO show.
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Destination Vancouver has launched Survive Vancouver, a mobile, browser-based augmented reality (AR) experience that takes fans into the apocalyptic world inspired by The Last of Us.
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Developed in partnership with Victoria-based creative studios One Net Agency and Hololabs, Survive Vancouver guides fans through four downtown Vancouver locations of the show, which is returning to shoot season 3 here later in the summer.
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Users will visit the landmark Vancouver filming sites The Orpheum Theatre, Chinatown, Gastown, and Harbour Green Park. Included in the experience is exclusive behind-the-scenes content, local guides and interactive storytelling.
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'Vancouver has always played a starring role in film and television, and Survive Vancouver offers fans a new way to experience that magic. This initiative brings a new dimension to visiting our city, inviting fans to walk in the footsteps of their favourite characters while exploring our diverse neighbourhoods. We're inviting the world to step into the show and into Vancouver,' said Royce Chwin, President and CEO of Destination Vancouver in a statement.
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Using AR tech powered by Niantic, creators of Pokémon Go, users uncover hidden digital props, unlock code words, and collect clues at each location. Once the clues have been figured out users are given a set of co-ordinates that will lead them to the prize of a limited-edition, hand-illustrated postcard featuring one of the iconic filming locations in its full apocalyptic glory.
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Toronto Sun
2 days ago
- Toronto Sun
HBO's Mountainhead will make you laugh as the world burns
Published May 31, 2025 • Last updated 10 minutes ago • 4 minute read (L-R) Jason Schwartzman, Cory Michael Smith, Jesse Armstrong, Ramy Youssef and Steve Carell attend HBO's "Mountainhead" World Premiere at The Museum of Modern Art on May 22, 2025 in New York City. Photo by Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Over Succession's four seasons, series creator Jesse Armstrong made a name for himself as television's go-to chronicler of the uber-rich. The HBO show depicted the inner workings of a powerful, Murdoch-esque media clan and the way its members lived, travelled, celebrated and humiliated one another. It was a tantalizing look at what it might be like to have wealth so profound that it sets you apart from everyone and gives you the power to influence politics worldwide. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Now, after two years off the air, Armstrong returns to HBO on May 31 with a new movie, Mountainhead, which almost feels like it could be a Succession spinoff. (He says he even contemplated having ATN, Succession's Fox-like news channel, playing in the background.) The cool color palette is the same; so are the zingers. Nicholas Britell is back to compose the score. Instead of media scions, however, Armstrong has turned his attention to the newest generation of powerful elites — tech bros — and raised the absurdity of the scenario. And while Mountainhead can be a bit slapdash at times, it once again proves that if you want a glimpse at the masters of the universe — one that will make you wince and laugh in equal measure — Armstrong is your man. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Mountainhead came together quickly. Armstrong cast the movie while writing it in January and February of this year and shot for just five weeks in the spring. On-screen you can feel the urgency as well as the messiness that comes with such a compressed timeline. This is an extremely timely film about the dangers of artificial intelligence, the world falling apart and powerful men who care only about their own portfolios. It could be tighter, but it's still ridiculously entertaining. The plot revolves around a boys trip to the title's namesake location — a Utah estate owned by Jason Schwartzman's Hugo Van Yalk and named for The Fountainhead. (One of his buddies jokes that it was designed by 'Ayn Bland.') Hugo, known to his pals as 'Souper' or 'Soups,' is the founder of a mental health app more interested in hooking users than actually solving mental health crises and the least wealthy of the group, which means he is mocked for only have a net worth in the hundreds of millions. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The rest are billionaires. There's 'Papa Bear' Randall, the elder statesman hiding health issues, played by Steve Carell, and Ramy Youssef's Jeff, the most conscientious of the gang, who still believes his tech can be used for good. But the biggest whale in this toxic foursome is Venis, an Elon Musk-Mark Zuckerberg hybrid portrayed with an odious air by Cory Michael Smith. In the opening moments of the film, Venis launches an AI update to the software of Traam, his Facebook-like social media platform, called 'F***' but spelled with an extra 'u,' which is part of the gag. The explicative serves to highlight his obnoxiousness, but it's also apt in another way. Essentially, Venis has created a fake-news machine, and almost as soon as he arrives at Mountainhead, it's clear his latest creation is sowing worldwide chaos. People are using its functions to falsify images, resulting in murders and coups. While this could ostensibly put a damper on the four friends' poker night, instead it turns into an opportunity, as the men start to strategize on how to use this instability to their advantage. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Jeff also has an AI tool, which has more guardrails on it — a 'filter for nightmares,' as he puts it. Venis wants Jeff to sell it to him, to help solve the global crisis he helped create; Jeff sees more money in keeping it close. But quickly the scheming inside this austere but somehow tacky mansion — there's a bowling alley downstairs — starts to move beyond simple dealmaking. Lives are on the line inside and outside the structure. Left alone to their own devices, the men grow increasingly deluded about their own power, and Mountainhead goes from satire to a more overt critique of the greed that's currently shaping our world. The actors have a great time sinking their teeth into this fantasy. Schwartzman is hilarious as Soups, who has a massive inferiority complex that the others fuel. Carell takes on a professorial air as Randall, who quotes philosophers to support his own self-interest, which involves preserving his consciousness after his death. And Youssef is endearing as the closest thing we have to a 'good guy' — who also happens to be a megalomaniac. Smith is perhaps the least famous of the bunch but the standout of the cast, his face oozing smarm as the loathsome Venis. The shagginess of the plot starts to weigh things down as the movie heads toward its conclusion. Certain moments, especially those related to the characters' outside lives, are underdeveloped, and there's an immediacy to Armstrong's satire that's almost impulsive. But the anger that spurred Mountainhead's creation is also its best quality. Armstrong is pissed off and has decided to channel that into brutal jokes. If we can't laugh at these people, what else can we do? Sunshine Girls Toronto & GTA Sunshine Girls Canada World
The Province
2 days ago
- The Province
Here are the 10 best concerts in Vancouver in June
From Peach Pit to the 5X Block Party and Jazz fest, June is jumping in B.C. Peach Pit performs during the Juno Awards, in Vancouver, March 30, 2025. Photo by ETHAN CAIRNS THE CANADIAN PRES / THE CANADIAN PRESS Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. From the album release of Vancouver psychedelic cumbia crew Empanadas Illegales to Surrey's massive 5X Block Party and the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, June is rocking in the summer sounds. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Here are 10 can't-miss concerts coming in the next month. Vancouver-based psychedelic Latinx groove band Empanadas Illegales Photo by Las Empanadas Illegales Empanadas Illegales: Sancocho Trifásico album release When: June 6, 8 p.m. Where: Hollywood Theatre, 3123 W. Broadway Tickets and info: Get ready for an evening of dance-a-rrific electric sounds from psychedelic cumbia maestros Empanadas Illegales. The local crew combines cumbia and salsa sounds with trippy surf style guitar licks and plenty of shout outs in its non-stop show. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Peach Pit arrives for the 2025 Juno Awards in Vancouver on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Photo by Richard Lam / PNG Peach Pit and Briston Maroney: Long Hair, Long Life Tour When: June 6, 6 p.m. Where: Deer Lake Park, Burnaby. Tickets and info: Vancouver rockers Peach Pit dropped its latest album Magpie on Columbia Records, performed a killer version of the title track at the 2025 Juno Awards in Vancouver and just seem to be hitting all the right notes with fans. Folk rocker Briston Maroney is a fine foil for this double-bill tour. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Malcolm Todd: The Wholesome Rockstar Tour When: June 7, 7 p.m. Where: Vogue Theatre Tickets and info: Barely into his 20s, singer Malcolm Todd racked up millions of listens for songs such as Roommates and Bleed, quickly establishing himself as a rising star in contemporary pop music. The Los Angeles-born artist is generating quite a buzz for his intense and intimate concerts. Art d'Ecco is a Vancouver Island-based rock artist Art d'Ecco and His Demon Band When: June 12, 8 p.m. Where: The Fox Cabaret, 2321 Main St. Tickets and info: With every release, Vancouver Island glam rocker Art d'Ecco seems to change and find even finer musical points to make. His fourth album, Serene Demon, might be his best work yet. Expect stylish, slick and stick-in-your-head tunes with classic hooks. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. GMINXR plays the 5X Block Party GMINXR 5X Fest 2025 When: June 12-14, various times Where: Various venues Tickets and info: The 8th annual 5X Fest celebrating South Asian youth culture includes signature events such as the 5X Art Party, big 5X Block Party with performers including GMINXR, Talwinder, Panjabi Hit Squad and many others, and the 5X Afterparty too. Check the website for all of the events taking place. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Canadian artist Mae Martin performs at Vogue Theatre (Arin Sang-urai photo) Mae Martin When: June 13, 7 p.m. Where: Vogue Theatre, 918 Granville Tickets and info: Who says you can only be talented in one area of the arts? Certainly not Mae Martin who has a proven track record as a stand-up comic, actor, podcaster, producer and, most recently, singer. The BAFTA-winning Ontario performer recently released their debut album, I'm A TV, in 2025. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Bill Frisell performs at the Vancouver jazz festival. (Paul Moore Ottawa Citizen) Vancouver International Jazz Festival When: June 20-July 1, various times Where: Various venues Tickets and info: With shows ranging from guitar genius Bill Frisell and his trio to rising star Nubya Garcia, local greats and much more, the annual jazz festival is one of the biggest festivals in B.C. With a fantastic mix of ticketed and free events, you can plan a varied and awesome listening experience. OK GO famous music video for Here It Goes. OK Go: And the Adjacent Possible Tour When: June 21 (Sold out) and June 22, 8 p.m. Where: Commodore Ballroom, 868 Granville St. Tickets and info: Grammy-winning American rock band OK Go has built a devoted fanbase with its hooky tunes and acclaimed videos. The band's latest album And the Adjacent Possible was preceded by the new single A Stone Only Rolls Downhill with, you guessed it, a very smart and creative video. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Steven Page performs with the VSO. Photo courtesy DAVID BERGMAN/ Steven Page with the VSO When: June 21, 8 p.m. Where: Orpheum Theatre, 601 Smithe Tickets and info: Singing songs from across his career, singer Steven Page and music director, cellist and vocalist Kevin Fox will be joined by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra for a 90-minute program of classics and deep cuts from the artist. Kelowna hard rock trio Freeze the Frame are L-R Quinn Mitzel, Jonah Goncalvez and Aria Becker Photo by Alexis Feist Photography Alex / Alexis Feist Photography Freeze the Fall — The Red Garden Release Party When: June 27, 7 p.m. Where: The Fox Cabaret, 2321 Main St. Tickets and info: Okanagan high school hard rock trio Freeze the Fall has a new album out titled the Red Garden Party. The band just keeps homing in on its technical metal sound as heard on the new single Oubliette. It's no surprise that this group is gaining global attention for its music. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. sderdeyn@ Read More BC Lions Vancouver Whitecaps Vancouver Canucks News News
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Influencer culture pilloried in prose
Part mystery, part satire and even part horror, second-generation Chinese-Canadian writer Liann Zhang's debut novel is a bizarre but entertaining look at the world of social media influencer culture. Julie Chan is a supermarket cashier with no friends who steals food from work to keep herself fed. One day, she receives a disturbing phone call from her estranged twin sister, Chloe, a rich influencer with followers in the millions. Sensing something is wrong, Julie travels to Chloe's New York City penthouse and finds her sister dead on the floor. As she's about to report the death to the police, Julie quickly makes the rash decision to switch places, ditching her sad, anonymous life for her twin's more comfortable and glamorous one. Julie Chan is Dead With unwitting help from Chloe's manager, Julie seamlessly continues her sister's social media life, interacting with fans, receiving lavish gifts and going to trendy parties. At first, no one in Chloe's world suspects the truth, and everyone writes off any strange behaviour as her just being '#sad' and '#grieving.' But it doesn't take long for her aunt and cousin to figure out what's going on, and Julie soon finds herself being blackmailed. In order to pay off her scheming family members, she becomes a lot more obvious with paid endorsements on her channels, while watching her numbers drop on each platform. Thankfully, Julie has her new influencer friends to cheer her up. A group of mostly indistinguishable twentysomething white women, the Belladonnas are led by Bella Marie, whose level of fame and wealth seems almost unattainable for a social media personality. But, of course, Julie soon learns her new friends may be hiding some sinister secrets. Toronto- and Vancouver-based Zhang was only 16 when she had her own brush with internet fame, gaining over 20,000 followers on a skincare-themed Instagram account. The author, who now has a degree in psychology and criminology, says this book was inspired by the fellow influencers she met through group chats. Clearly she has some strong, negative feelings from this experience, as most characters are quite unlikable — even Julie, who quickly embraces her new personality. Zhang takes some fun shots at influencer culture, and that cynical humour drives the first half of the novel. But it does get dragged down by some very predictable turns. Then a huge twist comes that makes the second half seem like a different book altogether. It quickly delves into cult-horror territory — think Rosemary's Baby or The Wicker Man but with trite self-help affirmations and beauty tips. The shift may be a bit jarring for some readers, but Zhang's cutting humour is amped up, along with the overall pace, which all leads to a ridiculous, over-the-top finale. While it has some flaws, Julie Chan is Dead is a fun, memorable debut. Hardly an influencer, Alan MacKenzie is struggling to find 600 subscribers for his YouTube channel.
