Calgary is the Last of Us

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

I have no idea what that weird mall with the triangular brutalist architecture is. Is that a mall in Edmonton maybe? Or all CG?

They shot some of it at Northland Village. Although, I don't believe it has 2 levels, so some of it must be CGI.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1482231806971817987

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by getbak

They shot some of it at Northland Village. Although, I don't believe it has 2 levels, so some of it must be CGI.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1482231806971817987

Northland was a stand in for some kind of botanical gardens type place, not a shopping mall ironically.

The triangular mall from the trailer doesn't look like any place I've seen in Calgary. I see an ESPRIT in red on the bottom floor on the left and maybe a GAP in the bottom right corner.

[Erick Estrada]

That looks more like Sunridge mall.

[getbak]

The show's Twitter account says it's Northland. I'm not sure why they would lie about it, but if you don't believe them, I'm not going to convince you otherwise.

[Hack&Lube]

Its just so odd to me, being a mallrat and someone who loves identifying filming locations. ESPRIT pulled out of Canada like 10 years ago but I swear that is definitely an ESPRIT sign and red border around the store on the bottom left floor in the shot.

Clearer at this timestamp:
https://youtu.be/uLtkt8BonwM?t=95

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Northland was a stand in for some kind of botanical gardens type place, not a shopping mall ironically.

The triangular mall from the trailer doesn't look like any place I've seen in Calgary. I see an ESPRIT in red on the bottom floor on the left and maybe a GAP in the bottom right corner.

Tough to say from that photo what is real and what is greenscreen

[craigwd]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Its just so odd to me, being a mallrat and someone who loves identifying filming locations. ESPRIT pulled out of Canada like 10 years ago but I swear that is definitely an ESPRIT sign and red border around the store on the bottom left floor in the shot.

Clearer at this timestamp:
https://youtu.be/uLtkt8BonwM?t=95

And a Bodyshop next to it.

[jayswin]

Well luckily our Premier is doing her best to ensure we'll never have to debate where local film scenes were shot again!

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by getbak

They shot some of it at Northland Village. Although, I don't believe it has 2 levels, so some of it must be CGI.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1482231806971817987

There are 2 levels over by where Futureshop used to be. My dentist and Winners are the 2nd floor.

Why are the lights on in the mall??

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

Why are the lights on in the mall??

We'll have to fall back on the "it's a tv show" excuse for that. Wouldn't be surprised to see it explained in the show but also could be done because it looks good and/or light is needed.

I read an interesting book that explores of the idea of if humans just vanished one day and what happens to our domestic animals, farm animals, our power grid/infrastructure, skyscrapers etc. https://www.amazon.ca/World-Without-...15992841&psc=1

[getbak]

Wasn't there a level in game where you had to find a generator or something and turn the power back on in the mall? Ellie and her friend ride the merry go round.


I would guess that wide shot is CGI (or at least what they call digital set extension -- shooting on a live set and using CGI to make it look much bigger), and they shot the close action shots in the actual mall.

As for what stores can be seen, that would depend entirely upon which stores gave them permission to use their logos in the show (or in some cases, paid to be included). They would have either used false fronts on the stores or digital replacement for the signs.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by getbak

Wasn't there a level in game where you had to find a generator or something and turn the power back on in the mall? Ellie and her friend ride the merry go round.


I would guess that wide shot is CGI (or at least what they call digital set extension -- shooting on a live set and using CGI to make it look much bigger), and they shot the close action shots in the actual mall.

As for what stores can be seen, that would depend entirely upon which stores gave them permission to use their logos in the show (or in some cases, paid to be included). They would have either used false fronts on the stores or digital replacement for the signs.

That was one of my biggest issues with both games. I know, zombie apocalypse, don't take it too seriously. But it's pretty common knowledge that gasoline has a very limited shelf life, yet both games are full of generators that you have to use with gas that's over 2 decades old. It's just really lazy writing

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by craigwd

And a Bodyshop next to it.

At this point, I'll just say the entire mall from that shot is CG.

The last of us is supposed to have had the apocalypse have started like 10 years ago so like 2012.

That fits in with New York & Company and ESPRIT signs being on the stores because those chains went out of business years ago and there's no Canadian mall today that would still have their storefront signage.

It's an oddly correct and specific detail by the designers.

[Firebot]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Northland was a stand in for some kind of botanical gardens type place, not a shopping mall ironically.

The triangular mall from the trailer doesn't look like any place I've seen in Calgary. I see an ESPRIT in red on the bottom floor on the left and maybe a GAP in the bottom right corner.

It has elements from this shot, the same architecture as this but the extra 2nd floor is totally CGI. The flooring is the same (those black squares). The ceiling also has those same overhead bars.

[Locke]

I have to say....I really enjoy you guys pointing these things out, I'm hoping that when the show starts we have a dedicated thread and after each episode everyone just points out what locations were used.

I'd definitely be interested in that. I'd have to ignore it until I've actually watched the episode because I'm almost certain my wife's office is in it as she has photos of them filming right nearby.

But yeah, it does remind me of Fargo because they were filming right by my office.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

That was one of my biggest issues with both games. I know, zombie apocalypse, don't take it too seriously. But it's pretty common knowledge that gasoline has a very limited shelf life, yet both games are full of generators that you have to use with gas that's over 2 decades old. It's just really lazy writing

No it isn't. They know full well the shelf life of gasoline and chose to ignore it because it helps the video game remain playable. It's actually the opposite of lazy writing. They need to find creative ways to make the video game reflect the needs of armageddon survivors and that's how they did it.

Lazy writing would be if the characters never needed to power things and everything just worked without a generator at all.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

No it isn't. They know full well the shelf life of gasoline and chose to ignore it because it helps the video game remain playable. It's actually the opposite of lazy writing. They need to find creative ways to make the video game reflect the needs of armageddon survivors and that's how they did it.

Lazy writing would be if the characters never needed to power things and everything just worked without a generator at all.

It is lazy writing because it's the quickest way to solve a problem (people need electricity, gas generators still magically work) with zero logic. How about instead of multiple "get the gas into the generator" puzzles, they throw in some "fix the solar panels" or "restart the windmill" quests. Same end result without ignoring basic science

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Lol. Oh yeah, having an abundance of windmills just lying around in urban areas would be super realistic. Even solar panel usage is so insignificant as to be hilariously outlandish.

[Locke]

You cant swing a dead cat around this place without hitting at least a half-dozen windmills!!

Also, I have no idea what you guys are talking about.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Locke

I have to say....I really enjoy you guys pointing these things out, I'm hoping that when the show starts we have a dedicated thread and after each episode everyone just points out what locations were used.

I'd definitely be interested in that. I'd have to ignore it until I've actually watched the episode because I'm almost certain my wife's office is in it as she has photos of them filming right nearby.

But yeah, it does remind me of Fargo because they were filming right by my office.

My office is completely in it as they took over our floor and our accountants hung out with Pedro and Bella Ramsay's dog while they were waiting for action.

Here's the one I spotted: