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Jim Sheridan’s (My Left Foot, Get Rich or Die Tryin’) latest project Dream House is the latest Hollywood blockbuster to film in Oakville. Production for the film with an A-list cast, began early February moving from downtown Toronto to Guelph, Newmarket and currently in-town. The thriller stars hunky thespian turned James Bond actor Daniel Craig, alongside Oscar winner Rachel Weisz and Oscar nominee Naomi Watts. The story centers around a man (Craig), his wife (Weisz) and their two daughters who relocate from New York to Connecticut. After believing that they have found their ideal home, things start going horribly wrong when they discover through their neighbour (Watts), that horrific occurrences had taken place prior in the home. Watts’ character apparently had been close to its inhabitants.

Although there is no set release date for Dream House, it is expected to be in theatres early-mid 2011 via Universal Pictures. Production right now is only at the half-way mark, with filming in Oakville to end March 31st. Production is taking place at scenic Gairloch Gardens where the production crew built a demo home to model one of the lavish homes on site. Access to Gairloch Gardens is restricted during filming. The demo home will be featured in outdoor shots, while indoor scenes are being filmed in two of the actual homes on the garden grounds. Snow and fog machines are being used to create a wintry effect and it is reported that the demo home will be burned down during the wee hours on the final night of shooting.

Oakville.com was able to catch a sneak peak of the film set last week. Filming typically begins around 2:00 PM and on this day Craig and Watts left for lunch, arriving back at the police-guarded set at 5:30 PM EST in separate black Cadillac Escalades. They were transported back and forth from the crew’s trailer to the house in which filming is taking place, opting not to walk outdoors due to cold weather. Watts could be seen in the passenger seat of her SUV chatting on her cell phone, while Craig prefers to sit in the backseat normally. Filming wraps usually around 1:00 AM, after which the principal cast members are shuttled back to a hotel in downtown Toronto.

Locals have been camping outside Gairloch Gardens in hopes of catching a glimpse of Craig, and it is reported that with the weather being warm two Fridays ago, he actually came out and did a round of autographs in his Canada Goose jacket after midnight. Craig spoke to fans in an American accent reportedly, remaining fully in-character. He apparently is not permitting photographs to be taken of him on-set and with fans as a measure to keep details of the film under wraps. It is said that he is generous with autographs on a one-per-person basis as he is well aware of eBayers selling his autographs at inflated prices. One of the friendly crew members offered kindly to hand over my 8×10 of Craig to his assistant due to the intolerable evening temperatures. Less than one week later, I received a personalized photograph in my self-addressed/postage-paid envelope, along with a brief and thoughtful note from his assistant. Craig truly loves his fans and it shows.

The movie is expected to wrap in the wee hours of March 31st with the culmination being the demo home being destroyed by fire. We are told that the police and the fire departments will be on stand-by.

For directions to Gairloch Gardens, visit its official webpage at http://www.gairlochgardens.com). Good luck, Oakville.

(Photo and Writing Credit: Mr. Will-W.)
Mr. Will-W. is a Toronto-based singer-songwriter and pop culture blogger. His blog Mr. Will-W.: Pop Maven (http://mrwillw.com) has been featured on E! Online and CP24 for his much-anticipated annual Toronto International Film Festival coverage.

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