Snipers, pyro and gunfire, oh my, at television production ‘shooting’ in Oshawa Monday

Snipers will be on the loose at Oshawa’s Civic Recreation Complex Monday and the authorities seem to be just fine with it. In fact, local police will be on hand to ensure there will be no interference so the sharpshooters can get on with the job.

The gunfire – and there will be plenty of it – is part of a television production scheduled for July 12-14, with the prep set for Sunday and the actual sniper sequence happening Monday.

The actors will be using ‘squibs’ – non-firing replica guns, both pistols and rifles, that have also been described as ‘sparkling paint balls’ – for the scenes, which will be used in season 3 of the espionage thriller ‘Cross’ (code name ‘Good Shepherd), starring Aldis Hodge, Isaiah Mustafa and Juanita Jennings.

The simulated gunfire will create minimal noise (to be shot at the side of the cars in the lot during the sniper sequence), while the glass windows of a car will also be blown out during the scenes using MD1 – small pieces of pyro with no flash, “similar to a hammer striking glass.”

Paid-duty officers will be on-site throughout handling traffic control and overall safety and nearby residents have been notified via letters.

‘Cross’ during filming in Toronto. Photo Andrew Thomas

“The film industry’s importance to the local economy is one that I am eager to continue cultivating and growing as we work to restore our presence as an economic powerhouse,” said Oshawa Councillor Tito-Dante Maripietri, who announced the production noise on his socials.

Base camp for the production is near Cherry Beach in Toronto, while shooting during previous seasons has happened at Parkwood Estate in Oshawa, a national historical site that has been the site of numerous television and movie work over the years and is a big reason why Durham Region has often been referred to as ‘Hollywood North.’

Production just wrapped up this weekend at Parkwood for the film adaptation of ‘The Bell Jar,’ the movie debut of pop star Billie Eilish.

A since-deleted post from Parkwood may have also broke some casting news, with the post declaring that Eilish’s co-star in the production, directed by Canadian film icon Sarah Polley, is Emmy nominee Connor Storrie.

Screenshots of the post were shared before it was deleted.

Connor Storrie and Billie Eilish