Killjoys, Between features homegrown talent, locations 

Despite higher fines, police still nabbing plenty of distracted drivers

Man sentenced to 30 months in jail for role in ‘savage, cowardly’ attack

Bus operators ready to roll at new Crystal Garden location

Sooke to hire private security to patrol public spaces

Soldier lost on way to Great War finds recognition at home

Luke Macfarlane of London, Ont., stars as a space-hopping bounty hunter in Killjoys.   Photograph By Space

Luke Macfarlane of London, Ont., stars as a space-hopping bounty hunter in Killjoys.

Space, as they used to say on Star Trek is the “final frontier.” A visit to the sets of two returning Canadian sci-fi shows demonstrates that, behind the scenes, things can look very down to Earth.

Killjoys (Fridays on Space) is about a trio of inter-galactic bounty hunters: Dutch (Hannah John-Kamen), D’Avin (Luke Macfarlane) and John (Aaron Ashmore). They track down criminals throughout the solar system.

The series is shot inside an old factory in Etobicoke in west-end Toronto.

Between (Thursdays on City and out now on Netflix) stars Jennette McCurdy (iCarly, Sam & Cat), Jesse Carere and Steven Grayhm. Created by Michael McGowan, it centres on a group of almost 20-somethings who live in a small town where a mysterious disease is killing off everybody over age 21.

That series — a pioneering Netflix/Rogers Media collaboration from Don Carmody Television — is shot inside an abandoned factory in Mississauga, Ont., about 10 kilometres west of Killjoys.

These are humble surroundings compared with Hollywood soundstages, but cheap? No, says John Young, partner at Temple Street Productions. He pegs the budget on special effects-laden Killjoys is “well north” of $2 million per episode.

That series was created by Michelle Lovretta, who previously created Lost Girl. Does she pitch sci-fi shows because she thinks they’ll sell?

That would be no, says Lovretta. “You’ve got to be crazy if you come into an environment of a pitch and say: ‘I want to have a bisexual succubus — and by the way, in my next show, I want to have people fly off into very expensive space.’ ”

“Every time I turn in a Killjoys script,” she says, “my producer looks at me with betrayal and asks me why I hate him. I make everything blow up or bleed.”

Including her actors. This day on the set, Macfarlane still has his hand taped after accidentally punching a wall during a fight scene. “I always get hurt!” he says.

The London, Ont., native’s first TV break came in the Steven Bochco-produced, California-based production Over There. While that production was the full Hollywood treatment, Macfarlane says he’s “never laughed so much on a set” as he has on Killjoys.

“Here we are in a factory in Etobicoke — yeah, it’s not glamorous,” he says. “When you’re stuck with these crazy hours doing something that’s meant to be entertaining for others it has to be fun — and this truly is a lot of fun.”

In Season 2, the world of Killjoys gets “bigger and more complicated,” says Macfarlane. He adds that the writers and producers are “going further with the comedy elements of the show,” a feature he feels helps Killjoys stand out from the usual sci-fi crowd.

Things are a little more intense as Between returns for a second season. Four weeks have passed and the young adults quarantined behind the Pretty Lake borders are getting desperate.

“Food is scarce, supplies are scarce and people are scarce because everyone’s dying,” McCurdy adds. “The stakes are definitely elevated.”

McCurdy and co-star Carere have been on their own real-life journey. Dating in real life, they accompanied cast mates and producers to the MIPCOM TV marketplace in Cannes, France, last fall as part of a push by Telefilm Canada to showcase Canadian talent on a world stage.

While in France, Carere decided to shave his head. The producers of Between rolled with it when he got back and wrote a head-shaving scene into the Season 2 première.

“They were ready with the script, ready to make it work,” says the 23-year-old native of Woodbridge, Ont. He sees the new ’do as “a symbolic thing with Adam shedding his past, moving on with less of a guard.”

Look for Adam and McCurdy’s character Wiley to make a run for it in Season 2 in a desperate search to find a cure to the killer disease.

Small Screen: CBS reporter’s goal — see all 59 U.S. national parks

Small Screen: American Gothic cast kept in the dark

Find out what\'s happening in your community and submit your own local event

Small Screen: FX network announces dates for new series

Small Screen: Orange is the New Black star relates to Pride protest

Small Screen: Killjoys, Between features homegrown talent, locations

Small Screen: Greatest Hits puts a fresh spin on pop music

Small Screen: NASCAR’s Gordon hopes to go Live with Ripa

Small Screen: Roadies star Wilson says show reflects his life

Small Screen: There’s nothing fake about these Ultra Rich Asian Girls

UEFA reports TV audience of 299 million for Euro 2012 final, 167 million for Champions League

At PaleyFest, \'Big Bang\' cast celebrates success of past 4 years, but withholds spoilers

\'Come Date With Me\' love-seeker gets advice from \'Bachelor\' Brad Smith

Lauren Holly plays sexy medical examiner in \'howdunit\' TV series \'Motive\'

Former CHEK TV personality Michaela Pereira adjusting to life in the Big Apple

Fine Tuning: Gordon Ramsay kinder, gentler on MasterChef

Sponsored content is content which is paid for and has been written by or on behalf of an advertiser. For more information on sponsored content, contact us at tshoults@glaciermedia.ca.