Within the snow of Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, crews work to switch the signage at Kingston Penitentiary… quickly. Submitted picture.
A minor a part of a movie manufacturing going down in Kingston this week gave residents trigger for pause – and even some reactionary laughter.
On the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, Kingstonist acquired a handful of inquiries relating to a sudden change at one of many metropolis’s most recognizable landmarks. And given the present political local weather that’s seen US President Donald Trump order after which pause tariffs on Canada whereas expressing that he’s like America’s northern neighbour grow to be the 51st state, it’s no marvel these passing by Kingston Pen had cause to do a double take. Add in the truth that Canada’s most infamous jail, situated right here in Kingston, was just lately listed on the market on the Canada Public Land Financial institution, and it’s even clearer to see why discovering out what was behind the change that caught their consideration had some Kingstonians laughing, albeit in nervous reduction, maybe.
“So, the States own Kingston Pen now, is that what I’m seeing here? This truly is the strangest of times,” one reader stated to Kingstonist in an electronic mail. Whereas that reader, together with a number of others, most popular to stay nameless, people who reached out to Kingstonist pointed to a current signage change on the large limestone jail overlooking Portsmouth Olympic Harbour – some even sharing images.
Kingston Penitentiary turns into Illinois’ Stateville Correctional Heart for an upcoming collection. Submitted picture.
However an American takeover of Kingston Penitentiary isn’t within the present timeline, unusual as it could be. As a substitute, the signage change could be chalked as much as some excellent news on the a part of Kingston’s bid to grow to be the brand new Hollywood North – it’s all a part of the filming of a real crime collection right here within the Limestone Metropolis. Avid Kingstonist readers could have already recognized that, because the manufacturing is talked about in the latest weekly highway closures and visitors delays information!
No, Kingston Penitentiary hasn’t been to the southern state Illinois for a far-removed enlargement of Stateville Correctional Heart; it’s simply appearing because the American jail in a collection targeted on serial killer John Wayne Gacy, defined Joanne Lonton, a spokesperson with the Kingston Movie Workplace.
“It is indeed filming for Devil in Disguise: The John Wayne Gacy scripted series,” Lonton instructed Kingstonist in an electronic mail after the Metropolis of Kingston had additionally confirmed that the signage change was solely for a movie manufacturing.
Lonton stated that the manufacturing crew is at present doing preparation work, which started on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, and can wrap up on Wednesday, Feb. 5 in time for filming from Thursday, Feb. 6 to Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025.
“The crew has been wonderful to work with, and this is their last filming block to wrap out the entire series. They have hired more than 100 background cast (as many local talent as possible) and many local crew for location support services, electrical services, craft and other essential support services,” Lonton stated.
She famous that the native Movie Workplace understands that tensions are excessive proper now with the way forward for the “trade wars” between the US and Canada unsure, and that the altered signage was not supposed to trigger any panic. The Kingston Movie Workplace has ensured that the signage was coated up till filming happens to keep away from any additional confusion.
However other than that little blip, the manufacturing is off to races to date in its Kingston leg of filming, Lonton shared.
“The production is bringing more than 100 crew members to the area as well, and many of them anecdotally have told us that they are enjoying filming here,” she stated.
“This is a production company that we have worked with before and will most likely continue to work with in the future for large scale productions.”
Certainly, the manufacturing firm held an open casting name right here in Kingston final week. Like many different productions that reap the benefits of our scenic metropolis, Satan in Disguise sourced many native abilities to help its operations right here.
Regardless of the pandemic, movie manufacturing in Kingston has been regular, with a “banner year” reported in 2021 and a number of other productions filming domestically since then. Whereas the alteration of Kingston streetscapes has grow to be considerably commonplace for residents, it nonetheless makes one take a second take a look at a well-recognized scene, one other Kingstonist reader expressed upon discovering out the signage change at Kingston Pen was for a manufacturing.
“I feel silly for the prang of panic I felt,” one reader wrote with an “LOL.”
“Pretty sure it’s for a movie,” stated one other, who famous that the signage change stopped them and their associates “in our tracks.”
“[I] just thought it was a crazy thing to witness given everything that is going on.”
It’s not but recognized when Satan in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy, a manufacturing of NBC Studios/Peacock, will premiere.
Be taught extra about movie manufacturing in Kingston on the Kingston Movie Workplace web site.
