What makes a city truly great and worth visiting?
"Toronto in 2 Minutes," part of the WOW Air travel guide application video, offers a response to this enduring question — and provides suggestions on things to do, places to explore, and food to eat in one day when you find yourself visiting Canada's largest city.
I also took this opportunity to challenge myself by shooting every footage using only my iPhone 7 Plus. For previous video projects, I would employ a Canon 7D or rent the 5D camera by default, but I thought it would be appropriate to use a small, light, portable handheld device to create the city guide, since I do like to travel light. I usually refrain from drawing attention to myself while exploring foreign countries and avoid navigating unfamiliar streets carrying an expensive DSLR camera and its accompanying, pricey L-series lens shooting footage and taking photos, unless there's a need for it. Besides, I wanted to understand the hype behind these powerful iPhone cameras and explore the possibilities for myself. After all, Steven Soderbergh's latest feature, Unsane, was shot entirely on an iPhone 7 Plus in 4k using the Filmic Pro app. Director Sean Baker (The Florida Project) also employed an iPhone to shoot Tangerine (2015). Personally, I have not seen any of those films, but the cinematography in both trailers looks stunning enough (more the latter), I had to give it.... a shot.
Video was done entirely in 4k using an iPhone 7 Plus and Filmic Pro app. Edited with Adobe Premiere Pro. Music heard throughout is the instrumental version of "Passionfruit" by Toronto's own, Drake.
The corner of Dundas St. West and Sheridan St.
Places shown in the intro of video:
(00:01) Dundas West (Little Portugal)
(00:03) Bloor & Shaw / Christie Pits (Korea Town)
(00:05) Trinity Bellwoods Park - Queen & Strachan St.
(00:14) Kensington Market (Near Chinatown)
At Trinity Bellwoods, where people hang out, walk their dogs, and occasionally, pet pigs...
Delicious, inexpensive food:
(00:19) Mr. Pide (Turkish pizza) - 800 Danforth Ave. (Greek Town) $13-$18
(00:22) Jerk King - 522 Bloor St. West (Annex) $7.50-$15
(00:24) Tacos El Asador - 689 Bloor St. West (Korea Town) $5-$12
(00:25) Yummy - 620 Bloor St. West (Korea Town) $8-$15
Start the Day (Union or King station)
--- Take the southbound streetcar from King station or walk southbound from Union ---
Waterfront / Harbourfront
Morning Grub (Union or King station)
--- Follow the bike or walking path eastbound and walk northward upon seeing the sign ---
St. Lawrence Market
Culture Vulture (St. George or Museum station)
ROM (Royal Ontario Museum)
Gardiner Museum offers half-price admission every Friday from 4-9 pm
Bata Shoe Museum offers pay what you can admission (suggested $5) on Thursday evenings from 5-8 pm
Bata Shoe Museum, 327 Bloor St. West
Art Fix (St. Patrick station)
AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario) is FREE on Wednesday from 6-9 pm
Quirky Neighbourhood
--- Walk for 15 minutes westbound on Dundas Street ---
Kensington Market
Display at 1/2 oz. Cocktail Emporium in Kensington Market, 20 Kensington Ave.
Full View of the 6ix (Broadview station)
--- Walk for 5 minutes eastbound along Broadview ---
Riverdale Park - Broadview & River St.
