crummyOct 2019Strongly recommends
One of my favourite Youtube channels, Every Frame A Painting, talks about this in Vancouver - except that the movies are rarely set in Vancouver: ▶ this video
in “Apple Hides Taiwan Flag in Hong Kong” · View on HN
Vancouver Never Plays Itself
Vancouver Never Plays Itself on HackerTube: recommended by 4 Hacker News commenters across 4 separate months, 2017–2026.
Every Frame a Painting
Open on YouTubeexplainer · evergreen
A video essay from Every Frame a Painting about Vancouver, a major film production city that almost never appears onscreen as itself. It shows clips of films and TV shot there that pass the city off as somewhere else.
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN points to it as a short, funny look at how cities stand in for other places on screen, and at the film industry's local effects.
- people recommended it
- 4
- separate months
- 4
- strong recommendations
- 1
- discussed on HN
- 2017–2026
“There's also a much shorter, funnier one called "Vancouver Never Plays Itself”
What HN commenters said
6 Hacker News comments link this video. Each one links back to its thread.
mynameisvladJul 2022Recommends
> The idea is that this would promote more use of local businesses. It does not usually work out that way though. Great Youtube video on this topic, especially since you're likely talking about Vancouver: ▶ this video
in “That time when I accidentally social engineered myself to a film set” · View on HN
tobrSep 2019Recommends
This made me rewatch Vancouver Never Plays Itself [1] from Every Frame a Painting. It didn’t have as many examples of Vancouver playing New York as I remembered, but it’s still an interesting demonstration of how a city is made to appear not to be itself on screen. 1: ▶ this video
in “When Filming in New York, the City Is Always the Star” · View on HN
JBlue42Apr 2017Recommends
I recommend "Los Angeles Plays Itself" to any interested in seeing the juxtaposition of what you see in movies/tv with the reality. There's also a much shorter, funnier one called "Vancouver Never Plays Itself" - ▶ this video
in “Walking in L.A.” · View on HN
PetitPrinceAug 2026Cites it
"Vancouver never plays itself" as Tony Zhao and Taylor Ramos explain in on of their later Every Frame a Painting: ▶ this video
in “Hollywood Stopped Making Movies in Hollywood” · View on HN
RagnarorkNov 2025Cites it
This reminded me instantly of Every Frame a Painting's video "Vancouver never plays itself"[0]. [0] ▶ this video
in “Ask HN: What Are You Working On? (Nov 2025)” · View on HN
Topics & tags
Filmmaking & video productionFilm analysis & criticismvideo essayvancouverfilmmakingproduction designcities on screen