Deadpool actors and artists from Vancouver reveal their experiences on set

Actors and artists from Vancouver who worked on the Hollywood blockbuster Deadpool​ are finally opening up about their time working on the film and what it was like on set with Ryan Reynolds.

During the filming of the movie, more than 2,000 British Columbians were hired as actors, crew and extras, according to the Motion Picture Association of Canada.

Even the city's mayor, Gregor Robertson, is sharing in that pride.

It seems everyone had nothing but nice things to say about the comic book adapted film.

Actor

Actor Kyle Cassie, born and raised in Vancouver, played the character Gavin Merchant — a dim-witted jock who eventually becomes one of Deadpool's victims.

Despite limited screen time, Cassie boasts the only sequence in the movie taken directly from the comic book. 

"On set, the writers were like, 'This is one scene we really need to nail and not screw up because the fans will go bonkers if we do," said Cassie, laughing from his home in Los Angeles.

The actor spent two days with Reynolds, whom he described as a "gracious, kind human being."

Animators 

Vancouver's visual effects industry had a starring role to play in Deadpool. Animation studio Digital Domain helped bring to life the character Colossus. 

Phil Cramer, the animation director, said the edgy yet humorous R-rated film was refreshing — particularly in a sequence where Deadpool punches Colossus. 

"The fun that my team had was incredible because my animators, they had to figure out what fingers look like when you punch somebody so hard that all the fingers are broken and mangled," he said.

"I think we went through 20 or 30 iterations of different fingers."

Cramer said he's flown all over the world to work on major pictures like Avatar, but nothing beat finally waking up and working in Vancouver.

When his crew was asked to create an additional, last-minute scene of Colossus having breakfast last November, they didn't have to travel far.

"That was shot here in a house that I think was just five blocks from where I work in a big mansion up on Granville [Street]," said Cramer.

That scene became a point of pride when he finally got to see the film in its entirety last Thursday during a cast and crew screening at Scotiabank Theatre. 

Stunts and production

Kayla Adams's name appears twice in the credits. The stuntwoman from Mission, B.C., helped with stunt production and worked with Reynolds in a major fight scene that was filmed at a bar on Main Street.

She found both the A-list actor and film director Tim Miller to be "genuinely nice."

"The amount of gratitude they expressed, almost on a daily basis, was huge. It just felt like everyone was doing a passion project under a studio, which was so amazing," said Adams.

As one of the "locals" working on the film, she said she felt proudest showing the largely Los Angeles-based crew around — pointing them towards places like Blue Water Cafe and Cactus Club Cafe for casual dining.

She said The Parlour was also a favourite hang-out location for the crew.

The Mayor

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson made an appearance in Deadpool as well ... in the credits. The filmmakers gave him a specific thank you at the very end of film.

Presumably it was for accommodating the multiple closures of the Georgia Viaduct, which played a key part in the film.

In an email, the mayor's office said he "appreciated it, but the real thanks goes to city staff and the residents who accommodated the film shoot."

Robertson visited the set of the movie in the midst of production and he was invited back to attend the private screening of the film last week in Vancouver.