Cannonball! Filming for ‘Go Jump in the Pool’ in full swing on campus
Welcome to Macdonald Hall. Jonny Gray (left) plays Bruno and Callan Potter plays Boots in a new film adaptation of Gordon Korman's classic children's novel 'Go Jump in the Pool.' Nearly a dozen locations at McMaster are being used to film the 90-minute movie, which will premiere on YTV this fall.
A Canadian literary classic is being reinvented for a whole new generation right before our eyes.
For the next two weeks, McMaster will be known as Macdonald Hall while an adaptation of Go Jump in the Pool is filmed at various sites around campus. The popular children’s novel was written by Gordon Korman, and originally published in 1979.
The story follows the misadventures of Bruno Walton and Melvin “Boots” O’Neal, a pair of pranksters at upstanding Macdonald Hall, as they try to save the school’s fledgling swim team and build a new pool.
To make matters worse, a number of the school’s top swimmers — including Boots — are on the verge of being poached by archrival York Academy. It’s up to the two best friends to organize a madcap fundraising drive and help their beloved Macdonald Hall before time runs out.
Jonny Gray, star of Nickelodeon’s runaway hit series Max and Shred, plays Bruno, while noted Stratford thespian Callan Potter plays Boots. Veteran Canadian actor Peter Keleghan and former Sabrina the Teenage Witch star Caroline Rhea have supporting roles in the film.
The University was chosen as the principal location due to its picturesque central mall, abundant greenery, wide range of amenities and seamless blend of historic and contemporary architecture.
Convocation Hall, the University Club, the David Braley Athletic Centre, Hedden Hall and the Ivor Wynne Centre are among the prominent locations being used for the 90-minute film, which will premiere on YTV this fall. McMaster maroon is also being used as the fictional school’s primary colour.
“It’s a great campus, because we’ve been able to find literally every kind of building and look that we need,” says producer Anthony Leo.
“We have needs that go beyond just a historic-looking school. We need dormitories, we need theatre space, we need a swimming pool, we need a football field, along with several different rival-school looks. The benefits are immeasurable.”
Quincy Morgan, a McMaster alumnus and location scout for Go Jump in the Pool, says the entire city is becoming a hot spot for major film and television productions. McMaster is quickly earning a reputation as one of the most versatile locations in town.
“Most other universities and colleges around here simply don’t have this look,” offers Morgan. “I’m from Hamilton, and I live in Hamilton, and it’s the greatest city in the world to shoot. Everyone’s shooting here, including some of the biggest shows in the world.”
Production for Go Jump in the Pool will wrap on Tuesday, Aug. 18. The University will also serve as the backdrop for a pair of sequels in the Macdonald Hall series, with back-to-back film shoots taking place next summer.
