Parkwood Estate in Oshawa opening doors for annual March movie tour

Parkwood Estate in Oshawa is opening its doors for annual March movie tour – Photo from Parkwood Estate’s official Facebook page

If you’ve ever wanted to discover more about the process of movie making and learn about the industry’s hidden secrets at Oshawa’s most iconic filming location, the once-a-year guided tour of Parkwood Estates in less than three weeks away.

The popular tours take visitors behind the scenes at Parkwood, home of General Motors of Canada founder Col. Sam McLaughlin and his family from 1917 until 1972 and a shooting location of nearly a hundred movie and television productions in the years since.

What happens when a film crew rolls into town and uses Parkwood as a location for a movie or television? How do the caretakers of this national historic site protect the mansion during filming?

Adam Sandler in Billy Madison

After all, Adam Sandler famously filmed much of Billy Madison at the 55-room mansion who really knows what went on when scenes for Trump: Unauthorized were shot on location on the grounds.

From March 19-30 you can reserve your spot and find out.

Parkwood’s architectural, landscape and interior designs are based on those of the 1920s and 1930s and have always been especially popular for period pieces.

Designated as a National Historic Site and opened to the public in 1989, the estate – restored to its 1930s elegance – has 15,000 square feet inside and multiple greenhouses and gardens outside, along with the famous pool used as a backdrop for weddings and corporate events and as a private retreat for actors such as Sandler in Billy Madison and Robert Sheehan (Klaus) in the Umbrella Academy.

Robert Sheehan in The Umbrella Academy

Parkwood is always a hot ticket for movie makers, and the estate’s beauty and history also appears regularly as the backdrop in fashion photography and magazine ads.

Movies and television production is a huge source of funding for the site and is one of Ontario’s most popular filming locations, attracting actors such as Adrien Brody, Drew Barrymore and Tom Cruise, as well as Brad Pitt, Kathleen Turner, Jackie Chan and Maureen Stapleton – and many, many others over the years.

Productions have included Ameila, Bomb Girls, The Boys, Canadian Bacon, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and The Ref.

Parkwood is partnering with Film Durham on the guided tours to help promote the growth of the film industry in Durham Region

“What an awesome time visiting the estate,” said Arlene of Oshawa last March, who cited the “ins and outs of filming, the tricks of the trades, the rooms they use” in her review. “Very informative and highly recommend.”

The 90-minute guided behind the scenes tours are $35.