London Transforms into Berlin for Spy Thriller “Shadow Protocol”
Fog rolled in over the Thames River last month, setting the perfect mood for Shadow Protocol, an international spy thriller that turned downtown London, Ontario into Cold War-era Berlin.
With moody lighting, rain-slicked cobblestones, and vintage European cars lining Clarence Street, the illusion was seamless. Locals watched in awe as award-winning director Markus Velo orchestrated chase scenes, covert meetings, and rooftop escapes — all without leaving Southwestern Ontario.
“London is a filmmaker’s playground,” Velo said. “It has the flexibility to become almost anywhere in the world — and the team at Film London made it easy for us to focus on storytelling while they handled the logistics.”
The production brought more than 120 crew members to the city, including several London-based camera operators, costume designers, and set decorators. Key locations included Museum London, the old courthouse, and an atmospheric stretch of Richmond Street, reimagined as East Berlin’s shadowy border.
Film London, powered by the London Economic Development Corporation, assisted with everything from location scouting to permit approvals and local referrals. Their concierge-style service ensured production stayed on schedule — even through surprise snowfall mid-shoot (which, according to the director, only made the scenes more dramatic).
Set to premiere at TIFF next year, Shadow Protocol is already generating buzz — and once again proving that when it comes to filmmaking, London, Ontario is a city with international range.