From bio lab to big screen: Can you spot Concordia in The Love Hypothesis?

When Hollywood came to Concordia’s Loyola Campus last summer to film The Love Hypothesis, Sonia Ruiz got an unexpected opportunity to put her knowledge of Concordia’s laboratories to use in a whole new way.

A technical officer in the Department of Biology, Ruiz and her colleagues helped the production team transform familiar campus spaces into movie sets for the romantic comedy, starring Lili Reinhart and Tom Bateman.

Based on Ali Hazelwood’s bestselling novel, the film was shot at locations across Montréal, including Concordia’s Loyola campus.

Now, members of the Concordia community can catch the film together at a free screening organized by Hospitality Concordia on Thursday, October 22, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in SP Building, room S-110. Snacks will be provided. 

From biology lab to movie set

Ruiz’s involvement began with a meeting to discuss filming in one of Concordia’s Biology laboratories. At first, she assumed it was another local commercial project and even asked whether the meeting could be postponed because of other commitments.

That changed when she learned the production team was travelling from Los Angeles and might not have another opportunity to visit.

“There were quite a few people at the meeting, all with impressive titles: director, location manager, key set decorator, casting, and others,” she recalls. 

The team gave a brief overview of the storyline, but one detail particularly caught her attention.

“They had me hooked when they mentioned women in science and pancreatic cancer research.”

The production team ultimately selected a small laboratory tucked away in a corner, not the bright, spacious teaching lab Ruiz would have expected.

As preparations got underway, Ruiz and the technicians in the Department of Biology began helping the crew find spaces for actors to practise their lines and change, offices where equipment could be installed, and rooms to store materials overnight. She also worked closely with the décor team, particularly Jose Varela. 

Ruiz and the biology team showed the team what was available across Concordia’s teaching laboratories, allowing them to select the equipment and materials needed to create the right look for each scene. She notes that materials from the Biology teaching laboratories were used in scenes filmed in a Chemistry teaching lab.

However, the transformation extended beyond the equipment. Ruiz’s office and the laboratory were repainted in vivid colours that were a departure from their usual appearance.

“I have to admit, I thought some of the choices were rather unusual!” she says. “They painted some of the spaces, and I had never seen a green office or a laboratory with bright blue and yellow walls.”

But despite the colourful choices, she notes that it was fascinating to see how the crew transformed familiar spaces into something that fit their vision.  

Seeing Loyola in a whole new light

Preparation began in late June, ahead of filming in July and early August. During the summer, the usually quiet Loyola campus became a bustling film set, complete with cameras, lighting equipment, crew members, and actors bringing new energy to familiar surroundings.

“All of a sudden, the windows in the main stairwell of the SP Building were being washed, the grounds were looking extra neat, and tents, tables, and balloons were being set up in the Grove.”

The activity reached a peak during the filming of the movie’s Homecoming scenes outside the SP Building. 

Although Ruiz had long appreciated the beauty of the campus, the production gave her a new perspective on its potential as a filming location.

“I’ve always thought the SP Building and Loyola campus were beautiful, but the production team took them to a whole new level. The attention to detail was incredible.”

And those initially questionable paint colours? They turned out to be a success.

“What I thought were questionable paint colors actually look amazing on screen!” 

Keep an eye out for familiar faces and places

For Ruiz, part of the fun of watching The Love Hypothesis is seeing how familiar campus spaces have been transformed for the screen.

“There is a particular airport scene that was actually filmed in one of the buildings on the Loyola campus that was converted into an airport terminal,” she says. “I am very curious to see how many people will be able to identify which building was used.”

She’ll also be looking out for familiar faces, including several Concordia graduate students who appeared as extras in the film. 

At the free screening on October 22, the Concordia community will have a chance to play along and see how many campus locations they can recognize.

An unexpected lesson in possibilities

Beyond the excitement of seeing Concordia on screen, this opportunity let Ruiz apply her profession in a very different context.

“The experience allowed me to use what I’ve learned over the years working in laboratories, knowledge of equipment, my familiarity with the SP Building, and my contacts across the university in a completely new context,” she says. “It was a great opportunity to bring all these skills together in a different and unexpected way.” 

It also opened her eyes to the breadth of careers in the film industry.

“I met so many people working in so many different areas of the film industry, it opened my eyes to the variety of career opportunities available. There really is something for everyone!”

Her advice to students interested in working in film is simple: “Explore the possibilities and be open to new experiences.”

As for the screening, Ruiz is looking forward to seeing the film on the big screen in a space where some of its scenes were filmed. 

Join the Concordia community for a free screening of The Love Hypothesis and see how Loyola campus makes its way onto the big screen.