Hi .

Last year we posted more than 800 auditions on our website and we hosted our first live event bringing together some industry leaders to share their insight and experience with you. We heard from so many of you on our forum, by email, or social media, about the challenges and triumphs you've had while navigating the industry.

And now, welcome to 2013! It is the start of a new year. You might have some new goals that you want to reach or perhaps moving forward working toward some unfinished goals from last year.

It's time to raise the bar for yourself . It's time to raise the bar for our industry. What steps are you going to take to not only benefit yourself, but our community as a whole?

Vancouver Actor's Guide first opened its internet doors in 1998, so using some complex calculations and formulas, we've discovered that 2013 will mark the 15th Birthday for VancouverActorsGuide.com. And we couldn't be more proud of the evolution of the website over those 15 years. Our goal is to continue to be a benefit to you - not only actors, but also talent agents, casting directors, directors, and countless others who make this industry so exciting.

As a free and accessible website for all who visit, we rely on the generous support of advertisers and sponsors to keep the lights on. In particular, our four key sponsors are Biz Studio , Soundswrite, Vancouver Acting School, and Shoreline Actor's Lab.  Please take the time to learn more about how they contribute to our industry and even send them a quick email to thank them for their support.

Lastly, if you could spare 2 minutes, we'd appreciate if you could head on over to the Vancouver Is Awesome 2013 Most Awesome Awards nomination page and nominate us (Vancouver Actor's Guide and Kenji Maeda , together and/or individually), but of course, only if we're awesome-worthy. :-)

Stay tuned for more exciting things to come this year and continue to send any feedback, including "wouldn't it be great if..." types of comments to info@vancouveractorsguide.com.

Wishing you all the best to the start of 2013,

Kenji Maeda
CEO, Production Heads Network Inc.

CITYTV TURNS TO HOMEGROWN US-STYLE MULTI-CAM COMEDY FOR 2013 LINEUP
Multi-cam shows were the standard through the '80s but fell out of favour in the past decade as single camera shows like The Office, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Modern Family took over. But Canadian-born TV writer Andrew Orenstein says the pendulum is swinging back.
http://www.theprovince.com/entertainment/television/Citytv+turns+homegrown+style+multi+comedy+2013/7760327/story.html

VANCOUVER FILM CRITICS HONOUR IAN CADDELL
There was a moment at last year's Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards that could have itself been a weepy climax in a worthy film: The critics got on stage at the Railway Club, surrounding the group's co-founder, Ian Caddell, as they announced that the VFCC Achievement Award for Contribution to the B.C. Film and Television Industry would be renamed for him.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/vancouver-film-critics-honour-ian-caddell-the-epitome-of-the-community-builder-in-this-city/article6970310/

BC ARTIST, FILMMAKER, AND PIANIST AMONG NEWEST ORDER OF CANADA INDUCTEES
On December 30, 2012, His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada announced 91 new appointments to the Order of Canada. Some BC-based appointees were honoured for their contributions and achievements in the fields of arts, culture, and heritage community.
http://www.allianceforarts.com/blog/bc-artist-filmmaker-and-pianist-among-newest-order-canada-inductees

ONCE UPON A TIME'S MEGHAN ORY HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF
In Once Upon a Time, Ory plays the dual role of Red Riding Hood, from fairy tale lore, and Ruby, a restless young woman hoping to break free from her humdrum small-town life helping her grandmother run a roadside diner. Ory's character has an eerie connection to wolves, both in the fairy tale world and in the present-day world of Storybrooke.
http://www.canada.com/entertainment/Once+Upon+Time+Meghan+hungry+like+wolf/7760205/story.html

LIONSGATE STOCK HITS ALL-TIME HIGH ON FILM AND TV SLATE PROSPECTS
Shares in the mini-studio have doubled since the January 2012 purchase of Summit Entertainment, as the Vancouver-based company edges towards major studio status.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lionsgate-stock-hits-all-time-407455

CHARACTERS WITH AUTISM GETTING PRIME SPOTS ON MAJOR TV SERIES
Television can often be painstakingly slow to adapt to such shifts in demographics. But it's clear that some of the challenges faced by the autistic population have captured the imagination of TV writers, who are increasingly penning eccentric characters whose quirks would seem to align with typical characteristics of ASD on shows including The Big Bang Theory and Bones.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/conditions/characters-with-autism-getting-prime-spots-on-major-tv-series/article6744446/

HOW TO FIND THE PERFECT DAY JOB
A lot of people feel like they can't really make acting a full-time career until they make enough money from acting to replace their day job income. They're concerned that acting won't pay the bills, and are afraid to really put in the effort until they do.
http://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/backstage-experts/how-find-perfect-day-job/

DIALECT COACHING | TONY ALCANTAR
Hollywood producers trust Tony Alcantar with their stars: Oscar-winner Halle Berry, Stellan Skarsgard, Zhang Ziyi. You can trust him too! Tony is Vancouver's #1 dialect coach, recommended by agents, casting directors and other industry professionals. Learn with confidence the most requested dialects and accents required for the Vancouver market. Book that role!
Contact: 604-418-1192, tonyalcantar1960@gmail.com

LA COACH ANTHONY MEINDI - AUDITION MASTER CLASS
A few spots still remain! Anthony Meindl makes his Vancouver debut with his 2 Day Master Class, January 26th- 27th2013. This is your chance to find out why BACKSTAGE Magazine has voted him LA's best coach 3 years running. His clients include SHAILENE WOODLEY, GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINEE - THE DESCENDANTS, CORY MONTEITH - GLEE.
For information on how to participate/audit the workshop, email me at act.ivatestudios@gmail.com or visit www.act-ivatestudio.com

SOUNDSWRITE
2-DAY INTRO TO VOICEOVER INTENSIVE JANUARY 26 & 27th
Commercials, narration, animation, audiobooks and WALLA for films. Get a produced spot for your demo.
NEW! DROP IN WORKOUT STARTS January 22nd
Enjoy personal coaching as you build your demo week by week.
HOME STUDIO SETUP: January 30th
Bring your computer and microphone. Get free recording software & learn to edit for global auditions.
NEW! DROP IN EDIT SUITE* ongoing
Bring your audio clips and edit in our studio. We'll help.
* Must have taken Home Studio Setup.
Register at: www.soundswrite.ca or call 604-985-5532.
Soundswrite students work!

THEATRE: REBECK'S SHORTS
Jan 8-12 | Havana Theatre
Rebeck's Shorts is a compilation of Short Plays by Theresa Rebeck, all these pieces take a look at Power and Relationship in our modern society. Sit back and watch relationships begin, end or try to figure out what they are, all from the comfy dark voyeuristic seats of the Havana Theatre.
http://shortsharpandpointyp.wix.com/shortsharpandpointy

THEATRE: THE GOOD THIEF
Jan 15-19 | Havana Theatre
In The Good Thief, one man tells the story of how his career as a paid thug in Dublin's underworld and life with his unfaithful girlfriend takes a costly turn for the worse through unpredictable events of violent love and loss.
http://www.loveoutlaws.com

PUSH INTERNATIONAL PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL
Jan 15-Feb 3
You know you want to cross it. The line between safe and risky, between ordinary and adventurous. Pushing artistic boundaries is what the PuSh Festival is all about. And crossing that line with you is what makes it all worthwhile. See you on the other side.
http://pushfestival.ca

WILLIAM F WHITE NETWORKING BREAKFAST
Jan 15 | The Grind & Gallery Coffee Bar
Vanishing Careers in Screen-based Media, Guest speaker: Liz Shorten
In recent years, career opportunities in B.C.'s film, television and other screen based media are vanishing at an unprecedented rate while rapidly expanding at the same time in other areas of Canada. Liz Shorten, Canadian Media Production Association - BC Producers' Branch, Managing Vice-President, will provide an analysis of the reasons behind this shift and lead a discussion on possible solutions or pathways for change.
http://www.womeninfilm.ca/cgi/page.cgi/_evtcal.html?evt=14

CANADA'S TOP TEN 2012
Jan 18-Feb 4 | The Cinematheque
Established in 2001 by the Toronto International Film Festival, this celebration of excellence in our national cinema showcases the year's ten best Canadian feature-length films and ten best Canadian short films as chosen by two separate independent panels of filmmakers, festival programmers, journalists, academics and industry professionals drawn from across the country.
http://www.thecinematheque.ca/canadas-top-ten-2012