Vancouver Actor's Guide Newsletter - February 6 2017
Published: Mon, 02/06/17
INDUSTRY NEWS
LIAM NEESON TO SHOOT REVENGE THRILLER IN BANFF
Oscar nominated actor Liam Neeson will be shooting a revenge thriller in
Banff this year. Variety reported that Neeson will star in the film Hard Powder, which is set in Colorado but will be shot partially in Alberta. Production is set to begin in March, although an Alberta film industry insider said filming may start in British Columbia before moving here.
What would you do if you were given a budget of $1,000 to shoot and edit a short film in a span of eight days, and have it screened in front of thousands of critics and fellow professionals? This may sound like a nightmare to a film crew, but it’s the reality for the winners of Crazy 8s.
MODERN VANCOUVER A CHALLENGE FOR FILM CREWS
TRYING TO EVOKE THE PAST
Made-in-Vancouver TV series Timeless is about travelling into history, but the show’s production designer says recreating the past can be hard to do because of a short supply of old buildings.
With a number of films and commercials already being shot in the region, Summerland said experienced
crew and new infrastructure will only boost the Okanagan’s saleability. In November, a film studio opened in Vernon and another soundstage was approved to be built in Kelowna at a location near the airport.
Kathy Kay isn’t betting money on it, but she’s holding onto a glimmer of hope that Asghar Farhadi, the Iranian filmmaker who faces being denied entry to the U.S. because of the travel ban, will show up at
the Victoria Film Festival.
WHISTLER FILM FESTIVAL INVITES SCREENWRITERS AND PRODUCERS TO APPLY FOR LAB PROGRAMS
The Whistler Film Festival announced that it's accepting submissions for its 2017 Feature Project Lab and Praxis Screenwriters Lab programs. The deadline for screenwriters is March 17; the deadline for producers is March 31.
FILM-INDUSTRY CAREER FAIR BRINGS OUT 1,800 IN SEARCH OF REEL JOBS
Nearly 1,800 movie industry hopefuls got a first-hand taste of the “hurry-up-and-wait” nature of film
production at Vancouver Island South Film and Media Commission’s film industry job fair in Esquimalt on Saturday.
REMEMBERING JOY COGHILL: DOYENNE OF VANCOUVER’S THEATRE SCENE
Ms. Coghill’s love for the theatre blossomed into a prolific, pioneering career. She acted,
she directed, she taught. She was a working mother who ran theatre companies and founded two of her own – for children and later for seniors. She co-founded Vancouver’s Performing Arts Lodge, or PAL; and as a resident and tireless organizer, she contributed to its vibrancy. She cared – and thought – deeply about the art form.
WALTERDALE THEATRE CANCELS 'OTHELLO' PRODUCTION DUE TO THREATS
On Monday evening, the Walterdale Theatre Association released a statement saying members of the production received both online and in-person threats over the decision to cast a white woman to play the role of Othello, a role traditionally played by a person of
colour.
NEW NATIONAL "RIGHT TO WORK" BILL THREATENS HOLLYWOOD UNIONS
Legislation introduced in Congress with little fanfare Tuesday could decimate Hollywood unions and further
accelerate the decline of unions nationwide by allowing workers across the country to opt out of paying union dues or fees even if they receive the benefits of a union-negotiated contract.
The result, union activists contend, would be to bankrupt unions nationwide by starving them of dues or other fees paid in lieu of dues.
Film, theatre, storytelling—this art form has ancient roots in society. It remains a path to catharsis, to enlightenment, to empathy and connection. This is
why we need actors—to show us who we are, and who we can be. So if you’re feeling the need to bridge the gap between the arts and society, here are some ways you can start.
WORK & STUDY ACTING IN HOLLYWOOD - VISA SPONSORSHIP
Michelle Danner’s acting technique & philosophy called “The
Golden Box” is based on the Meisner Technique, Lee Strasberg’s Method, Stella Adler, Stanislavski’s System, Uta Hagen, and the Chekhov technique. Learn the best acting techniques for film acting. Michelle Danner is an international film director & Los Angeles acting coach. Her student list include James Franco, Seth MacFarlane, Salma Hayek, Henry Cavill, Zooey Deschanel, Gerard Butler, Chris Rock, Chris Martin,
Penelope Cruz, Michael Pena, Michelle Rodriguez, and many others. MICHELLE DANNER’s LOS ANGELES ACTING SCHOOL 2437 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405 Call 310-392-0815 or email info@michelledanner.com
DISCOVER THE DIFFERENCE AT ROGUES WEST ACTORS STUDIO
AUDIT FOR FREE and watch the impact of training with professional instructors. Our January session is underway with choices to audit from CORE MEISNER, CORE FILM and CORE ACTING plus our SCENE STUDY, PILOT PREP and AUDITION film classes. Our multidimensional Meisner & Hagen training encompasses everything from core fundamentals to a professional skill-set ... Experience the modern legacy of the New York Studio tradition of acting. Follow-up your audit with a no obligation, one-on-one mentorship meetings for our next session starting Feb 27. Email us today! http://www.rogueswest.ca | rogueswest@gmail.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFmIBekc8BmXp6BPevsdhAA
SPRING BREAK FILM+TV ACTING INTENSIVES FOR KIDS+TEENS Biz Studio students have
about twice the one-on-one time with faculty as students at other schools, with a max of 6 students per class. We have a legacy of training young actors who go on to work in the industry, *outstanding* instructors, and a beautiful downtown campus inside a working film & TV casting studio. * Kids (Ages 8-11) Monday-Friday 9:00am-12:00noon, March 13th-17th, 20th-24th & 27th-31st, www.bizstudio.ca/kidsactingclasses * Teens (Ages 12-17) Monday-Friday 1:30-5:30pm, March 13th-17th, 20th-24th & 27th-31st, www.bizstudio.ca/teensactingclasses
DIALECT COACHING | TONY ALCANTAR
Hollywood producers trust Tony Alcantar with their stars: Oscar-winners Halle Berry, Billy-Bob Thornton plus
A-list stars Stellan Skarsgard, Sam Rockwell, Joel Edgerton, Bob Odenkirk, Martin Freeman, Elizabeth Banks, etc. You can trust him too! Tony is Vancouver's #1 dialect coach, recommended by agents and casting directors. Learn with confidence the most requested dialects and accents required for the Vancouver market. Book that role! Contact: 778-773-1402 | info@tonyalcantardialect.com
FOUNDRY INTENSIVE IN VICTORIA February 18 & 19, 2017 | 9am-6pm Through
intensive focus exercises developed by Matthew Harrison, the actor is drawn out, into what the Foundry calls being ‘vectors-out’, the natural place where the performer can live truthfully in the scene. A specific, clearly defined preparatory process helps the actor explore the worlds of imagination and experience in order to bring forth the emotional circumstances of the character. Actors receive scenes and scene partners in advance for a wonderful and intense weekend experience. https://www.actorsfoundry.com/intensive
UPCOMING EVENTS
VICTORIA FILM FESTIVAL 2017
February 3 - February 12
The Victoria Film Festival brings the world to Victoria’s door by programming a diverse selection of Canadian and international films. The Festival ensures the vitality and continued excellence of media arts in the Victoria region by providing a complete survey of film and media art to the community.
TOMO SURU PLAYERS PRESENTS: SPRING AWAKENING Feb 7-19 | PAL Studio Theatre Spring Awakening, the 2006 Tony Award winning musical, gets an unplugged rendition in February 2017. The high-energy rock tinged musical
is presented with the cast providing most of the musical accompaniment. While electric guitar and keyboard are used, acoustic guitars and organic percussion performed by the cast make this an intimate and emotionally charged performance, providing a direct connection between the performers and audience. http://www.tomosuruplayers.com/spring-awakening
VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL 2017
February 11-17
Driven by a passion for film, culture, and the outdoors, the Vancouver International
Mountain Film Festival (VIMFF) Society seeks to advance appreciation of films and film-making while inspiring, informing, and educating the public in these areas.
UGAs: Register by March 1 (March 21-22) The
Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance produces the annual UGAs to provide an opportunity for Actors to audition once and be seen by a large number of artistic and freelance theatre directors who are currently casting for local theatre productions. Actors must be full union members or be invited through the qualifiers to attend the
UGAs. http://gvpta.ca/UGA-for-actors
Vancouver Actor's
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