AFTER #METOO: A "SEISMIC SHIFT" IN VANCOUVER'S FILM AND TV INDUSTRY When the #MeToo moment became a movement in October 2017, Hollywood North braced for a reckoning of its own. It came in the form of a Westender cover
article, in which five industry veterans shared stories of sexual harassment and violence and cast a light on cultural and reporting failures within the Vancouver film and television industry. http://www.vancourier.com/news/after-metoo-a-seismic-shift-in-vancouver-s-film-and-tv-industry-1.23187982
BILL MILLERD, ARTS CLUB ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, REFLECTS ON HIS 46-YEAR CAREER UPON RETIREMENT For any avid
theatre-goer in Vancouver, the name Bill Millerd is a respected one. It’s a name that has lovingly conducted the artistic direction of the Arts Club Theatre Company for 46 years. Millerd announced his forthcoming retirement last February and, as a pillar of Canada’s largest not-for-profit urban theatre company, his departure truly defines the end of an era. http://beatroute.ca/2018/03/02/bill-millerd-arts-club-artistic-director-reflects-46-year-career-upon-retirement/
KAMLOOPS-BORN SPECIAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR NOMINATED FOR OSCAR It's the biggest honour that can be bestowed on anyone working in the film
industry. For one man who grew up in Kamloops, being nominated for an Oscar is as good as it gets. Joel Whist, who used to live on McGill Road in Sahali has dedicated his life to a career in special effects, a career that has opened up many doors. http://www.cfjctoday.com/article/611110/kamloops-born-special-effects-supervisor-nominated-oscar
MEMORABLE AWARDS SEASON FOR CANADIAN CREW OF 'THE SHAPE OF WATER' Guillermo del Toro’s merman drama has a leading 13 nominations, including best picture for himself and Toronto producer J. Miles Dale. Canadians who worked on the film are also nominated in categories including costume
design, film editing, sound editing, sound mixing, and production design. http://toronto.citynews.ca/2018/03/02/shape-of-water-canadian-crew/
DON'T LET WONDER WOMAN FOOL YOU: FEMALE-LED TOP MOVIES STILL RARE Research from San Diego State University's Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film reports that 24 per cent of lead roles in the 100 top-grossing films of 2017 belonged to women. The
number represents a drop — not a gain — of five percentage points compared to 2016. http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/entertainment/female-leads-still-exception-research-1.4550612
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR WORLD FEELS LIKE IT’S COMING APART You cannot shut down. Your job requires you to stay present and vulnerable, to be affected by the people and things around you, no matter how painful. And to be leaders in the expression of what you see and feel. It’s the only way your work will matter, in the audition room, on set, or on stage. https://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/backstage-experts/what-do-when-your-world-feels-its-coming-apart/
6 TONGUE MOVES TO
IMPROVE YOUR ARTICULATION When you work your tongue out, you’re also connecting more deeply to your sense of purpose and increasing your drive to share your talents with the world. Here are six moves I want to make sure you can do. Going through these before an audition is a great way to focus your brain and your voice. https://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/backstage-experts/6-tongue-moves-improve-your-articulation/
HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR CRAFT? Every year, thousands of young people decide they want to pursue acting. Many make that choice because they think it
looks easy. And it looks easy because the great actors make it seem like they’re not really doing anything. But the truth is, they have worked very hard on their craft—that’s the key. Good acting may look easy, but it’s not. https://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/backstage-experts/teen-actors-how-well-do-you-know-your-craft/
UPCOMING TRAINING
DIALECT COACHING - TONY ALCANTAR Hollywood producers trust Tony with their stars: Oscar winners Mel Gibson, Halle Berry, Billy Bob Thornton, Emmy winner Martin Freeman plus A-listers Sam Rockwell, Vince Vaughn,
Joel Edgerton, Bob Odenkirk, Nathan Fillion, Stellan Skarsgard and MANY MORE. You can trust him too. * Tony is Vancouver's #1 dialect coach recommended by agents and casting directors. Learn with confidence the most requested accents and dialects for the Vancouver market. Book that role! Contact: 778-773-1402, info@tonyalcantardialect.com, www.tonyalcantar.com
AUDIT FOR FREE AT ROGUES WEST ACTORS STUDIO …and discover the RW Difference! Christiane Hirt has been training actors for over 25 years and we offer a comprehensive choice of Meisner, Film, Scene Study, Voice and Dialect classes. Our instructors are working actors with decades of acting experience. Compare our knowledgeable instructors, performance opportunities, competitive prices, no interest payment plans and no extra fees. Explore online videos &
our schedule for details on classes and how you can experience the modern legacy of New York's studio-tradition of acting. Email rogueswest@gmail.com to audit and your no-obligation, one-on-one mentorship meeting today! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZc95hia9Ks www.rogueswest.ca
KIDS+TEENS FILM+TV ACTING AT BIZ STUDIO 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) www.bizstudio.ca/kidsactingclasses **Teens (ages 12-17) www.bizstudio.ca/teensactingclasses
UPCOMING EVENTS
CHUTZPAH! FESTIVAL February 15 - March 15 Chutzpah! The Lisa Nemetz International Jewish Performing Arts Festival is the Lower Mainland’s winter music, dance, comedy and theatre festival presenting international, national and local
artists. The Chutzpah! Festival delivers audiences work that is forward-looking, multi-layered, and entertaining. https://chutzpahfestival.com
VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL WOMEN IN FILM FESTIVAL March 6-11 VIWIFF is organized by Women in Film and
Television Vancouver (WIFTV), a not-for-profit society with a mandate to celebrate and advance the artistic development and careers of women working in screen-based media. We are at the forefront of the gender parity movement in the screen-based media industry and initiate and participate in national advocacy efforts. We offer a variety of programming designed to increase the participation of women in key creative roles in the production of screen-based media. http://www.womeninfilm.ca/2018_Film_Festival.html
CREATOR SERIES: VIDEO AND TV MAKERS - GORDON INGLIS March 22 Meet local media maker Gordon Inglis and learn about his experiences in creating video content
for TV and Internet, from concept to reality. For the past 30 years, Inglis has been working in broadcast television and community media. Currently Gordon oversees the production of video, graphic and web design services for the regional government Metro Vancouver. https://vpl.bibliocommons.com/events/5a5fe3f41073072500b4456b
MAPLE RIDGE FESTIVAL OF BC FILM March 23-25 The Maple Ridge Festival of BC Film features a total of six shorts, four feature films, and one documentary over the course of three days. To purchase tickets and view the full lineup visit Festival of BC Film. http://www.theactmapleridge.org/FestivalofBCFilm/
2018 UNIFIED GENERAL AUDITION April 4-8 The UGA is annual event is hosted by the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance where theatre actors audition
in front of 30+ theatre directors. Registration deadline for full Equity performers is March 13. https://www.gvpta.ca/Unified-General-Audition
