B.C. FILM INDUSTRY ROARING BACK AFTER PANDEMIC SHUTDOWN
Things are getting busy again, and he expects September to be just about on par with where things were last year. The industry, however, has been forced to change a great deal due to COVID-19, implementing strict health-and-safety protocols to prevent the spread of the virus. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-film-industry-covid-19-1.5707223
VANCOUVER'S BLACK ACTING COMMUNITY MOURNS DEATH OF BLACK PANTHER STAR
Members of Vancouver's Black acting community are responding to the legacy left behind by the death of Black Panther star, Chadwick Boseman, calling him an inspiration and a leader.
DYLAN PLAYFAIR TALKS LIFE AFTER HOCKEY IN COMING-OF-AGE FILM ODD MAN RUSH
Playfair plays Dean, a laid-back player with a muse in every city. In his own career he admits to being among the “top two or three penalty-earners” on his team.
TIME HAS COME FOR BIPOC VOICES IN THEATRE
As a Black actor working in Vancouver, Ali Watson knows how underrepresented the BIPOC community has been in the theatre industry. “It’s very rare to be doing a show with directors of colour, artists of colour,” she says. “The whole play is written and performed by a woman of colour, which is very, very special to me.” https://www.burnabynow.com/entertainment/time-has-come-for-bipoc-voices-in-theatre-burnaby-actor-1.24197532
MEET THE ‘POLARIZING’ NEW MEDICAL DRAMA THAT COMES FOR ANTI-VAXXERS AND RACISTS
Transplant. The series, acquired by NBC as many American TV series remain in limbo because of COVID-related filming interruptions, first aired this spring in Canada, where it became the most-watched new Canadian series of the 2019-2020 season. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2020-09-01/nbc-transplant-medical-drama-canada
L.A. SEES SURGE IN FILM, TV PRODUCTION AS HOLLYWOOD GOES BACK TO WORK
Since it resumed operations in mid-June after the pandemic forced the film and television business to essentially shut down in March, FilmLA has received 1,127 film permit applications from 829 unique projects. Daily intake averages around 27 applications per business day and overall activity levels have stabilized at 44% of what FilmLA would expect under normal summer conditions. https://variety.com/2020/film/news/coronavirus-filmla-permit-applications-production-restarts-1234758376/
WITHOUT RENT RELIEF, 60 PERCENT OF NYC’S INDEPENDENT THEATERS MAY CLOSE FOR GOOD
The League of Independent Theater is calling to cancel rent for the month of September and beyond. If not, the League of Independent Theater projects, 60 percent of theaters in New York City will close by the end of 2020 if the city doesn’t act decisively in order to provide rent relief. https://observer.com/2020/09/new-york-city-small-theaters-need-rent-relief/
HOW ENTERTAINMENT LAWYERS ASSIST FILMMAKERS + LEGAL ISSUES YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
From small independent productions to vast mainstream projects, every film interfaces with Mark Litwak’s areas of expertise. Litwak shares the differences between the various hats that he can wear on a given production and identifies some of the common legal traps into which independent filmmakers can easily fall. https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/how-entertainment-lawyers-assist-filmmakers-legal-aspects-71597/
ARTS FOR BRAIN FITNESS
September 14 – October 9, 2020
WHERE: Online | FOR: All ages
FROM: SFU Continuing Studies Liberal Arts Program
Join stand-up comedian and educator Janice Bannister to discuss the role of arts in our life, and its mental and health benefits, and how different arts formats make different brain connections. Learn some techniques to promote mental well-being and brain health by taking yourself a little out of your comfort zone with music, dance, literary, visual and performing arts. https://www.sfu.ca/continuing-studies/courses/lib/221-arts-for-brain-fitness.html
DISCOVERING SHARON POLLOCK, CANADA’S MOST IMPORTANT WOMAN PLAYWRIGHT
October 19 – November 13, 2020
WHERE: Online | FOR: All ages
FROM: SFU Continuing Studies Liberal Arts Program
Explore one of Canadian theatre's largest and most compelling bodies of work, with protagonists from Marilyn Monroe to Lizzie Borden, and settings from the Canadian "Wild West" to Guantanamo Bay. Theatre director and instructor Annie Smith takes you through a retrospective of award-winning Canadian playwright, actor, director and theatre administrator, Sharon Pollock. https://www.sfu.ca/continuing-studies/courses/lib/229-discovering-sharon-pollock.html
ROGUES WEST ACTORS STUDIO
With studios in Vancouver and Calgary, the Rogues name is synonymous with the highest calibre of training and we have been training and mentoring actors for over 25 years. The online platform has proven to be a powerful and dynamic medium for developing relationship, character and creating complex human performances. Our next session of studio and online classes starts September 14th – email us for more info and book your intro meeting with Christiane Hirt! rogueswest@gmail.com | www.rogueswest.ca
BIZ STUDIO: ONLINE PROFESSIONAL FILM+TV ACTING CLASSES FOR KIDS+TEENS
Biz Studio has a seventeen-year track record of training young actors who work regularly in film and television.
Classes are like small-group personal training, and take a maximum of six students so that instructors can work with each actor to give them what they need. This is the place for young actors ready to take their work to the next level! http://www.bizstudio.ca/classes
LET’S TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF CANADIAN THEATRE
November 16 – December 11, 2020
WHERE: Online | FOR: All ages
FROM: SFU Continuing Studies Liberal Arts Program
Theatre is deeply embedded in our culture and society, and it’s been a wild and challenging year for all of us. Join theatre director, actor, choreographer and instructor Sarah Ferguson to delve into the impacts on theatre of COVID-19, systemic racism, the politics that surround what theatre productions and funding, and our national identity. How can Canadian theatre respond, and what is its future? https://www.sfu.ca/continuing-studies/courses/lib/233-future-of-canadian-theatre.html
A SHORT HISTORY OF JAZZ VIOLIN
November 16 – December 11, 2020
WHERE: Online | FOR: All ages
FROM: SFU Continuing Studies Liberal Arts Program
Learn about the role of the violin in the creation of jazz, and the significance of this instrument as a meeting place between the music of Africa and Europe. Internationally recognized jazz violinist Kit Eakle will examine the amazing breadth of African-American violinists and their contributions, and discuss the limiting nature of racial, cultural and musical genre-based stereotypes. https://www.sfu.ca/continuing-studies/courses/lib/232-short-history-of-jazz-violin.html
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: 604-418-1192, info@tonyalcantardialect.com, www.tonyalcantar.com
RAILTOWN ACTORS STUDIO
We're looking forward to our classes with you! All safety protocols are in place and we're ready to adjust at any time to move all classes to Zoom if and when that's necessary.
Fall Semester Classes are open for registration with start dates in September, October and November:
* Friday and Sunday "Acting on Film" with John Cassini.
* Scene Study Classes with Ed Foy and Frank Cassini.
* NEW Scene Study Classes with Jennifer Copping.
All Class Details: www.railtownactors.com/classes
Coaching and tapings available: www.railtownactors.com/coaching
UPCOMING EVENTS
VANCOUVER FRINGE FESTIVAL
September 10 – December 6
Live performances and events will take place beginning with our previously scheduled Festival dates of September 10-20 and extending to select dates in October, November, and possibly December. https://www.vancouverfringe.com/
VANCOUVER TAIWANESE FILM FESTIVAL
September 11 – 20
TWFF 2020 brings Taiwan to you through 8 curated films that span multiple topics and genres so you can be fully immersed in the diverse Taiwanese culture. https://www.twff.ca/2020/
FESTIVAL OF RECORDED MOVEMENT
September 12 – 19
Film is such a relevant medium today more than ever, and is a universal tool being used to showcase movement across all genres; athletes, dancers and other movement practitioners turn to film as a way to show creative and engaging perspectives of their respective movement forms. https://www.f-o-r-m.ca/
