Vancouver Actor's Guide Newsletter - November 2 2020
Published: Mon, 11/02/20
INDUSTRY NEWS
BRITISH COLUMBIA'S LOGO WILL NOW APPEAR IN HOLLYWOOD FILM AND TELEVISION CREDITS
It is now a whole lot easier to spot films and television shows made in British Columbia, specifically productions that benefit from the provincial government’s tax credits — including Hollywood blockbusters.
CANADA ENTERS INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM OSCAR RACE WITH DEEPA MEHTA’S ‘FUNNY BOY’
Based on the best-selling novel by Shyam Selvadurai, the film follows a young boy’s sexual awakening in Sri Lanka during the turbulent Tamil-Sinhalese conflict leading up to the civil war. Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY Releasing picked up the film for distribution earlier this month, with a Netflix release planned for Dec. 10. https://variety.com/2020/film/global/deepa-mehta-funny-boy-represent-canada-oscars-2020-1234819061/
MORE VANCOUVER ORGANIZATIONS JOIN HIREBIPOC
The effort to augment hiring of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour in TV, film, and digital sectors applies to projects that are Canadian or shot in Canada. It now has more than 3,500 members since launching in early October—making it one of the largest rosters of its kind.
THE CW ANNOUNCES NEW SEASON PREMIERE DATES FOR BATWOMAN, RIVERDALE, SUPERMAN & LOIS, MORE
At long last, The CW shows are coming back. When 2020 finally transitions into 2021, CW shows both new and old will premiere their new seasons across the month of January. https://ew.com/tv/cw-season-premiere-dates-batwoman-riverdale-superman-lois/
ENTERTAINERS DISCUSS DISABILITY REPRESENTATION IN HOLLYWOOD
Creatives with disabilities, from directors to VFX artists, spoke about the state of representation in front of and behind the camera in series of virtual panels organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences that debuted Monday night. https://www.vancourier.com/entertainers-discuss-disability-representation-in-hollywood-1.24227804
B.C.'S DIGITAL MEDIA SECTOR SUFFERING FROM COVID-19
Across B.C., employment has recovered significantly from its lows in April and May, but it was still down 3.7% in September compared with February. Meanwhile, the decline in employment at the province’s top digital arts companies since 2019 has averaged 4.6%.
FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND AFRICAN-CANADIAN FILM PRODUCTION IN CALGARY SHOWCASES BLACK TALENT
It isn’t something anybody had ever thought was possible: a predominantly Black cast and crew filming a drama series in Calgary. Sylvester Ndumbi is the producer of a unique TV series called The African Family that follows a “young African-Canadian woman, who recently sponsored her husband from Angola, discovers the truth about their marriage.” https://globalnews.ca/news/7423313/african-canadian-film-production-calgary/
VANCOUVER THEATREMAKERS WIN DAN FUND COMMISSIONS FROM THE MUSICAL STAGE COMPANY
Vancouver is proving itself to be a hotbed for new musicals, even amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The latest evidence is that Toronto’s The Musical Stage Company has awarded commissions from its Aubrey & Maria Dan Fund for New Musicals to two separate creative teams from this city.
ACTOR-PRODUCER JENNIFER PODEMSKI PUSHING FOR ‘NARRATIVE SOVEREIGNTY’
The Bruce McDonald movie Dance Me Outside was a game changer says Jennifer Podemski. The role also opened her eyes to what is now referred to as narrative sovereignty and a recognition for the need for more Indigenous stories by Indigenous people. https://www.aptnnews.ca/facetoface/jennifer-podemski-is-dennis-wards-guest-on-face-to-face/
HOLLYWOOD AND DIALECT: HOW SHOULD BLACK PEOPLE SOUND?
Over the past five months, major film and television studios have signaled renewed efforts to depict people of color thoughtfully and authentically. It isn’t really possible to verify the sincerity of these efforts, but the changing role of dialect coaches — and how they’re allowed to work — may offer a way to judge their success. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/28/style/hollywood-accent-coaches.html
SHOW GOES ON FOR OLIVIER AWARDS, EVEN WITH UK THEATRES SHUT
Stage curtains came down when Britain went into lockdown in March, and the virus also scuttled the planned springtime ceremony for Britain’s leading awards for theatre, opera and dance. Instead the trophies were bestowed during a pre-recorded event streamed online and shown on British TV. https://www.vancourier.com/show-goes-on-for-olivier-awards-even-with-uk-theatres-shut-1.24227192
WHAT ACTORS NEED TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT INSTINCT + PERFORMANCE ANXIETY
It is no easy task, and sometimes even incredible training cannot solve the problem of performance anxiety. It is a psychological battle in which fear never helps you, unless it is transformed into positive energy that welcomes risk rather than hiding from it. https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/what-actors-need-to-understand-instinct-performance-anxiety-71974/
HOW PARENTS CAN STAY TAPPED INTO THE ACTING WORLD DURING THE PANDEMIC
I’ve been on a hunt to find parent-friendly acting activities so I can still feel connected to the industry during this time. I’ve put together a list of a few things you can do so you don’t feel completely out of the loop until auditions, productions, and events resume as normal.
CASTING DIRECTOR WORKSHOP WITH CARMEN KOTYK
December 5 (9am-5pm) and December 6 (10am-3pm) | Online via Zoom
Carmen is an award winning Casting Director who has garnered a reputation for casting excellence within Canada and abroad. Her recent credits include Grudge Reboot (Sony Pictures, Ghost House Pictures) Run (Lionsgate), Channel Zero (Universal) and A Dog’s Journey (Amblin, Universal). Carmen opened up The Abby in February of 2018 with the intention of “upping the game in Winnipeg” while providing a familiar space for the acting community to flourish. https://actorvanstudios.com/product/casting-director-workshop-with-carmen-kotyk/
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
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 in-studio and online classes for Young Adults, Film, Meisner and Scene Work starts soon – email us for more info and book your intro meeting with Christiane
Hirt! rogueswest@gmail.com | www.rogueswest.ca
UPCOMING EVENTS
VANCOUVER FRINGE FESTIVAL
until November 8
Playing at Performance Works, this mini-Fringe’s shows include a love story in a pandemic, a definition of the self through multiple voices and physical movements, a play based on the stories of land defenders, and a musical about the life of one of Canada’s most famous politicians.
HEART OF THE CITY FESTIVAL
until November 8
The 2020 Festival features twelve days of online and pop-up outdoor events, including music, stories, poetry, ceremony, films, readings, forums, workshops, discussions, art talks, history talks and visual art exhibitions. http://www.heartofthecityfestival.com
VANCOUVER ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL
until November 8
The VAFF 2020 lineup showcases 18 film programs of industry panels plus 46 feature-length and short films of all genres from the local and international Asian diaspora. http://vaff.org/
COLD READING SERIES
November 9
We’ve missed you & excited to Host our next event via Zoom, from the Havana Theatre. Scripts with small/er casts will be featured. Actors [pre-cast], will arrive @ The Havana for 6:45pm. Scripts will be emailed & read from their devices. http://www.coldreadingseries.com
VANCOUVER SOUTH AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL
until November 12
VSAFF is proud to present features and documentaries that explore the culture, history and politics of South Africa – films that inspire, inform, and entertain. https://www.vsaff.org
PEEK FEST
until November 22
Impulse Theatre’s Peek Fest offers an exciting new look at work-in-development from innovative creators and contributes to the development and growth of performing artists through residencies, showcases and workshops. http://www.impulsetheatre.ca/peek-fest.html
