YOU CAN APPLY FOR THE B.C. RECOVERY BENEFIT — WORTH UP TO $1,000 — STARTING DEC. 18, GOVERNMENT SAYS
The B.C. government introduced legislation to secure funding for approximately 3.7 million British Columbians to receive the tax-free B.C. Recovery Benefit. According to the province, all eligible adults in the province will be able to start applying for funds starting Dec. 18. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-recovery-benefit-1.5833064
EAST VAN ACTOR PUNCHES UP HIS GAME WITH STARRING ROLE IN NEW MOVIE
For Darren Mann, the script had some reminders of his own early life, reminders that he could use once the camera rolled. For Mann, who moviegoers might remember from his excellent turn as Ballas in the strong 2018 indie film Giant Little Ones, this film marks his biggest role to date. https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/movies/east-van-actor-punches-ups-his-game-with-starring-role-in-new-movie
VACCINE DELAY THREATENS HEALTH OF B.C. ECONOMY
Since film and TV productions began slowly resuming in B.C. over the summer, the province has benefited from some Hollywood projects moving north where the pandemic is under better control. Service work for foreign productions accounted for $2.82 billion out of the $3.4 billion of B.C. film and TV production volume generated during the 2018-19 fiscal year. https://biv.com/article/2020/12/vaccine-delay-threatens-health-bc-economy
HOW CAN WE USE THE UPHEAVAL OF 2020 TO REDEFINE THE WAY CANADA MAKES MOVIES?
Among the countless things that have drastically changed in the past year, two major ones pertain to movies: how we watch them, and how they're made. The industry is in considerable upheaval as a result — and paired with the increasing pressure to address the field's white male dominance, to say that film is experiencing a reset is quite the understatement. https://www.cbc.ca/arts/how-can-we-use-the-upheaval-of-2020-to-redefine-the-way-canada-makes-movies-1.5830749
HOW FILM AND TV PRODUCTIONS KEEP THEIR CAMERAS ROLLING DURING TORONTO'S LOCKDOWN
Production has resumed on series like Kim's Convenience, Murdoch Mysteries and Guillermo del Toro's film Nightmare Alley with Bradley Cooper and Cate Blanchett. The City of Toronto is encouraging various productions to use empty banquet halls, hotels and music venues to generate business for those forced to close.
ARTS SECTOR IDENTIFIES SECOND-WAVE OBSTACLES IN NEW GVPTA REPORT
Based on surveys of the province’s theatre, gallery, dance, and other organizations, as well as individual artists, between October 24 and November14, it found respondents to be less optimistic about recovery now than in a previous study in May and June. https://www.createastir.ca/articles/theatre-covid-challenges-gvpta-report
ADDING DIVERSITY TO LIGHT HOLIDAY MOVIES
Until recently, the diversity I see around me was missing from these holiday movies. Casts were predominantly white and there were no references to customs and traditions other than Christmas. Our communities in Canada are far from homogeneous. A change is now starting to happen. https://www.bclocalnews.com/opinion/column-adding-diversity-to-light-holiday-movies/
HUGE FILM STUDIO DEVELOPMENT PROPOSED FOR MALAHAT NATION LANDS
The Malahat Nation is partnering with Victoria-based Alpha Select Production Services Inc. in the proposal to build an ambitious 80-acre studio project, which would be called Malahat Film Studios, on its land.
HOW CANADA IS RETHINKING FILM FINANCING AMID A RACIAL RECKONING: "SOMETHING HAS CHANGED"
Each year, Telefilm pours around $100 million into homegrown movie development, production and marketing on behalf of the federal government. But the agency's public consultation to reform how Canada funds its own movies for greater gender and racial equity has sparked a fierce backlash from top producers fighting to keep their seats and influence at the industry's top table. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/how-canada-is-rethinking-film-financing-amid-a-racial-reckoning-something-has-changed
CASTING SOCIETY ANNOUNCES TOP 20 LIST OF ACTORS FROM HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES
The 20 actors were chosen during a Casting Initiative Town Hall. The town hall featured conversations with actors from historically underrepresented communities, including Performers with Disabilities (PWDS), Transgender Actors, Middle Eastern, North African, South Asian (MENASA), and Native American and Indigenous Actors (NAIA). https://variety.com/2020/artisans/news/casting-society-top-20-actors-list-1234849516/
FILMING IN LOS ANGELES DECLINES 8 PERCENT IN NOVEMBER
Analysts say the 2020 election, the Thanksgiving holiday and the COVID-19 pandemic are to blame. Filming in Los Angeles has declined for the first time since the industry got the greenlight to film again amid the pandemic. According to FilmLA, month-over-month permit volume decreased in November, with application intake dropping nearly 8 percent, to 813 permits from 880 in October. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/filming-in-los-angeles-declines-8-percent-in-november
HOW VOICE ACTORS CAN TAKE STOCK OF WHAT WORKED AT THE END OF THE YEAR
Beyond being kind to clients and employers, and staying top of mind, this simple act gives me the opportunity to take stock of what worked this year and what didn’t (pandemic factors aside).
As a casting director, I sort through hundreds (sometimes thousands) of self-tapes for any given film, television show, or commercial we’re actively working on—so it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd if you don’t know the secrets of how to make a great self-taped audition.
CASTING DIRECTOR WORKSHOP WITH BIM NARINE & CATHERINE LOUGH HAGGQUIST
January 30 & 31 | Online & offered via ZOOM
Bim Narine – Casting for 12 years, Bim Narine has brought his skills to hundreds of commercials, dozens of feature films, television series, music videos, reality series, and short films. By working on a variety of projects throughout the years, and as well, through his technical knowledge, he has been able to effectively determine the best solutions to cast the right people, and make the casting process more efficient and streamlined for all involved. https://actorvanstudios.com/product/the-casting-director-workshop-with-bim-narine-jan30-31/
BE READY FOR PILOT SEASON WITH LISA DURUPT & TOBY LEVINS AT TRICITIES FILM STUDIO!
Conveniently located on the Burnaby Coquitlam border, a 10 minute walk from Braid Station, Tricities Film Studio offers On-Camera & Scene Study classes year-round, along with a professional taping studio & audition coaching 7 days a week. *Covid 19 protocols are strictly enforced and all In-Studio Classes will move online, pending any rule changes throughout the term.
REGISTER NOW (all ages) FOR WINTER SESSION: Jan 9th – Mar 31st (*No Classes on Long Weekends)
* Kids: (7-9 / 10-14) https://tricitiesfilmstudio.com/kids-classes/
* Teens: (14-17) https://tricitiesfilmstudio.com/teen-classes/
* Adults: (18+) https://tricitiesfilmstudio.com/adult-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
RAILTOWN ACTORS STUDIO
We are continuing with reduced class sizes for our Winter 2021 Semester, now open for registration with start dates in January, February and March:
* Friday and Sunday "Acting on Film" with John Cassini.
* Scene Study Classes with Ed Foy, Frank Cassini and Jennifer Copping.
If you're new to us: https://railtownactors.com/interview
All Class Details: www.railtownactors.com/classes
Coaching and tapings available: www.railtownactors.com/coaching
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
UPCOMING EVENTS
VANCOUVER TURKISH FILM FESTIVAL
December 16 – 21
This year's VTFF will feature four award winning feature films and 10 pre-selected short films from Turkey. There will be Q&A sessions with the Directors and actors after the film screenings. http://vtff.ca
WHISTLER FILM FESTIVAL
until December 20
Festival-goers can look forward to 89 fresh films, including 32 features and 57 shorts curated in ten programs. Film highlights include previously unseen projects with over two-thirds of the feature offerings representing World, North American and Canadian premieres. https://whistlerfilmfestival.com
