RIO THEATRE CONFIDENT ARTS GRANT IS SAFE AFTER PANDEMIC SPORTS BAR PIVOT
The Rio’s Rachel Fox told Daily Hive that the perspective misses the larger point — that the City of Vancouver, the Rio, and many Vancouverites want to see the independent theatre continue to exist after the pandemic. “We’re not doing this as a stunt,” she said. “We’re doing this to ensure some kind of longevity.” https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/rio-theatre-sports-bar-risk-arts-grant
NEW WESTMINSTER COUPLE CREATES 'BOX OFFICE' FOR PEOPLE WORKING FROM HOME
Rick Whitfield has been a production designer for Marvel, Disney, Nickelodeon, and Netflix. In the spring, when COVID-19 put a pause on all productions in B.C. he had a chance to create something he had thought about for a while, a portable backyard workspace, aptly named ‘Box Office.’ https://www.citynews1130.com/2021/01/18/new-westminster-office-box-work-from-home/
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION IN ALBERTA: FILM INDUSTRY READIES FOR BOOMING YEAR
Alberta's film and TV industry is gearing up for an unprecedented production season that promises jobs and a cash injection for the economy as major U.S. studios look north for locations due to COVID-19 slowdowns, says Damian Petti, local president of a union for film and stage technicians. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-film-industry-booming-1.5884089
TOP CANADIAN TV FINANCIER REBRANDS TO DRIVE GREATER DIVERSITY, INCLUSION
The Canada Media Fund, the country's top TV financier, has unveiled a new visual identity to expand investment and inclusion for the country's Indigenous creators. The redesign includes translating the organization's name and spark-themed logos into an initial 12 Indigenous languages and dialects to reflect homegrown TV content funded by the CMF. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/top-canadian-tv-financier-rebrands-to-drive-greater-diversity-inclusion
BURNT OUT BUT BOOMING: CANADA'S TV AND FILM SECTOR PLOWS AHEAD DURING THE PANDEMIC
With surging coronavirus rates shutting down production in parts of California, Canadian crews are competing with an influx of American productions. In both British Columbia and Ontario, the industry isn't just busy — it's booming. https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/canada-film-tv-covid-19-pandemic-1.5888902
CBC SAYS IT WILL NOT PROCEED WITH SECOND SEASON OF 'TRICKSTER'
Canada’s public broadcaster says it is cancelling Indigenous TV series “Trickster,” after co-creator Michelle Latimer became embroiled in a controversy over her claimed ancestry. The CBC says it held “many conversations” with the show’s producers, writers, actors, and Eden Robinson, the author of the books on which it was based. https://toronto.citynews.ca/2021/01/29/cbc-says-it-will-not-proceed-with-second-season-of-trickster/
THE BLACK ACADEMY TO LAUNCH BLACK-FOCUSED AWARDS SHOW IN CANADA
After launching The Black Academy in early December, actor-brothers Shamier Anderson and Stephan James are now planning an awards show to celebrate and uplift Black talent across Canada. But getting financial backing is proving to be a challenge, they say. https://q107.com/news/7605548/black-academy-awards-show-canada/
"IT WAS NAIL-BITING BUT WE DID IT": CANADIAN SHOWS DIDN'T LET COVID DERAIL PRODUCTION
The pandemic has its prints all over Canada's winter TV season. While some shows affected by lockdowns last March were able to resume production in the summer and air in the fall, many were held up by restrictions, a lack of COVID-19 insurance, and the development of expensive health and safety protocols with officials and unions. https://www.coastreporter.net/it-was-nail-biting-but-we-did-it-canadian-shows-didn-t-let-covid-derail-production-1.24272694
KEIRA KNIGHTLEY: I WON'T SHOOT ANY MORE SEX SCENES DIRECTED BY MEN
Knightley credited the “male gaze” and her own personal vanity with the decision. “If I was making a story that was about that journey of motherhood and body acceptance, I feel like, I’m sorry, but that would have to be with a female film-maker,” Knightley said. “I don’t have an absolute ban, but I kind of do with men.” https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/jan/25/keira-knightley-wont-shoot-sex-scenes-directed-by-men
HOW ACTORS CAN ACE A ZOOM INTERVIEW
Zoom puts the actor under such close scrutiny both during the actual audition as well as the conversations before and after, and the interviews that may follow. With a strong, generous intent and meaningful, active listening, you’ll break yourself out as the actor they want to work with and will most certainly hire. https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/ways-actors-can-ace-a-zoom-interview-72516/
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
RAILTOWN ACTORS STUDIO
With strict COVID protocols in place, smaller class sizes, and under the advisement of a Health and Safety consultant, classes for our Winter 2021 Semester are now under way. More classes starting in later January, February and March are still available and ready for new students, all on our website. We look forward to hearing from you!
* Friday and Sunday "Acting on Film" with John Cassini.
* "Foundations" Scene Study with Frank Cassini
* "Making Connection: Scene Study" with Jennifer Copping.
* "The Actor's Instrument" and "Acting: Process & Practice" with Edward Foy
New to us?: https://railtownactors.com/interview
Classes: www.railtownactors.com/classes
Coaching and tapings: www.railtownactors.com/coaching
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
ACTORVAN STUDIOS: K&K CASTING DIRECTOR WORKSHOP
March 20 and 21 | Online
Kris Woz is part of a casting duo team along with Kara Eide based in Vancouver, BC. Together, they have worked on many projects including Stephen Chbosky’s “Wonder” (Julia Roberts, Jacob Tremblay), Kevan Funk’s “Hello Destroyer” (Jared Abrahamson, Ian Tracey, Sara Canning), Giancarlo Esposito’s “This is Your Death” (Sarah Wayne Callies, Josh Duhamel and James Franco), Shana Feste’s “Boundaries” (Vera Farmiga, Christopher Plummer, Bobby Cannavale) and Wayne Roberts’ “Richard Says Goodbye” (Johnny
Depp, Rosemary DeWitt). https://actorvanstudios.com/product/casting-director-workshop-with-kris-from-kk-casting-mar-20-21/
UPCOMING EVENTS
US: A BLACK PEOPLES MONTH FESTIVAL
January 28 – February 25
Us is an online arts festival in celebration of Black Peoples Month (aka Black History Month). Curated by Black artists Adrian Neblett and Mariam Barry, the festival features theatre, films, podcasts and staged readings from the diaspora. Us reminds us that we belong as we celebrate what was, what is and what could be. https://www.ensembletheatrecompany.ca/festival-details
INCITE - VANCOUVER WRITERS FEST
February 3
Join us for a riveting evening of discussion with some of the literary world’s most buzzworthy authors of the season, including Rumaan Alam (Leave the World Behind; HarperCollins Canada), Ashley Audrain (The Push; Penguin Random House Canada) and Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Mexican Gothic; Penguin Random House Canada). https://writersfest.bc.ca/event/incite-february-3/
VICTORIA FILM FESTIVAL
February 5 – 14
The 2021 Victoria Film Festival features 50 full length films and 23 shorts from across Canada and around the world. https://www.victoriafilmfestival.com
