B.C. CULTURAL COMMUNITY STILL STANDING, BUT THE OUTLOOK IS ROUGH
The pandemic has been bad news for the arts and culture sector. As the province, the country and the world remain mired in the myriad mechanics of managing COVID-19, much of the arts and culture sector has stayed shuttered.
VANCOUVER ANIMATOR TALKS ADDING CULTURAL AUTHENTICITY TO 'RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON'
When animating Disney’s new film “Raya and the Last Dragon,” Vancouver-raised Benson Shum says he honed in on the subtle details to ensure cultural accuracy.
B.C. COLLECTIVE PUSHES FOR THEATRES TO SAFELY REOPEN UNDER COVID-19 HEALTH ORDERS
The live theatre and cinema industry are joining forces in B.C., asking the province to allow for their operations to resume after months of shutdowns as part of sweeping pandemic guidelines. https://www.citynews1130.com/2021/02/27/push-to-reopen-bc-theatres/
ALBERTA FILM INDUSTRY BENEFITS FROM EMBRACING DIVERSE TALENT, FILMMAKERS SAY
Encouraging inclusivity within film and television has become a priority for the Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA), said Michelle Wong, who leads AMPIA's newly formed equity, diversity and inclusion committee. The province's production media industry is growing which presents an opportunity to create change. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-film-television-diversity-1.5927153
HOTELS AND RESORTS PIVOT TO HOSTING TV PRODUCTIONS IN PANDEMIC
Transforming a hotel or resort into a production-friendly and production-ready facility requires a major shift in dynamics. However, if there’s one thing the pandemic has instilled in the hospitality industry is the necessity to adapt and change. https://variety.com/2021/tv/artists/bachelorette-production-bubble-1234922190/
BLACK FEMALES MORE LIKELY THAN WHITE FEMALES TO BE PORTRAYED AS “SMART” IN FILM & TV, BUT “COLORISM” PERSISTS AROUND SKIN TONE, SAYS STUDY
The report found that Black women and girls represented only 3.7% of leads or co-leads in the 100 top-grossing films of the last decade, although the numbers have improved in recent years. Only 19% of Black leading ladies in the past decade had a dark skin tone, researchers found. https://deadline.com/2021/03/black-women-smart-film-tv-colorism-study-1234705233/
KELLY MARIE TRAN: ON SURVIVING 'STAR WARS' BULLYING, THE PRESSURES OF REPRESENTATION, AND 'RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON'
‘BRIDGE AND TUNNEL’ CD MARIBETH FOX ON WHAT TO EXPECT ON ZOOM AUDITIONS
Fox learned that not everything is different about the casting process when it’s done online, and that building a cast of talented young actors is possible whether she’s in the room with them or not. She shares what to expect in her physical or virtual room, and what actors can do to stay creative through it all. https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/bridge-and-tunnel-casting-director-maribeth-fox-remote-auditions-72770/
HOW AN AGENT CAN BE AN ACTOR'S KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR
As an agent in the kingdom of Hollywood, there are parts of the knight’s code that aren’t very practical. I wouldn’t be good at my job if I “at all times spoke the truth.”
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, our Winter 2021 classes have been a great success. Just a couple March classes available. Spring 2021 classes for April, May and June are now open for registration. 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
CASTING DIRECTOR WORKSHOP WITH BIM NARINE
March 27-28 | Online
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-mar-27-28/
UPCOMING EVENTS
VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL WOMEN IN FILM FESTIVAL
March 4 – 14
This year’s virtual festival showcases an international lineup of short- and feature-length films, from narrative and documentary to experimental and animation—celebrating the complexity and diversity of ways girls and women choose to challenge, overcome, and inspire—themselves, each other, their communities, and our world today. https://viwff.ca
VANCOUVER JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL
March 4 - 14
Film has the ability to connect audiences from around the world through storytelling and shared narratives. While we remain true to our mission of showcasing the diversity of Jewish culture, heritage, and identity through film; it is fundamentally about building connections among various communities and celebrating exceptional filmmaking. https://www.vjff.org
COLD READING SERIES
March 8
Our annual collaboration, featuring scripts from UBC’s Creative Writing Program. Join us for a Live-Stream Zoom Event from our homes. We’re still missing you & excited to host our next event via Zoom. http://www.coldreadingseries.com
