Vancouver Actor's Guide Newsletter - February 15 2021
Published: Mon, 02/15/21
INDUSTRY NEWS
SOME SELF-EMPLOYED CANADIANS CAUGHT UP IN CERB CONFUSION WON'T HAVE TO REPAY
A government source not authorized to speak publicly said that self-employed Canadians who applied for CERB, and who would have qualified based on their gross income, will no longer be required to repay — provided they met all the other eligibility requirements. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/pandemic-cerb-repay-1.5906728
20 MOVIES AND TV SHOWS FILMING IN VANCOUVER THIS FEBRUARY
These local productions are finally back in town! From new movies filming on location to your old favourite series, these actors and crew are hard at work to bring you some new binge-worthy creations for 2021. https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/filming-in-vancouver-february-2021
IT TOOK AN AVA DUVERNAY CO-SIGN FOR CANADA TO PAY ATTENTION TO ONE OF ITS BRIGHTEST BLACK TALENTS
What started out as a tweet by writer-director Kelly Fyffe-Marshall about the lack of exposure in the Canadian film industry turned into an exciting exchange with — and acknowledgment from — one of her favourite directors, When They See Us’s Ava DuVernay. https://www.refinery29.com/en-ca/2021/02/10301739/kelly-fyffe-marshall-black-bodies-ava-duvernay
GREATER VICTORIA LISTED #5 AMONG BEST SMALL CITIES TO LIVE, WORK AS A FILMMAKER
“To be the only small city in Canada to be named and be up there with Santa Fe and New Orleans, with the amount of production that goes on in those cities, is amazing,” said Kathleen Gilbert, film commissioner for the Vancouver Island South Film and Media Commission. https://www.vicnews.com/news/greater-victoria-listed-5-among-best-small-cities-to-live-work-as-a-filmmaker/
FILM FESTIVALS, HERE AND ABROAD, ARE CHANGING, AND IT’S GOOD
Despite the darned pandemic, film festivals have persevered across the world, and a genuine flowering of creativity and innovation has resulted. And as a former film programmer, let me tell you. This is good! https://thetyee.ca/Culture/2021/02/09/Film-Festival-Change-Is-Good/
THE STATE OF LOCAL FILM IS NOT IN FLUX
Art is always important. If anything, the pandemic will create work that speaks directly to the challenges of these unprecedented times. The best art reflects the times we live in. While audiences might turn to film and television to ‘escape,’ I think many audiences seek work that creates an opportunity to reflect upon the new realities we all face. https://www.themanitoban.com/2021/02/the-state-of-local-film-is-not-in-flux/41459/
ACTORS FUND BREAKS GROUND ON $120 MILLION AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PERFORMING ARTS COMPLEX IN HOLLYWOOD
This project will allow professionals in our industry to live, work and perform in the center of creativity in Los Angeles. Their presence, their work, will be an engine of the continued arts-based revitalization of Hollywood. https://variety.com/2021/scene/news/actors-fund-hollywood-arts-collective-annette-bening-1234905505/
THIS AGENT’S AUDITION CHECKLIST WILL BRING YOU CLOSER TO GETTING CAST
Agents are always busy. We make every effort to ensure auditions are emailed out to you with everything you need, but most of us are human, so mistakes can happen. That’s why it’s on you to double-check the details. Don’t just assume it’s all there. https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/agents-audition-checklist-to-get-cast-72592/
UPCOMING
TRAINING
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
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/
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
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
POWELL RIVER FILM FESTIVAL
February 5 - 16
The 20th anniversary Festival includes streaming the films, online conversations with select directors, and our hope to get some genuine discussions going about the various films. https://www.prfilmfestival.ca
VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL
February 19 - 28
Join us virtually to enjoy 50+ films, 3 interactive workshops, 3 engaging panel discussions and discover new documentaries about climbing, snowsports, the environment, mountain culture and adventure and more! https://vimff.org
