Vancouver Actor's Guide Newsletter - March 22 2021
Published: Mon, 03/22/21
INDUSTRY NEWS
DR. BONNIE HENRY’S OFFICE RESPONDS TO QUESTIONS SURROUNDING REOPENING OF ARTS EVENTS
“While Dr. Henry has expressed optimism in recent COVID-19 updates that select restrictions may be able to be eased or lifted in the weeks and months ahead, a number of public health orders limiting or restricting events and gathering remains in place, including orders prohibiting in-person events of this kind.” https://www.createastir.ca/articles/safe-reopening-of-the-arts-bonnie-henry
ELLIOT PAGE BECOMES FIRST TRANS MAN TO APPEAR ON TIME MAGAZINE COVER
The 34-year-old, whose movie credits include "Inception" and two installments of the "X-Men" franchise, will appear on the front of the magazine's forthcoming issue under the headline, "I'm fully who I am." It is Page's first major interview since publicly disclosing his gender identity in December. https://www.cnn.com/style/article/elliot-page-time-magazine-cover-transgender-man/index.html
CANADIAN DIRECTOR AT HOME IN THE MARVEL UNIVERSE: 'I ALWAYS JUST IGNORED THE GLASS CEILING'
Kari Skogland might be new to the MCU, but she’s an old hand in the business. In a career spanning a quarter century, she’s directed episodes of everything from Being Erica to Boardwalk Empire, House of Cards to The Handmaid’s Tale.
'IT DIED FROM WITHIN': TWO ACTORS LAMENT THE UNTIMELY DEMISE OF KIM'S CONVENIENCE
It was a Sunday afternoon when Paul Sun-Hyung Lee got the call from Ivan Fecan informing him that a major part of his life was coming to an end. Fecan, executive producer of CBC’s Kim’s Convenience, was calling the Calgary-raised actor to break the news that the series he had starred in for five seasons was being cancelled.
OSCARS NOMINATE MOST DIVERSE ACTING SLATE EVER, INCLUDING FIRST ASIAN AMERICAN BEST ACTOR
Nine actors of color earned Academy Award nominations on Monday, setting an Oscar record for diversity in those categories. The achievement comes after years of aggressive efforts by the Academy to diversify its membership in the wake of all-white acting nominees for the 2015 and 2016 ceremonies. https://variety.com/2021/film/news/oscars-diversity-steven-yeun-riz-ahmed-1234928862/
CREATORS SAY TV FESTIVALS ARE TRANSFORMING THE INDUSTRY. BUT NOT HOW YOU MIGHT THINK
Beyond the presence of high-profile titles, the rise of TV at film festivals reflects the changing face of independent television development, from the boom of digital web series in the early 2010s to the current marketplace, which is liable to be shaped by the streaming wars for a decade to come. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2021-03-16/sxsw-sundance-tribeca-tiff-series-fest-tv-film-festivals
AS TV AUDIENCES STAY AWAY, AWARDS SHOWS ARE IN CRISIS — BUT DO THEY DESERVE TO BE SAVED?
While the potential loss of awards shows may not seem like much of a loss to audiences already ignoring them, there could be a knock-on effect. While blockbuster movies and established musicians have built-in followings long before they make it to awards season, smaller and more intimate productions can see their popularity skyrocket, even from a nomination. https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/tv-audiences-awards-shows-crisis-1.5952597
THE MYTH OF THE STARVING ARTIST
To look further, by definition, a starving artist is not self-sufficient. Because they supposedly beg for charity to do what they love, they are perceived as being selfish, maybe even narcissistic, unworldly. It’s a belittling and patronizing term that is often doled out by people who truly have no idea what it is to be an artist or how the industry works. https://www.alaskahighwaynews.ca/local-arts/the-myth-of-the-starving-artist-3555135
WHY SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOT NECESSARY FOR A SUCCESSFUL ACTING CAREER
The truth is, if you don’t enjoy social media, you can stop worrying about it. It’s not nearly as critical as most people say. Just because many successful actors have a large social presence doesn’t mean that social presence was what helped them get there. As the saying goes, “Correlation does not equal causation.” https://news.castingnetworks.com/why-social-media-is-not-necessary-for-a-successful-acting-career/
UPCOMING
TRAINING
RAILTOWN ACTORS STUDIO
With strict COVID protocols in place, smaller class sizes, and under the advisement of a Health and Safety consultant, our 2021 classes have been a great success. Spring 2021 classes for April, May and June are now open for registration and filling quickly.
New to us? Click here: https://railtownactors.com/interview
* 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
Details for all Classes: www.railtownactors.com/classes
Coaching and Tapings: www.railtownactors.com/coaching
We look forward to hearing from you!
INTRO TO TRANSFORMATION | YAT/BENTLEY CENTRE
March 28th and 30th | Free
As an actor, have you ever desired to disappear into a character, to be so completely transformed that you are unrecognizable? Don't let confinement stop you from reaching the greatest depths of yourself as a person and an actor. A new schedule of online workshops and classes are available to jump into the renowned acting method used by Anthony Hopkins, Sean Connery, Colin Firth, Anne-Marie Duff, Tom Hardy, Michael Fassbender, and Pierce Brosnan. New in-person and online classes offered in our
Vancouver studio in April. https://www.yatbentley.com/workshops
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 ANGELA QUINN
April 24 and 25
Online | Only 16 Seats available | 19+
Angela Quinn is the go to casting director in the Okanagan for MOWs. With 50 million in film production in 2020 in the region, Vancouver actors have had the opportunity to build their resumes on shows Angela has cast and been involved in. Great chance to get on her radar!
After getting her first break in the film industry as an actor, dancer & singer, Angela now has 25 years of professional working experience to her credit with over 160 productions under her belt. https://actorvanstudios.com/product/the-casting-director-workshop-with-angela-quinn/
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
SPRING REGISTRATION IS OPEN AT TRICITIES FILM STUDIOS!
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 THE SPRING SESSION:
April 10th - June 30th (*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/
Classes are filling up, don’t miss out!
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
FESTIVAL DIONYSIA
March 26 - 28
Festival Dionysia is a yearly festival put on by UBC Players Club featuring largely original one-act plays and typically written, directed, performed, and produced by UBC Vancouver students and local emerging Vancouver theatre artists. https://www.ubcplayersclub.com
OR FESTIVAL
April 2 - 3
Join us online for the world premiere of six original 10 minute plays; written, dramaturged, directed and performed by Vancouver artists. Each play, selected by our panel of curators, receives a full production, complete with dramaturgical support, direction and presentation at a local theatre. http://orfestival.com
REEL 2 REAL INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FOR YOUTH
April 14 - 23
We are pleased to present several films that explore the impact of social media, racism, and discrimination, with a focus on Germany. We’re showing 18 feature films and 45 shorts from over 35 countries and Indigenous nations. https://r2rfestival.org
