Surround yourself with sparkly and spiritual vibes at The Gem Expo/Meta Expo – a great show to visit this weekend!

Twice a year, Toronto plays host to The Gem Expo and The Meta Expo (featuring metaphysical practitioners) and I was fortunate to again be invited by show Founder, Salim Moorani, to attend and help spread the word.  https://thegemexpo.com/ The shows are held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on King West at Spadina, so it’s easy to reach via public transit, and runs Oct 27-29.

I went into the Meta Expo room first and was pleased to see so many diverse metaphysical practitioners chatting with visitors. I signed up for a session with The Viking Messenger (Jerry Mystic) who offers Viking Rune readings. www.chainmailguy.com/jerrymystic  I had a wonderful experience and his divination of my 9-runes was spot on for present and future. A very kind and gentle man – I was extremely pleased with his insights and guidance, and I walked away with notes and a Viking vocabulary sheet.  Along the aisle from Jerry were the lovely ladies of Falun Gong who were happy to enlighten me as to their traditional practices for mind & body through truthfulness, compassion and tolerance. FalunDafa.orgEntering the adjoining Gem Expo hall I was pleased I got there early, before the place was crowded so I managed to navigate the aisles and chat with the booth folks easily. When I left, there was a long line-up to get in so congrats to Salim for excellent promotions.So many wonderful booths to explore and learn about different gemstones, gorgeous jewellery pieces to add to your collection and lots of great affordable Christmas present ideas! I discovered the fellow representing Ethiopian opals who had a wonderful sparkling display…being an Aussie I’m a little biased towards Australian opals, however, I really did like these “milky” opals from Africa….what do you think? He doesn’t have a store in Toronto, but if you would like to learn more and perhaps buy, if you can’t get to the show this weekend, I have his contact info. Down another aisle, I found more treasures…oh how I wish I could take them all home with me! I was drawn to one fabulous booth, Pupul’s Pebbles, (IG: @pupulspebbles) where it seemed the rocks were calling out to me. I discovered Green Apophyllite which I had never seen before. Apparently it has pretty powerful properties for strength, protection and energy, all of which I am seriously lacking at the current time! I found one rock that I just couldn’t put down so…it came home with me (pictured on purple silk) I met the cheerful and sweet Megan Khuu of The Happy Healing Heart and I was drawn to an unusual piece of Caribbean Calcite in the shape of an obelisk. Out came the credit card and now this beautiful rock is sitting on my desk, next to my laptop. www.thehappyhealingheart.com Previous years, I was always drawn to Lapis Lazuli but it seems today, it was all about the pale greens and white colours, but of course I had to check out these stunning lapis eggs sitting all in rows! Gem Expo also offers supplies for jewellery makers and craftspeople – findings and fixings, chains, clasps, you name it, they got it! And at  incredible prices, too, for bulk stones and beads. Here’s just a tiny sample of what you’ll find…Again, the show runs until end of day Sunday Oct.29th. And mark your calendars for next spring’s show.

Follow Gem/Meta Expo on Facebook and Instagram: @TheGemExpo and if you make it out this weekend, say hello to Salim and tell him you saw this blog!

 

One of Canada’s Foremost Entertainment Journalists, BILL WELYCHKA, writes of his exciting life & career in his autobiography “A Happy Has-been”

If ever there was a happy and contented has-been it’s former MuchMusic veejay, popular host of multiple music specials featuring interviews with the biggest stars imaginable, MuchMoreMusic’s leading on-air personality, radio jock and all-round music renaissance man, BILL WELYCHKA. He can now add “author” to his long list of skills and credits with the recent publication of his autobiography “A Happy Has-been”.

I remember the first time I was aware of Bill’s presence on my tv screen back in the 80s, especially towards the end of the decade when he hosted “Outlaws & Heroes” featuring the “new country” sounds and interviews with Nashville’s (and Bakersfield’s) newest minted stars who brought the old-timey sounds of Hank Williams, Bill Monroe, Conway Twitty, Eddy Arnold and the Patsies – Cline and Montana – forward towards the 21st century by adding new flavours to the twangs. These were MY people! ( Bill below with a young Garth Brooks)Like most showbiz stories, Bill has experienced highs and lows, as well as stabs in the back and dizzying heights of success and popularity throughout his career which started out behind the scenes, editing footage for the OGs of MuchMusic when it launched in the early 80s as Canada’s answer to the US MTV. His book recounts his “adventures”, not dirty laundry, and the book makes for a great read and you’ll find out cool secrets and “would you believes..” from the early days of the Canadian and int’l music scenes.

A definite “would you believe…” is that Bill has also dipped his toes in the professional wrestling world (I was into wrestling as a little kid back in the 60s when I watched Killer Kowalski and his famous “sleeper hold” with Dad on B&W tv back in Australia). Yeah, you gotta read that chapter!  I recently reconnected with Bill and he graciously answered some of my questions about the book and his life over the past decades….here are his responses, thoughts and musings: You already had quite the exciting career behind the scenes when you took over Outlaws & Heroes on MuchMusic – who was your favourite artist to interview? Were you old school (George Jones, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Marty Stewart) or “new country” eg: Travis Tritt, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Clint Black, Dwight Yoakam?  I was first turned on to country in 1986…the year that really ushered in the New Traditionalist Movement in country music. That was the year of debut albums by Dwight Yoakam, Steve Earle and Randy Travis. As I wrote in the book, these cats were alternative to me. No one I knew listened to country! I fell in love with country in 1986, but immediately did my homework and went back and discovered George Jones, Waylon Jennings, Hank William Sr., Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty, Merle and the other legends. I still listen to THAT kind of country to this day but haven’t really listened to anything new since about 2000.In the mid-90s, your on-air focus was switched from country to rock and alt. – were you already a fan of these other genres and how difficult was is (or smooth) to transition your research and interviews?  I have listened to all kinds of music since kindergarten. I always looked at music as a badge. My tastes in music have always varied…. rock, folk, funk, heavy metal, alternative. It was an easy transition for me to be moved over to regular flow programming, but the hardest thing was coming to grips with the nagging question “What will the audience think?” Would they accept the ‘country guy’ interviewing The Stone Roses and introducing hip-hop videos? It was a short-lived concern. I was accepted and in-time the audience understood that I LOVED all kinds of music and LOVED interviewing everybody. I write about it in the book…I wasn’t the cute one, the wacky one, the political one…I was the one that loved creating television and aspired to always conduct high-quality interviews.

I know you were always happy to lend your name and presence to charitable endeavours and fundraisers (I invited you to host the 1999 OSPCA fundraiser The Fur Ball and you were brilliant). When you supported World Vision Canada, how were you affected by filming in Africa and the poverty you witnessed?  Those experiences have stayed with me to this day. Every charity appearance or assignment has. That two-week trip to Africa or travelling with the UN to Haiti and India, you see conditions you couldn’t imagine people living in. But you also see hope and meet people that have devoted their lives to improving the lives of others. Upon arriving home after those kinds of assignments, you realize that NOTHING in my life could compare to the existence of some. One really does count their blessings.  Even here in Kingston, I devote a lot of time to emceeing numerous benefits and charities. It’s a beautiful caring community and giving back is infectious. (Bill on stage at The Fur Ball with comedian & fellow tv host Carla Collins)As part of your personal civic awareness and commitment to helping those without a voice, can you talk about Men Rocking for Women and the launch of the White Ribbon Campaign?  Men Rocking For Women was a charity concert I organized and emceed in Ottawa. It was after hearing about Ottawa-area women’s shelters being over-flowing and under-funded. The idea was male musicians joining together on stage performing to raise money for these shelters. There was also a message…there is no room in our world for men’s violence of any kind against women.
Jeff Martin (The Tea Party) got me involved in the White Ribbon Campaign in the mid 90s. The WRC is a global movement of guys joining together to end men’s violence against women. He asked me to emcee the WRC concerts each year. I did so, very eagerly.
Partial proceeds from book sales will be donated to the WRC and women’s shelters across Canada. I write about it extensively in the book.

I loved MuchMoreMusic’s The Story of…. shows. In your book, you talk about how much you enjoyed talking with artists who have moved into a second or third act of their lives and careers. Is this book your own The Story of….Hahaha! I suppose so. The idea for the book partially came from being asked for decades or being told “Are you ever going to write a book?” “You should write a book!”
It would usually go in one ear and out the other. I honestly thought “No one is going to care.”  But during COVID, I kept getting asked to be on all these podcasts to talk about me, my life and my career. People wanted me to share my story. One day, I started writing down all these stories and experiences I was relating. One weekend I just started banging away at my computer. Towards the end of 2021, I realized I might have a book here! I kept at it for a year and it was finished in Dec. of 2022. It came out in August 2023 and in its first week was a Top 10 Amazon Best Seller and a number one download. The reception has been amazing. I have been doing an Ontario book-tour at Chapters/ Indigo and it’s been awesome meeting so many people who have purchased the book. It keeps selling, too! This book has legs…it’s amazing to me. There will be a further book-tour in 2024. It is available in retail across Canada and on-line. There is already talk of a second edition! (Below with Ice T, Prince, Janet Jackson, getting smooched by Lisa Marie Presley) You recount so many extraordinary celebrity interviews and social situations, some of which were sketchy or scary. Did you ever find yourself in a situation where you didn’t think you’d make it out alive?  I never really thought of things that way. I have always maintained a life lived in fear is a life half-lived. I would do anything to make a story better. I have bungee jumped numerous times, went skydiving, have rappelled down buildings, participated in a demolition derby, have done several polar-dips, been in numerous wrestling matches, have broken bones and tore muscles all for the sake of a TV story and for the audience.  Plus, it would always make great TV! (A fun memory Bill writes about is his happy meeting with Brett Michaels and Poison – being brought out on stage)You were witness to the demise of the original concept of MM and MMM, and the slow slide to tabloid television-style programming at both networks. Do you think the format could or should be returned to our televisions or has the ‘net and streaming services killed off any chance to bring back good music, good interviews, good entertainment?  No amount of creativity or money could recapture the essence or magic of what those channels were. They played a vital role in the creation of the Canadian music business and contributed huge amounts to Canadian pop culture. I am fascinated by the fascination with MuchMusic. Look at the new doc by Sean Menard, “299 Queen Street West”. It’s a doc currently touring across Canada. It’s AMAZING! Good for Sean for reminding a couple generations of MuchMusic’s importance. (see screening schedule below) I miss seeing ‘great’ interviews on TV. I know many people do! My specials and interviews (on my YouTube channel) have BIG numbers. That is a testament to people wanting to watch solid music television with fun and informative interviews that were allowed to breathe. Current pop culture entertainment shows feature 10 second soundbites about who is in rehab, who has cellulite, who is getting divorced. WHO cares????

In chapter 16, you name names of those mega-stars who you engaged in meaningful conversations, not just tabloid-esque fluff pieces. Apart from personal revelations on their part, did you ever learn anything about yourself undertaking these celebrity interviews?  Absolutely! There were many life-lessons learned. Many are shared in the book. A lot of things about the importance of elevating everyone around us. It’s not just about putting celebs on pedestals, but everyday people who enrich our lives and make this world a better place. It’s about highlighting and shining a spotlight on doctors, first responders, teachers, volunteers.
I also talk about how dangerous egos can be. Just because someone is on TV or recognized in public does not give them a pass to be an asshole. (Below, Bill with pre-meltdown Britney Spears)Was there ever an interview you had to do with someone you did not respect or like his/her music? No need to name names but surely there were a few “stars” the suits insisted you chat with against your better judgement?  I would never take away from someone’s talent even if I wasn’t a ‘fan’. Most of the time, I interviewed artists who I necessarily wouldn’t listen to when I went home…unless I was researching for an interview. I treat every interview subject the same, whether I was a fan or not. I wanted the experience to be a good one for the artist and for their fans. That being said, I have interviewed Marilyn Manson a few times. I like the music but would often NOT like the message. I love his stance on the importance of individuality, but his views on the bible and Christianity I have a problem with. His crowd chants of “We hate Love. We love hate” is detrimental messaging to a 13 year old. But, oh well. Christ’s teachings endure. Marilyn did not.

I’m so happy for you that you have finally found a wonderful home in Kingston (I love that town) and a soul-mate to keep you grounded and feeling loved and worthy. Do you have any other bucket-list gigs or adventures you’d like to experience?  Thanks for asking! Yes, the word ‘Happy’ is the most important part of the book’s tittle “A Happy Has-been”. The ‘has-been’ part of the title has been an interesting topic for interviewers and people that have bought the book. It’s funny to me! I admit the title is self-deprecating but to some, I am a ‘has-been’. I explain it in the book. There are some people who might have watched me in the 90s or the early 2000s who might only recognize my name from that time. Their reaction might be “Oh, yeah…that guy! Is he dead? Is he still working? He’s a has-been.” But there are people who have followed my every move since then, to where I am now. I have worked non-stop in television since 1988. Since 1992, I have been both behind the scenes and on-air with no break. (below with Kingston’s own Gord Downie & The Tragecly Hip’s concert in Kingston, Ontario)I have been here in Kingston for almost 12 years now. I host and produce Global News Morning, a Corus Entertainment property. I love whom I work with and I love this city and its citizens and the energy here.  If I died tomorrow, I’ve had the best life! I still have the best life!

If fans would like to follow your adventures or attend a book signing, how do they follow you on social media?
Facebook & Instagram:  @billwelychka
For more info about the book, head to www.billwelychka.ca   It’s available across Canada at fine book-stores everywhere.  Thanks for being interested!
……………………………………

Thank you so much, Bill, my memories of hanging out at MuchMusic, star “minding” and dealing with bus loads of groupies came flooding back with each page-turn.  This is the perfect gift for anyone who loves music be it pop, rock, R&B, grunge, hip-hop, country…whatever.
Available from Amazon & fine bookstores across the country
Friesen Press
232 Pages
ISBN: 978-1-03-918346-9 (Hardcover), 978-1-03-918345-2 (Paperback) or 978-1-03-918347-6 (eBook)
Above – Bill with long-time friend, the Hip’s Paul Langlois

CANADIAN BLUES BALLADEER DAVID DEACON RELEASES NEW ALBUM “GOOD DAY GOOD NIGHT”

I had the pleasure of attending the album release party for DAVID DEACON at Toronto’s The Rivoli last night. His new 8-track album, released Oct. 6th is titled Good Day Good Night and features original songs based on his own life experiences, having lived and survived seven decades of thrills, near tragedies and multiple career changes. Sung in his signature bluesy balladeer style, each track will ignite our own imaginations and memories, and sitting there last night I was reminded of so many of my own experiences over a lifetime of similar length and diversity. I had the pleasure of chatting briefly with David backstage (pictured above) and was able to interview him a few days prior to his concert so I’ll let him share his thoughts in his own words…..

David, congratulations on your new album. It sounds like your original songs are the culmination of an exciting and diverse lifetime and multiple careers. What inspired you to create this 8-track album Good Day Good NightThis album has been driven by a combination of new thoughts I wanted to explore and a change of style in the music itself. I have been moving towards more lyrical songs as opposed to the poetic lyrics and bluesy sounds that tended to drive earlier work. Now I have a greater focus on melody and groove, and I have been enjoying the simplicity of work that lets the hook carry more of the momentum in the whole piece. I think one of the most interesting parts of any creative career is the evolution of the artists viewpoint. Mine has evolved to a less complicated structure in both sound and lyric.

This and your earlier 2023 album, Four, come two decades after your previous album Strangers in the Morning…what took you so long?  It was a combination of things, but a large part was money. There came a point where I needed to focus on making a living again. The good thing is, when I started writing again, the hiatus meant there was a lot of material that seemed to come out quickly and easily. Over the last 2 years it has resulted in 13 new songs and 5 reworked ones, which I feel is about as prolific a period as I have encountered. There also now seems to be a pattern in my life where I leave painting for awhile and then come back to it or leave writing for awhile and come back to it. Maybe this is similar for a lot of people, but with two different disciplines to work in the gap is greater with me.

Many of the tracks on GDGN are based on life’s struggles, disappointments, challenges – at age 70, do you feel good/better times are ahead of you now?  I think that most of writing comes out of the struggles, the journey as some would say. When things are going brilliantly, we don’t tend to reflect on it too much, we just enjoy it. I always liked the quote from Emerson which goes “The people who stop at life’s first success are the world’s spiritual middle classes.” I think the more engaged we are in life, the more likely there will be struggles and disappointments, but all good learning comes with an element of struggle. I think my writing celebrates the struggle but doesn’t get lost in it or maudlin about it. I hope that’s true….and yes, I hope I continue not to “go gentle into that good night”.

How important are your paintings and visual arts and do they inspire your lyrics…or visa versa?  My art seems to come from much different thoughts than my lyrics, although all my visual work focuses on people and pretty much all my writing does as well. It’s just you are engaging a different set of reference points. The old saying a picture is worth a thousand words is to me not true, but a picture can precipitate an emotional or intellectual response that is very different than words. I think that is why I tend to be doing one or the other, not both at the same time.

As a big auto racing fan, I have to ask you about your earlier experiences in endurance racing and prior to that, your motorcycling career. I understand you suffered near-catastrophic injuries coming off your bike, then switched to cars….you just don’t give up! Is that how you’ve tackled all your different endeavours?  I remember the first time I raced at the 24 hours of Le Mans and going down the Mulsane straight at 220 miles an hour (approx. 360 KPH). Racing in the eighties was still very dangerous at that time, with two men being killed that weekend. There was a place called “the kink” which before they put in the chicane on the Mulsane to slow things down, was daunting. The car would skitter a little and I finally did it for a few laps flat out and it scared the hell out of me. I told Hans Stuck this (who was driving a sister car) when I got back in the pits and he said “don’t worry David, after a couple of hours, you will be used to it”. It was really funny, but it didn’t feel funny at the time. But there I was at one o’clock in the morning and going flat out through the kink with my lights only lighting up the entry point not the apex, and not really even thinking about it anymore. I think that was my most tangible moment of understanding that we just have to drive through fear. Taking on a renewed music career at this stage in my life means that I am still trying to drive through fear.What do you hope your fans/listeners get from your music? And where can they purchase CDs or listen via streaming services?  Where people can get my music is on every streaming channel, such as Spotify, You Tube, Apple Music etc. Believe is my distributor and they ensure its availability through all the sources.

As to what do I think people might get from my music? I think hopefully they like the sound and groove but also, I know that when I read a book I underline passages which say something particular to me. I think I have a point of view on life which is a fairly rich way to draw the best out of experiences both good and bad. It is essentially based on a philosophy of “you are what you do” and tries to put emphasis on being sure to be fully engaged as much of the time as possible. As a result, I believe a lot of people might underline some of my lyrics if they read them in a book.

You can hear David’s new album via your favourite streaming platforms such as…Spotify, Amazon, YouTube, Apple, etc.
And you can follow him on social media:
Facebook –  Facebook.com/DavidDeaconMusic
Instagram –  @ddeaconmusic
Twitter/X-  @ddeaconmusic

David’s been getting lots of media attention on radio and online so watch for upcoming concerts, and make sure you check out all the tracks on Good Day Good Night – I guarantee at least one will speak to you!  Thanks to Kevin Pennant of Pennant Media Group for the invite.

CityTV Premieres New Series About Forgotten Black Canadian History

A new five-part docu-series called Black Community Mixtapes produced by OYA Media Group will premiere on CityTV Toronto (and across the country) on Sunday Sept. 24 at 7pm EST. The television series breathes new life into the personal archives gathered by individual Canadians to shine a light on life-changing moments in Black Canadian history.  Created and directed by the award-winning Canadian filmmaking team of Alison Duke and Ngardy Conteh George (pictured below), the show explores the cultural riches of Black Canadian history that are often stored and forgotten in crates, file folders and photo albums that have never been documented or recognized by national institutions. Says Duke (pictured below)….“We are not just filmmakers. We are first and second generation Canadians who actively try to better understand Canadian history. Producing films within the Black community for over 20 years gave us incredible access to personal archives which have helped to fill in the gaps. I hope that people see this series as a stepping stone to learning more about Black history here in Canada and that it sparks curiosity in all us to dive deeper into our own family’s archives.”The series follows KhaRå Martin, a young Toronto filmmaker, musician and actor, who embarks on a quest to rediscover Canada’s Black history and as host of the show, she speaks to Black Canadian archivists, musicians, artists and cultural change makers as they walk us through the rich world of Black Canadian culture. Here’s a sneak peak…

Some of the most notable people featured include former Much Music VJ’s  Michael Williams and Master T as well as radio deejays DJX and Ron Nelson. Other cultural icons from the Black community include nine time carnival queen Joella Chrighton, screenwriter and playwright Motion, artist Natalie Wood, photographer Michael Chambers, writer George Elliot Clark, cultural centre owner Itah Sadu and Vintage Black Canada archivist Aaron Francis.

Congratulations to OYA Media and the team….I can’t wait to watch and learn!
Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackcommunitymixtapes

 

Canadian disabled paddleboarder makes history crossing all 5 Great Lakes – see the documentary at COMMFFest this Friday

Thanks to my friend and fellow publicist, Danielle Iversen, I stepped away from TIFF to learn about the Community Arts & Film Festival taking place Sept. 14 to 22 in Toronto (celebrating its 18th anniversary this year), and the premiere of a special documentary to inform and inspire us all.

Award-winning director Matthew Wagner is thrilled to premiere his latest documentary When Hope Breaks Through, at this year’s Community Arts & Film Festival. Screening takes place at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St East, at 1:30pm Friday Sept. 15th. Tickets are available through: https://am.ticketmaster.com/tolive/commffest2023The feature length doc tells the inspiring story of Mike Shoreman, a disabled paddleboarder who attempts to become the first person with disabilities to cross all five Great Lakes. In 2018 Mike was diagnosed with a neurological condition – Ramsay Hunt syndrome – that left him paralyzed, suffering vertigo, hearing and vision loss which ultimately led to depression and a mental health breakdown. This riveting documentary explores the mental health crisis in Canada and our relationships with our own mental health. The film immerses the audience in Mike’s epic five crossings, encompassing over 300 kilometers of open water paddling accompanied by his dedicated crossings team. These strangers come together to form an inseparable bond as they faced and conquered obstacles from boats breaking down, medical emergencies to hallucinations and everything in between.Director/producer Wagner is a Michigan-based director & cinematographer whose previous documentary “Charro & Steed” has won awards (including Best Director, Best Editing and Best Documentary) at film festivals throughout the Great Lakes region and across the States. He is passionate about telling stories in a way that leaves an emotional impact to inspire change.

Mike Shoreman (www.mikeshoreman.com) is an award-winning mental health and disability advocate, athlete, author and columnist, writing on mental health and disability related issues. When Hope Breaks Through is his story.  His work in mental health awareness, promotion, and education is extensive, partnering with national and international mental health organizations. Shoreman became the first person with physical disabilities to cross the 5 Great Lakes in 2022. This endeavor became one of the largest independently-run mental health awareness campaigns for youth in Canada. The efforts of his team have been recognized in the Ontario Legislative Assembly, the Canadian House of Commons and by the Prime Minister of Canada (pictured below). Shoreman is the 2022 recipient of the Marg Starzynski Mental Health Leadership award by the Mood Disorder Society of Canada.The film is screening at many esteemed film festivals such as: Boston Film Festival, Rhode Island International Film Festival, Soo Film Festival, New Westminster Film Festival, Montreal International Film Festival, Central Alberta Film Festival, Docs Without Borders Film Festival, Canberra International Mental Health Film Festival, Awareness Film Festival, Grand Rapids Film Festival, New York International Film Awards & more.

FAQs
Q. Mike, how did the idea of crossing the Great Lakes come about?
A. I found myself with a passion and desire to help others who struggle greatly with their mental health. I wanted to do something big that would help raise awareness and funding for the youth mental health crisis in Canada.

Q. What are the themes of the film?
A. Perseverance, Mental Health and Suicide, Adventure, Water Sports, Paddle Boarding, Endurance Sports, Mental and Physical Endurance, Personal Growth, The Kindness of Strangers, The Power of Team, The Raw Determination of Human Strength, The Great Lakes.

Q. Where did the title come from?
A. Anyone who has ever struggled with mental health will be able to relate to a feeling of hopelessness at one time or another. During the crossings, there were moments when Mike experienced hopelessness as he pushed himself to fight through the grueling elements of the great lakes. However, as morning would break and the sun would peek over the horizon, Mike and the team felt as if hope itself was rising in the break of dawn. This rising hope is what we all endeavor to be part of as we raise awareness and shed light on the mental health crisis in Canada.Q. This film is about the mental health crisis, what do you hope this film achieves in its messaging?
A. This film was created by a team of individuals whose lives have all been touched in some capacity by mental health struggles. Because we are so passionate about mental health advocacy, it is our sincere hope that this film reminds audiences they are not alone in their struggles.
1. Start conversations about mental health
2. Keep conversations going about mental health
3. Help remove the stigma of mental health
4. Continue to break down the barriers to adequate mental health care

COMMFFest SCREENING: Friday Sept. 15th @ 1:30 PM
St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts – Jane Mallett Theatre – Toronto, ON
WWW.WHENHOPEBREAKSTHROUGH.COM
WWW.COMMFFEST.COM

 

“LIVE FROM THE POOL DECK” INTERVIEW WITH CANADIAN COMEDY ICON, EVAN CARTER

EVAN CARTER is one of my all-time favourite comedians. When I worked as agent for Toronto’s Yuk Yuk’s Komedy Klub back in the 80s, he was my go-to guy for corporate gigs when the client required a clean comic, and he was a brilliant MC for in-house shows as well as gigs across the country – Evan was always reliable and could deliver the goods no matter who the audience may be.
Back then, record labels and concert promoters would frequently use comedians to open for their touring music artists and I booked Evan for gigs with some pretty big names such as the chart-topping Aussie pop duo Air Supply and the late R&B legend Marvin Gaye when he stopped in Toronto on his Sexual Healing tour…oh my!Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of not only working with Evan but sitting in the audience as a civilian and watching/listening to him kill it on stage. Now we can all watch him on YouTube and listen to his recent comedy album You Speak So Well.I was thrilled when Evan agreed to come visit me for a Live From the Pool Deck series of video Q&As talking about his current “Legends of Motown” musical stage show that’s successfully packing ‘em in across North America, as well as past triumphs and stories from the comedy trenches.  His new website has just been launched [www.evancarter.com] so check Evan out for yourself and see why he’s considered “the comedian’s comedian…”

Thanks for sharing all the laughs over the past four+ decades…keep it up, we need all the laughs we can get, Evan. LOL
Again, visit Evan’s new website for social media links plus videos and concert soundtracks – www.evancarter.com

 

CANADIAN WRITER/DIRECTOR TRICIA LEE COMES HOME FOR TORONTO INT’L FILM FEST

Ten years ago, I was contracted by Canadian (local) writer/director TRICIA LEE to undertake PR/publicity for her feature film Silent Retreat, a horror-genre film. I was intrigued by this modest young woman and her ability to bring the thrills, chills and screams to the screen; in fact, she was only one of a handful of women filmmakers around the world working in that genre.  I was thrilled to see the film become a resounding success at the Toronto After Dark and Blood in the Snow film fests.In the years since I worked with her, Tricia has become an accomplished AAPI female filmmaker with the ability to blend heart-warming and heart-breaking stories with uplifting humor has earned her recognition on the 2020 and 2021 Black List.  As a fellow of SONY’s Diverse TV Writers Program, Tricia’s films explore themes of belonging, voicelessness, and shared humanity. Her feature script, Good Chance has received numerous accolades, including being a top 50 finalist in The Academy Nicholl Fellowship, winning the grand prize at Francis Ford Coppola‘s Zoetrope Screenplay Competition, a top 14 finalist Universal Studios Writers Program, on the CAPE List and being selected for the prestigious Producers Guild of America Power of Diversity Master Workshop and The Writers Lab (supported by Meryl Streep & Nicole Kidman). A CDDP Commercial Director finalist, Tricia’s impressive directing credits include working with top talent such as Eva Longoria of Desperate Housewives fame, Simu Liu (star of Shang-Chi ,Canada’s famed tv comedy Kim’s Convenience and most recently Barbie), Ingrid Rogers (Bosch), and James Kyson (Heroes).  She has written a pilot for and will be a showrunner of the animated anthology A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts produced by 108 Media. She has directed 3 award-winning features including Blood Hunters which sold to Hulu and was presented in Cannes by Frontieres, and Silent Retreat, which was theatrically released across Canada and sold to NBC Universal’s Chiller Network.

I invited Tricia to join me for this “Live from the pool deck” celebrity blog so I’ll let her tell you all about her career and her latest projects….

I’ve followed Tricia’s career spanning her move to L.A. several years ago, her ongoing participation in high-profile workshops and programs where she’s honed her script writing chops, and having established herself as a film and commercial director and an accomplished writer. Tricia has returned to Toronto to soak in the vibes of our annual Toronto Int’l Film Festival so watch for her on the various red carpets, industry events and celebrity soirees.

You can learn more about Tricia via her website https://www.tricialeedirector.com/ and follow her on social media (see direct links on website)

AUSSIE FILMS AT TIFF 2023 – “THE NEW BOY” FROM AWARD-WINNING WRITER/DIRECTOR WARWICK THORNTON

Sadly, due to the far-reaching effects of the WGA and SAG/AFTRA strike, many of the big stars, the A-Listers and international stars and filmmaker will not be coming to town for this year’s Toronto Int’l Film Festival launching in 2 day’s time. But have no fear, dear fellow fans of Australian cinema…I got you covered with some of the films featured at TIFF. First is THE NEW BOY which has already garnered critical and audience acclaim at home. It stars Cate Blanchett alongside leading indigenous actors Deborah Mailman and Wayne Blair, and introduces us to a brilliant young talent, Aswan Reid, as the title character. Thanks to my PR contact at Roadshow Pictures Australia, Stefan, here’s the inside scoop on the film…..

From Dirty Films and Scarlett Pictures comes writer/director Warwick Thornton’s deeply personal film, The New Boy. In 1940’s Australia, in the middle of World War II, a solitary Indigenous boy (Aswan Reid) is dramatically captured by a horseback police patrol and delivered to a remote monastery orphanage in the dead of night. The monastery is run by a feisty nun, Sister Eileen (Cate Blanchett), who has worked hard to make it a happy retreat away from the world and its war – and she will do anything to keep it that way. Since the elderly monk who was in charge died, Sister Eileen has been running the place secretly and is very protective of her small group of boys. Wary of too much Church oversight, she is always very careful to keep her head down and make good on the monastery’s expected contribution to the war effort. To that end she is helped by two Aboriginal staff – George (Wayne Blair), who runs the monastery’s farm with the help of the children, and Sister Mum (Deborah Mailman), who runs the domestic side of things.The new arrival (pictured above) doesn’t speak English, and no-one knows where he came from. He has been living a nomadic tribal life up until now, having no concept of Western norms. Dubbed the New Boy, he is quick to pick up on things and soon understands the pecking order and how to make it work. His survival instincts are sharp, his intelligence dexterous and he seems to have special powers which he uses for healing as well as for his own entertainment. The monastery’s orderly Christian ethos is unsettled by his presence, particularly in the case of the head boy, Michael (Shane McKenzie-Brady). And George, an Aboriginal farmhand who believes he’s on a good wicket and doesn’t want the boat to be rocked, recognizes something ancient in the boy that he would sooner forget.  Sister Eileen, herself a bit of a square peg, is acutely aware of the precariousness of the monastery’s situation. Faced with her own survival choices when the old monk died, she determined to hold the orphanage together, knowing that any change could put the children in her care in peril. Now the New Boy, with his mysterious and alluring energy, is causing disturbance inside her delicately balanced world. She, George and Sister Mum already have their work cut out just keeping things ticking over.
When a special delivery requires a personal signature from the deceased monk, Sister Eileen has to assume responsibility for it with a bit of careful dodging and some astute white lies. She takes charge of the special cargo – an extraordinary religious treasure; a life-size carving of Christ on the cross – sent to this remote place by the Church to protect it from the ravages of war in France. When New Boy encounters this image of Jesus for the first time he is transfixed. However, the boy’s Indigenous spiritual life and mysterious powers do not gel with the mission’s orderly Christianity, leading to a series of unsettling encounters. Something must be done.  Sister Eileen is faced with a choice between the traditions of her faith and the truth embodied in the boy. As her foundations are rocked, will the secret she has harboured for a year be discovered, imperiling the orphanage? Or will everything be brought in line, made good and safe and orderly, even at the cost of New Boy’s unique Indigenous spiritual power?

TIFF screenings are as follows (get your tkts now as this is a very popular film). In fact, it looks like the Fri & Sat screenings are already sold out.
Thursday, September 14 at Roy Thomson Hall 5:30 PM
Friday, September 15 at Scotiabank Theatre 2:45 PM
Saturday, September 16 at Scotiabank Theatre 6:15 PM

See you in the line-ups!

MY HOME TOWN’S INT’L FILM FEST IS CALLING FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR 2024

The Revelation Film Festival is the preeminent film event in Perth, Western Australia (WA), and they having wrapped this year’s annual fest, they are now looking ahead to next year (July 3-7, 2024). So if you’re a filmmaker interested in a unique experience reaching an entirely new audience (and film market), submit your features, shorts & docs now!

Growing up in “the bush” outside of Perth, even going to a cinema was a big deal and involved an hour trip each way on the country bus and most of the movies in our theatres were at least 6 months to a year old.  After all these years, I’m so proud of the filmmakers who have emerged from this remote state capital city, thanks in part to respected film schools there and the Revelation Film Festival who support local, indigenous and int’l films and filmmakers. So if you’re an indie filmmaker looking to impact audiences (and get a great vacay, too), this is the one for you.As per the festival’s spokesperson: In looking at the films, we don’t have groups of panels but rather we take a more active and curatorial approach. All titles submitted are viewed by the Festival Director. A shortlist is then made – usually made up of around 30% of the titles submitted in each category and those films are then viewed by the Program Director to ensure that all films selected (invited or through the call for entries) provide a complete and cohesive program.  It’s that kind of love, program care and exposure to large audiences that bring more and more films and the filmmakers themselves to Rev.

Photo by Anthony TranNow entering its twenty-fifth year, Revelation is one of Australia’s most unique screen and moving image events. With its focus on independent cinema, international film, cutting-edge documentaries, emergent talent – both international and Australian, and experimental film, Revelation maintains its clarity of vision while always seeking to explore the potentials of visual cultures.

  • Early bird Deadline 8 January
  • Regular Deadline 1 March
  • Extended Deadline 1 April

Check out all the details and ENTER HERE: https://filmfreeway.com/RevelationFilmFestival

Put yourself in front of the Rev’s photo wall next year and say g’day to W.A.

https://www.revelationfilmfest.org/

Meet Mary Kennedy, funny lady extraordinaire!

The first show of Danforth Comedy Festival introduced me to a very funny lady – Mary Kennedy.  And yes, she is one of those Kennedys. The headlining comic has performed all over the States (once a dyed in the wool Bostonian, now LA is her home) and appears regularly at Flappers Comedy Club, The Laugh Factory in Los Angeles/Long Beach as well as at the Comedy Store LA/La Jolla, Comedy Chateau, The Ice House and The Improv. From the minute she took the stage at Socap Comedy Theatre, Mary had me in stiches. Not only is the 23yr veteran of stand-up comedy  hilarious, she’s a multi-talented actor who’s worked on stage, tv and big screen. I reached out to Mary for this interview and I learnt she’s even more than all that….Mary, congrats on your appearance at the Danforth Comedy Festival. You had only just arrived from L.A. when you took the stage that first Friday night – did you enjoy the welcome to Toronto from the audience and do you enjoy participating in festivals such as the Danforth Comedy Festival?  I love Toronto! I felt so welcome, it was like being home!  I love doing festivals – as a comic, it is a great way to socialize and work in front of different audiences.  I do a podcast called Order Up, with Kelly, Cari, Mary and Matt.  It’s a foodie podcast with me and three Canadians.  It was the first time I recorded with them in person…they are my Toronto family now.  My Order Up family and the Danforth Comedy Festival really rolled out the red carpet for me.

You’re also an accomplished TV actor, producer and director – with the current SAG-AFTRA & Writers’ strike in the States, was this a good respite for you, enabling you to get in front of an audience as a writer as well as performer?  Yes, an amazing respite.  It was good to be on stage in front of a live audience, connecting with them through laughter.  The strike will run its course.  I think it is empowering for the writers and actors to be unified, I hope it is resolved quickly, but now is the time for us to stand for what we want and truly need.

You’ve also been nominated for awards for stage acting (congrats) – which do you prefer as an artist: stage, screen or stand-up comedy and why?  All of the above.  Each one is different.  There is nothing like having an audience with you during a comedy set.  In a stage play, connecting with others on stage in front of a live audience is a joy.  I’m doing my one woman show Mid Life Mood Swing and I’m on stage alone for 53 minutes.  That is both like headlining a comedy set and working on a play – it’s absolute heaven.  Screen is like grad school – watching production work, working with directors and other actors; it is the best training in the world.  I always learn something new. Then I get to watch the finished work on screen, that always gives me goosebumps.  It is so collaborative and I get to meet the most interesting people in the world in all these venues. Has all this showbiz experience contributed to your comedy writing or do you draw from your own life experience – dating, marriage, family?  Yes definitely.  But I come from a very Irish catholic family.  I am also a Kennedy “third cousins, twice removed” so all of the tragedy, none of the money.  I learned very early on, especially from my mother, to find humor in tragedy.  This made me the comic I am today.  My mom who started a wedding band after her divorce, consisting of 40 year old divorcees, singing Hot Stuff and Locomotion, called the MOOD SWINGS.  She taught me how to be a kick ass business woman and how to get paid for my art.

Have you been inspired by other female comics who fought hard to get their 15mins in the spotlight and recognition from male counterparts?  Yes, when I came up in comedy in NYC, I was in a group of the most talented comics who happen to be female.  Every single one of us is experiencing a great career and we still support each other along the way.  We are all happy for each other’s successes.  There is room for everyone!Any advice for aspiring funny ladies out there?  Figure out who you are and be proud of that!  Don’t be the comic that you think people want you to be.  Have a clear point of view and work your set all the time.  Find a community that will be supportive of you!

And what’s your next big gig?  I’m touring with my one person show Mid Life Mood Swing: Starring Mary Kennedy, directed by Charlene Ward.  First stop is the Boston area. Then Off Cabot through John Tobin Presents, in Beverly, MA. August 25 &26 at 8pm.  Tickets are available through:  www.offcabot.org

Thanks for chatting with me, Mary.   You can enjoy Mary’s work on YouTube and can follow her on Instagram: @mkennedycomedy