For many years, I’ve followed guitarist Johannes Linstead‘s career; his albums filled with Latin and classical original tunes have topped worldwide charts and I’ve even recognized his music in TV shows. This charming and humble artist has built a huge following and to date, has enjoyed over 500 million (yes, MILLION) streams online. He’s been named Canada’s “Guitarist of the Year” and in the UK, been annointed as “People’s Choice” in annual music awards. He regularly collaborates with musicians from Cuba, Greece, Palestine, France, Canada, Australia, Iran and the Dominican Republic, and as he launches his latest album (both in CD and streaming format) with 2 southern Ontario concerts, Johannes will perform with some of his favourite local musicians. Concert dates and venues are at the end of the blog.
I reached out to Johannes for an interview and he was gracious to tease us with some details about this new album, From Spain to Cuba.
Congratulations on your new album, Johannes, what was your inspiration for this particular musical journey? Like most of my Spanish and Latin guitar music, my compositions are inspired by my travels, usually to countries with warmer climates. Countries like Spain and Cuba have such a rich musical history – Spain is especially notable for the guitar and Cuba for its rhythms. I love to combine those elements into my music.Who did you bring into the studio to record with you? Or did you record remotely with these artists? Actually, most of it was recorded remotely. The album features musicians from Dominican Republic, Colombia, Argentina and even Morocco.
I assume you’ve performed in Spain and Cuba? Did you perform with local recording stars there and if so, who? Yes, I have performed in Spain and Cuba, but nothing too formal; just jamming and improvising with locals. Both countries are filled with amazing musicians.I’ve listened to the album and it’s so lush and sensual and juicy…fans will not be disappointed. Lots of dancin’ and romancin’ music. Will you have CDs available for purchase at your concerts in Burlington and Toronto over the next few weeks? Perfect Christmas gifts for music lovers. Yes! These upcoming shows will be the first opportunities to purchase a copy of the CD. The album will be released to the general public November 15th and also available for streaming.Six years ago, your song Tropical Christmas hit the US charts where it became a big hit on US radio, charting at #1 for two weeks as the “Most Added” song on the Top 40 New Music Weekly chart, and #1 “Most Increased” song, putting you ahead of artists like Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber. So you’re now a millionaire, right? How difficult is it to make a good living even with incredible stats as these? I’ve been very lucky. I’ve had a long and steady career. Streaming and concerts have been a good source of income, but another source has been licensing. My music has been used in many TV series, video games and movies. My music was even used in Despicable Me 4. (As we’re closing in on the festive season, here’s Johannes sitting under a palm tree playing Tropical Christmas for us….)
A number of your tracks have been played in tv shows and films (proving there is such a thing as “6 degrees of Kevin Bacon” for The Following). Your music has even been used by Olympic figure skaters for their routines – how do you attract attention to secure “film placement”? I usually get approached. I think music placement supervisors know my music and when they have the need for a certain sound they contact me.
Will you be doing any touring with the From Spain to Cuba album over the coming months? Or booking any festivals throughout 2026? Yes, we’re planning shows for next year. We usually perform at performing arts centres and festivals.
After years of writing and producing live theatrical plays, writer/director DAN BLAKEMAN has ventured into the film world, completing his first feature that has a decidedly ghostly theme – GHOST LIGHT. Maybe his theatre background inspired this story – a “ghost light” is the single bulb left burning brightly on stage when the audience and cast have left the building….it gives the ghosts of previous actors plenty of illumination in case they want to tread the paranormal boards again.
But the ghosts in this film’s theatre are not just spooky…they’re deadly! And the young actors breaking back into the place after dark to party will be met with some scary challenges that they may not all survive. Oooo….aaaaah. Saucy Minx recently spoke with Dan (pictured below) asking about the inspiration, the casting and the filming experience….Congratulations on completion of your first feature film, Ghost Light. You not only directed the film, you also wrote the script – what was your inspiration? It’s based on a play I wrote that was produced a few times in Los Angeles, which was just a goofy attempt at an environmental horror play about college kids breaking into a haunted theatre. It wound up getting interest from the film industry multiple times, which resulted in over half a dozen different screenplay drafts of the material over several years, but unfortunately never made it to production. When my partner Drew and I decided we wanted to make a feature film, it was the obvious choice.
In your director’s statement in the media kit, you say that Ghost Light is like “the fever dream of a 14-year-old who binged on the local video store’s entire horror section one weekend.” What were you favourite horror films growing up and were your parents worried about you with such scary influences? I kinda am that kid! Before Blockbuster completely took over VHS rentals, there were lots of little video rental places everywhere that had all kinds of bizarre and offbeat horror films, I’d often rent 3 a day to watch with friends or alone. I have too many faves to get into, especially since they switch up all the time, but fans like me should see all kinds of references and homages in Ghost Light.
My mom always loved a good ghost story, and used to watch the old Universal Horror classics with me when I was 5, so I don’t think that particular fixation gave her much concern. Though she wasn’t too keen on how much I loved Rocky Horror as a teen, LOL!
I always like asking filmmakers what was most difficult about the whole process? The writing process, the location hunt, casting, editing…or the post-production admin stuff? All those aspects had their challenges. Post-production was a lot slower than we wanted or anticipated due to a bunch of different issues, so that was probably the most frustrating overall.
I previously had the pleasure of working with you and your producer partner, Drew, when you presented a number of theatre productions in Toronto, again with somewhat strange themes and bizarre story lines. Did you find the shift from live theatre to film a challenge? And how is it different from a creative perspective? Even though the bulk of my experience is in live theatre, I have a BFA in Film & TV. I interned with a production company which included several commercial gigs, and we produced an award-winning short film of my one-act play Bugbaby (featuring cult movie icon Mink Stole – pictured below) some years ago. So while it’s definitely a different experience in how everything is put together, I think I’m well versed enough with both mediums to slip between them without a lot of difficulty. It’s just switching gears.Casting your film must have been interesting…your actors are young, good looking and talented, some even have several years of film experience. Did you cast within the horror genre community or did you do an open casting session? Whether theatre or film, I always open casting as widely as I can. Since we were on a limited pre-production schedule due to the availability of our location, we cast as quickly as we could. Alec, Mason and Sarah were cast from our first round, but finding our “final girl” who fit with them was challenging. That search took us up to the line – Ariel Myren, who got the part, auditioned on a Wednesday and started shooting that Friday.And you brought in a much-loved horror movie queen, Linnea Quigley, as a “guest star” – how did you meet her and secure her for a special role? Honestly, we just called her agent. None of us had a connection, I just gave our casting folks a list of four names and said any would be great. We actually secured another name first because someone knew that person, but she fell through due to scheduling. Which actually turned out for the better, because our next inquiry was to Linnea who was interested – and in hindsight a better fit for this particular project. She and her manager Judy are both just wonderful to work with. Not only is Linnea (pictured below) a legendary scream queen, she’s an absolute sweetheart, a trouper and a total pro.And renowned Harry Manfredini as your music director? He’s scored over 100 films in the horror genre incl. Friday the 13th – how did you meet him and sign him for your film? That one WAS a connection from a guy we’ve been working with on seeking distribution. But hearing that Harry (pictured below) actually *wanted* to score it after watching it was quite thrilling for me! Working with him was a great experience as well – he’s as accommodating and fast as he is talented, and I hope we can sign him for something with a larger budget in the future.Do you intend to continue writing & directing feature films or might you return to live theatre…or do both? Right now, I’m concentrating on film for the time being. I love theatre and would love to return to it – but creating it at a pro or semi-pro level these days in LA is expensive, and audiences for smaller, edgier theatre are lacking. Film currently feels like a lot more practical way to get my stuff in front of more fans of the kind of weirdness I like – unlike theatre, you’re not necessarily limited by location or time to watch a film.Thanks, Dan, Saucy Minx was thrilled to talk with you and share news of your new film with all the horror/paranormal genre fans out there. And fans can follow the movie and watch for screening news via the Ghost Light Facebook page. Here are a few behind-the-scenes pics of the cast and the amazing special F/X make-up used…
Director Dan Blakeman (L), star Linnea Quigley (C) and producer Drew Blakeman (R)
I recently spoke with Colin Brunton, co-writer (along with director/producer Tim Kowalski and editor Kevan Byrne) of the upcoming docu-film on the life and career of one of Toronto’s most mysterious music legends from the 80s, Nash The Slash. I remember hanging out backstage with Nash after a big concert at the Phoenix Nightclub in downtown Toronto, and was invited into his dressing room (no, I was not a groupie…LOL) to help him get out of costume which included his famous “invisible man” bandages.Nash was a very secretive artist, so talented and intriguing. But we lost him way too soon, and I remember the sadness that permeated the town, much like the other Canadian icon of alt.music we lost early in his career, Handsome Ned. Anyway, Colin gave me an exciting update on the film’s completion and their plans for screenings in the coming months.
Congratulations on completion of your film…what challenges, apart from financing, did you and the team have to overcome to get to this end point? Finding the time. On a regular project, you have dozens of people working full-time, but there were only four of us, so in between day-jobs, families, and everything that comes with that, we’d pick away at the film. Also, ensuring that we had rights to use photos and old TV clips was a huge job. Nash’s story goes back fifty years; companies don’t necessarily keep everything, so there was always a lot of detective work on our part.
Were you able to source any previously unseen images or recordings from the fans or other music industry professionals? We do have a few gems very few people have seen, and we’ve created better versions of a lot of stuff you might find on the ‘net.Now, it’s on to film festival submissions – which fests are you targeting? And are you submitting to festivals outside of Canada? We’re applying to some festivals, but I’d hate to jinx it by saying which ones.
Are you hoping for a theatrical release after festival screenings or are you looking at streaming services or documentary tv channels for maximum viewer impact? We’re under no illusions that this will have a typical theatrical run, so we’re working on some off-the-radar venues. It may be more like a tour of one-nighters rather than parking it in a multiplex for a couple of weeks. With a one-nighter, we can have better control of the presentation, and make sure they play it loud. Nash liked it loud. As for TV? CBC, for one, have made it clear that they have absolutely no interest in Nash’s story. (pictured below, Director Tim Kowalski & sound-mixer Daniel Pellerin)What would you like to tell fans of Nash and those of us who lived and loved the incredible 80s music scene in Toronto? For those who lived it, it’ll be a reminder of when Toronto was a lot more interesting. We had a screening couple of years ago for some twenty-something film students and they were fascinated by the whole story, especially the ‘80’s footage.Colin, is there anyone you would really like to acknowledge and thank for making it all come together? I saw a woman wearing a t-shirt that said “Yes, I’m still working on my f*$ing documentary,” so really, first and foremost we have to thank the fans for all their patience watching this evolve over the past seven years. 400+ fans supported us in our crowd-funding efforts, as well as being very generous with photos and footage. Music supervisor Natasha Duprey; photographer Paul Till; Trevor Norris and the Nash estate; Gary Topp for his encouragement and advice; Lawyer David Steinberg for keeping us on the straight and narrow. I could go on, but I know I’m still going to miss some people. (pictured below, Colin Brunton)
I’d like to introduce you to the TARTAN TERRORS – a fierce warrior-like band of musicians who perform Celtic rock music with a little step-dancing thrown in. Think…Riverdance meets Braveheart, with bagpipes and a punk attitude! The band members are all multitalented musicians and their fiddle player is an award-winning step-dancer, too. Tartan Terror shows are full of humour and energy with audiences up on their feet throughout most of the show; dancing and hollering are encouraged!With a distinctive sound and a proud tradition of making Celtic music fun and accessible to any audience, the Tartan Terrors bring their Celtic Invasion to concerts, festivals and fairs across North America, blending the energy of a rock show with humour and stepdance. They’ve played highland games, renaissance fairs, battle re-enactments (we have to invite Mel Gibson to come out and do his “you’ll never take our freedom” speech!) and in large soft-seater concert halls. They’re perfectly suited for Steampunk fairs, too. They present exciting original music as well as traditional Celtic songs but with a definite edge. So get your kilts on and shine up your knees as Tartan Terrors are about to invade your town in 2025, starting with their Robbie Burns tour of Ontario that kicks off in Brantford on Friday January 10th (tour details at end of this post).
I recently spoke with band spokesman, CHRIS KERBA (bodhran, acoustic guitar & vocals) pictured below, and he shared his thoughts and band history….Who created the Tartan Terrors and what was the inspiration? The Tartan Terrors started 29 years ago by siblings, Ellen & Ian Irmisch They had been dancers their whole lives as their mother ran a dance school. They started a show at the Ontario Renaissance Festival in Oakville ON. Their father had dubbed them the “wee tartan terrors” and the name stuck. Over the years, they added more musicians and as the band grew it became a variety show including skits, dancing and music. As members came and left the group, the shift from a variety show to a music-oriented group evolved. Now, we’re a Celtic rock band that incorporates traditional Ottawa Valley Step Dancing in our shows. Pictured below, band co-founder Ian Irmisch (Bodhran & Emcee)What were the band’s first gigs and how well were you received by audiences? Did they expect such rousing performances? The first time I saw the Tartan Terrors was in 2005 at a Ren Faire in Hamilton ON. At this point, it was still the variety type show. Every single performance they had was packed. People were laughing, dancing, and singing along. If you had told me then that in 2 years, I’d be putting on a kilt and performing with them, I’d probably have laughed at you. They were bigger than life!
By including a fiddle-playing step dancer (Emily) the band offers a whole different dimension – how important is that extra vibe to the show? I remember the first time I met Emily; she was a sub fiddle player for the group as we were looking to fill the role with our former fiddle player taking a step back. I picked her up at her place in Oshawa and we began our drive to Maine. Unfortunately, there was a massive accident on the 401 into Quebec and we were diverted through Cornwall and through NY state. At a time when GPS systems didn’t handle well with rerouting, Emily and I easily added 5 hours onto our drive. That was the start of, I feel like, has become a great friendship. She was really quiet at first and I couldn’t help but think “What’s this shy young lady going to add to our show?”. I was in for a spectacular surprise. We performed our show and Emily, at that point, had only played fiddle for the group. I remember being absolutely blown away by her abilities on fiddle. Not only had she learned all of our material, but she performed it and kept chasing excellence between shows. I texted Ellen on the trip and told her, in no uncertain terms, that we HAD to keep Emily. We had a string of Christmas shows coming up and that I’d take half of my pay if it meant we could offer Emily enough to join those shows. Luckily, Ellen had already had the same thoughts.As the shows progressed, Emily and Ellen choreographed a routine for our final number of the night that combined Ellen’s traditional highland dance/Irish hard shoe dancing with Emily’s Ottawa Valley Step Dancing…the audience LOVED it. We had a video that had hundreds of thousands of views around the world. It was awesome.
Sadly, 8 years ago, Ellen was diagnosed with cancer. While she kept touring with the band and performing as much as she could, unfortunately, she wasn’t able to dance the number of songs she wanted to. Emily stepped up HUGE. She would take over some of the dancing duties from Ellen and choreographed new routines for our songs. As Ellen’s health deteriorated, more and more Emily filled those shoes (yes, pun absolutely intended). Unfortunately, Ellen passed away 6 years ago (in August). Emily and her abilities on fiddle and dancing have become a staple in our shows and her abilities are unparalleled.
Each band member has extensive music education and cross-genre experience; in an age when most “musicians” have never put their hands on an instrument (thanks to computer generated music) how important is that familiarity with each instrument? I don’t want to throw shade at musicians who don’t “create” their own music. Technology has evolved and, as professionals, we have to evolve as well. They have a different skillset that I’ll never know or understand. For me, personally, I’ll always prefer to have an instrument in my hands. I’m fairly certain that the same applies for everyone who puts on a kilt for the Terrors.(Pictured below- Peter McArthur on bagpipes, Charlie McKittrick on drums, Jake Saenz on bass & Phill Hood on electric & acoustic guitar & vocals)
I have to preface this properly because I’m not saying I’m not good at what I do. I pride myself on being a solid rhythm guitar player and a pretty decent bodhran player. But when I look around the stage, it’s not lost on me that I’m the least talented/educated, musically, on stage. Watching everyone else play their instruments, what looks like, effortlessly will constantly be mind blowing to me. The part that really blows my mind is knowing that every person on stage is a multi-instrumentalist, and not just “oh they dabble” no, they can PLAY more than one instrument. It’s wild. Now, while they make it look easy, I know that there are decades, yes decades, of practice, blood, sweat, and tears into honing their craft.The band has played across Canada and the US – do you aspire to hit the glens of Scotland and Ireland, too? Short answer? Have band, will travel! We love playing. Give us a stage and we’ll perform. We would love to cross the pond and play in Scotland, Ireland, the UK, Australia, New Zealand…anywhere and everywhere.
You have a number of shows booked in Ontario over the next couple of months, then down into the States starting in the early spring. What can audiences expect from the Tartan Terrors in 2025? New music? New merchandise? More dancing? We’ve been reworking some of our older material that we stopped playing for a few years and we’ve been writing our butts off. The creative wheels are always turning and we’re constantly workshopping new ideas. For our January show, we’re bringing back an old pipe tune and we’re premiering 2 brand new songs. We’ve got new posters, pictures, Christmas ornaments, shirts, colouring books…all kinds of new things at the merch table!
Can fans listen to the Tartan Terrors on streaming services or do you prefer offering your music on vinyl or CD, and how can fans purchase the tunes? We’re all over your favourite streaming platforms. We’re working on getting our older catalogue uploaded there as well. Ian says it the best on stage “You can download us 5,000 times and we make $0.0043”. I wish it wasn’t the reality of the situation, but as any musician now will attest to, it’s the reality. Our money is generated when people buy tickets to shows and then buy merchandise. Think of it as a way of supporting the band and getting a cool souvenir out of the deal. We still have CD’s but are going to be releasing a vinyl album featuring some of our favourite Terrors tracks along with some live versions of the songs. I’m not sure if that’s to be public knowledge or not, but here we are. As it’s our first vinyl release, we’re going to be printing a limited number of records…so keep an eye out for that and don’t wait. The best place to buy is at our shows, but we do have an online store on our website that we’ll mail you merch too.
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You can follow Tartan Terrors on social media: @tartanterrors and all band news, merchandise, shows and tickets available on their website: https://tartanterrors.com/
Yes, I’ll admit it, I’m a sucker for 70s & 80s music – in fact, the disco era was my “coming of age” – you could always find me dancing at Toronto’s big clubs and hotel lounges where I became part of the “disco dollies” set who were out dancing 3 or 4 nights a week. Exhausting? Yes, but as Gloria Gaynor said…”I Will Survive”. There were so many incredible queens of disco including Donna Summer, Candi Staton, Anita Ward, Tina Charles and one of my favourites, CLAUDJA BARRY.
So famous was she, Claudja has been featured in the book “First Ladies of Disco” by James Arena (avail. on Amazon) and even wrote the forward to the book.Claudja has built an amazing recording career, as well as acting in Hollywood films and on theatre stages creating unforgettable characters, after studying at the world-famous Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in New York City.She’s performed in plays in both NYC and Toronto, then went off to Europe starring in numerous stage productions in the UK and Germany where Claudja met successful Munich-based music producer Jurgen Korduletsch. Together, she and Korduletsch formed a creative partnership with Jurgen producing and Claudja co-writing and performing. Her full bio is available on her website: https://www.theclaudjabarry.com/bioI had the pleasure of meeting Claudja this past summer, when she made a special appearance at the annual Pride concert in downtown Toronto. She is still so gorgeous, articulate and passionate about her career so I was thrilled when she agreed to be interviewed for my blog – I just wish I could have gone to visit her in the Caribbean to deliver the questions in person…
Claudja, what an incredible and lengthy career you’ve enjoyed…and are still enjoying. With your #1 hit on the Billboard dance Chart in 2006, and subsequent recordings, are you still enjoying live appearances and fan meet-n-greets? Performing is my lifeline to joy and pleasure. I feel alive whenever I’m in front of an audience. The immediate feedback is something that I enjoy. I get schooled at each performance. Meet and greets used to be interesting because I meet new people and longtime fans, but we have to be much more aware of who we’re meeting up close and personal.I understand you originally fell in love with theatre and also studied voice and classical music. Was it your theatrical experiences that triggered your love of singing and embracing disco music which, in itself, was very theatrical? I just wanted to perform on whichever platform or genre presented itself. I would have loved to do opera. I studied for 3 years…I would have been a great CARMEN. I would have had to continue studying for another 7 years, but along came Boogie Woogie Dancin Shoes…a little different from Carmen LOL. Looking back now, I’m terribly proud of being among the pioneers who developed and defined DISCO Music. I think of myself as being the Leontyne Price of Disco music. Throughout the 80s, you spent time in Europe, performing and recording, and you partnered with German producer, Jurgen Korduletsch, who helped create some of your biggest hits. That must have been an extraordinary experience for you…can you share any stories from that period of your career? JK was my producer throughout my recording life. He, along with Bobby Orlando and Jorg Evers, created the sound of Claudja Barry. During that time musicians from the Munich Philharmonic played on most of my albums. We recorded in Munich and toured all through Europe. One of the most exciting countries was Italy. I remember opening the Festival Bar in front of 100,000 people in the Verona Arena. What a thrill that was for me.
Over the years since disco ruled the radio airwaves, you have continued to work both as a singer & recording artist, but also developing your filmmaking skills. Can you tell us about your current documentary project. I’m producing a documentary on the impact of disco on today’s pop music….but more on that at a later date.
You’ve had so many “firsts” in your long career including becoming the first inductee into Canada’s Black Music Hall of Fame along with legendary pianist, Oscar Peterson. What other honours and awards have you received?
You’re enjoying a resurgence in popularity, especially with younger music fans discovering your artistry, are you planning any concert appearances or tours in 2025? That is my plan. I’m in talks with concert promoters specializing in disco-themed tours and concert presentations.
Thank you so much, Claudja, I can’t wait to see what next year holds for you; I’m looking forward to viewing your documentary. Claudja’s music videos are available on YouTube and you can follow her on social media, too. IG @claudja_barry
Internationally-renowned flutist and composer Ron Korb is again sharing his love of world music with his latest album full of Latin, Middle Eastern, European and Asian influences, played by outstanding culturally diverse musicians. The physical CD of Global Canvasdrops officially on Friday October 4th with a special concert on at the 3030 Dundas West club (details at end of blog). He will be joined on stage by many of the artists who recorded the 18 tracks with Ron, including Bill Evans (piano/keyboards), Steve Lucas (bass), Xiaoqiu Lin (erhu), Larry Crowe (drums), Victoria Yeh (violin), Rick Shadrach Lazar (Latin and Middle Eastern percussion) Ray Hickey Jr (guitar & koto) plus other guests.
I’m going to let Ron tell you about the project himself…..
You always give us beautiful cover art (photographs) and liner notes on your albums. Your wife, Jade, is a talented photographer and a brilliant design collaborator, creating such beautiful covers for all your albums. It was pointed out to me by one of your dedicated fans that this is the first time you’re shown without a flute in hand. Why the change in style….are you re-branding? The Global Canvas cover and album design wasn’t a conscious rebranding but the image just felt right. It is the idea of having a blank page from which the inspiration will spring. If you look closely you will even see subtle white brush strokes adding some texture and the white shirt I am wearing just blends into the canvas texture. We did try the opposite approach of having explosive vivid colours representing the energetic world music grooves on the CD but in the end this seemed more true somehow. Now that I think about it, the introspective cover portrait really captures the look of someone working out ideas in their head.
Ron incudes a track called “Angkor Wat” that was inspired by a trip to Cambodia with Human Rights activist Arn Chorn Pond, to whom Ron was introduced by one of the most famous artists of the past 40+yrs. Watch this video to learn who….
And what’s next once Global Canvas is out in the world…do you have special performances lined up or more film work? I have been invited to perform in Ricky Kej’s group in Dubai in January. Ricky is a 3 time Grammy winning artist and very well known and popular in his home country of India. There are some other great performing opportunities materializing in 2025. I also play on Ricky’s new album and also Masa’s new single Kashira. In my life, I never know what new thing is around the corner. Film work or studio always comes up very quickly so we shall see what the New Year will bring.
If you’d like to join Ron at his launch concert in Toronto you can click on his website for full details: www.ronkorb.com GLOBAL CANVAS album release concert Friday October 4th at 3030 Dundas West in The Junction (Toronto) Doors open 7pm – Show starts 8pm Tickets $35 at door or $30 in advance from Ron’s website or via Eventbrite.ca
To reserve your table, contact club 3030 Dundas W at 3030.table.reservations@gmail.com
As you know, I search out any Australian film or TV news I can find online – so much content is not shared with those of us on the other side of the world: streaming platforms for films are geo-blocked due to distribution deals that don’t include the Canada/US territory so I have to live vicariously thru my Down Under production mates and various news sources. I recently discovered a very talented filmmaker, BENJAMINSCOTFORD (pictured below) who produced an exciting behind-the-scenes documentary titled IN THE TRENCHES that follows the machinations of a feature film production called Before Dawn, directed by Jordan Prince-Wright.Benjamin’s doc has been getting lots of buzz on the festival circuit and this past weekend, was premiered at the Revelation Film Fest presented in Perth, Western Australia (my childhood/teenage home) – the WWI action/adventure feature was filmed in the southern part of the state complete with muddy trenches (hence the title of Ben’s film), cannons and gunfire, and Ben took his own crew into the fray, following the actors, the director and crew, to shoot all the activity from the busy set. It was quite the feat – staying out of the way yet capturing all the action of a war film production in close-up. Director’s Statement: This documentary is intended to be a standalone story, enjoyable for a wide range of audiences, even if they are unfamiliar with Before Dawn or Australia’s involvement in WWI. I have aimed to capture the story in a manner that closely reflects my first-hand experience of witnessing a group of dedicated filmmakers working against a mountain of obstacles before knowing the final outcome.
I spoke with Benjamin recently and asked that he share his thoughts and stories…from the trenches.
How difficult was it for you to shoot all the behind-the-scenes footage amongst the film crew, the mud and the actors? There’s always an element of challenge with BTS footage because the most important part of your job is to stay out of the way and avoid disrupting the production itself. That said, it’s quite a fun challenge to find ways of filming what’s happening while keeping a low profile and staying out of the way. One big challenge with this project was that I also had to look out for my own camera gear among the rainy conditions and muddy set. By the end, I had worked out a streamlined setup that protected my gear from the wet weather, while still having the flexibility to move quickly and get quality footage.
Aside from that, a lot of the creative challenges come down to building scenes through the on-set footage to help tell the story in the edit. I had to make sure that each time we moved location, I got a variety of shots that could build upon each other. Sometimes this meant following different crew members in a way that would showcase their process. It is easy to get one or two good angles of something happening, but having a series of shots that tell a full story really helps in the edit.What inspired you to undertake this project? I love watching behind the scenes content and noticed recently that there hasn’t been a regular influx of high quality, insightful documentaries in that space. I’ve always thought it would be a fun area to work in, and since I’ve started doing it, I’ve grown more and more passionate about seeing it done in an innovative way.
I know you’ve submitted to film festivals around the world…are you hoping to showcase your doc via streaming platforms, too? Maybe Prime or Netflix? Absolutely! Details to come soon.Am sure there was a great deal of camaraderie on-set – were you and your small crew included or did you remain separate from the feature film folks? A bit of both. During lunch breaks and other moments throughout the day, we enjoyed getting to know the cast and crew and feeling like a part of the team. However, we did try to stay a little bit separate on set so that we could tell the story from a more observational perspective. Overall, it really did feel like we were all part of a big team, since we were all going through a very similar experience together.Did you relate to the young director/producer Jordan Prince-Wright, both being of the same generation of filmmakers? Did that make you sympathetic to his tremendous responsibility? Yes, I’ve got a lot of respect for the way Jordon works and how much he is able to accomplish. I’m not sure I would want as much pressure as he’s under, but it’s been inspiring to see him make it work as well as he has. I think passion breeds passion. Seeing how much he was putting into the project got me really excited to bring the same level of passion to my part, which also transferred to the team I was working with for the behind the scenes.Hopefully, we’ll see you at film/doc festivals over the coming months – what’s next for you? Exciting times! We are hoping to screen In the Trenches in some more film festivals, since a lot of our target market is made up of people who are excited by the filmmaking process. I’m also producing behind the scenes content for a few other films, and working towards doing a lot more of it in the future.
Thanks, Benjamin. So here’s a taste of what an incredible shoot this was, for both the feature filmmaker AND documentarian, Scotford.
Oh, how I LOVE this funny lady! Carla Collins has been making me laugh for many years (I won’t say how many ‘coz a lady never tells her age – Carla’s or mine!). This Canadian-born comedy powerhouse has created a brilliant creative niche for herself in Los Angeles that puts Ryan Seacrest to shame – Carla does it all. She’s won awards for her acting, has built a HUGE fan-base for her stand-up comedy and tv series, modelled, authored an hysterical autobiographical book, and is now conquering the radio airwaves as co-host of the LA AF show. She also Founded a unique comedy/meditation program that launched just as Covid hit us (and it took off online throughout pandemic isolation) and is currently applying her artsy-fartsy sketching skills to produce custom “vision boards” for friends and clients. Way too many skills and credits to list here…whew! So why don’t I just let her tell it herself….laughing out loud is permissible and inevitable!!Carla, as the old ad says… “you’ve come a long way baby”. Did you ever imagine you would be such a successful creative producer, web series hostess, author and comedy goddess in Los Angeles when you first stepped onto the comedy stages here in Toronto? Oh Honey, you’re so sweet but I’m just out here hustling and happy to be doing what I love. Been a rough couple of years for the industry with the strikes and the Jean-Claude Pan Damme so I’m lucky I’m a bit of an arts Swiss army knife and can do some comedy, some acting, some voiceover work, some hosting and even some drawing. You’ll know that I’ve finally made it when I have a butler called Cavendish, warm kittens stacked up next to my bidet instead of moist toilettes and I’m wearing Fruit of the Illuminati underwear!I remember back in…well, quite some time ago… when the CTV network sent you to Hollywood to host their Oscar red carpet news and interviews. Was it terrifying or did you feel you were finally with “my people”? Yup, it’s been a minute since my red-carpet days and I think I was one of the first Canucks covering the Oscars red-carpet. It was pretty nerve wracking at the time because we were live, and I used to get very anxious doing new things. Now I would jump up and do 45 minutes of stand-up at a garage sale! I have always loved LA but I don’t think this place is necessarily anyone’s tribe or people, more like another planet with great weather! It was wonderful to meet Sting in person and ask him what would last longer, an Academy Awards acceptance speech or a tantric orgasm? As I remember, I took a lot of heat for the Judy Jetson outfit I wore. No regrets! (G: Oh I remember that orange sparkly thing well)
Comedic Meditation – you launched this initiative several years ago, helping people reach nirvana (or at least sort out some shit) via comedy and yoga and just chillin’ out – a strange intersection of philosophies, sure, but it all worked. How/why did you launch CM and how important did your online presentations become during Covid? Actually, there’s absolutely no yoga involved whatsoever, even though I’ve been practising yoga for a couple of decades now. This is simply stand-up comedy followed by an authentic, original guided meditation. It happened pretty organically as I have been a big fan of meditation for years. My Mom practiced Transcendental Meditation so I’ve always known how beneficial meditation can be but so many people in LA are self-proclaimed gurus and many of my friends were too intimidated to go to a meditation center. I started this at a friend’s chiropractic and wellness space here in the valley one night a few months before the pandemic. I had been writing my own meditations for a couple of years because I wasn’t loving the ones online and I wanted to remove the woo woo factor and make meditation more accessible and digestible to everyone. I’m also a very hyper person, most of the time I shake like a chihuahua on meth after a couple of 5 Hour Energy drinks so I figured laughing for 20 or 30 minutes before sitting or lying still to meditate would help burn some energy, release endorphins or at the very least, people would hear about my crazy life and feel better about theirs! Turns out laughter and mediation are a great combo because they both produce the same gamma brainwaves.People seemed to really enjoy the odd marriage right out of the gate, and I was lucky to get some lovely media coverage early on. Chuckle & Chill (that’s what I call it now) combines my two greatest passions: comedy and wellness/spirituality. I think it seems natural that haha moments would lead to aha moments. I was in Canada doing a mini-Chuckle & Chill tour when the world shutdown and C&C transitioned fairly seamlessly online. I believe people were very stressed and felt more comfortable doing this in their own places. Everyone loved that they could just roll over and go to sleep after a session and didn’t have to drive home! I tailor both the comedy and the meditations to make them more personal for each group or individual. I mean who doesn’t need to laugh and relax more in these rapture adjacent times?
You currently have several projects on the go, including Laugh of Attraction, and especially your unique Vision Pop Boards. You’re helping people create visualizations of their wishes and dreams, right? So how can we get our own customized vision boards? Yes! The Laugh of Attraction family now includes Laffirmations (merry mantras that make you giggle and punch through to your subconscious more easily than the generic affirmations. For example: “My skin is as smooth as jazz” or “I have an attitude of gratitude when I’m in the nude”), “Chaneling” instead of channeling with my French lingerie model stand up psychic character Souffle (“Knock, knock, I know who’s there and what to wear”), Vision Pop Boards where I draw you and what you want to manifest (see below) and coming soon my Tarot Grigio comedic tarot card deck.When I was a kid and throughout high school, I wanted to be a fine artist. Shout out to my Facebook friend and high school art teacher Mr. Olsen! I would overthink and stress about each drawing or painting, so I abandoned my watercolors even though art was my first love. This year I started sketching again on the down low. My brother and best pal Rick, who teaches Art History at a private school in New Zealand, saw my sketches when he was visiting over the holidays and encouraged me to keep going. I was sketching little vision boards because I heard it was a great manifestation tool and I found it very therapeutic. Rick asked me to make him one. I posted a couple of them online and started getting orders from friends and lovely people on socials. Rick felt my style was more pop art/cartoon thus Vision Pop Boards! Basically, I ask people to send me a few pictures of themselves along with things they love and want to bring into their lives. I sketch the person in the middle of the piece and use symbols, drawings of their desires, pastels and some magic to create the boards. I also do some generic feelgood boards like a winning scratcher ticket. These can all be used as phone or computer wallpapers. You can order your customized VPB by hitting me up on Insta or FB or emailing me directly: carla@carlacollins.comSo tell me about your “professional 3-way” with Grace and Jimmy co-hosting the LA AF podcast – how did you meet, what was the “lightbulb moment” that focused your sights on hosting the show? And what is LA AF all about? Jimmy McCammon and Grace Fae McCammon reached out to me on Instagram back in December and asked me to be a guest on LA AF, a Los Angeles-centric show that has some fun at the city’s expense. I believe their tagline is News. Culture. Snark. As a good, trusting Canadian, I literally drove to a stranger’s home in Pasadena whom I had never met out in the wild or even spoken to. I keep joking that I could have ended up on Dateline. Instead, I was really impressed because Jimmy is an amazing producer and is very funny. He reminds me of my bro. The whole show has a morning radio vibe, is jam-packed with pop culture and is loosey goosey but professional. Grace is a phenomenal jazz singer, like a modern-day femme fatale from the 1940s and a beautiful spiritual soul. They are just the most lovely and talented couple. The chemistry was straight fire and there was a seamless ease to the hour when I was a guest. In January, Jimmy reached out to ask if I would be interested in being a regular host for two of their three shows a week and it’s been a delight ever since. We are getting some great guests and numbers and I’m loving it. It reminds me of my radio days. I have been asked to join several podcasts but this time it just worked. I believe Jimmy started this podcast during the pandemic then Grace joined him and now, we’re a throuple! Professionally speaking of course.Listeners can stream the shows on Spotify, iTunes, etc. and join LA AF Patreon for the entire show with lots idle extras for just $1 a month https://www.patreon.com/laaf?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator
We all loved you in Carlawood – the comedic tv series telling of your quest for fame and paid gigs in Hollywood. So has your life actually mirrored those tv episodes? Often and it’s only become weirder and more entertaining, I wish we were still filming. It was back on good, old fashioned cable TV in Canada. More recently on Amazon Prime. When I first moved here, I thought people in LA didn’t understand sarcasm but it’s more that it’s so wild and weird in this city, anything is possible and can happen. Los Angeles is almost impossible to parody. I think there is always a lot of fodder in my life mostly because I constantly find myself doing comedy in the oddest places: funerals, wealthy people’s living rooms, nudist colonies (I mean, where am I supposed to keep my phone?). I’ve had to follow Burlesque performers who are wearing less material than Carrot Top’s act and doing gymnastics on stage with great names like BonBon Paris and Lola Boutee. At that moment, I don’t want to do comedy, I just want to become a Burlesque dancer called Gigi Hadidn’t. I’ve performed stand up at a hospice here (that afternoon we were all dying…) and I’ve even performed at the Kabbalah Center in Beverly Hills where I told them my Hebrew drag queen name was Yum Yum Kippur! Also, LA is loaded with so many delicious, crazy characters right outta central casting, literally. There’s never any shortage of material here. I recently found out my yoga instructor was a coke head. This explains why we kept only taking in deep inhales. It’s very convenient to take a snort in downward facing dog! I also now know it wasn’t yoga keeping her so slim and confident.Any more fabulous books in the works? Angels, Vampires & Douchebags (2010) was brilliant, hilarious and a very insightful look into the life of a vixen on her journey to tinseltown. You must have enough material for at least 3 or 4 more books…. Aw, thank you so much Doll, you are too kind. I have recently completed writing a children’s/inspirational book called The HuaHua Way. It’s a love letter to my beloved Chihuahua mix Dr. Zira who passed away. It’s the “true” story of my three dogs: Buster, Miles and Dr. Zira (pictured below with their mistress) which subtly tackles some heavy issues like grief, divorce, sexism, etc… and I hope it brings comfort and joy to animal lovers everywhere. It’s currently being illustrated and should be released in time for the holidays this year. Right now, I’m working on another non-fiction book called Botox in my Third Eye which, like Angels, Vampires and Douchebags, is somewhat autobiographical and combines comedy with self-help.And your stand-up comedy – you’ve headlined and guested on so many of the BIG stages (and TV specials) across the US and Canada…where are you appearing next, where can fans come out to worship you? Hahaha worship! Welp, you can come laugh at me for sure. I will be on at The Laugh Factory on April 18thwith iconic host Frazer Smith. Just follow moi on Instagram @carlacollinscomedian for all upcoming dates and hopefully I’ll be back in Canada for some shows soon.Any other news or stories you’d like to share? Just that I appreciate wonderful goddesses like you who have always been wonderfully supportive. You have been a tireless champion to many Canadian entertainers, and we really appreciate your expertise and wit Darling. Remember, every time you laugh…an angel gets knocked up by Nick Cannon or Elon Musk so keep laughing! xo
Visit Carla’s website for all her social media links, videos, funny business, news and more… https://www.carlacollins.com/This blog is dedicated to Carla’s muse, the late great Dr. Zira (below)
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)
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
Who did you bring into the studio to record with you? Or did you record remotely with these artists? Actually, most of it was recorded remotely. The album features musicians from Dominican Republic, Colombia, Argentina and even Morocco.
I’ve listened to the album and it’s so lush and sensual and juicy…fans will not be disappointed. Lots of dancin’ and romancin’ music. Will you have CDs available for purchase at your concerts in Burlington and Toronto over the next few weeks? Perfect Christmas gifts for music lovers. Yes! These upcoming shows will be the first opportunities to purchase a copy of the CD. The album will be released to the general public November 15th and also available for streaming.
Six years ago, your song Tropical Christmas hit the US charts where it became a big hit on US radio, charting at #1 for two weeks as the “Most Added” song on the Top 40 New Music Weekly chart, and #1 “Most Increased” song, putting you ahead of artists like Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber. So you’re now a millionaire, right? How difficult is it to make a good living even with incredible stats as these? I’ve been very lucky. I’ve had a long and steady career. Streaming and concerts have been a good source of income, but another source has been licensing. My music has been used in many TV series, video games and movies. My music was even used in Despicable Me 4. (As we’re closing in on the festive season, here’s Johannes sitting under a palm tree playing Tropical Christmas for us….)
