But, will there be cake?

QUIPS CLIPS:

The Mayfair at 78
"The Mayfair opened on 5 December 1932" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayfair_Theatre). Here's wishing 'em a continued long, dramatic life for years to come.

http://mayfairtheatre.ca/history/

(Before you ask: It'll be a 64th birthday for the Bytowne Cinema's building, first opened as the Nelson Cinema "on February 10, 1947" [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bytowne_Cinema]. The ByTowne Cinema opened in 1988.)


Roses for prose pic
Found this enjoyable, photo-rich Telefilm piece about the Ottawa/world movie premiere of "Barney's Version" screened earlier this month at the NAC. A fun read and nice pics.

http://www.telefilm.gc.ca/en/news/whats-new/2010/11/10/barney-s-version-ottawa


CAPITAL REEL ROUND-UP:

Café Scientifique, Dinner and Movie Night - Nov. 26, 6pm
Canadian Museum of Nature, 240 McLeod St.

"Join us for a stimulating evening that includes a thought-provoking documentary, discussion and dinner."

http://nature.ca/en/plan-your-visit/what-see-do/whats/cafe-scientifique-dinner-movie-night


"Third World Canada" Ottawa Premiere - Nov. 30. 7:30pm
National Arts Centre, 53 Elgin St.

Presented by the Assembly of First Nations. "Engage with National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, participants in the film from remote Kichenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (K.I.), and Gemini-nominee local filmmaker, Andrée Cazabon."

http://www.thirdworldcanada.ca/ottawa-premiere


Goethe Institute in Ottawa: German Movies - Dec. 10, 7:30pm
Saint Paul University Amphitheatre, 223 Main St.

Monthly screenings of German movies.

http://www.goethe.de/ins/ca/ott/ver/en6315326v.htm


SCREEN SHOT: Ottawafilm.ca

A potentially exciting new Ottawa-based film/TV site, "ottawafilm.ca is a community project created by Julie Laurin (julielaurin.com). It will become a one-stop shop for resources, information, news and communications for the film and television industry in Ottawa, Ontario." Check it out.

http://ottawafilm.ca/


Thanks for checking in.

Being the art in heart

The Canadian Conference of the Arts (CCA) hosted its gala dinner here at the National Arts Centre on Nov. 1, kicking off its three-day 2010 National Policy Conference entitled "Artists: Powering the Creative Economy?" According to the CCA website, the conference featured "an Emerging Thinkers Speed Speaker Series, providing young leaders in the arts and culture sector with an opportunity to present their vision for the artist within the creative economy." Young leaders. Okay.

The CCA celebrated its 65th anniversary this year, and enjoys a fairly hefty list of member organizations. Art galleries and arts schools, arts networks and arts collectives, arts guilds and arts, and government agencies linked to provincial arts initiatives. Locally, the CCA members list includes the Council for the Arts in Ottawa, the Ottawa Arts Court Foundation, and the Saw Video Association.

http://www.ccarts.ca/en/

What's surprising is that the CCA's website has a donate button and yet its arts advocacy doesn't seem to include the welfare of those artists from the Canadian entertainment culture - including film - who where around when the CCA was just starting out, 65 years ago. Aren't the elders of any community vital its strength, knowledge and longevity? Yes, they are.

So, who does care?

Incorporated in 1958, the Actors' Fund of Canada (AFC) is a national organization mandated to aid in the welfare of all members of the Canadian entertainment community. UK-born Canadian and US actor Barry Morse (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0607579/) was one if its founding members. According to its website, the AFC "set a new record for the amount of financial aid delivered to industry members in a single year, topping $600,000 in 2009." Locally, the Great Canadian Theatre Company raised over $25,000 in donations for the AFC during its 2009-2010 season.

http://www.actorsfund.ca

So, why does this matter?

Early this month, the Performing Arts Lodges of Canada (PAL Canada), another national organization focused on the welfare of elderly members of Canada’s Performing Arts Community, posted a news release entitled "Canada's senior artists at risk." The findings of the report are chilling:

• 46% of senior artists in need have had health care needs not covered by public health plans in the past year and 38% do not have extended health coverage. Overall, 73% are at moderate or high health risk;
• 35% have annual income from all sources that is less than $20,000;
• 61% are at moderate or high financial risk; and
• 23% reported having “financial difficulties” over the past year.

Read the report here:
http://www.palcanada.org/articles/132-senior-artists-research-project-press-release-november-09-2010.html 

http://www.palcanada.org/

Christmas is coming. So, while you're out shopping for movie theatre gift cards and DVDs, give back to the elders and those in need in your national film and entertainment community by sending some cash their way this year.

Thanks for checking in.

More lucking out at looking around (for films)

The premiere line-up starting this friday is looking increasingly huge at ten new titles coming to town so far. So, this blog posting will be another quick spotlight on the few additional film-related events happening now and in a short while.

Cineplex Classic Film Series
Until Aug. 2011

Every month until August 2011, select Cineplex theatres are screening classic Hollywood movies. The Maltese Falcon. It's a Wonderful Life. The Wizard of Oz. Some of the greats. Probably many that only appear once in a while on TV or at repertory theatres. Check it out. http://www.cineplex.com/Events/ClassicFilmSeries/Home.aspx

http://www.cineplex.com/Events/ClassicFilmSeries/Home.aspx

First Afghan Film Festival
uOttawa, Nov. 18-20

Organized by Mrs. Zuhra Ludin, wife of the Ambassador of Afghanistan to Canada, this new film fest features 6 screenings (1 thursday and friday, 4 saturday) at the University of Ottawa this week. The money raised is earmarked for the building of a school in Afghanistan. Here's more info and a peek at the poster containing the info: http://www.afghanemb-canada.net/public-affairs-afghanistan-embassy-canada-ottawa/picture-stories-afghanistan-embassy-canada-ottawa/2010/articles/2010/november/afghan%20film%20festival.htm

http://www.afghanemb-canada.net/public-affairs-afghanistan-embassy-canada-ottawa/picture-stories-afghanistan-embassy-canada-ottawa/2010/articles/2010/november/afghan%20film%20festival.htm

Transition Ottawa Film Competition
Carleton University, Nov. 25

Filmmakers and film fans are invited to get their green on at this one-day eco-friendly film fest. http://transitionottawa.ning.com/events/transition-ottawa-film

http://transitionottawa.ning.com/events/transition-ottawa-film

InsideOut: Ottawa-Gatineau LBGT Film & Video Festival
National Gallery of Canada, Dec. 2-5

I mentioned this one before, but now you can catch all the newly updated info about this year's LBGT film and video fest: http://www.insideout.ca/ottawa10/english/

http://www.insideout.ca/ottawa10/english/

Thanks for checking in.

Film Friday: Rhymes with random

 New 25th European Union Film Fest video now up on the CFI Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/CanadianFilmInstitute

New EUFF contest being run by the Embassy of Finland, Ottawa: Win cash & swag!

http://www.finland.ca/Public/default.aspx?contentid=204921&nodeid=41324&culture=en-US

Available Light Screening Collective presents: Horror Vérité
Club SAW, 67 Nicholas, Saturday, Nov. 13, 7:30pm

"Horror Vérité showcases works that combine horror movie and documentary aesthetics, exploring the dichotomy between the ‘real’ and ‘unreal.’"

http://artengine.ca/community/calendar-event-en.php?id=3149

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2710050297

DIGI60 Film Festival - Nov. 16, 8 pm
Shenkman Arts Centre, 245 Centrum Blvd

"The DIGI60 is Ottawa's Original Digital Film Festival challenging filmmakers to create a short film inside a specific time frame based around a catch. Gala Screening for the 2010 edition is being held at the Shenkman Arts Centre."

 

http://www.digi60.org

Last Chance: Monthly Polish film screenings end Dec. 2

"This overview of the Contemporary Polish Cinema is a result of a special co-operation project between the Ottawa Festival Society (OFS), the Polish Embassy in Ottawa, and Filmoteka Narodowa in Warsaw, with financial support from the Polish Film Institute. These screenings will be the Canadian premieres for all the films except for The Welts. Since there are no Canadian distributors, all the film prints will arrive directly from Poland. As an added bonus, the Polish Embassy in Ottawa will host a reception on the opening night Thursday, September 9.

"All the films included in our program have been made by a new generation of Polish filmmakers oriented towards now and towards the future rather than towards the past. The stories should give you a good insight into the moods, aspirations, and social problems faced by Poles during, and after the transition period of opening Poland towards a free-market economy, democracy, and EU membership."

http://www.filmfilmfilm.ca/mini_10.html

http://www.filmfilmfilm.ca/

Acting up at the OPL: Take another look at your local library

Shakespeare on the Boards - Tuesday, Nov. 23, 6 pm
Ottawa Public Library, Main Branch, 120 Metcalfe St.

"The finest Shakespearean orators from Ottawa high schools will compete on the Library's stage." http://biblioottawalibrary.ca/en/main/program?eid=17092

DVD Swap - Saturday, Nov. 27, 2 pm
Ottawa Public Library, Blackburn Hamlet Branch, 199 Glen Park

"Bring in DVDs that you would like to trade with others. All different genres to be swapped, including, kids, westerns, science fiction." http://biblioottawalibrary.ca/en/main/program?eid=17224

Writing Out the Notes: Life in Great Big Sea - Thursday, Dec. 2, 1pm
Ottawa Public Library, Main Branch, 120 Metcalfe St.

"Ken Rockburn speaks with Bob Hallett (of Great Big Sea) about his new book Writing Out the Notes: Life in Great Big Sea." Great Big Sea (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1670086/) featured on the film soundtracks for State of Play (2009) and The Shipping News (2001), and I guess their off-screen tunes are also a little bit kinda popular...

http://biblioottawalibrary.ca/en/main/program?eid=21406

Thanks for checking in.

Just a G dressed up as an R

Well. "Movie rating system out of date?" by Michael Rechtshaffen (QMI Agency) run on the Ottawa Sun website Nov. 9 cites the film rating classification system of the Motion Picture Association of America (http://www.mpaa.org/) as unfairly lumping movies such as the upcoming The King's Speech that contain bad language in with those featuring bad language and nudity, torture and such.









 http://www.ottawasun.com/entertainment/movies/2010/11/09/16050296.html

The King's Speech is rated R, says the MPAA. Is that bad? Oh, okay. It's not too bad, but it looks bad. So, do people still pay attention to a film's rating anymore? Really?! Besides, so what if the MPAA gets it right or wrong? It's The States.

Checking in online with the MPAA's Canadian counterparts that regulate such nasty evil tasty cinematic sins for the Ottawa-Gatineau region leads to the provincial government sites of the Ontario Film Review Board (http://www.ofrb.gov.on.ca/English/default.htm) and the Régie du cinéma Québec (http://www.rcq.gouv.qc.ca/).

I keyed in The King's Speech at the MPAA's ratings site (http://www.filmratings.com) and it indeed is Rated R, meaning "Restricted. Children Under 17 Require Accompanying Parent or Adult Guardian." I did the same at Ontario's OFRB site, which rated that same film at PG. In Ontario, a PG rating means, "Parental guidance is advised. Theme or content may not be suitable for all children." Quebec's RCQ site gave it a G, which its English version describes as "The film is appropriate for viewing, rental or purchase by persons of all ages."
 

 

Confusing. Oh well. Enjoy.


As an aside, has anyone else here in Ottawa attempted to use the new AMC site for Kanata movie listings there? Here's a time-saving shortcut for you to try instead: amctheatres.com/Kanata/

http://www.amctheatres.com/Kanata/


Downtown, the Free Thinking Film Society is hosting its inaugural Free Thinking Film Festival Nov. 12-14 at the Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington St. I like how the acronym for this "alternative to the alternative" film fest somewhat resembles the sound of a raspberry: FTFF.









http://www.freethinkingfilmfest.ca/


There's also an Anime convention here in town this weekend. Naru 2 U runs Nov. 12-14 at the Travelodge Hotel And Convention Centre, 1376 Carling Ave., and includes film-related featured guest speakers Barbara Goodson (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0329361/) and Spike Spencer (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0818111/).

http://naru2u.com/


Thanks for checking in.

 

Looking back, moving forward

This one starts off inspired by Turner Classic Movies' currently airing new series A History of Hollywood: Moguls & Movie Stars... here's the link:

 

http://www.tcm.com/moguls/

I figured I'd mention 1155 Broadway in New York in slightly more detail than the above program had. On April 4, 1894, Ottawa brothers Andrew M. Holland and George C. Holland opened the first Kinetoscope parlour (aka Peepshow) at 1155 Broadway in New York. Here are a couple links to check out. The first, from The Photographic Historical Society of Canada, features a bit about the Holland Brothers cited in author Robert Gutteridge's book Magic Moments; the second link features a New York Times article about the history of 1155 Broadway - and its demise as a possible cinephile mecca:

http://www.phsc.ca/holland-bros.html

http://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/09/realestate/streetscapes-1155-broadway-the-birthplace-of-the-movies.html

Speaking of film history, this Playback article appeared in the mailbox this week, citing this year's summer hit Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D now being the highest grossing Canadian movie in worldwide box office sales. You'll need to subscribe to Playback to read the entire article, but here's the link:

http://playbackonline.ca/2010/11/08/resident-evil-afterlife-surpasses-porkys/

The piece says Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D has surpassed the 1981 teen farce Porky's as the most financially successful Canadian flick, but I was under the impression that the 2006 bilingual buddy cop flick Bon Cop, Bad Cop had beaten the former champ a couple of years ago. Not true, according to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bon_cop,_bad_cop). 

Back in Ottawa, the Orpheus Musical Theatre Society brings the stage version of Annie to the Centrepointe Theatre Nov. 12-21.

 

http://www.centrepointetheatre.com/events_tickets/details_theatre/november/annie_en.html

Also, check out the Orpheus season schedule listed on their website - looks like an adaptation of the 1988 big screen comedy classic Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is in the works for June 2011.

http://orpheus-theatre.ca/the-shows.html

Lastly, check out the new moviequips YouTube page shown below. Having a favourites list of movie trailers, legitimately collected on Youtube from the studio and distributor pages there, will (hopefully) help speed up my weekly hunting around for them to link to the moviequips.ca pages. It could also save you some time hunting around for movie trailers. We'll see how it goes.

http://www.youtube.com/user/moviequips

Thanks for checking in.

Just mining my piques and queues

From this article on www.realfilmcareer.com, originally from the Ottawa Sun, "Two feature films, a made-for-television movie and a TV comedy are currently being shot in the city, and two more films are set to begin production in mid-November and December."

 






http://realfilmcareer.com/?p=4606

What? What? "Two more films"? Qu'est-ce que c'est, ma blond ? Nothing from the usual suspects about that, including these three useful film reference pages, for now...

http://www.ogft.com/home/

http://www.ottawa.ca/cgi-bin/trafficreport/report_search.pl?lang=en

http://www.omdc.on.ca/Page3679.aspx



QUEUED UP

Ottawa's 21st Annual One World Film Festival
Nov. 5 - 7, 2010








http://www.wiam.ca/programs/one-world-film-festival/schedule.php


25th European Union Film Festival
Nov. 18 - Dec. 5, 2010








http://www.cfi-icf.ca/index.php?option=com_cfi&task=showevent&id=61


Ottawa-Gatineau LGBT Film and Video Festival
Dec. 2 - 5, 2010 (info pending)








http://www.insideout.ca/yearround/index.php


Divergence Movie Night
Nov. 19 and Dec. 15, 2010 (ongoing, monthly)








http://divergencemovienight.com/


Documentary Organization of Canada, Ottawa-Gatineau Chapter Workshop
Nov. 27, 2010

http://sounddevelopment.com/docdog/

BB King at the National Arts Centre - http://www.nac-cna.ca/en/whatson/event.cfm?ID=6195

NAC Musicals - http://www.nac-cna.ca/en/whatson/index.cfm?whatson=disc&discipline=broadway

A Tribute to Judy Garland - http://www.nac-cna.ca/en/naco/event.cfm?ID=6235


I also want to mention this upcoming Black History Month Nov. 15 deadline, in the hopes that a related film festival might happen again this year:

http://www.blackhistoryottawa.org/welcome.php?pid=127&lang=en


Thanks for checking in.

Random, Missing Links

Running through the usual search for movie-related stuff here in Ottawa, I stumbled upon this odd "gem" of journalism on the Ottawa Citizen's site:

The B-movie capital
By Phil Jenkins, The Ottawa Citizen November 1, 2010

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/movie+capital/3755913/story.html


However, a bit more looking through the Internet Movie Database (http://www.imdb.com) turns up quite a few more flicks with shooting locations in and around the National Capital region, in whole or partially. Here's a list:

Captains of the Clouds (1942) - first Hollywood picture to be filmed entirely on location in Canada (by Warner Brothers), featuring Billy Bishop and starring James Cagney
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034578/

The Railrodder (1965) - National Film Board short starring Buster Keaton
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059631/

Cry of the Wild (1973) - cites filming in the Gatineau Hills
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0166557/

Pigs Are Seldom Clean (On n'engraisse pas les cochons à l'eau claire) (1973) - filming in Gatineau, featured Oscar-nominated and Cannes and Genie-winning filmmaker Denys Arcand

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0253390/

Fukkatsu no hi (Day of Resurrection) (1980) - Japanese thriller featuring George Kennedy
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080768/

Pitchmen (1985) - filming in Richmond
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0212428/

The Nutcracker Prince (1990) - Ottawa-made animated feature voiced by Peter O'Toole, Kiefer Sutherland and Phyllis Diller.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100281/

Mr. & Mrs. Bridge (1990) - starring Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100200/

The Random Factor (1995) - filming in Gatineau, features Dan Aykroyd and local TV personalities Max Keeping, J.J. Clarke and Michael O'Byrne
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0156005/

Zigrail (1995) - filming in Gatineau, featuring Dorothée Berryman, The Rise and Fall of the American Empire
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115057/

Alien: Resurrection (1997) - starring Sigourney Weaver, Winona Ryder and Ron Perlman
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118583/

Batman & Robin (1997) - starring George Clooney, Chris O'Donnell, Uma Thurman and Arnold Schwarzenegger
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118688/

Grey Owl (1999) - filming in Wakefield and Chelsea, starring Pierce Brosnan and featuring Graham Greene, directed by Richard Attenborough and won a Genie
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0128239/

Undercover Angel (1999) - starring Yasmine Bleeth
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0169347/

The Kiss of Debt (2000) - featuring Oscar-winner Ernest Borgnine
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0392289/

A Passage to Ottawa (2001)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0292172/

Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter (2001) - the Cult classic
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0311361/

Un crabe dans la tête (2001) - filming in Aylmer
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0284214/

Bikini Party Massacre (2002)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0346609/

The Sum of All Fears (2002) - starring Ben Affleck and Morgan Freeman
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0164184/

Posers (2002) - featuring Adam Beach and Jessica Paré
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0304574/

The Bonesetter (2003)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0403888/

Harry Knuckles and the Pearl Necklace (2004) - featuring Lloyd Kaufman
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0342510/

Decoys (2004) - featuring Kim Poirier
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0357585/

Greg & Gentillon (2005) - filming in Aylmer
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0481532/

Bon Cop, Bad Cop (2006) - starring Colm Feore, featuring Rick Mercer
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0479647/

Forest of the Dead (2007)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0997218/

Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer (2007) - featuring Robert Englund
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0816539/

Need to Feed (2007) - filming in Dunrobin
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1219701/

Crossing Nirvana (2008) - filming in Gatineau
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1193475/

Smash Cut (2009)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1245735/

Mr. Nobody (2009) - featuring Sarah Polley and Diane Kruger
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0485947/

Werewolf Fever (2009) - filming in Renfrew
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1578847/

Stripped Naked (2009)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1426383/

Carny (2009) - starring Lou Diamond Phillips
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1397497/

The Idiot Cycle (2009)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1503654/

Donkey (2010)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1595388/

Iron Soldier (2010) - filming in Carp, featuring Joe Estevez
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1665744/

Sacrifice (2011) - starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Christian Slater
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1630564/

On the Road (2011) - filming in Gatineau, featuring Steve Buscemi, Kirsten Dunst, Viggo Mortensen and Kristen Stewart
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0337692/

House at the End of the Street (2012) - featuring Elizabeth Shue
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1582507/

There are probably loads more to be found (look up longtime local directors Lee Demarbre and Brett Kelly, for instance), regarding past or upcoming shoots. One documentary not (yet) listed on imdb - Winds of Heaven - just recently premiered on the big screen here last month. Looking through the above list, it's also great seeing a lot of local actors showing up in the cast lists of recent flicks. Here are a couple of links for film, video and theatre acting auditions to see what might be shooting locally:

http://www.casting-call.us/ottawa-casting.php

http://www.actottawa.com/


Random Ottawa movie note: According to Wikipedia, regarding the long-gone cinema the Elgin Theatre, "...in 1947 it was the location of the world premiere of Mary Pickford's Sleep, My Love." Mary Pickford (1892-1979) wasn't featured in Sleep, My Love (1948) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040798/), she was a co-producer along with third and last hubby Buddy Rogers. That film starred Claudette Colbert (1903-1996) and Don Ameche (1908-1993).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elgin_Theatre_(Ottawa)


Thanks for checking in.