Genies poised for magic hour

With the recent Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television's announcements that films Nuit #1 won the Claude Jutra Award and Starbuck won the Golden Reel Award, it now definitely feels as though the 32nd Genie Awards presentation broadcast is right around the corner.

According to the Academy's website for the Genies (http://www.genieawards.ca/), the Claude Jutra Award "honours outstanding achievement by a first-time feature filmmaker. It was established in 1993 in honour of the late Quebec director Claude Jutra, best known for Mon Oncle Antoine." Previous winners include J'ai tué ma mère (2009), Away from Her (2007), and Atanarjuat (2001).

The Golden Reel Award, cites the site, "is presented annually to the Canadian film that earns the highest domestic box office in that year." It was established in 1979, with its list of winners including Bon Cop, Bad Cop (2007), Les Boys (1999), and Strange Brew (1984).

This year's Genies actually are just around the corner. It's slated for next Thursday, at Toronto's Westin Harbour Castle hotel. CBC's broadcast of the ceremony is the same evening, March 8, at 8pm, hosted by George Stroumboulopoulos and Andrea Martin. It ran for an hour last year, when the Genies were hosted by William Shatner at the NAC here in Ottawa.

So, here's a quick round up of the Canadian flicks nominated for Best Motion Picture of 2011 by the Academy, including their additional nominations and corresponding Internet Movie Database link:

A DANGEROUS METHOD (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1571222/)
11 nominations
BEST MOTION PICTURE, ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION/PRODUCTION DESIGN, ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN, ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTION (Best Director), ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING, ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC - ORIGINAL SCORE, PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE, PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE, ACHIEVEMENT IN OVERALL SOUND, ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND EDITING, ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS

CAFÉ DE FLORE (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1550312/)
13 Genie nominations
BEST MOTION PICTURE, ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION/PRODUCTION DESIGN, ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY, ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN, ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTION (Best Director), ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP, PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE, PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE, PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE, ACHIEVEMENT IN OVERALL SOUND, ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND EDITING, ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY, ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS

MONSIEUR LAZHAR (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2011971/)
9 Genie nominations
BEST MOTION PICTURE, ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY, ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTION (Best Director), ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING, ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC - ORIGINAL SCORE, PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE, PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE, ACHIEVEMENT IN OVERALL SOUND, ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

STARBUCK (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1756750/)
6 Genie nominations
BEST MOTION PICTURE, ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC - ORIGINAL SONG, PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE, PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE, PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE, ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

THE WHISTLEBLOWER (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0896872/)
6 Genie nominations
BEST MOTION PICTURE, ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTION (Best Director), ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC - ORIGINAL SCORE, PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE, PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE, ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

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Walk kicks off feats fête

Such famed Ottawa-born names as actor Lorne Greene (1915-1987) and musician Bruce Cockburn might be noticed by Canada’s Walk of Fame (http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com) when that Toronto-based organization announces its newest inductees and legends on June 28. 2011 marks the 14th year of this national fête for worthy artists, authors, actors, athletes and the like.

Famous in its own right, the ubiquitous Internet Movie Database (http://www.imdb.com) lists well over 250 artists, authors, actors, athletes and the like who call Ottawa their birthplace.

Born in Ottawa in 1945, Cockburn was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2001 and was named an Officer of the Order of Canada the following year. He's won 11 Juno Awards.

http://www.brucecockburn.com

While it's absolutely true there was a time not so long ago when "Legitimate Theatre" of the stage ruled supreme above all other acting-related professions here in the capital, Ottawa native Lorne Greene is still best known worldwide for his television work in Bonanza and Battlestar Galactica. Those who remember him remember his big deep voice. Lorne Greene was called The Voice of Canada. His notable awards include a 1987 Gemini Award and his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, found at 1559 N. Vine Street since 1960. Check it out: http://www.walkoffame.com/starfinder/place/ottawa

All this should be good enough to earn them both a Walk of Fame nod in Toronto, right? Granted, the Hollywood Walk of Fame only turns 51 this year... It's anyone's guess who the CWF will induct or name a legendary Canadian.

Golden Globe and two-time Genie Award winner Sandra Oh - born in Nepean - doesn't have a maple leaf-like star etched into those hallowed sidewalks of hogtown. Neither do well-known Ottawan actors Donal Logue or Jay Baruchel. Genie winner Mark McKinney was honoured in 2008, but as part of comedy troupe Kids in the Hall. His CWF star reads Kids in the Hall.

Of its reported 131 CWF inductees to date, here are Ottawa-Gatineau's 8 (so far) Canada's Walk of Famers:

Rich Little, actor/comedian, 1998 Inductee
Born November 26, 1938, Ottawa ON

http://www.richlittle.com


Barbara Ann Scott, athlete, 1998 Inductee
Born: May 9, 1928, Ottawa ON
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara-Ann_Scott


Nancy Greene, athlete, 1999 Inductee
Born May 11, 1943, Ottawa ON
http://www.nancygreene.com/


Margaret Atwood, author, 2001 Inductee
Born November 18, 1939, Ottawa ON
http://www.margaretatwood.ca/


Dan Aykroyd, actor, 2002 Inductee
Born July 1, 1952, Ottawa ON

http://www.thebluesmobile.com/


Paul Anka, singer, 2005 Inductee
Born July 30, 1941, Ottawa ON
http://www.paulanka.com/


Alanis Morissette, singer, 2005 Inductee
Born June 1, 1974, Ottawa ON
http://www.alanismorissette.com/


Daniel Lanois, musician/producer, 2005 Inductee
Born September 19, 1951, Gatineau (formerly Hull) QC

http://www.daniellanois.com/


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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)


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