Monthly Archives: October 2012

New Comedy Series “The Funny Pit” To Premiere November 4th on YTV

Corus Entertainment’s YTV kids and family channel has picked up a new gag-comedy series “The Funny Pit”. Headed up by comedian Roman Danylo (Comedy Inc.), produced by Thunderbird Films, in association with Great Pacific Television, this half-hour water cooler series premieres on Sunday, November 4th at 9:30pm ET/PT on YTV.

The Funny Pit is a laugh out loud mash up composed of hidden camera gags, video gags, pranks, bloopers, hilarious family portraits, wipe outs, talking pets, fake or for real video quizzes and man on the street social experiments, with outrageous results that can only be seen on this creative new show. Roman Danylo guides viewers through these hilarious happenings and adds his own comedic flair to the mix. Stand-up comedians Ryan Steele, Amy Goodmurphy, Toby Hargrave, Paul Bae and Ivan Decker also guest star.

Viewers are encouraged to send in their own humorous homemade videos and photographs, which can feature children, adults or animals during their most spontaneous and hilarious moments. Videos can be submitted at thefunnypittv.com.

A must see for comedy fans, the series will provide viewers with the laughs they are craving, which will keep them coming back for more week after week.

About Roman Danylo

Roman Danylo has appeared in several TV series including The Debaters, Corner Gas, Just For Laughs, Made in Canada, and has taped two stand-up specials for Comedy Now. For five seasons, Roman starred in a sketch comedy series called Comedy Inc. for which he was nominated for two Gemini awards and in 2004 Roman won a Leo Award for his performance in CBC’s Western Alienation Comedy Hour. Roman has been an entertainer for more than 20 years, performing customized shows for Bill Gates, Glaxo Smith Kline, Canadian Tire, Kellogg’s and hundreds more.

Roman will be touring across the country in November 2012 as part of the JFL Comedy Tour and will provide the tour with a new opening element called THE IMPROVISERS, involving some of the best improvisers from across Canada. Roman enjoys water sports, raisins and some humans.

About Thunderbird Films:

Thunderbird Films is an expanded multiplatform media production, distribution and rights management company based in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Thunderbird is known for its collaboration with talented producers, maximizing the financial and creative benefits of Canadian co-production to assist in the financing, production and distribution of all genres of programming for the world market. The company is committed to delivering premium finished product that has broad appeal for broadcasters and their audiences worldwide. Today, Thunderbird has a catalogue comprised of more than 500 hours of Canadian and US television content, including Mr Young, another Thunderbird Films/Corus Entertainment Inc. collaboration that also airs on YTV. Thunderbird Films’ programming airs on major networks around the globe.

About Great Pacific:

Great Pacific Media was established by veteran producers Blair Reekie and Mark Miller. The full service production and production services company has office, post production, and studio facilities in Vancouver, and is involved in factual, documentary, game show and reality television development, production, co-production, and financing.

Roman Danylo’s November Travel Schedule

30-Oct-12 St. John’s, NF
01-Nov-12 Saint John, NB
02-Nov-12 Moncton, NB
03-Nov-12 Charlottetown, PEI
04-Nov-12 Halifax, NS
06-Nov-12 Kitchener, ON
07-Nov-12 London, ON
08-Nov-12 Hamilton, ON
09-Nov-12 Toronto, ON
10-Nov-12 Ottawa, ON
13-Nov-12 Winnipeg, MB
14-Nov-12 Regina, SK
16-Nov-12 Edmonton, AB
18-Nov-12 Red Deer, AB
20-Nov-12 Victoria, BC
23-Nov-12 Surrey, BC
24-Nov-12 Vancouver, BC
25-Nov-12 Kelowna, BC

Social Media Handles

Facebook: The Funny Pit
Twitter: @TheFunnyPit, @Roman_Danylo

Contact The Promotion People

Website: thepromotionpeople.ca
Twitter: @PromotionPeople
Facebook: The Promotion People
Email: lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca

Ben Ratner and Loretta Walsh Collaborate on Vancouver Stage, in Play “Dinner with Friends”

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“Don’t just talk the talk; you’ve got to walk the walk”

Departing temporarily from the classroom, Vancouver-based acting coaches Ben Ratner and Loretta Walsh of Ben Ratner’s Haven Studio are slated to star in Dinner with Friends at Studio 398 on Granville Island in Vancouver, B.C. from November 8 to 17th, 2012.

Dinner with Friends, produced by Loretta Walsh and The Dirty Manhattan Equity Co-op, is a Pulitzer Prize winning play about the journey to find balance and truth in marriage and friendships, and the unspoken sorrow that can creep up on us as we approach middle age. After their successful run of Lobby Hero in 2010, actors Loretta Walsh and Noel Johansen have now joined forces with Jenn MacLean-Angus for a second round of independently produced theatre. This group is passionate about the Vancouver theatre scene and their energy is contagious. Talented director Jennifer Clement, a veteran of Vancouver stages, and cutting edge designer Peter Wilds, are also involved in the production of Dinner with Friends.

Rounding out the cast is a Vancouver favorite, award-winning actor/director/acting coach Ben Ratner. A professional actor for almost 25 years, Ratner started teaching in 1994 as a protégé of internationally acclaimed acting teacher and author Ivana Chubbuck. He went on to open his own “Haven Studio” in 2002 and rapidly earned a reputation for his highly demanding and thoroughly rewarding scene study classes. After years of studying alongside Ratner, Loretta Walsh, a former student, was hired to teach additional classes at “Haven Studio.” Ratner and Walsh are highly sought after with a lengthy waiting list in addition to the five classes they currently run. Ratner’s students include many of the top actors in the country. Many are currently working in film, TV and theatre across Canada, Los Angeles, and on Broadway. He is also in high-demand in Toronto, where he teaches workshops twice a year. Walsh is currently working with the newer actors at Haven Studio, inspiring them with her passion for the craft and preparing them for challenges ahead in the world of acting.

Donald Margulies has said that, like his other works, he wrote Dinner with Friends “to reflect observations I’m having at (this) time in my life … All around us, relationships are changing… It’s those notions of impermanence, the yearning for something else that I’m tapping into.” Dinner with Friends gives the audience an open and generous view into the world of two couples, long-time friends, who are characters that everyone can identify with. They are characters that are ordinary, vulnerable and ultimately human.

Dinner with Friends opens at Studio 398 on Studio 1398 at 1398 Cartwright St, Granville Island on Wednesday, November 7, 2012 and runs until Saturday, November 17, 2012.

About the Actors

Ben Ratner has been a professional actor for almost 25 years, started teaching in 1994 as a protégé of internationally acclaimed acting teacher and author Ivana Chubbuck. He opened his own “Haven Studio” in 2002 and rapidly earned a reputation for his highly demanding and thoroughly rewarding scene study classes. Today, he is sought after as a coach, mentor and teacher to many of Canada’s busiest actors, a great number of which are working internationally. While teaching in both Vancouver and Toronto, Ratner’s own acting, writing and directing career continues to flourish. With over 100 film and TV credits and numerous awards under his belt, he recently won his third Leo Award, this time for his guest-starring performance on CTV’s Flashpoint, and was also nominated for “Best Lead Actor in a Feature Film” for his work on Sisters & Brothers. A Jesse Award nominee for his portrayal of “Bobby” in American Buffalo, Ratner will return to the stage in November of 2012 to co-star in Dinner with Friends at Granville Island’s Studio 1398 alongside his studio administrator and fellow teacher at Haven Studio, Loretta Walsh. Ratner wrote, directed and co-starred in the feature film Moving Malcolm in 2003, directed an episode of CTV’s Robson Arms in 2005, and wrote and directed the short film Power Lunch in 2008. Most recently, he wrote and directed the feature film Down River, which will premiere in 2013.

Loretta Walsh is a classically trained acting graduate of the University of Southern Queensland in Australia. Walsh is an actor, theatre producer and acting teacher. She produced the critically acclaimed Vancouver production of ‘Lobby Hero’ at the Havana Theatre and was named one of Vancouver’s ‘Top 10 Artistic Leaders whose Stars are on the Rise’ by the Vancouver Sun. Selected theatre credits include ‘Lobby Hero’, ‘Othello’, ‘Last of the Red Hot Lovers’, ‘Woman in Mind’ , ‘Black Comedy’ and ‘Hamlet’. Select Film and television credits include ‘Life Unexpected’, ‘The Troop’, ‘Chaos’, ‘7 Things to Do Before I’m 30’, ‘Down River’ and ‘OMG’ which just premiered at VIFF. Loretta formerly taught acting at the Port Stanley Festival Theatre and for Arts Express in Toronto before moving to Vancouver 5 years ago where she began studying with Ben Ratner. Loretta currently teaches acting at Ben Ratner’s Haven Studios in Vancouver.

What Some of Canada’s Top Actors Are Saying about Haven Studio:

“Working with Ben is an incredibly deep experience for me as an actor…He is absolutely in touch with, and really knows the craft. Ben is amazing!”
~Gabrielle Miller (Sisters & Brothers, Corner Gas, NCIS, Cold Case)

“Ben is a treasure – a rare combination of instinct, intelligence and compassion, who is awe-struck by what a student can do when she is plugged into her own intuition and creativity.”
~Brian J. Smith (Gossip Girl, Stargate Universe, Law and Order, The Columnist on Broadway)

“I credit many of my ‘breakthroughs’ to his insight, support, and trust, and highly recommend him to any actors seeking to go deeper into the work. Thanks Ben!!”
~Erin Karpluk (Being Erica, Godiva’s)

“He is, without a doubt, one of the finest teachers I’ve worked with.” ~Stephen Lobo (Continuum, Arctic Air, Little Mosque on the Prairie)

“The combination of the demanding material, the commitment and talent of my classmates and Ben’s forceful, yet passionate direction and guidance made me into the actor I am today – a confident and working one! He’s a remarkable teacher and man.” ~ Ali Liebert (Bomb Girls, Firefox, Afghan Luke)

“Loretta creates a space that’s completely safe, supportive and full of love. She knows when to push you and when to give you space. She has a keen eye and a way of communicating that ensures you understand on the level you need to. I feel like she really gets the things you need to work on and tailors the exercises and scenes so you can do just that: meet the challenges head on from a strong, supported place. I trust her completely and can’t wait to get back in class with this very special woman!” ~ Jennifer Spence (Continuum, Alcatraz, Stargate Universe)

Social Media Handles

Twitter: @loretta_walsh, @Dirty_Manhattan

Contact The Promotion People

Website: thepromotionpeople.ca
Twitter: @PromotionPeople
Facebook: The Promotion People
Email: lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca

Goldstein Douglas Entertainment Fearless Feature Film “Shame on Shelley Bennett” at MIPCOM

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Goldstein Douglas Entertainment is adding another top-level entertainment project to its roster, with its recent acquisition of the rights to distribute the film “Shame on Shelley Bennett”, starring the popular comic of the same name. Goldstein Douglas Entertainment will be representing the film at MIPCOM in Cannes from October 5-10, 2012.

The Midwest meets the Middle East in “Shame on Shelley Bennett”, a feature length documentary starring actor/comedian Shelley Bennett. The film is an honest and funny portrayal of Shelley’s journey as an American girl who falls for a Muslim man. Now, after getting married to Mohamed, she must face her own misconceptions and fears of Islam.

Shelley quickly immerses herself into a new culture and religion by participating in 30 days of Ramadan, and travels the world while creating a poignant dialogue through her stand-up comedy. Throughout her trials and tribulations, she is called an “ignorant American” and finds herself in the Middle East getting interviewed by Al Jazeera.

Finally, she grows to respect a culture and religion that she may never completely understand, while dealing with the harsh realities of an inter-faith marriage. Is love enough to bridge the gap between the West and the East or will their relationship bomb? The timely, political film also stars renowned comedian and actor Maz Jobrani.

Shelley Bennett is an American actress, comedian, writer, and producer. She grew up in Southern Indiana and moved to New York after college. She has come a long way since her beginnings off-broadway and first television role, playing “Vivian Goodmanson” on “As the World Turns”. Shortly thereafter she moved to Los Angeles and has worked in TV and film starring opposite Emmy nominee Kaley Cuoco (Big Bang Theory) as well as Stacy Keach. She has done voice over work for Disney and has also performed as a stand-up comic all over Los Angeles including the Comedy Store. Just before the Arab Spring in Egypt, Shelley served as a film juror for the 19th Cairo International Film Festival for Children.

Also a part of the “Shame on Shelley Bennett” team is established Writer/Producer/Director Stephen Lentini. He has worked for the past 14 years in TV and film production, programming and branding for such networks FOX, NBC, MTV, VH-1, FUEL TV, Fox Sports Net, Fox Reality Channel, USA Networks, Spike TV, Discovery Channel, Court TV, TLC, Showtime and Lifetime. He has also written and produced other dynamic documentaries, including, “GMAC Big Wave Attack: The North Canyon” and “The Glacier Project”. Scripted feature film credits include, “Machine Head” and “Beware”.

About Goldstein Douglas

Established in July 2011, Goldstein Douglas Entertainment was created by entertainment industry innovators Bobby Goldstein and Cord Douglas.

Goldstein is the producer/creator of the long-running popular realty series “Cheaters”. In 1995, Goldstein created the concept of “Cheaters”—a vision for a new type of show that came long before the popularity of reality programming. After establishing his own television production company Bobby Goldstein Productions, Inc., Goldstein filmed the pilot for “Cheaters” and in fall of 1999, with the assistance of Cord Douglas as his distributor, moved forward with the sales of “Cheaters” worldwide. “Cheaters” airs in over 100 countries world-wide and will be reaching its 300th one-hour episode next season.

Cord Douglas has been in the programming distribution business for nearly 20 years. He has worked with programming in a multitude of genres. Cord has negotiated commissions and pre-sales for action-hour series, non-fiction series and tele-features with companies such as Disney/ABC, NBC Universal Cable Networks, Showtime, Spike TV, Discovery Networks, Court TV, and Fox Cable Networks. Cord is well respected in the business and has established connections with television networks throughout the world.

Social Media Handles

Website: shelley-bennett
Twitter: @ShelleyBennett7

Contact The Promotion People

Website: thepromotionpeople.ca
Twitter: @PromotionPeople
Facebook: The Promotion People
Email: lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca

Writer/Director Jesse James Miller’s “The Good Son” screens at The Hamptons International Film Festival and “Becoming Redwood” screens at VIFF

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Award Winning Writer/Director Jesse James Miller Unveils Feature Documentary “The Good Son” at The Hamptons International Film Festival. Jesse also recently wrote the feature “Becoming Redwood”, which will be screening at VIFF October 11th & 12th.

2012-Multi-award winning writer/director, Jesse James Miller is sparking audience attention with his new feature documentary “The Good Son” (featuring entertainment industry legends Mickey Rourke, Ed O’Neill, Sugar Ray Leonard and Ray Mancini). Working as a writer and director over the past 15 years, Jesse’s labour of love documentary contains plenty of heart; focusing particularly on the resilience and spirit of protagonist Ray Mancini. “The Good Son”, based on a true story about heartbreak and inspiration between a father and son will tug at the heartstrings of captive audiences everywhere.

“The Good Son” follows Ray Mancini, son of the original Boom Boom lightweight contender Lenny Mancini. A national icon in the sport of boxing Ray competes to represent middle class America but most of all, fights to conquer his father’s unfinished business. Lenny’s dreams ended on a battlefield, when fragments from a German mortar shell nearly killed him. Almost four decades later, Ray promises to win the title his father failed to achieve. “The Good Son” focuses on real life perspectives and accounts, detailing the highs and lows of Ray’s boxing career. The documentary discusses a match in 1982 against obscure Korean challenger, Deuk Koo Kim that would alter Ray’s path in life forever. Challenger Deuk Koo Kim never regained consciousness after the fourteenth round and passed away days after the match. Three months later, Deuk’s despondent mother took her own life. These deaths have not only haunted Ray but also tainted his image as an all American boxer.

“The Good Son” uncovers the dimensions of Mancini’s ill-fated career, tracking the Mancini and Kim families across generations and excavating mysteries—from the killing of Mancini’s brother to the fate of Kim’s son. Even as the scenes move from Youngstown to New York, Las Vegas to Seoul, Reno to Hollywood, “The Good Son” remains an intimate history; a saga of fathers and fighters, loss and redemption.

As a director, Jesse poses determination, resilience and passion, qualities that transpire into his work behind the camera. Coming from a family immersed in the arts, Jesse always dreamed of someday becoming a writer. As a child, Jesse was in tune with his creative genes and began writing plays, scripts, songs and poems. Writing was a creative outlet for Jesse that fed his imaginative mind, yet he knew that before he could direct his own film, he would need to learn the ins and outs of the film industry.

While Jesse perfected the art of editing, he also wrote a script titled “Becoming Redwood”. Set in 1969, this film follows the life of Redwood Forest Hanson, who at the age of 2, witnesses his family disintegrate as his mother leaves his father for a new life. At the very moment his mother walks away, Redwood, aided with the background radio news of another Jack Nicklaus victory, has the beginning of a stress induced epiphany: Beat Jack Nicklaus, the world’s greatest golfer, and his family will be back together. This bittersweet film focuses on Redwood`s longing to triumph over the adversities of everyday life. With no easy solutions in this coming-of-age comedy, a sense of hope still prevails for Redwood: a hope for love, a hope for the future, and for a sense of amity in the unsympathetic wheel of life. Recently, “Becoming Redwood” earned the Juried Award for best Canadian film at the Edmonton International Film Festival. “Becoming Redwood” stars Ryan Grantham, Jennifer Copping, Scott Hylands, Derek Hamilton and Chad Willet and is currently screening at the Vancouver International Film Festival.

Jesse recently wrote and directed the award winning documentary film My American Exodus (VIFF, OIFF, DOC CITY DOCFEST) and was nominated as Best Director for the critically acclaimed feature documentary Uganda Rising (HotDocs, Discovery Times). Also, he directed the feature film The Seamstress (Lance Hendriksen), helmed the pilot presentation piece Captain Starship (Paul McGillion) and is currently directing commercials for Lancaster Vintage (featuring Snoop Dogg, Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali and Bruce Lee). Jesse credits his family for inspiring him to follow his dreams of becoming a writer and director. He currently resides with his wife and son in Vancouver.

“The Good Son” is set to premiere at The Hamptons International Film Festival on October 6th 2012. It will also play at the Philadelphia film festival on November 19th, 21st and 24th 2012. “Becoming Redwood” is screening at VIFF on October 11 & 12th.

Social Media Handles

Website: jessejamesmiller.com
Twitter: @Backyardbuddha

Contact The Promotion People

Website: thepromotionpeople.ca
Twitter: @PromotionPeople
Facebook: The Promotion People
Email: lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca

Joan Santopinto and Vreni Gurd Motivate Those Over 40 In “The Anti-Aging Exercise Solution”

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Joan Santopinto and Vreni Gurd have combined their fitness knowledge and talent to produce a how-to guide to stay strong and flexible for men and women over 40 years old. Joan and Vreni have proven expertise in the fitness industry; both having degrees in physical education and having completed courses at the CHEK (Corrective Holistic Exercise Kinesiology) Institute.

Joan and Vreni know firsthand how exercising on a regular basis is the elixir of youth, with their years of experience training middle-aged and older clients. Watching their clients, some over 80 and 90 years old, provides a powerful inspiration for what is possible. For instance, Joan is currently working with a gentleman over 90 years old who is still practicing headstands and his overall fitness level is absolutely astounding.

Both trainers have worked with hundreds of people over the years, helping them get back function that they were unaware they have lost until they get it back. Vreni states, “I have clients tell me that ‘I no longer have to use a coffee table to help me when I am getting up from the floor’. Or, ‘Now I can get out of chairs without needing to push with my arms. I didn’t even realize I was doing that until I didn’t need to push anymore.”

Joan and Vreni currently live and work in Vancouver. In the 80’s Joan owned the popular gym Heaven’s Fitness where she taught classes for years. Heaven’s Fitness had a great reputation across Western Canada well known for their aerobics classes. Vreni taught fitness in Toronto for ten years before moving back to Vancouver. She has also taught corrective-exercise seminars and workshops on the shoulder and the core to other personal trainers.

The goal of the DVD is to address common postural and movement issues that boomers may experience, while providing an excellent strength and conditioning work out. By targeting the boomer generation, Joan and Vreni have created a specific workout DVD, unlike anything else on the market geared to those over 40, to regain their range-of-motion and functional abilities like getting up and down off the floor easily.

Throughout the DVD, the two demonstrate and explain correct exercise technique as well as point out common mistakes to help their audience get the most out of the workout. By doing the exercises correctly, participants will improve strength and flexibility as well as posture and functional ability. By incorporating key foundational exercises, step-by-step instructions, and three difficulty levels, The Anti-Aging Exercise Solution is suitable for all.

‘Rejuvenate, Regenerate and Energize’ your body with Joan Santopinto and Vreni Gurd. Follow their structured workouts on The Anti-Aging Exercise Solution DVD and improve your physical health.

Social Media Handles

Website: antiagingexercisesolution.com
Vreni Gurd’s blog: wellnesstips.ca
Joan Santopinto’s blog: greatshape.me
YouTube: Workout Routines: The Anti-Aging Workout DVD

Contact The Promotion People

Website: thepromotionpeople.ca
Twitter: @PromotionPeople
Facebook: The Promotion People
Email: lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca

Actor Sean Rogerson Reprises Role in Supernatural Sequel “Grave Encounters 2”

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“Grave Encounters 2” will have its Canadian premiere at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival on October 22nd, 2012.

One of Vancouver’s most sought-after actors, Sean Rogerson, continues to pique audiences’ interest with his latest project “Grave Encounters 2” —where he reprises his leading role as a ghost hunter. This independent film from the Vicious Brothers is a follow up to 2011’s popular release “Grave Encounters”. The plot is set around the filming of a paranormal investigation TV show and contains terrifying moments that shock even seasoned horror movie buffs.

“Grave Encounters” told the story of a group of reality television hosts that travel the country in search of supernatural activity. Sean delivered an outstanding performance as Lance Preston, head of the film’s ghost hunting team left responsible for shooting an episode inside an abandoned Collingwood Hospital, where unexplained phenomenon had been reported for years. “Grave Encounters”, Sean’s first leading film role, showcased his acting chops, and the movie as a whole helped reinvigorate the horror sub-genre with a clever, well shot and genuinely creepy haunted house tale.

Before breaking into the film industry, Sean was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta and worked in the oil fields before moving to Vancouver. Upon arrival, Sean made the decision to follow his passion for acting and quickly hired an agent. Beginning with commercial work, he was fortunate enough to study with greats such as Brenda Crichlow, Gina Charreli and Larry Moss (Hillary Swank’s acting coach in ‘Million Dollar Baby’ and ‘Boys Don’t Cry’). The knowledge he received from these impressive coaches allowed him to land leading roles in a collection of television series’. Sean graced television screens on “Supernatural”, “Smallville”, and “Psych”. Other television projects include “Sanctuary”, “Fringe”, and the feature film “Underworld Evolution”. Most recently, he booked a supporting lead role in the upcoming film 12 Rounds: Reloaded. His role as Joel Booth in the CBS primetime mystery “Harper’s Island” effectively showcased his talent and made him a natural choice to star in “Grave Encounters”.

Sean’s upcoming project, with his anticipated reprisal of Lance Preston in “Grave Encounters 2” promises to again leave audiences shaking in their seats. The sequel centers around a group of friends obsessed with the film Grave Encounters, as they research past events and visit the hospital depicted in the original film. They find themselves face-to-face with unspeakable evil, banking on the hope that their knowledge of the original film will help them survive the sequel. “Grave Encounters 2” is now available to rent in the US on VOD and iTunes, and is set for a select theatrical release and midnight screenings beginning on October 12th, 2012.

Social Media Handles

Website: graveencountersthriller.com
YouTube: Grave Encounters 2 Official Trailer
Twitter: @RogersonSean, @graveencounters, @VICIOUSBROS
Facebook: Grave Encounters 2

Contact The Promotion People

Website: thepromotionpeople.ca
Twitter: @PromotionPeople
Facebook: The Promotion People
Email: lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca