“Nostalgia” featuring Phil Moriarity and Susan Skemp kicks off with “Crooners & Songbirds” on Sunday, January 13, 2013 at the Metro Theatre

Leave a reply

Phil Moriarity and Susan Skemp are pleased to announce that they will be performing a variety of musical themes entitled “Nostalgia” once a month beginning on Sunday, January 13 2013. Every month the pair will perform a new theme to take audience back in time to some of the best music and songs of ‘yester year’. The shows will be performed at the Metro Theatre located at 1370 S. W. Marine Drive in Vancouver beginning at 2:00 pm every Sunday once a month. Tickets may be purchased individually for the low price of $18.00 or season passes are available at the discounted price of $180.00 for the twelve shows in 2013.

“Crooners & Songbirds” kicks off the performances on Sunday January 13th. In this special performance, Phil and Susan will play tribute to and salute singers such as Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald and Tony Bennett, to name a few. With songs like “Lady is a Tramp”, “Fly Me to the Moon”, “Happy Days are Here Again”, “Come Fly with Me”, “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf”, “Volare” and many more, the duo will take their audience on a journey into the past. A performance filled with fabulous music, witty repartee, and a sing-a-long, “Crooners & Songbirds” will delight and inspire those who miss the classics.

Following January’s production, featured performances include “Love Songs” on February 17th, “Hurray for Hollywood” on March 24th, “Lerner and Lowe” on April 21st, “50’s and 60’s” on May 19th and “Cole Porter” on June 23rd. Come July, the pair will be performing “Latin”, “Irving Berlin” in August, “Gershwins” in September, “Big Bands” in October, “Rogers and Hammerstein” in November, and finally “Merry Christmas” will be performed December of 2013.

Susan Skemp is an inspiring performer whose career has taken her around the world. Susan has guest entertained for Princess Cruise Lines, was the female lead at the Diamond Horseshoe for Tokyo Disneyland, and starred in “Escandola” a musical revue in Europe. Susan has worked with the late Bob Fosse, Peter Matz and Earl Brown. Performances with Bob McGrath on the Variety Telethon and Dal Richards Orchestra have been extremely influential to the vocalist’s career. With starring roles in Theatre Under The Stars’ production of “South Pacific” and “Godspell” at the Vancouver Playhouse, along with guest appearances in the “Hugh Pickett Tribute” at the Arts Club, Susan has had a very impressive career in entertainment. Susan produced and starred in “An Evening with Susan Skemp” and played Sally Brown in the Canadian Premier of “Snoopy” and sang a live telecast to New York for the “Rick Hansen Man in Motion Tour” at Expo ’86. With lead roles in the Japanese television series, “Rice Curry” and the children’s television series, “Tell-A-Tune-Town”, for which she wrote six original songs, and a session gospel singer in the Harrison Ford film, “Fire Wall”.

The notable Phil Moriarity started his musical career in Paris, Ontario. Phil then set out west to pursue his love for timeless music. Phil’s solo work and performances with his five-piece band are known to leave his audience spellbound. The beloved crooner serenades with a beautifully smooth baritone voice at weddings, parties, corporate events and the like. The baritone is known to wow his audiences with music from legendary performers like Elvis, Dean Martin, The Beatles and Frank Sinatra. Phil also writes much of his own music.

Together, the duo is expected to travel with their audiences back in time. Embarking on a journey to the era of jazz, rock n roll and all time classics.

Social Media Handles

Website: philmoriarity.ca, metrotheatre.com
Facebook: “NOSTALGIA” Event”, Phil Moriarity and Susan Skemp

Contact The Promotion People

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

Canadian Corey Large Brings Hollywood Home with Feature Film Production “Poker Night”

Leave a reply

Established Canadian actor/writer/producer, Corey Large, is bringing Hollywood to the North with the production of his latest film, “Poker Night”, currently filming in his hometown of Victoria, BC. Corey, along with his production partner at Wingman Productions (Alan Pao), are bringing the psychological thriller to life in the scenic island city, with help from the film’s stars Ron Perlman (Sons of Anarchy, Hellboy), Ron Eldard (Super 8, ER) and Titus Welliver (The Town, Gone Baby Gone), as well as director Greg Francis. This film marks the latest in a long list of successful film projects for the innovative production company, whose roster includes: the film “Loaded”, starring Corey Large, Jesse Metcalfe and Chase Crawford; which was sold to Mel Gibson’s company ICON, and “Toxic”, starring Corey, Susan Ward and Master P, which was sold to The Weinstein Company.

“Poker Night”, which has been shooting across Victoria, including in the Downtown core, The Plaza Hotel, Sassy’s Diner, The Prairie Inn Pub, and the abandoned Mount Newton School, follows Stan Jeter (Beau Mirchoff); a young cop who stumbles his way into a big case and is promoted to Detective. Following tradition – after his promotion – he spends the night playing poker with retired cops who share their wisdom with him as they play. When Stan later ends up trapped by a killer, he must rely on his wit, skill, and most importantly, the words of the veteran cops, in order to survive.

Photo credit: David Bukach Photography

Corey has had a unique rise to becoming an entertainment industry success story. Early on in his acting career he decided to take matters into his own hands in regards to his future prospects, and not wait around to be cast in roles in other people’s films. By creating his own production company, he was able to create his own noteworthy projects to work on within the industry. This entrepreneurial spirit has led to him being referred to as “Hollywood’s next big do-it-yourselfer”, who, as many Hollywood heavyweights before him, created a world of opportunity through the projects he produced.

Corey founded Wingman Productions in 2003, a name inspired by the popular film, and one of his favorites, “Top Gun”. Working at the helm of Wingman Productions gives Corey the opportunity to run his own studio, choose the projects he works on and be more than just an actor on a film, but someone who controls the direction of the production. Along with his partners, Corey has written, produced, co-starred in and sold a number of full-length features to Hollywood studios, including: “Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever”, “Toxic”, “The Penthouse”, “The Obama Effect”, “Welcome to the Jungle”, and “The Frozen Ground”. Corey currently has 8 projects underway, including the upcoming film “Kid Cannabis”, based on a 2005 Rolling Stone article that chronicled the exploits of suburban Idaho teens, who built a multimillion-dollar marijuana empire.

Wingman Productions also owns Tunnel Post, an in-house post-production company located in Santa Monica that specializes in creating high-end media content for film, television, live events, commercials and music videos. Tunnel Post boasts projects with some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, including “Killing them Softly” with Brad Pitt, “Broken City” with Russell Crowe and Mark Wahlberg, and “The Tomb” with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone.

Some of the vast talent Corey has had the opportunity to work with through his various Wingman Productions projects include: John Cusack, Nicolas Cage, Liam Hemsworth, Dwayne Johnson, Emma Roberts, Adam Brody, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Kaley Cuoco, Tom Sizemore, Katt Williams, Master P and Rider Strong.

Corey was born and raised in Victoria, BC. An avid sports fan, growing up Corey’s aspirations were not set on Hollywood, but on becoming a pro baseball player. His path would take a different course, though, when at the age of 21, Corey moved to Vancouver to pursue film and television roles, and started booking projects immediately. While he began working his way up in the industry, Corey studied his craft at the Vancouver Film School and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, where he learned from top instructors, including Seinfeld’s Jason Alexander. Corey currently resides in L.A., but continues to bring projects back to his native country of Canada at least once a year.

Social Media Handles

Website: wingmanproductions.com, tunnelpost.com

Contact The Promotion People

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

IndustryWorks Pictures announces U.S. distribution deal for what’s being called ‘today’s modern day horror film’ – “American Mary”

Leave a reply

IndustryWorks Pictures has an exciting announcement to make as they bring their widely praised thriller/horror feature “American Mary” to the US market. The festival circuit gem, stars “Ginger Snaps” alum Katharine Isabelle and was the recent recipient of 11 awards at top genre festivals across North America, including the honors for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress.

XLrator Media has acquired all U.S. rights to the horror sensation, AMERICAN MARY, produced and represented worldwide by IWP. This female- centric surgical horror-thriller will be released on XLrator Media’s newly announced Screamfest label in Fall 2013.

IndustryWorks Pictures is excited to bring the film to the US market with XLrator Media and their Screamfest label where American Mary picked up five awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Cinematography and Best Makeup. It also won six awards at the Toronto AfterDark festival including Best Director, Best Actress, Best Cinematography and Most Disturbing Film.

Evan Tylor, President of IndustryWorks Pictures says, “American Mary was a risky film to take on but we believed in the talent, the material and our ability to get the film in the right hands and get audiences talking about it. We went for it based on the uniqueness of the creative package. More cool films coming from IWP in 2013.”

“American Mary” stars Katharine Isabelle (Ginger Snaps’ franchise) and Antonio Cupo (Dark Angel, Bomb Girls) in a story of medical student, Mary Mason (Isabelle), as she grows increasingly broke and disenchanted with medical school and the surgeons that she once admired. The allure of easy money and notoriety sends Mary into the messy world of underground surgeries that leaves more marks on Mary than her so-called ‘freakish’ clientele. The film is directed by Jen & Sylvia Soska and produced by Evan Tylor and John Curtis.

ABOUT XLRATOR MEDIA, LLC

XLrator Media, LLC is a multi-platform releasing company founded by industry veteran Barry Gordon. It is focused on acquiring feature films, event programming and libraries, in addition to producing programming for enthusiast genres and categories that are under-served by the major studios and most independents. Recent XLrator Media releases include Ironclad, John Carpenter’s The Ward, Bunraku, Killing Bono, the Sundance documentary Knuckle, We The Party, 96 Minutes, Assassin’s Bullet, Blood Money, Brawler, Bigfoot: The Lost Coast Tapes and Outpost: Black Sun.

About IndustryWorks – Canada, International

IndustryWorks Pictures theatrically releases feature films in North America and provides international distribution for those films. IWP provides independent productions with the support and ability to strategically market, schedule, budget and ultimately have their product released theatrically. IndustryWorks also produces feature films, TV product and other new media formats. IndustryWorks Pictures has been developing its releasing strategies with Independent Booking Services and most recently Landmark Cinemas whose strong exhibitor relationships have been instrumental in positioning the company’s up and coming motion pictures with major theatrical chains. These theatre chains include; AMC, Cineplex Entertainment, Landmark, Regal and Cinemark.

“American Mary” follows in a long line of recent productions found, developed, produced and released by IndustryWorks. Other recent projects of note include the new TV series “The Lost Legion” (also picked up by Alliance, NBC/Universal, Super Channel and other major distributors, announced at TIFF), the animated feature “Back to the Sea” with a holiday exclusive window at Walmart co-distributed with Viva Pictures, and the upcoming feature film TOXIN 3D, to name a few.

IndustryWorks is quickly proving that the size of the company isn’t a determination of success, as they continue to produce quality, unique, audience-pleasing projects that sell. IndustryWorks sets itself apart from its competition by having the keen sense of seeing potential in the right projects, and turning that potential into a production to take notice of—which is why they have major international distributors paying close attention.

Social Media Handles

Facebook: Industry Works Pictures, American Mary
Twitter: @IWPictures, @_American_Mary
Website: industryworks.com

Contact The Promotion People

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

Support IndieGoGo Campaign for ‘Lawrence & Holloman’ feature film produced by Celluloid’s Paul Armstrong

Leave a reply

Local Independent Canadian Feature Film
LAWRENCE & HOLLOMAN

STARRING
BEN COTTON (Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome)
& DANIEL ARNOLD (The PI Experiment)
with
KATHARINE ISABELLE (American Mary, Ginger Snaps)
& AMY MATYSIO (Just Friends)

Directed by MATTHEW KOWALCHUK
based on the stage play by MORRIS PANYCH
FILMING NOVEMBER 5-29, 2012

Lawrence & Holloman Productions Inc., Quadrant Motion Pictures, Ameland Films Inc. and Finalé Editworks are proud to announce that the Telefilm Canada funded dark comedy feature film LAWRENCE & HOLLOMAN has begun shooting in Vancouver and Mission, Maple Ridge & Abbotsford, BC, Canada. An IndieGoGo funding campaign has been launched at indiegogo.com/lawrenceandholloman.

Lawrence & Holloman explores what happens when two opposing outlooks on life collide – optimism and pessimism. Lawrence, an ever-optimistic suit salesman, lives a happy-go-lucky, charmed life, in which everything goes right until he meets Holloman, a cynical and pessimistic accounting clerk, and everything starts to go wrong.

Based on the play ‘Lawrence & Holloman’ by Governor General Award-winning Canadian playwright Morris Panych (Vigil, Girl in the Goldfish Bowl), the screenplay was co-written by Daniel Arnold (The Janitors, Penguins) and Matthew Kowalchuk (The Janitors, Penguins). This is Kowalchuk’s feature film directorial debut whose short films and stage direction have garnered him several awards.

The film stars Ben Cotton (Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome, Stargate: Atlantis) and Daniel Arnold (The PI Experiment, Penguins) with Katharine Isabelle (American Mary, Ginger Snaps) & Amy Matysio (Just Friends).

It’s every director’s dream to have such a dedicated and talented team behind their first feature. It’s kind of like being on a runaway train, but one that you just know is going to end up in a very fun place. There is such a buzz of excitement emanating from everyone involved. We are extremely grateful for the support from Telefilm Canada without whom, this movie could not be made. – Director Matthew Kowalchuk

The film has attracted a talented team that includes award winning twin Cinematographers Nelson Talbot & Graham Talbot (Primary), Production Designer Guy Roland (Backmask), Costume Designer Jojo MacDowall (The PI Experiment) & Editor Greg Ng (Ends of the Earth, Sunflower Hour). The film was cast by Emmy-nominated Candice Elzinga Casting.

Heading up the Producing team are Paul Armstrong (Moving Malcolm, See Gray Fly, Ill Fated), Daniel Arnold & Matthew Kowalchuk. Mary Anne Waterhouse (Fido, The Thaw, Donovan’s Echo) & Andrew Currie (Fido, The Delicate Art of Parking, Mile Zero) of Quadrant Motion Pictures serve as Executive Producers. Completing the team are Co-Producer/Line Producer Robyn Wiener (American Mary, The Wingman, Amazon Falls) & Associate Producer Don Thompson of Finalé Editworks.

The film received development funding from The Astral Media Harold Greenberg Fund, Corus Entertainment & British Columbia Film. OutTV has committed to broadcast the film and a festival circuit is planned for the Fall of 2013 with the goal of a theatrical release shortly thereafter.

Social Media Handles

Facebook: Lawrence & Holloman, Celluloid Social Club
Twitter: @lawrenceholoman, @celluloidsocial

Contact The Promotion People

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

“The Windy City Women” Present Their Latest Improvised Two Act play “Liquid”

Leave a reply

Vancouver-based improvisational troupe “The Windy City Women” will be performing their latest production “Liquid” at 8:00 pm nightly from December 19th – 22nd at the trendy Havana Restaurant Theatre located at 1212 Commercial Drive in Vancouver. With wallet-friendly tickets available online or at the door, “Liquid” is a must-see for any theatre enthusiast. Tickets are only $10 online or $12.00 at the door.

Not your typical joke-for-joke play, “Liquid” is a full-length, entirely improvised two-act performance, based solely on audience suggestions and contributions. The ultimate success of “Liquid” is dependent on the actor’s ability and stamina to run a completely unplanned, unscripted play without ever leaving the stage. Act one begins with a simple suggestion from an audience member, from there, without discussion, the play occurs in real-time with no jump cuts, flashbacks or dream sequences. In short, the actors are the puppets, dancing to the music of a benevolent master or that of a malevolent tyrant! Which will it be?

But NOT only that…

THEN, at the drop of a hat, the cast must serve up the SEQUEL or PREQUEL to that story for Act II…depending again on the whims of the audience as they decide! As with Act I, the excitement not only lies in the split second decision making that the cast must make to spark un-born characters into life BUT the cast must also weave a story to compliment Act I! And every audience is treated to a never-been-seen before play that will never be repeated! Breathtaking! An audience member can come to every show and still not see the same story! No one else in Vancouver is offering this high-wire-without-a-net form of theatre! Only 60 people per night will be treated to this magic.

Unlike cabaret or competitive style improv, the goal of “Liquid” is not to be satirically funny, it is rather to create a story in which relationships, plot and character development carry the audience through the improvised journey of the cast. Although comedy is not the overall goal, it will undoubtedly be a by-product.

Originally formed in 2005, “The Windy City Women” is the brainchild of Tony Alcantar, artistic director and actor in “Liquid”. The troupe began as a satirical sketch comedy group, with the success of their first show “ The Inuksuk Sucks” at the Cellar in Vancouver. After careful studies of the exceptionally subtle camera movements in Louis Malle’s film “Atlantic City”, Tony was inspired by its continuous motion and fluidity of focus that helped to inspire “Liquid”.

Born and raised in Chicago, Tony has a BA in Theatre and an MFA in Acting from Chicago’s Roosevelt University. He is a graduate of the Players Workshop of the Second City, and The Second City Training Center. Tony is one of the critically acclaimed alum of the world-famous professional comedy troupe “The Second City”. With improv students such as; Emmy-winning “Will & Grace” actor Sean Hayes, Grace Park of “Hawaii Five-O” and Stephanie Weir from “Mad-TV”, and on-set dialect training with actors including; Halle Berry, Elizabeth Banks, Sam Rockwell and Jenna Fischer, Tony quickly became Vancouver’s most sought-after dialect and improvisational coach. Tony is thrilled to be a part of this exciting production but admits it is the hardest thing that he has done in his career.

The producer of “Liquid”, actress Lisa Ovies is also an award-winning film maker and an accomplished international model. Lisa’s career includes appearances in films and commercials all over Canada and the U.S. In June 2011, she launched the film company I No.Films where she has produced, written and starred in musicals, short films and a sketch comedy pilot. In January 2012 she received a full art scholarship to Women in the Directors chair, and less than a month after returning, received her first art credit on the award winning film “Ghosts of Europe”. Currently, Lisa is working with The Jeff Turner Entertainment Group, expanding their film and television division. She is also in development for a new sketch comedy show in Vancouver.

Among the talented eight-member cast of award-winning performers is; improv superstar and three-year member of Montreal’s “Pamplemousse” theatre sports league Alex Barima with the ever-talented improv actress and award-winning singer/musician Cassandra Cavalli. Also on stage, Vancouver Academy of Dramatic Arts graduates Rachel Schaefer and Justyn Shippelt contribute to the overall quality of “Liquid”. With the skillful, artistic views of Vancouverite Keith David Moore directing the play, coupled with musical direction from the accomplished and multi-talented performer Eric Carbery “Liquid” is expected to significantly contribute to the ever-growing success of “The Windy City Women”.

Buy Tickets: Havana Restaurant Theatre

Contact The Promotion People

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

IndustryWorks Pictures’ Acclaimed Horror Feature “American Mary” Takes Home 11 Awards At Top Genre Festivals

Leave a reply

The indie horror “American Mary” from IndustryWorks Pictures has ravaged competition at festivals and left audiences and critics alike talking about the thriller, which has taken home top honors at North America’s biggest genre festivals. Directed by The Twisted Twins (Jen & Sylvia Soska), the film, which stars “Ginger Snaps” alum Katharine Isabelle, has been garnering rave reviews internationally, and is leaving a noticeable mark on all the festivals it is screening within. Most recently, IndustryWorks Pictures brought the film to the screens of the Toronto After Dark Festival and Screamfest LA, where it was awarded 11 awards in total, including the top honor of Best Picture at Screamfest and Best Director at both festivals.

Awards

Toronto After Dark 2012
Best Canadian Feature Film
Best Director (Jen & Sylvia Soska)
Best Leading Actress (Katharine Isabelle)
Best Cinematography (Brian Pearson)
Best Antihero (Mary Mason, played by Katharine Isabelle)
Most Disturbing Film

Screamfest 2012
Best Picture
Best Director (Jen & Sylvia Soska)
Best Actress (Katharine Isabelle)
Best Cinematography (Brian Pearson)
Best Makeup (Masters FX)

The film has played at festivals around the world to outstanding reviews, and IndustryWorks is currently representing the film at the American Film Market. “American Mary” was recently picked up by Universal Pictures at Cannes and is set for distribution in a number of international territories, including UK and Germany, Bounty in Australia & New Zealand and Anchor Bay for Canada’s Home Entertainment.

Some of the press “American Mary” has garnered includes accolades from international media outlets, including Fangoria, Total Film, Dread Central, Twitch Film, Bloody Disgusting and Daily Dead; along with mainstream trades such as mentions in The New York Times, Screen Daily and Time Out.

“American Mary” stars Katharine Isabelle (Ginger Snaps’ franchise) and Antonio Cupo (Dark Angel, Bomb Girls) in a story of medical student, Mary Mason (Isabelle), as she grows increasingly broke and disenchanted with medical school and the surgeons that she once admired. The allure of easy money and notoriety sends Mary into the messy world of underground surgeries that leaves more marks on Mary than her so-called ‘freakish’ clientele. The film is produced by IndustryWorks Pictures, Evan Tylor and John Curtis and was written and directed by, The Twisted Twins, Jen & Sylvia Soska.

This feature follows in a long line of recent productions found, developed, produced and released by IndustryWorks. Other recent projects of note include the new TV series shooting this fall “The Lost Legion”, the animated feature “Back to the Sea” with an exclusive window at Walmart through Viva Pictures, and the upcoming feature film TOXIN 3D.

IndustryWorks is quickly proving that the size of the company isn’t a determination of success, as they continue to produce quality, unique, audience-pleasing projects that sell. IndustryWorks sets itself apart from its larger competition by having the keen sense of seeing potential in the right projects, and turning that potential into a production to take notice of—which is why they have major international distributors paying close attention.
About IndustryWorks – Canada, International

Social Media Handles

Facebook: Industry Works Pictures, American Mary
Twitter: @IWPictures, @_American_Mary
Website: industryworks.com

Contact The Promotion People

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

Inspired by the true story of a sports victory in the wake of tragedy, Vancouver actor Wesley MacInnes takes to the courts in CBC’s “The Phantoms” a heart-warming tale of triumph over adversity

Leave a reply

Vancouver actor Wesley MacInnes takes to the courts as Kevin O’Neill in the upcoming CBC / Dream Street Pictures production, The Phantoms (airs Sunday, November 18 at 8 PM on CBC Television). A true story about the courageous fight in memory of lost teammates and the quest for a basketball championship.

The Phantoms is inspired by the heart-warming, real-life events surrounding the 2009 New Brunswick provincial championship victory of the Bathurst High School (BHS Phantoms) boys varsity basketball team, a year after a terrible road accident that took the lives of seven players and the coach’s wife. In the following school year, as the tragedy hung over the community, the BHS Phantoms were reconstituted. The ragtag bunch of players gelled as a team, and as their season progressed, they lifted community spirit, and went on to win the coveted provincial basketball title for the first time in team history.

MacInnes relocated to the town of Bathurst, New Brunswick for two months in late 2011 where the project was filmed. Before any cameras rolled he spent weeks going through an intense basketball training camp run by Alan Doucet and Glenn States (the actual coaches from the 2009 season), along with his teammates Tyler Johnston (The Killing, Keep Your Head up Kid: The Don Cherry Story, Less Than Kind), Kyle Mac (Degrassi: The Next Generation), Jacob Neayem (Degrassi: The Next Generation) and Emmanuel Sarpong. With former basketball player Sudz Sutherland directing the film “The emphasis was really on the game. It had to be authentic in order to tell this story with the care and respect that it deserves. We all understood that and gave it everything so that what we captured on film would properly convey the life of this real team,” said MacInnes on the process of becoming The Phantoms.

The filming utilized many of the locations in Bathurst where the actual events took place; the community played a large part in the film, as Bathurst residents took on many of the film’s acting and background performer roles. Additionally, many of the Bathurst High School players from the 2009 season returned to the town to appear as basketball players on the competing teams. “Getting to live in Bathurst, to work with the real coaches and players, and to film in so many of the true to life locations was unlike any filming process I’ve ever seen,” said MacInnes. “The sense of community and strength there was remarkable.”

Off the court, his character, Kevin O’Neill was a musician and MacInnes drew from his own musical background to play the part, contributing multiple onscreen performances, as well as a song he produced for the film’s sound track.

Prior to working on The Phantoms, MacInnes has played roles on Smallville, Continuum, Magic Beyond Words: The JK Rowling Story, A Dog Named Christmas, The Vampire Diaries and CBC’s Heartland where he portrayed up and coming country musician Austin Mars throughout the shows fifth season.

MacInnes presently resides in Vancouver, BC where he is filming, writing and recording for new projects set to air in 2013.

CBC Television presents an inspiring real-life story of triumph in a small town, as one high school basketball team bands together to rebound from tragedy in THE PHANTOMS, airing Sunday November 18 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT). Inspired by the events surrounding the 2009 New Brunswick provincial championship season of the Bathurst High School varsity basketball team, THE PHANTOMS recounts the team’s difficult road to success after a devastating road accident took the lives of seven players and the wife of the Coach.

In the following year, as tragedy hung over the community, the BHS Phantoms returned to the court to honour the members they had lost. Against the odds, the ragtag group of players gelled as a team, and lifted not only their school ranking, but the spirit of their community. THE PHANTOMS is an inspiring Canadian story about determination, courage and the power of community.

Penned by Gemini award-winning screenwriter Andrew Wreggitt (Mayerthorpe; The Don Cherry Story,) THE PHANTOMS is directed by acclaimed director Sudz Sutherland (Guns; Love Sex & Eating the Bones) and produced by Timothy M. Hogan and Rick LeGuerrier (Canada Russia ’72; Sticks & Stones).

The ensemble cast includes Tyler Johnston (The Killing, Keep Your Head up Kid: The Don Cherry Story, Less Than Kind), Kyle Mac (Degrassi: The Next Generation), Wesley McInnes (Heartland), Holly Deveaux (Less Than Kind), Joy Tanner (Degrassi: The Next Generation) Wally MacKinnon (Canada Russia ’72), Greg Bryk (History of Violence), Tammy Isbell (The L.A. Complex) and Wendel Meldrum (Less Than Kind).

The Phantoms is produced by Dream Street Pictures, in association with CBC, and with the participation of the Canadian Media Fund, the Shaw Rocket Fund, the COGECO Program Development Fund, and, the New Brunswick Film Tax Credit.

About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, Internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages, plus five languages for international audiences. In 2011, CBC/Radio-Canada celebrated 75 years of serving Canadians and being at the centre of the democratic, social and cultural life of Canada.

About Dream Street Pictures Inc.
Dream Street Pictures is an award-winning full service independent film and television production company specializing in drama, documentary and arts programming. Based in Fredericton, Dream Street has produced the Gemini Award-winning mini-series Canada Russia ’72, the Gemini-nominated MOW Open Heart, and the television movie Sticks & Stones, which captured the prestigious Shaw Rocket Prize and was named Best Picture by the International Family Film Festival in Hollywood.

Social Media Handles

Facebook: PHANTOMS
Twitter: @PhantomsMovie, @WesleyMacInnes
Website: The Phantoms Movie, Dream Street Pictures, CBC Media Centre

Contact The Promotion People

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

Discovery Commits to “The Coq” – Second Season of Hit Series HIGHWAY THRU HELL Confirmed

Leave a reply

– Ranks as Discovery’s #1 series debut on record; maintained audience of more than 600,000 viewers 2+ throughout series’ run –
– HIGHWAY fans are socially engaged, generating more than 950 Tweets and 300 Facebook “likes” for last night’s special alone –
– December 25th Marathon includes eight-part series, companion special,
plus NEW unseen bonus episode –Discovery will ride again with Jamie Davis and his Heavy Rescue crew, as the channel commits to a second season of the original Canadian series, HIGHWAY THRU HELL. The mega-hit series, produced for Discovery by Vancouver’s Great Pacific TV, followed the highway heroes on Davis’ Heavy Rescue crew as they were called to to help truckers in trouble and keep B.C.’s vital transport highway, the Coquilhalla, open during the treacherous 2011-2012 winter season. To the delight of fans, the Season 2 announcement was made last night during the live chat on Twitter as the season was capped with a round-table companion special, HIGHWAY THRU HELL: AFTER THE CRASH. Season 2 will be filmed on “the Coq” during the 2012-2013 winter season and will continue to follow and capture the gripping experiences of Davis’ team.

Jamie Davis will return to the Coqilhalla – and Discovery – with another season of highway horrors.

The announcement will come as no surprise to the dedicated fans of the series. This season, viewers have climbed into the cabs alongside Jamie Davis and his heavy rescue crew in British Columbia’s Cascade Mountains. Riding along, they have experienced the steep hills, lethal drop-offs, killer rockslides, and brutal weather that characterizes the mountain passes east of Vancouver, known as the Highway Thru Hell. These are some of the most economically important, most travelled – and most inhospitable – trucking routes in North America. Plagued by winter storms, truckers spin out and smash up, and during the worst, the big wrecks can come as often as every 12 hours. In a place where closure is not an option, the call goes out for heavy rescue, and the big trucks must roll. And with another winter season just around the corner, there is no shortage of new stories – both harrowing and heroic – on the Coquilhalla Highway.

A monster hit with critics and viewers alike – HIGHWAY THRU HELL performed extremely well during its inaugural season. The September 4 premiere episode drew 661,000 viewers 2+, making it the highest-rated series premiere in Discovery’s history. Even during the competitive fall TV season, the series maintained momentum and averaged more than 611,000 viewers 2+ every Tuesday night throughout the eight-week run. Still clamoring for more stories from the Coq, preliminary audience numbers for last night’s HIGHWAY THRU HELL: AFTER THE CRASH special reveals that it was the #1 specialty program for Adults 25-54.

HIGHWAY THRU HELL was a hit on social media early on, generating conversation throughout the season on both Twitter and Facebook. On Twitter, @DiscoveryCanada and @HWYThruHell chatted with fans about the series, contributing to the more than 1,700 tweets using the hashtag #HwyThruHell. On-air snipes directing users to join the conversation during last night’s AFTER THE CRASH special generated more than 950 Twitter posts about the series, plus close to 300 “likes” and comments on Discovery’s Facebook page in a single evening. This type of activity is unprecedented for a Discovery Canada series, and signals growth in the network’s co-viewing audience.

It’s not too late for viewers to get caught up on HIGHWAY THRU HELL. Discovery announced today plans for a 10-hour marathon, airing Tues., Dec. 25 beginning at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. The marathon includes the full eight-part series, the AFTER THE CRASH special, plus a bonus never-seen-before new episode (at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT).

About Discovery
The world is just awesome! With compelling real-life programming that inspires and entertains, Discovery reveals the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. Discovery offers a signature mix of adrenaline-charged stories, larger-than-life personalities and vivid imagery for viewers with curious minds. With the best non-fiction programming from Canada and around the world, Discovery captures the excitement of a passion for life – one lived fully and at its most extreme. With exceptional and immersive storytelling, the channel offers in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the extraordinary people and places that shape our world. Launched in Canada in 1995, Discovery is now available in more than eight million Canadian homes. Discovery is offered in standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD) simulcast – for viewers who want an even bigger and bolder experience. Discovery Canada is a joint venture between Bell Media, which is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company, and Discovery Communications Inc. Find more information and interactive online features at discoverychannel.ca.

Stay Connected!

• Reality series set on Coquihalla Highway takes viewers to hell and back
• New doc series features ‘hellish’ Coquihalla Highway
• TV Tuesday

Twitter: @HWYThruHell, @DiscoveryCanada
Facebook: facebook.com/DiscoveryCanada

Contact The Promotion People

Website: thepromotionpeople.ca
Twitter: @PromotionPeople
Facebook: The Promotion People
Instagram: @promotion.people

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

Leave a reply

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”

Leave a reply

“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