Tag Archives: actress

International Artist Lisa Berry joins the cast of Continuum for their 4th and final season

IMG_2506Lisa was recently nominated for Best Actress at the Black Canadian Awards in Toronto and received a best ensemble Dora Mavor Moore Award nomination (Canada’s Tony) for her work in Young People’s Theatre production of To Kill A Mockingbird. 

Dynamic actor Lisa Berry is thrilled to join the cast of Showcase’s Continuum for their 4th and final season. Lisa’s character is a quick thinker, practical soldier and tough chick. Her character commands the respect of the group. Continuum’s final season premieres on September 4 on Showcase in Canada and on September 11 on Syfy in the USA.

Lisa Berry is an international artist whose work stretches across the big screen and the stage. Her comedic talents can be seen in her guest-starring role on the very funny Mr. D (CBC) as the school’s star basketball player’s mother, Kathy Lee Giffer.  Lisa also displayed her comedic talents in the recently released feature film “No Stranger than Love” starring alongside Alison Brie as one of her busy body best friends, who has an opinion about everything and everyone.

This Christmas, watch for Lisa in the Hallmark TV Movie Northpole 2 starring opposite Lorie Loughlin as the fast talking, holiday hating CEO, with only making money on the brain.

Earlier this year, Lisa joined the cast of Bravo’s hit cop drama 19-2 in their second season as Rita George, a tough but loveable Jamaican immigrant who brings compassion and balance to her boyfriend’s mischievous ways.

Lisa is quickly finding a home for herself in the horror genre with films like Saw V, Antiviral (directed by Brandon Cronenberg) and The Colony, (starring alongside Laurence Fishburne, Kevin Zegers and Bill Paxton)

Lisa’s most recognizable roles on television include Stella Marz, a district attorney on a mission for justice (starring opposite Dermot Mulroney) on TNT’s Silent Witness, Det. Roz Cabrera on CBC’s Cracked, Serena a flame throwing fae on SyFy’s Lost Girl and playing an assassin for hire alongside Stuart Townsend on Showcase’s XIII The Series.

Lisa’s training at The Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts has allowed her to enjoy the challenges that each new role brings, from her recurring role as a no nonsense nurse on ABC’s medical drama Combat Hospital, to the down to earth Princess Thaisa in Chicago Shakespeare Theatre’s production of PericlesLisa Berry.

Lisa has also been honored with a Trailblazer Award from the Reel World Film Festival and a Broadway World nomination for “best performance by an actress in a featured role” for her work as Calpurnia in Young People’s Theatre’s production of To Kill A Mockingbird. She was also happily surprised to receive her second Black Canadian Award nomination for her work in television this past year.  Lisa also enjoys working behind the scenes as an elected council member for ACTRA Toronto.

Having performed at both The Stratford and Shaw Festivals, two of the leading repertory theatre companies in Canada, Lisa has since gone on to play leading roles on all of the main Canadian stages.  Notable parts includes originating the role of Corporal Tanya Young in Trillium Award winner Hannah Moscovitch’s World Premier of This Is War,  Mayme in the Canadian Premier of the Pulitzer Prize winning play Intimate Apparel for Canadian Stage and Mrs. Muller opposite Canada’s My Big Fat Greek Wedding star Fiona Reid, in Doubt A. Parable.  Most recently, Lisa crossed the border making her American theatre stage debut to rave reviews, playing Thaisa opposite Ben Carlson in Chicago Shakespeare Theatre’s production of Pericles.

Lisa shares her life with fellow actor and Stratford star Dion Johnstone (Othello, The Tempest opposite Christopher Plummer). She is the youngest of four children, born and raised in Richmond Hill – just outside Toronto.  As a child she was shy and quiet – which is hard to believe for most who know her now – but with the help of her much louder siblings, she quickly found her voice. While Lisa enjoys immersing herself into both acting and coaching and is always looking for ways to stretch both personally and professionally, she never forgets to carve out a little time to relax and recharge.

Social Media Handles

Website:  lisaberrylive.com
Twitter: _LisaBerry
YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UC2qJoryd9kkFW3km2608L9A
Vimeo: demo reel: vimeo.com/129747819
stunt reel: vimeo.com/66471811

Contact The Promotion People

Lesley Diana – Founder, President and Publicist
lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca
604.726.5575

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

Actor Nicole Oliver keeps busy with roles in Hallmark’s Radio Hype, Lifetime’s Ungodly Acts, and the feature film Marrying the Family

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As one of the most respected voice-over actors Nicole continues to be in demand in animation

Multi-faceted Nicole Oliver continues to keep extremely busy with roles on screen as an actor and in the voice-over market. This spring Nicole divides her time with roles on Hallmark (Eone) “Radio Hype,” Lifetime’s “Ungodly Acts” and the feature film “Marrying the Family.” As one of the most respected voice-over actors Nicole continues to be in demand in Animation on Season 5 of “My Little Pony” now airing on Discovery Family and “Kate and Mim Mim” airing on the Disney Channel.

Hallmark’s “Radio Hype” is directed by Kris Tabori and is starring Alison Sweeney. Nicole has the role as Julie, the owner of a fashion boutique and sister to Nick (Jonathan Scarfe – Hell on Wheels). Carl Bessai directs Lifetime’s “Ungodly Acts”. Nicole plays Paula Martin one of the leaders of the Church of the Blessed Light Ministry.

“Marrying the Family” unites Nicole with many of the ensemble cast from the Film Festival darling (VIFF 2013; TIFF Next Wave 2014) “Leap for Your Life”. “Marrying the Family” follows Dylan (Taylor Hill), as she is getting ready for her wedding to her high school sweetheart Corey (Adam Di Marco). However, any plans for a simple wedding are put on hold when her wedding planner mother Kathy, played by Nicole, steps in to design a wedding Dylan will never forget. Marrying the Family is a sweet comedy about love, family, growing up and letting go and is directed by Peter Benson (What An Idiot).

Nicole Oliver has been nominated for several Leo Awards for her work on both the small and big screen. She is the recipient of the UBCP/ACTRA award for Best Voice for her work in animation.

She has guest starred on numerous television series “Supernatural and “Rogue”. She has also starred in many MOW’s including “The Christmas Ornament” starring Cameron Mathison and Kellie Martin, “The Woodcarver” with John Ratzenberger; “Taken Back – Finding Haley” with Amanda Tapping and “Innocent” with Bill Pullman and Marcia Gay Harden. For four seasons, Nicole was also the host on the hit Slice Network series “Crash Test Mommy”. A high light for Nicole was acting along side her young son, William Ainscough, who starred as Billy in City TV’s “Seed” for two seasons.

Well known throughout the world at Brony and Fan Conventions as Princess Celestia and Cheerilee on “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic” and Zoe on the cartoon “Littlest Pet Shop”, her voice-over work continues to thrive. In animation, she has popular roles on “Max Steel”, “Martha Speaks”, “Strawberry Shortcake”, and “Superbook”. She is currently the voice for Wireless Wave, and has provided her voice to over 100 companies including American Express, Starbucks, Salon Selectives, Club House, and IKEA.

Nicole Oliver has worked for over twenty years in the entertainment industry as an actor, producer, and director. This multi-talented, incredibly busy mother and professional has mastered the balance between family and work, and has furthered her education with a Masters of Arts in Communication from Royal Roads University (2011). She is the recipient of both the Founders Award for leadership and sustainability and the Chancellors Award for highest academic achievement.

Nicole believes that diversification is the key to success, and that with success in life there can be balance. She resides in Vancouver with her husband and their two sons. Nicole is available for interviews and photographs upon request.

Social Media Handles

Website: nicoleoliver.com
Twitter: @mouthnoize
IMDb: Nicole Oliver

Contact The Promotion People

Lesley Diana – Founder, President and Publicist
lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca
604.726.5575

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

Read Sonja Bennett’s journey to writing her first screenplay for the now popular feature film Preggoland now playing in theatres in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal in Canada and opens in the US on May 8th to a limited release in 10 cities.

MongrelMedia_Preggoland_Onesheet_V2By Sonja Bennett

The almost rise, kinda fall, and sorta resurrection of a Canadian actress

In 2001 I was in theatre school getting the dregs of the acting roles. In the last production, I played eight parts – two of which were barnyard animals. My career goal at that point was to be a Bard on the Beach regular and maybe not have to live with three roommates. But my prospects weren’t looking great.

Then something happened. My father, Guy Bennett, was about to direct his first feature, Punch, about a father-daughter relationship. The story goes that the producer said offhandedly, “Too bad your daughter isn’t an actress, that’d be a good hook.” Um, does a proficiency in the back half of a horse costume count? I was “cast” in the movie and my career in film was put in motion.

Headhunters from Fox television were at our TIFF premiere and put me on a contract old-school style like I was Shirley Temple or something. Me and a little unknown comic named Zach Galifianakis. Ever heard of him?

Suddenly I was being groomed as “the next Calista Flockhart.” But my body rebelled against this idea. Somewhere I had read that cashew nuts were a healthy snack and I was eating them by the Dan-D-Pak. I gained 20 pounds, had a stress rash all over my face and had developed an audition-selective stutter. I was completely unprepared for 12-page last minute auditions in LA where I had no support network except my loyal agent, Dylan Collingwood, who came down and tried to help jam lines in my head and figure out the LA highway system.

Needless to say, I didn’t get my Ally McBeal, nothing came of my Fox contract and I slinked back to Vancouver with my tail between my legs. My ego was bruised pretty bad and I took to embarrassing behaviour like hitting gold-level tanning beds to give the town the impression I was “just up from LA for the weekend.”

Six months after my Fox contract had ended, I booked the new lead character on the seventh season of the Canadian series Cold Squad, and despite my whole management team’s disappointment, I was very happy. From that point on I worked steadily for almost a decade. I did comedy, I did drama, I got to work with Atom Egoyan and I won awards and stuff. Life was pretty sweet. I’d once again redefined what my dreams were and could say I was now living it.

A_EDA3254nd then the recession happened.

Movie stars were turning to shitty TV for work, and the roles I realistically had a shot at were getting smaller and sillier and less lucrative. I had also turned 30 and was apparently no longer the “right kind” of pretty for Smallville. So I did what most actresses do when the work dries up. I decided it’s time to have a baby!

I’m kidding – sort of. Motherhood gave a context to my career. I tried being pickier with roles, but all the good ones went to Oscar winners.

My body was starting to rebel against the slog of being a Vancouver actress in her 30s; to the high probability that the project I was auditioning for had the word “Fatal” or “Tornado” in the title.

I was getting bitter-actress-itis.

I remember my kid saying, “Mama sad, mama have dish-in.” I guess I was sad about my “dish-in” and more importantly I wasn’t a good enough actor to hide it from my son.

So I stopped acting. For almost three years. It was hard. But it was the right decision. I detoxed from the crack that is the highs and lows of the entertainment industry, I had a second child without consulting the UBCP/ACTRA “what’s shooting” list, and I went back to university to seek out another career path cause god knows if I’m not pretty enough for Smallville I’m definitely not getting a job at Cactus Club.

But I still found myself drawn to my husband’s (actor Stephen Lobo) callsheets and scripts. I missed being creative and telling stories and making movies. I wanted back in but knew it had to be different this time round.

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I decided to write myself the juicy lead role that no one was going to give me otherwise. The plan was to write a starring vehicle to resuscitate my nearly dead career. I had stories from my motherhood experiences and I came up with the concept for a movie called Preggoland.

And then I wrote. Before my kids woke up, during their naptimes, in the middle of the night if I couldn’t sleep. I channeled all that creative energy into a story. My dear friend Kevin Eastwood agreed to produce. Ironically, by far the most difficult thing about getting the film made was convincing the decision makers to have me star in it. But the producers and the director, Jacob Tierney, supported me entirely – which meant a much smaller budget and a bigger pain in the ass for all involved. They did it anyway and never made me feel guilty.

Now, of course, I would never be so cavalier as to suggest the answer to all out-of-work actresses is to just “go out and make a feature.” It was the simple act of being creative on my own terms and taking control of my own destiny that empowered me. My bitter actress-itis was cured long before Preggoland went into production.

And did all my dreams come true with this film? Has Hollywood come knocking?

I guess the answer is, I don’t know yet. I’m not thinking about it all that much because I’m too busy with my family and the new ideas in my head. In my quest to write a vehicle to launch a “comeback,” I fell in love with writing along the way. And so the parameters of my dream life have shifted once again.

I won’t pretend that it doesn’t twinge my heart a little when I see Zach Galifianakis hosting Saturday Night Live and wonder what could have been if I’d laid off the cashews. But then I move on fast because I’m too busy writing my next feature.

-Sonja Bennett

Social Media Handles

Website: sonjabennett.camongrelmedia.com/film/preggoland.aspxindiegogo.com/projects/preggoland-help-us-finish-the-movie
Twitter: @sonjabennett123@Preggoland
Facebook: facebook.com/Preggoland
IMDb: imdb.com/name/nm1060641/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Contact The Promotion People

Lesley Diana – Founder, President and Publicist
lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca
604.726.5575

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

STAR AND SCREENWRITER SONJA BENNETT’S FEATURE FILM “PREGGOLAND” OPENS MAY 1ST IN CANADA AND MAY 8TH IN THE USA THE FILM SHOWCASES HER MANY TALENTS WITH CO-STARS OSCAR NOMINEE JAMES CAAN AND DANNY TREJO

The Promotion People - Sonja BennettTaking two years off to make Preggoland Sonja books her first role back on ABC’s “Mistresses”

Star and Screenwriter Sonja Bennett’s Feature Film Preggoland will be released Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal in Canada on May 1st and in the US on May 8th to a limited release in 10 cities.

Preggoland is very much Sonja Bennett’s baby (pun intended!). The movie marks her foray into screenwriting; in addition to starring in the Canadian indie, the award-winning actress penned the script.  Sonja realized there weren’t as many roles for women over 30, so she decided to be proactive about her career by writing herself the juicy lead she’d been craving.   “I was interested in exploring of how motherhood changes female friendships, the artifice of this giant clique of motherhood and the pregnancy pedestal,” Sonja shares. Inspiration came from Bennett’s 
own experience of becoming pregnant with her now five-year-old son.

Montreal’s Jacob Tierney (The Trotsky) directs Preggoland, a laugh-out-loud comedy about a 35-year old woman Ruth (Sonja Bennett) whose high school friends have moved onto motherhood, while she’s still partying in the parking lot. But when Ruth is mistakenly thought to be “with child,” 
her life changes – old pals embrace her, strangers give up their seats and her father (James Caan) approves of her for the first time. How can she keep up the ruse? Also starring are Lisa Durupt (Ruth’s baby-wanting sister), Paul Campbell (the 
boss Ruth bonds with over a song), Jared Keeso (the doctor she surprises) and 
Danny Trejo (the co-worker who surprises her).

Photo by Ed Araquel
BCBGMAXAZRIA

Preggoland_Lisa Durupt, Sonja Bennett and James Caan

 

The film opened to a much-hyped premiere as a Special Presentation at TIFF and in Sonja’s hometown at the Vancouver International Film Festival where it won the Most Popular Canadian Feature Film Award and was nominated for best BC film by the VFCC. Preggoland won the Best screenplay award at the Fargo film festival and most recently, on March 15th, the film won the audience choice award for best feature film at the Omaha Film Fest and screened at Miami 2015. Upcoming festivals include Sonoma International Festival on March 27th, the Gasparilla Film Festival in Tampa Bay Florida where Preggoland will be the closing night film and the film has also been accepted into the Bejing Film Festival.

Dorkshelf says “Preggoland has a stellar script and a star making performance from writer and lead Sonja Bennett.” Scene Creek billed the film “smart and savvy” while NOW Magazine said “Bennett’s written a sharp comedy that explores the societal pressure on women without children and gives a knockout performance as bad girl Ruth.”

After taking two years off to make Preggoland Sonja books her first role back as a ballerina with a blood disorder in the third season of ABC’s drama/thriller Mistresses. She and her husband (Ed Quinn) get tangled up in the lives of one of the Mistresses in an interesting way. Sonja will join the series stars Jes Macallan, Rochelle Aytes, Yunjin Kim, and Jennifer Esposito.

Acting for more than 10 years, Sonja Bennett has appeared in critically acclaimed films such as Atom Egoyan’s Where the Truth LiesElegy starring Ben Kingsley and Penélope Cruz, and TIFF opening night film Young People Fucking – for which she earned a Vancouver Film Critics Circle award. The Vancouver native has kept an equally busy profile on the small screen with recurring roles in Eureka, Battlestar Galatica, Blade: The Series. Her performances in Random Acts of RomanceIn No Particular Order, Cole and the TV series Godivas and Cold Squad garnered her Leo Gemini, and Genie nominations.

Shot in Vancouver, the film is produced by Kevin Eastwood (Fido) and Dylan Collingwood, Fake-a-baby Productions, Titlecard Pictures Inc. and Optic

Nerve Films Inc. with the support of Telefilm. Preggoland is being released in Canada by Mongrel Media.

Social Media Handles

Website: sonjabennett.camongrelmedia.com/film/preggoland.aspxindiegogo.com/projects/preggoland-help-us-finish-the-movie
Twitter: @sonjabennett123@Preggoland
Facebook: facebook.com/Preggoland
IMDb: imdb.com/name/nm1060641/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Contact The Promotion People

Lesley Diana – Founder, President and Publicist
lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca
604.726.5575

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

Congratulations Gabrielle Miller and Alexander Cendese on their engagement!

Gabrielle Miller and Alexander Cendese are happy to announce their engagement. Gabrielle and Alexander met in New York City in 2012 performing together in an Off Broadway play at the prestigious Cherry Lane Theatre in the West Village. Gabrielle is a Gemini award winning actor most known for her work in the hit TV series Corner Gas as well as the recent films Down River and Moving Day. Alexander Cendese is an American/Canadian New York based theatre, film and television actor, as well as a writer and producer, and an Alumni of the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama. Together they run Loud Cowboy Productions and split their time between New York and Toronto. Alexander had Gabrielle’s ring designed and cast by Charles Freshman at Freshman’s Inc., a renowned jeweler in Salt Lake City, Utah, est. 1895. Their wedding will take place in August of 2015 at Whispering Oaks Ranch near Moab, Utah.

Social Media Handles

Twitter: @MillerGabrielle@alexcendese
Instagram: @gmiller1

Contact The Promotion People

Lesley Diana – Founder, President and Publicist
lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca
604.726.5575

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

William Ainscough is nominated for a Joey Award for his role as Billy on ‘Seed’

Watch William in ‘The Christmas Secret’, a Hallmark Movies World Premiere on Sunday, December 7, 9/8c
And ‘The Haunting Hour’ episode entitled Spores set to air on Discovery Family in November 2014

W646Ainscough copy

Young Actor William Ainscough continues to receive nominations for his starring role as Billy in CityTV’s ‘Seed’ at the Joey Awards in the Young Actor age 9 or younger in a TV series Comedy Action Leading Role category.  The Joey Awards will be held in New Westminster BC on November 16thwww.joeyawards.com

The Joey Awards have been established to recognize young performers in Canada through awards, and educate their parents on keeping their young performers safe in the crazy world of Showbiz.” The Joey Awards goal is to reward young actors and actresses in Canada for their hard work and dedication to their craft.

William has received other award nominations for ‘Seed’ including a 2014 Leo Award nomination for best performance in a Comedy, Variety or Musical www.leoawards.com and his 2013 Actor nomination for the ‘BEST NEWCOMER’ category for the UBCP/ACTRA Awards (www.ubcp.com).  ‘Seed’ stars a talented ensemble cast headed by Adam Korson (2 Broke Girls).

It was clear after booking his first two auditions that acting for William was a path well chosen. William’s very first attempt at acting was a success, when he landed his first audition in an open casting call for the feature film Hidden’. William was successful in landing the role of Joey, a slightly shy and soulful boy and close friend and neighbor of Zoe’s (Emily Alyn Lind). The feature film, which follows a family hiding in a bomb shelter after a mysterious outbreak devastates civilization, stars Alexander Skarsgard (True Blood, Battleship) and Andrea Riseborough (Oblivion, Never Let Me Go). The film Hidden, directed by The Duffer Brothers is slated for theatrical release.

William

William has a supporting role as Zach in ‘The Christmas Secret’, a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Original World Premiere on Sunday, December 7, 9/8c starring Bethany Joy Lenz and John Reardon. http://www.hallmarkmoviesandmysteries.com/the-most-wonderful-movies-of-christmas/most-wonderful-movies William will also be seen in his Guest Star role as Melvin in ‘The Haunting Hour’ episode entitled Spores set to air on the new Discovery Family in November 2014.

Other recent highlights for William include playing the iconic role of John Darling in ABC’s ‘Once Upon a Time,’ and a major supporting role in ‘Zapped’ the television feature for the new Disney Channel starring the US pop music sensation and actor Zendaya.

Following in his parent’s footsteps (Nicole Oliver, actress; Chris Ainscough, composer/film editor), William Ainscough is making a serious impression in the entertainment industry. It was after watching his mother in action during visits to the sets of some of her film projects that William’s interest in the acting world began. Nicole inspired him to try acting for himself and began taking classes.  William has had the chance to act opposite his mother in several episodes of ‘Seed’, when she plays Billy’s teacher and principal, Mrs. Anderson.

Aside from acting, William is an accomplished drummer, loves soccer and baseball, and is a huge fan of the online game Minecraft.

Social Media Handles

Website: citytv.com
Facebook: Seed
Twitter:  @Seed_tv

Contact The Promotion People

Lesley Diana – Founder, President and Publicist
lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca
604.726.5575

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

Star and Screenwriter Sonja Bennett’s feature film “Preggoland” showcase her many talents at TIFF and VIFF with co-star Oscar nominee James Caan

The Promotion People - Sonja BennettEarly reviews are in. Critics love Sonja’s edgy comedy-drama

Preggoland is very much Sonja Bennett’s baby (pun intended!). The movie marks her foray into screenwriting; in addition to starring in the Canadian indie, the award-winning actress penned the script.  Opening to a much-hyped premiere at TIFF Canadian feature Preggoland will screen in Sonja’s hometown at the Vancouver International Film Festival.

Sonja realized there weren’t as many roles for women over 30, so she decided to be proactive about her career by writing herself the juicy lead she’d been craving.   “I was interested in exploring of how motherhood changes female friendships, the artifice of this giant clique of motherhood and the pregnancy pedestal,” Sonja shares.

The Promotion People - Sonja Bennett & James CaanThe early reviews are in and critics love the edgy comedy-drama written co-starring Oscar-nominee James Caan and veteran actor Danny Trejo.  Dorkshelf says “Preggoland has a stellar script and a star making performance from writer and lead Sonja Bennett.” Scene Creek billed the film “smart and savvy” while NOW Toronto said “Bennett’s written a sharp comedy that explores the societal pressure on women without children and gives a knockout performance as bad girl Ruth.”

Filmed in Vancouver, Preggoland centers on a boozing 35-year-old woman (Bennett) whose life turns upside down when is mistakenly thought to be pregnant. All of a sudden Ruth (whose life was more in tune with a teenager than a 30-something grown woman) earns her father’s approval, nabs the attention of her friends, and saves her job.  Ultimately she finds the glorious perks of pregnancy to seductive to ignore.

Laura Harris (24, Defying Gravity), Paul Campbell (Spun Out, Battlestar Galatica), Jared Keeso (Godzilla, Elysium, 19-2), and Lisa Durupt (Shall We Dance, Less Than Kind) round out the talented cast. The Trotsky’s Jacob Tierney directs with Kevin Eastwood and Dylan Collingwood as producers.

Preggoland premiered at TIFF as part of the prestigious Special Presentations programme. The buzzed-about film will have its hometown debut during VIFF.

Acting for more than 10 years, Sonja Bennett has appeared in critically acclaimed films such as Atom Egoyan’s Where the Truth Lies, Elegy starring Ben Kingsley and Penélope Cruz, and TIFF opening night film Young People Fucking – for which she earned a Vancouver Film Critics Circle award. The Vancouver native has kept an equally busy profile on the small screen with recurring roles in Eureka, Battlestar Galatica, Blade: The Series. Her performances in Random Acts of Romance, In No Particular Order, Cole and the TV series Godivas and Cold Squad garnered her Leo Gemini, and Genie nominations.

Preggoland is produced by Fake-a-baby Productions, Titlecard Pictures Inc. and Optic Nerve Films Inc. and with the support of Telefilm.

Social Media Handles

Website: sonjabennett.ca, mongrelmedia.com/film/preggoland.aspx
Twitter: @sonjabennett123@Preggoland
Facebook: facebook.com/Preggoland
IMDb: imdb.com/name/nm1060641/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Contact The Promotion People

Lesley Diana – Founder, President and Publicist
lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca
604.726.5575

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

William Ainscough stars in City TV’s series “Seed” set to premiere on the CW Network in July, co-stars in Disney Channel’s ‘Zapped’ out June 27th and was a nominee for a 2014 Leo Award

The Promotion People - William AinscoughIn the past year, William Ainscough has been recognized for his hard work on “SEED”; being nominated for the 2013 UBCP Best Newcomer and most recently for a 2014 Leo Award Best Performance in a Music, Comedy, or Variety Program or Series category. William was also thrilled to attend the CSAs in Toronto in March to celebrate Seed’s 8 CSA nominations including Best Comedic Series.

The first season of “SEED” was hailed as both a critical and commercial success and has been picked up by U.S. network The CW set to debut on the CW Monday July 14. William returned to his starring role of Billy Jones-Krasnoff in the second season of “SEED” and is just wrapping up airing Thursday nights at 9pm on CityTV. The series stars Adam Korson (2 Broke Girls) as Harry, a bachelor-bartender and sperm donor. Harry discovers that his foray into the world of sperm donation has resulted in kids – lots of kids! This ill-equipped bachelor finds himself entangled in the lives of his newfound children and their less-than-thrilled families with whom he’ll come to share more than just his DNA.

The Promotion People - William Ainscough SEED

William Ainscough has been busy with other several acting gigs; having played the iconic role of John Darling in ABC’s “Once Upon a Time”, completing a major supporting role in “The Christmas Ornament” for Hallmark Channel coming out this December, and a leading role on “The Haunting Hour”, which will air on the HUB Network later this year.

Continuously pursuing his acting ambitions, William also booked a role in the comedic Disney Channel Original Movie “Zapped”, set to debut June 27, 2014. He has been working with multi-talented recording artist/actress Zendaya (“Dancing with the Stars,” “Shake It Up”), who will be headlining “Zapped,” the story of Zoey, a girl whose well-ordered life is up-ended when her mother remarries and she finds herself part of a family composed of rambunctious, chaotic – and most of all – messy boys and a male dog, to boot. William plays Ben, the youngest and messiest of Zendaya’s step-brothers.

After booking his first two auditions, it was clear that acting was a path well chosen for William. He has been thrilled to be able to add actor and his new bookings to his resume of accomplishments. Following in his parent’s footsteps (Nicole Oliver, actress; Chris Ainscough, composer/film editor), William Ainscough is making a serious impression in the entertainment industry. William has had the chance to act opposite his mother in several episodes of SEED , when she plays Billy’s teacher/Vice Principal, Mrs. Anderson.

It was after watching his mother in action during visits to the sets of some of her film projects that William’s interest in the acting world began. Nicole inspired him to try acting for himself and his very first attempt at acting was a success, when he landed his first audition in May 2012—an open casting call for a new feature film “Hidden”. The feature film, which follows a family hiding in a bomb shelter after a mysterious outbreak devastates civilization, stars Alexander Skarsgard (True Blood, Battleship) and Andrea Riseborough (Oblivion, Never Let Me Go). William was successful in landing the role of Joey, a slightly shy and soulful boy and close friend and neighbor of Zoe’s (Emily Alyn Lind). The film Hidden, directed by The Duffer Brothers, and is set to hit theatres in 2014.

Aside from acting, William is an accomplished drummer, loves soccer and baseball, and is a huge fan of the online game Minecraft.

 

Social Media Handles

Website: citytv.com
Facebook: Seed
Twitter:  @Seed_tv

Contact The Promotion People

Lesley Diana – Founder, President and Publicist
lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca
604.726.5575

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

HAVEN STUDIO AND THE BABZ CHULA SOCIETY BRING YOU A BIG PARTY DEC 19TH IN VANCOUVER

The Promotion People - Violet Fundraiser

Haven Studio and Babz Chula have organized a fundraiser party for actor and dear friend Violet Cameron.

“Sometimes we need to take care of each other.” – Babz Chula

Despite having had cancer twice and having undergone months on end of brutal treatments, Violet Cameron has remained positive and grateful for every moment. Her words have inspired Ben Ratner‘s students in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, and Winnipeg. Loretta’s students at Haven Studio have also been deeply touched and inspired by Violet’s bravery. She made many people remember how lucky they are to be able to do what they want to do, and showed them what true tenacity looks like. Violet wants to live, act and inspire others, but she needs our help to have a chance.

“Because of your letters, words of encouragement, love and support, I have gotten my fight back. I am looking forward to the near future when I can walk thru that door to the studio as a free person. Acting is everything to me …thank you for giving me hope.” – Violet Cameron

What: Violet Cameron Fundraiser
When: Thursday, December 19th, 2013
Time: 7PM to 1AM
Where: The Anza Club, 3 W 8th Ave, Vancouver
Tickets: $20

 

Please GET TICKETS IN ADVANCE. This party will sell out fast — it’s a small venue with a great musical line-up.

For more info on Violet’s wellness plan check out: violetcameron.com

Social Media Handles

Website: violetcameron.com, benratner.com
Twitter: @Haven_Studio, @babzchula@loretta_walsh

Contact The Promotion People

Lesley Diana – Founder, President and Publicist
lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca
604.726.5575

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

 

Congratulations to William Ainscough star of CITY TV’s series “Seed” for presenting a cheque for $1210 to the Music Therapy Program at the IWK Foundation in Halifax

The Promotion People - William Ainscough

Young actor William Aisncough raised money while taping CITY TV’s “SEED” to contribute to the Music Therapy Program at the IWK Health Centre Foundation in Halifax.

Just wrapping up filming the second season of “SEED” in Halifax, Nova Scotia, William found inspiration by the beauty of the province and the kindness and generosity of the people. His hope was to give the gift of music to brighten the day and make it a little easier for the children who are going through treatments at IWK.

Continuing in the spirit of giving, the production company Force Four Entertainment generously matched what William raised and presented them with a cheque for $1210.

 

The Promotion People - William Ainscough

Alongside William, CITY TV’s hit series “SEED” stars Adam Korson (from the CBS hit comedy 2 Broke Girls). Adam Korson plays a bachelor-bartender and sperm donor who becomes an overnight father to three different children. Adam begins his relationship with the families of his children: an upper-class family with a rebellious teenage daughter, a neurotically hopeful single mother-to-be, and a laid-back lesbian couple with a 9-year-old son Billy who is played by William.

William Aisncough was also recently nominated for his first UBCP/ACTRA Award in the ‘BEST NEWCOMER’ category for his starring role in “SEED”. The awards were handed out in Vancouver on November 24th. The first season of “Seed” was hailed as both a critical and commercial success and was picked up by U.S. network The CW.

Photography by Ross den Otter

 

Social Media Handles

Website: forcefour.com, iwk.nshealth.ca, citytv.com
Facebook: IWK Health Centre Foundation, Seed
Twitter:  @ForceFourEnt, @IWKFoundation, @Seed_tv

Contact The Promotion People

Lesley Diana – Founder, President and Publicist
lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca
604.726.5575

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