Tag Archives: Lesley Diana

Andrea Menard To Release Fourth Album, LIFT, A Musical Switch To Something Positive

Regina Symphony Orchestra will join Menard, led by Charles T. Cozens on the same day Lift hits shelves, May 3^rd 2014

Andrea Menard, beloved for her work in television and film (Blackstone, Rabbit Fall) and for her catalogue of musical releases including 2002’s The Velvet Devil, 2005’s Simple Steps, and 2009’s Sparkle, will be merging her unique style and “tour-de-force performance” [Ottawa Sun] with conductor Charles T. Cozens and the Regina Symphony Orchestra for I Am Andrea Menard on May 3^rd, 2014. Coinciding with this special show is the release of Menard’s album Lift, produced by longtime collaborator Robert Walsh.

Lift, written and produced with Edmonton-based producer Robert Walsh, marks their fourth collaboration together, came to life partly due to a hugely successful Indiegogo campaign supported by Menard’s passionate and enthusiastic fan base, who raised $12,000 towards the album’s production and release. The songs on Lift, in Menard’s own words, are “good medicine”, once again showcasing the unique musical chemistry between Menard and Walsh. Recorded at Unity Gain Productions, a straw bale facility built on a beautiful oasis in rural Manitoba, Lift captures the spirit and atmosphere of the sessions and the raw emotion and power in Menard’s voice. Lift is being released and promoted through Real World Artist Management.

Menard will be playing select dates to celebrate the release of Lift, including May 11^th Saskatoon; May 14^th Calgary; May 16^th Edmonton, May 23^rd Vancouver, June 16^th Toronto, June 18^th Ottawa, June 23rd Winnipeg.

I Am Andrea Menard, Menard’s new Symphony Show, will feature Menard and the RSO performing numbers composed by Menard and Walsh, with Walsh playing guitar and singing, and Cozens conducting. I Am Andrea Menard features a night of showstoppers specially arranged by Cozens, with additional arrangements written by Robert Walsh, Rick Wilkins, Micky Erbe, John Welsman, Anthony Rozankovic, and Pete Coulman.

About Robert Walsh
Robert Walsh, is an award winning singer-songwriter, musician and producer who has performed with artists such as The Pointer Sisters, Tom Cochrane, Renée Fleming, Petula Clark, The Canadian Tenors and Johnny Reid, is a member of Franco-Albertan roots group Allez Ouest, and has been featured often with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. Walsh is the author of a music theory book and also teaches at Edmonton’s MacEwan University.

About Charles T. Cozens
Charles Cozens is an award winning conductor, orchestrator, and composer who has arranged and conducted for the likes of Elton John, Janelle Monae, Divine Brown, Serena Ryder, RyanDan, Chantal Kreviazuk, Molly Johnson, The Nylons, The Canadian Tenors, The Canadian Brass and Quartetto Gelato, among others. Cozens has over 90 CD recordings to his credit.

Social Media Handles

Website: andreamenard.com, velvetdevil.com, expandreamenard.com, themusicmessengers.com
Twitter: @andreamenard
Facebook: facebook.com/andreamenardmusic
YouTube: youtube.com/velvetdevilmenard

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

The Canadian Premiere of Tommy Smith’s ‘White Hot’ starring Loretta Walsh, Noel Johansen, Stefania Indelicato and Charlie Carrick to be directed by Ben Ratner at The Shop Theatre from May 8th to May 17th, 2014

Playwright Tommy Smith will be in attendance on Opening Night May 8^th

Director Ben Ratner and Actor/Producers Loretta Walsh and Noel Johansen are teaming up again for the highly anticipated Canadian Premiere of Tommy Smith’s ‘White Hot’ coming to Vancouver audiences from May 8^th to May 17^th at The Shop Theatre.

Fresh off the theatrical release of his award-winning film Down River, Ratner has assembled a fine cast to take on this provocative and challenging script. Produced by Walsh’s Kindred Entertainment, this promises to be another top-notch production from strong new voices in the Vancouver theatre scene.

After a successful collaboration last year with the play ‘Dinner with Friends’, Ratner (Down River) will be directing, while Walsh (When Calls the Heart) and Johansen (Adeline) are acting, joined by fast-rising actors Stefania Indelicato (Annual Getaway) and Charlie Carrick (The Borgias) in the Canadian Premiere of this powerful and engaging play.

” **** Incendiary … [Tommy Smith’s] dialogue has brass on its knuckles … WHITE HOT brands Smith forcefully as a talent to watch and to stomach.” — Adam Feldman, TIME OUT NEW YORK

“A beautifully written study in nihilism … revealing why so many marriages, based on such blind attempts at controlling another person and some understandably devious responses to it, lead to duplicitous affairs.” – Steven Leigh Morris, LA WEEKLY

“White Hot is a fever blister of a play. It’s not nice. It’s not pretty. It’s raw and tough and meaty, grown up theater for adults who crave intellectual and artistic drama.” – Michael Strangeways, SEATTLE GAY SCENE

‘White Hot’ is a darkly comedic psycho-drama crammed into a love triangle between a troubled woman, her opportunistic husband, and her trashed sister. Burrowing fearlessly into themes of sexual deviance and social depravity, White Hot playfully struts the razor’s edge between hilarity and horror.

New York based Playwright Tommy Smith will be in attendance opening night on May 8^th

Photography Credit: Chara Berk

Social Media Handles

Website: kindredentertainment.com, lorettawalsh.com, benratner.com
Twitter: @kindredent, @loretta_walsh, @noel_johansen, @Haven_Studio, @IndelicateStefa
Facebook: facebook.com/kindredentertainment

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

For Canadian actor/producer Corey Large, the drug drama ‘Kid Cannabis’ out April 18 is just the first of many feature films for one of the busiest movie producers in North America this year

Production in the works s with Martin Scorsese, Mark Wahlberg, Russell Crowe, Bruce Willis and Liam Neeson

Meet actor, writer and producer Corey Large, who’s emerging as one of the most sough-after producers in Hollywood and Canada – with nearly 15 projects slated for release in 2014/15. Born in Victoria, this B.C. boy who has been under the radar is now flying high working with a dream team of A-listers . We’re talking the likes of Martin Scorsese, Russell Crowe, Mark Wahlberg, John Cusack, Pierce Brosnan, Anne Hathaway, 50 Cent, Liam Neeson, Mila Kunis, and the list goes on!

Corey heads up Wingman Productions – the company behind John Stockwell’s “Kid Cannabis,” which hits theatres across North America on April 18. The Canadian talent also acts in Stockwell’s drug drama starring veteran actors Ron Perlman (“Sons of Anarchy”) and John C. McGinley (“Scrubs”). Based on Mark Binelli’s 2005 article in Rolling Stone, “Kid Cannabis” tells the true story of Nate Norman (Jonathan Daniel Brown), an Idaho teen dropout who builds a multimillion-dollar marijuana ring by trafficking drugs across the Canadian border. His pursuit of the high life – complete with girls, guns, and vicious rival drug lords – gets this ex-pizza boy and his delinquent pals in over their heads.

The year 2014 will prove to be Corey’s busiest yet. He’s producing and executive producing over 10 films, including Martin Scorsese’s period piece “Silence,” which features an all-star cast rounded out by Liam Neeson, “Spider-Man’s” Andrew Garfield, and Adam Driver (“Girls”). Other projects include “The Prince” starring Bruce Willis, John Cusack and Jessica Lowndes, “Any Day” featuring Sean Bean, Eva Longoria, and “Unconscious” starring Kate Bosworth and Wes Bentley.

Other feature films being released this year are ‘November Man’ starring Pierce Bronson, Lucey Bucey and Olga Kurylenko in the Roger Donaldson directed spy-thriller an adaptation of the Bill Granger novel There Are No Spies, in which a former CIA operative who is brought back in on a very personal mission finds himself pitted against his former protégé in a deadly game involving high-level CIA officials and the Russian President-elect. Also ‘Poker Night’ filmed in Victoria starring Ron Pearlman, Giancario Esposito, Lochlyn Munro and Michael Eklund will be released this November.

Corey took matters into his own hands early on in his career. In 2003, the Victoria-native established Wingman Productions to create his own noteworthy projects, enabling him to run his studio and control the direction of his movies. The goal was simple: produce mainstream features on a budget, without compromising quality. His recipe worked and by the time Corey turned 30 he had already raised more than $100 million dollars for film productions.

Some of the vast talent Corey has worked with through his various Wingman projects include: Nicolas Cage, Liam Hemsworth, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Emma Roberts, Adam Brody, Jesse Metcalfe, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Kaley Cuoco, Tom Sizemore,

Corey continues to show audiences that he is a versatile producer. The actor-turned-movie-maker has multiple projects on the go, including the action packed comedy/horror film “Zombeavers,” Martin Scorcese’s “Revenge of the Green Dragons,” and “Empire State,” which is headlined by The Rock and Liam Hemsworth (“The Hunger Games”). Other features under his belt include “Don Peyote” featuring Josh Duhamel, Dan Fogler and Anne Hathaway, and the upcoming comedy ““The Angriest Man in Brooklyn” starring Mila Kunis and Oscar-winner Robin Williams.

Staying prevalent in the acting realm, Corey recently appeared in the critically acclaimed “Lone Survivor” starring Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch and Eric Bana.

Proving he’s not afraid of multitasking, the busy moviemaker wrote, produced and acted in the film “Chasing Ghost” starring Michael Madsen, Shannyn Sossamon and Meat Loaf, which he sold to Sony Pictures. Along with his partners, Corey has written, produced, co-starred in and sold a number of other full-length features to Hollywood studios, including: “Loaded”,“ Toxic”, “The Penthouse”, “The Obama Effect”, “Welcome to the Jungle”, and “The Frozen Ground”.

In 2004 Corey founded Tunnel Post, an in-house post-production company based in Santa Monica that specializes in creating high-end content for film, television and live events. The company has provided digital intermediate and post production services to practically every major player in Hollywood, including 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures, Universal Studios, Lionsgate, The Weinstein Company and MGM. Networks include: CBS, NBC, HBO, ESPN, The History Channel, The CW, and Syfy. Among Tunnel Post’s feature film projects are “Killing them Softly” with Brad Pitt, “Broken City” with Russell Crowe and Mark Wahlberg, and “The Tomb” with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone.

The 38-year-old producer was born and raised in Victoria, BC. In his early twenties Corey moved to Vancouver to pursue film and television roles, and started booking projects immediately. In 2003 he wrote, produced and starred in his first film, “Window Theory.” 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 splits his time between Los Angeles and Victoria, continuing to produce feature films in Canada. Staying true to his roots, the busy mogul will venture back to Vancouver/Victoria to produce, and also act, in “The Passenger” alongside Vancouver actor/set designer Chad Krowchuk who will be directing the film.

Social Media Handles

Website: trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/kidcannabis, wingmanproductions.com
Twitter: @kidcannabis
Facebook: facebook.com/KCTheMovie
IMDb: Corey Large

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

Horror-Thriller Feature Film ‘CANDiLAND’ starring Gary Busey, James Clayton and Chelah Horsdal

Shooting schedule allows time for actors to have a dramatic weight loss to become emaciated for their roles.

Busey’s character showcases his incredible humanity and dramatic talent.

Motorcycle Boy Productions and Greendale Productions are pleased to announce the horror-thriller feature film CANDiLAND will be in production in Vancouver from April 13 to 20, 2014. Executive Producers are James Clayton (Down The Line), Blaine Anderson and Roseanne Milliken (Tucker & Dale vs Evil). Producers are Marc Petey (Down The Line) and Marena Dix. Screenplay is written and directed by Rusty Nixon and based on the novel Candyland by award winning novelist, Elizabeth Engstrom. Music supervision and original score is by Gemini Award Winner, Tim Hart.

Academy Award Nominated Gary Busey (The Buddy Holly Story, Lethal Weapon, Point Break) plays Arnie, James Clayton’s (Down The Line, Fringe) character Peter’s alcoholic father. Leo Award Nominated Chelah Horsdal (Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Arrow, Hell on Wheels) plays Tess. The film is being shot in two blocks, nine weeks apart, to allow James Clayton and Chelah Horsdal the time needed for a dramatic weight loss – as their characters become emaciated after a year of isolation keeping true to the novel.

Recently divorced and heartbroken, Tess finds herself abandoned at a bar on her girl’s night out. There she encounters the eccentric and rich Peter – a man cursed with the condition of heightened sensory perception and desperately searching for a moment’s peace. The two instantly fall in love and withdraw to Peter’s apartment for a lengthy and addicting love affair. Days of bliss pass by but when Tess realizes she should leave and resume her life, Peter proposes a dangerous idea – isolate each other in his apartment to create their own pure reality; one free of pain and the dictates of society. Now, cut off from the world and locked inside what Peter calls CANDiLAND, the lovers embark on a dogmatic quest for a higher existence. But slowly, they begin to descend into madness – turning the once lovers into mortal enemies.
James Clayton is the Founder and President of Motorcycle Boy Productions established in 2012. James Clayton and Rusty Nixon’s first feature Down The Line, is a Sci-Fi Thriller about a struggling comedian played by James Clayton who stars and plays nine different characters trapped inside his mind and must fight alternate versions of himself to escape. Rusty Nixon wrote, directed, and edited the film. Down The Line is being distributed Worldwide by IndustryWorks Pictures in 2014.

A labor of artistic love, Rusty and James have been working to bring CANDiLAND to production for the past 10 years. Producing partner Marc Petey is a founding member of the Co-Production company Greendale Productions.

Social Media Handles

Twitter: @candilandfilm
Instagram: @candilandfilm
Facebook: facebook.com/candilandfilm
IMDB Link: pro-labs.imdb.com/title/tt3620120/

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

David Sancious reunites with the original members of the E Street Band to receive the Award for Musical Excellence at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony April 10th, 2014

World Renowned Keyboardist and Musician David will be touring with Peter Gabriel on “Back to Front” Tour after recently touring with Sting and Paul Simon “On Stage Together”

David along with other members of the E Street Band will receive the Award for Musical Excellence at this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, April 10, 2014 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

David Sancious, long-time solo keyboardist, guitarist and composer, is having an exceptionally busy year in 2014 touring with three of the most sought after musicians of our time. He just completed touring with Sting and Paul Simon “On Stage Together” then is back out touring with Peter Gabriel throughout Europe in April and May. Peter Gabriel is also being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year.

David joins Sting and Paul Simon, two of music’s most renowned and enduring artists who are performing “On Stage Together” throughout North America. For more information on the tour and tickets please visit sting.com.

David will then join the other original members of Peter Gabriel’s band again to tour throughout Europe on Peter Gabriel’s “Back to Front” tour. The tour begins in Frankfurt on April 14^th and finishes in Berlin on May 14^th. For more information and tickets please visit petergabriel.com.

Capturing the attention of Bruce Springsteen in the seventies at a jam session in New Jersey, David’s career as a musician kicked off at the young age of seventeen. An original member of Bruce Springsteens’ beloved E Street Band David was invited to join a new band Bruce was forming. The group recorded three albums together and toured the country before David was offered a recording contract and left the band to form his own group Tone, where he would showcase his abilities as not only a sensational musician, but as an equally talented composer, producer and synthesist. David recorded multiple albums with Tone and the accomplishments of these albums led him to become one of the most talented and sought-after keyboardists in the industry.

David re-united with Bruce Springsteen and joined other musicians including Billy Joel, Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Rufus Wainwright and Will.I.Am at Sting’s sixtieth birthday to perform some of Stings most recognizable songs at New York’s Beacon Theatre.

The notable artist has since worked with many musicians including Eric Clapton, Seal, Aretha Franklin, Santana, Jeff Beck and many others. David has performed on more than fifty albums since his 1973 debut album “Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.” with Bruce Sprinstein and the E Street Band. The versatility of his sensational career has made it difficult to categorize his music. David, however, considers his art a mixture of harmony and melody from the jazz and classical traditions combined with rhythms from the rock and R&B traditions. David is well respected by his peers, considered by many as a “musician’s musician”.

It can often be difficult to center oneself when surrounded by the stress and chaos of being an artist. Yet, somehow, David always manages to find his center and inner peace. At a mere ten years of age, he began his journey into the world of spirituality. David practices meditation and yoga.

David is touring with Sting and Paul Simon “On Stage Together” throughout North America until mid March then out again with Peter Gabriel’s tour “Back to Front” in April and May 2014 throughout Europe.

Social Media Handles

Website: davidsancious.com
Twitter: @DavidSancious, @officialsting, @itspetergabriel, @paulsimonmusic
YouTube: Behind the Scenes with David Sancious for Yamaha

vancouversun.com/entertainment/music/David+Sancious+Street+Band+member+Sting+touring/9526081/story.html

rockhall.com/inductees/the-e-street-band/

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

Independent Studio IndustryWorks Pictures Brings The Powerful and Historical Original Drama Series ‘The Lost Legion’ to MIPTV

IndustryWorks is pleased to announce the exclusive ‘first look’ at the new TV drama series ‘The Lost Legion’ at MIPTV this April.

Sex, corruption, betrayal and the final death throws of a once powerful Empire. Where enemies become allies, allies become pawns and one man’s struggle to survive is “the last chance for a new Rome”.

The thirteen one hour-long episodes by Executive Producer Evan Tylor, who brought us the now infamous and New York Times touted feature film ‘American Mary’. Petr Kubik and David Kocas direct ‘The Lost Legion’ and Christopher Hyde writes the series. Producers of ‘The Lost Legion’ are Lloyd Simandl and John Curtis. Production for the first two episodes has been completed. Filming will continue in Prague from June to December 2014.

“On behalf of IndustryWorks Pictures, we’re proud to present The Lost Legion, which takes us back to an era of a once great Empire struggling to retain its glory. I haven’t seen this portrayed before in film or television.” Says Evan Tylor, President of IWP. “The stories and characters are captivating, and the history is quite relevant, considering the uncertainty the modern world is facing today.”

“We’re excited about the possibilities for ‘The Lost Legion’ and other new and original shows that we have in development.”

About ‘The Lost Legion’ Television Series
After the fall of the Rome a once powerful Empire is now but a shadow of itself, deprived of its former glory and the Dark Ages are imminent. Roman Fortress towns are now small kingdoms where decadence and corruption thrive and the struggle to maintain control is quickly slipping away. In one such remote outpost, one Legion remains and strives to bring Rome back to its former glory and the interwoven lives of the strong, the corrupt, the innocent and the power hungry will determine Rome’s final destiny.

About the Cast and Characters:
The series stars Michelle Lukes (‘Strike Back’, ‘Alexander’, ‘Doctors’) as the manipulative and shrewd Urbina Prima, the wife of Maximus our debauched and insane Roman Emperor played by Brian Caspe (‘Hellboy’, The Illusionist’, ‘The Last Knights’). The cast includes Tom McKay (‘Hatfields and McCoys’, ‘The White Queen’) as the ‘Legions’ hero Taranis Maldras and Jim High (‘The Muskateers’, ‘Borgia’, Crossing Lines’) as Argos, the middle man who plays all sides of this chessboard.

The stellar cast comes with a long list of Emmy, Golden Globe and People Choice nominated credits that features Tom McKay who starred in the BBC’s Golden Globe and People’s Choice Nominated show ‘The White Queen’ and stars in the Golden Globe award winning and multi SAG and Prime Time Emmy Award winning, TV show ‘Hatfields & McCoys’ along side Kevin Costner. Michelle Lukes starred in the Emmy Nominated show ‘Strike Back.’ Jim High stars in BBC America’s newest TV Series ‘The Musketeers’, the TV Series ‘Borgia’, Primetime Emmy Nominated TV series ‘Missing’ and the new NBC TV series ‘Crossing Lines’ and soon to be seen in the up and coming feature film ‘Serena’ with Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper. Brian Caspe may be best known for Guillermo Del Torro’s ’Hellboy’, as well as ‘The Illuisionist’ and ‘Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol’, Brian Caspe is in the up coming action adventure film ‘The Last Knights’ with Morgan Freeman and Clive Owen and is also in the Oscar Nominated and multi-award winning TV series ‘The American Experience’.

About IndustryWorks Pictures, Inc
IndustryWorks is a fully integrated company that distributes and produces feature films, television and new media content worldwide.

IndustryWorks Pictures sets itself apart by having the keen sense of recognizing potential in projects for production and its primary function is to release unique and marketable content to the market place. IndustryWorks’ mandate is to release films and television content that appeal to the mainstream and niche audiences. The company has several in-house projects in development on an ongoing basis. IndustryWorks distributes its content to all ancillary media outlets, including box office, VOD, SVOD, broadcast, airlines, internet and digital platforms, retail and rental outlets.

Social Media Handles

Website: industry-works.com/the-lost-legion
Twitter: @IWPictures
Facebook: facebook.com/IndustryWorksPictures

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

Peter and Julia Benson’s Horror Feature Film ‘Death Do Us Part’ is being released on DVD in the United States and Canada on April 15th

The film will screen at Vancouver’s Rio theatre on April 6^th at 6:30 p.m.

The married duo of Peter and Julia Benson are pleased to announce the release of their horror feature film ‘Death Do Us Part’ on DVD in the United States and Canada on April 15^th, 2014. Along with starring in the film, Julia and Peter also wrote and produced ‘Death Do Us Part’ with Ryan Copple. Anchor Bay Entertainment is distributing the film in the U.S. and Raven Banner Entertainment is handling the Canadian release. The film will also play at the Rio theatre on April 6^th at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $10 at the door and $8 in advance.

‘Death Do Us Part’ is a horror feature film that tells the story of six friends who go to a remote cabin in the woods to celebrate a ‘Jack and Jill’ bachelor party. Things take a horrifying turn when members of the group are brutally picked off one by one. What starts out as a celebration, quickly descends into a bloody nightmare. Friendships are ripped apart and accusations fly in this blood filled psychological horror with a whodunit twist. The film was nominated for three Leo awards and stars Julia Benson (Stargate Universe, That Burning Feeling), Peter Benson (What an Idiot, Leap 4 Your Life), Emilie Ullerup (Sanctuary, Arctic Air), Christine Chatelain (Sanctuary, Fringe), Kyle Cassie (Lost Boys: The Tribe, True Justice), Benjamin Ayres (Saving Hope, Less Than Kind), Dave Collette (Leap 4 Your Life, What an Idiot), Viv Leacock (Almost Human, Continuum) and Aaron Douglas (The Killing, Battlestar Galactica). Nicholas Humphries (The Little Mermaid) directed the feature film.

Peter and Julia are two well-known Canadian actors who are rapidly establishing themselves as a successful writing/producing/directing team with their company Married to the Boss Productions. Six years ago the married couple realized that they wanted more out of their careers and developed a passion for creating their own work. Their first project was a series that they co-created called ‘Kits’ which was accepted into the prestigious NSI Totally Television program. The script that Peter wrote garnered them a development deal with City TV and they served as Executive Producers on the project when a pilot episode was ordered.

Julia is best known for her Leo Award winning role as Vanessa James on ‘Stargate Universe’. Julia’s recent credits include MOWs ‘Nobody’s Fool,’ ‘Secret Liaison’, ’Chupacabra Vs. The Alamo’ and feature films ‘That Burning Feeling’ with Tyler Labine and ‘Kid Cannabis’ which is being released across North America on April 18^th. Peter’s recent credits include feature films ‘Black Fly’, ‘Afterparty’, ‘Hasting Street’, ‘The Wingman’, ‘Leap 4 Your Life’, MOWs ‘Nobody’s Fool’, ‘Baby Bootcamp’, ‘Mystery Cruise’, and television series ‘Motive’, ‘Supernatural’, and Continuum’.

Up next, Julia and Peter are in post-production on their second feature film; a romantic comedy entitled ‘What an Idiot’. Peter wrote and directed the film and Julia produced it with the support of Telefilm Canada. Peter and Julia star in ‘What an Idiot’ along with Lochlyn Munro (Scary Movie) and Kerr Smith (Dawson’s Creek).

Social Media Handles

Website: deathdouspartthemovie.com, juliabenson.net, riotheatre.ca/events
Twitter: @DDUPMovie, @Julia_Benson, @RioTheatre
Facebook: facebook.com/DeathDoUsPartTheMovie
IMDb: Death Do Us Part, Julia Benson, Peter Benson

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

INTERVIEW WITH ELLIE HARVIE WHO PLAYS CANDACE / MRS. BUBKES ON YTV’S NEW SERIES ‘SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED’

Some Assembly Required is comprised of great characters, funny dialogue, hilarious situations, big physical comedy, and relationship-based stories with heart. The multi-camera show is shot in front of a live studio audience and premiered on YTV Monday, January 6.

Ellie Harvie is an award-winning Canadian actor and comedian. Her talent, wit and charisma, both on and off camera, have made her a favourite among fans. On Some Assembly Required, Ellie plays Candace Wheeler – a high-powered, ruthless executive, who doesn’t care who she runs over on the road to success. She also doesn’t care who she runs over on the road to Starbucks.

Tell us about your characters on “Some Assembly Required”.
I am the evil adult.

How long does it take for you to be transformed into Mrs. Bubkes?
We have it down to 2.5 hours, although it started at 6!!!

Is it difficult to play two characters on this show?
It is actually really fun. While it appears I play 2 characters, I actually only play one character who is evil and sneaky enough to disguise herself as another person.

Do you have a favorite moment in your career thus far?
Having John Aston kiss my arm as Morticia was pretty surreal!!

How is the experience of being the adult with the cast of young actors?
I love it. They keep me up on technology and social media….and sneakers.

What is the best advice that you could give a young actor wanting to get into the business?
Start in theatre and focus on the work, not the fame.

What are you working on next?
I have a couple of irons in the fire but have to wait and see if we are going again for a second season.

You are often asked to host or be an MC of Award Shows, how do you prepare for these shows?
I am a pretty experienced stand up comic and improviser, that kind of transitions into MC. I am asked a lot to MC events and shows. I really like it. It is kind of my day job.

When did you know that you wanted to be an actor?
I knew since as far back as I can remember. I loved great old comedies like Abbott and Costello and Ma and Pa Kettle, Francis the talking Mule, Get Smart, Petticoast Junction, Green Acres, Gilligans Island, Beverly Hillbillies and of course The Addams Family. I knew then I wanted to do what they were doing.

Do you find that you get a lot of support from the acting committee in Canada?
The acting community in Canada is very supportive and close. Any time I get a good job I get all kinds of cyber high fives from my friends across the country.

What are your hobbies?
I am pretty handy. I am the tool person in the family. If something needs fixing or renovating – that my fun time. I also like to garden. Having a 6 year old only child so I am also into trampoline, baseball and camping and playing with lego.

Social Media Handles

Twitter: @ellieharvie

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

Actress Emmanuelle Vaugier Featured in Steppin’ Out Mag

View Emmanuelle’s article in Steppin’ Out Mag here: http://www.so-mag.com/3dissue/012214/index.html

Social Media Handles

Website: emmanuellevaugier.com
Twitter: @evaugier
Facebook: The Real Emmanuelle Vaugier

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

It’s Good To Be Bad – Interview with Lost Girl’s Emmanuelle Vaugier

Emmanuelle Vaugier as The Morrigan in the season four Lost Girl episode “Let The Dark Times Roll.” Photo copyright of Showcase/Shaw Media.

In the real world there is a constant battle between good and evil, and the same holds true in the fictional TV world. On the popular Canadian-made supernatural drama series Lost Girl, the two forces locked in this centuries-old conflict are known as the Light and Dark Fae. Leading the local Dark Fae community is Evony Fleurette Marquise a.k.a. The Morrigan. This sexy brunette beauty has the ability to melt and dissolve flesh with a single touch and delights in ruling with a proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove. When theLost Girl producers were looking for an actress to slip into The Morrigan’s stilettoes, they turned to the charming Emmanuelle Vaugier.

“It was a fortunate situation and one where I felt quite flattered,” says Vaugier. “They came to me with the role. So I took a look at the script to see what it was that I had to do as well as if it was something I wanted to do and if I enjoyed the character, and it was all three. It sounded like a really fun role, so I said, ‘Yes,’ and that was the beginning of it all. Originally I was only supposed to be in a few episodes, but it’s turned into many more over four seasons – maybe a fifth, who knows – and it’s really been quite an amazing journey.”

The Morrigan makes her Lost Girl debut in the show’s opening episode It’s a Fae, Fae, Fae, Fae World. When the Fae become aware of a succubus named Bo (Anna Silk), the two factions want the extraordinarily powerful Fae to pledge her allegiance to one side or the other. The Morrigan reluctantly agrees to work with The Ash (Cle Bennett), leader of the Light Fae, and force Bo to align herself. They put her to the test in a fight to the death at an abandoned glass factory, but the outcome is far from what they are expecting. Vaugier chuckles when looking back at shooting her first episode.

The Morrigan (Emmanuelle Vaugier) – up to no good! Photo copyright of Showcase/Shaw Media.

“I’ll never forget the glass factory in Hamilton [Ontario, Canada],” she says. “We were filming there at night in February. There’s no heating and it was colder inside that structure than it was outside, which is saying a lot. I was in a dress and there’s only so much layering you can do under a dress without it looking like you’re the Michelin man,” jokes the actress. “So that was an interesting first episode that had me rethinking the whole choice of whether or not I really wanted to do this, especially if it was going to be freezing like this all the time, but it was all worth it in the end.

“As far as the character itself, there wasn’t a whole lot of backstory on The Morrigan in the beginning. The show’s producers and writers had no idea where the character was going and no one had any idea that it was going to turn into what it is now. At the start, I think the toughest challenge for me was not playing her as a caricature and some evil mustache-twirling type of villain. She has to be likeable and there has to be something somewhat human about her that makes you love her even though you hate her.

“Initially, The Morrigan was much more of a figurehead for the Dark Fae, but over time, she’s formed alliances and love/hate-type relationships. You’ve witnessed her in weaker moments as well as her stronger moments and you’ve definitely had the opportunity to see more of her vulnerability. The Morrigan has become a very dynamic character and this [fourth] season we’re going to find out more about her past. The storylines on Lost Girl have sort of broadened and deepened and in the process you’re learning a great deal more about how far The Morrigan’s reach is into everyone’s world.”

The Morrigan (Emmanuelle Vaugier) conducts a little business (before pleasure). Photo copyright of Showcase/Shaw Media.

Both the Light and Dark Fae were deeply disappointed to say the least when Bo chose to remain neutral and not join either side. Throughout the first three seasons of Lost Girl, she risked her life to help others and fight the darker supernatural forces of the world she comes from. She continues to do so in the show’s fourth year with the help of humans Kenzi (Ksenia Solo) and Dr. Lauren Lewis (Zoie Palmer) as well as Fae allies including Dyson (Kris Holden-Ried), Hale (K.C. Collins) and, much to her surprise, Vex (Paul Amos), a sadomasochist Dark Fae who has the power to control the actions of others. He and Bo, in particular, have become thorns in The Morrigan’s side while providing Vaugier with some wonderful onscreen sparring partners.

“Vex and The Morrigan have a very interesting relationship and it’s that love/hate thing where she needs him to a certain degree,” explains the actress. “She can’t get rid of him and I don’t think anyone who watches the show would want us to because he’s so fabulous. When it comes to my character’s relationship with Bo, they start to get closer and form a kind of alliance, which you see in season three. Then, however, Bo double-crosses her and they’re back to where they started. She trusted Bo and let her guard down, and now The Morrigan has to build herself back up. No one messes with her and she has to go back to The Morrigan as we saw her prior to her moment of weakness with Bo.

While there may be some ill will between Vex and The Morrigan as well as Bo and The Morrigan, there is no such animosity behind the cameras.

“Paul Amos and I just laugh out butts off most of the time when we’re together,” admits Vaugier. “He happened to be in London last October at the same time as the MCM Expo [Comic Con], so he came by to see me, Ksenia, Rachel Skarsten [Tamsin] and [Lost Girlexecutive producer] Jay Firestone and we were like a group of five-year-olds. Paul is such a hoot to hang out with on-set as well as off-set, and then Anna Silk is such a sweetheart and a lot of fun to work with, too. All the Lost Girl castmembers have a terrific rapport with each other and we really get along as people, so whenever we do get to work together we have a great time,” she enthuses.

(L-R): Bo (Anna Silk), Vex (Paul Amos) and The Morrigan (Emmanuelle Vaugier). Photo copyright of Showcase/Shaw Media.

In addition to being a Dark Fae, The Morrigan is also a leaman sidhe, which means she has the ability to absorb the talents of others. She operates in the human world under the guise of a talent agent and uses the monetary gains from any acquired talents to finance her own dark agenda. The Morrigan continues to exploit humans along with Fae in season four of Lost Girl, beginning in the episode Lovers, Apart. Not wanting to spoil things for those fans that have yet to watch the episode, she hints at what viewers can expect.

“There were just as many shockers for me when I read the script, so I think that the audience will hopefully be very pleased,” says the actress. “I was really excited about the path that they had taken The Morrigan and, again, her new interactions and relationships with different characters. There are so many possibilities with her and they really opened up my character’s world this season. You get to see more of who she is as a person as opposed to just the leader of the Dark Fae. My only complaint is that I wanted to see even more, just because I like working on the show so much. I was absolutely pleased with The Morrigan’s storyline and if we go for a fifth season I’m extremely curious to see how it further develops.”

Vaugier can be seen as Mary Magdalene opposite Lost Girl’s Kris Holden-Ried (as Jordan) and Copper’s Kyle Schmid (as Saul) in the upcoming film Saul: The Journey to Damascus. From comedy to drama, the actress has had the opportunity to stretch her acting muscles in a variety of projects throughout her career, and Lost Girl gives her with yet another outlet in which to showcase her talents.

The Morrigan (Emmanuelle Vaugier) surrounded by her entourage in the season four episode “Let The Dark Times Roll.” Photo copyright of Showcase/Shaw Media.

“One of the things I like the most about the fantasy genre is that you get away with a lot more,” she says. “You can be bigger and bolder; you can really do no wrong as long as you stay within the parameters of the world that you’re in, but it’s a made-up world, which means there are no rules, or very few, and therefore so much more room in which to play.”

Steve Eramo

Season four of Lost Girl airs in Canada on the Showcase Network on Sundays @ 10:00 p.m. EST/PST and in the States on Syfy, Mondays (beginning January 13th) @ 8:00 p.m. EST/PST. As noted above, all photos copyright of Showcase/Shaw Media, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

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