Tag Archives: press

Helen Shaver, Gabrielle Miller, Jennifer Spence and Colleen Rennison star in actor/writer/director Ben Ratner’s feature film Down River screening at the Vancouver International Film Festival, Cinefest Sudbury and the Calgary International Film Festival

Down River has been selected to be the Gala Film for the October 5th spotlight on BC screening at the Vancouver International Film Festival

The Promotion People - Down River

Gossamer Creative and Haven Films are pleased to announce that Down River has been selected to be the Gala Film for the October 5th Spotlight on BC Screening at the Vancouver International Film Festival.

Vancouver International Film Festival – Showtimes
October 05, 6:30 pm
Vancouver Playhouse
600 Hamilton St, Vancouver, BC

October 09, 4:30 pm
Rio Theatre
1660 E Broadway, Vancouver, BC

Down River will also be screening at Cinefest Sudbury on September 22nd and the Calgary International Film Festival on September 28th and 29th.

Calgary International Film Festival – Showtimes
September 28, 7:00 pm
Globe Theatre
617 8 Ave SW, Calgary, AB

September 29, 1:30 pm
Eau Claire
200 Barclay Parade SW, Corner of 2nd St & 2nd Ave SW, Calgary, AB

Written and directed by multiple award-winning writer/director Ben Ratner (Moving Malcolm), Down River is the emotionally stirring story of three young women teetering on the edge between creative breakthroughs and personal breakdowns, and their connection with the older woman they rely on for guidance, support and inspiration.

The Promotion People - Jennifer Spece

Gemini award-winning Gabrielle Miller (Corner Gas, Call Me Fitz, Moving Day) portrays an in-demand but insecure actress. Gemini award-winning Colleen Rennison (DaVinci’s City Hall and lead singer of fast-rising band Nosinner) plays a gifted but self- destructive rock singer. Ratner’s real-life wife, Leo award-nominated Jennifer Spence (Continuum, Stargate Universe, The Killing) plays a dynamic abstract artist hiding under a paint-stained hoodie. And Gemini award-winning Helen Shaver (The Color of Money, Desert Hearts) plays their charismatic and caring neighbour who eventually leaves them to face the future on their own.

The Promotion People - Ben Ratner

Inspired by Ben Ratner’s long-time comradeship with actress Babz Chula who passed away in 2010, Down River is a film about mentorship, friendship, living life to the fullest, and ultimately letting go.

Other actors joining this first-rate cast include Jay Brazeau (Fathers and Sons, Insomnia), Ali Liebert (Bomb Girls, Harper’s Island), Brian Markinson (Continuum, Mad Men) and Teach Grant (Cult, Gunless).

Written and Directed by Ben Ratner. Produced by James Brown. Director of Photography is Larry Lynn. Edited by Rob Wenzek. Executive Producer is Jack Ong. Original songs by Kevin House, Colleen Rennison and The Boom Booms. Down River was shot in Vancouver.

 

Social Media Handles

Website: downrivermovie.com
Twitter: @DownRiverMovie
Facebook: facebook.com/DownRiverMovie
YouTube: Down River Movie Teaser

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 MAGIC FERRET” BEGINS FILMING IN VANCOUVER

Starring Jacob Tremblay, Beverley Elliott, Fred Ewanuick, Lisa Durupt & Falcor the Ferret

The film will feature the song “Magic” as sung by Singer/Actress Selena Gomez in its closing credits.

The Promotion People - The Magic FerretCanadian Film Director, Alison Parker, is proud to announce that her upcoming short film, “The Magic Ferret” will begin shooting on September 7, 2013 and will shoot over two days in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The film is slated for a late 2013 release.

“The Magic Ferret” is the first film ever to be produced by Pacific Backlot Services, an equipment rental house in Vancouver, BC. The award-winning script was written by Scott and Paula Merrow of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Alison Parker, Hugh Brompton and Synnove Godeseth are also producers, with Shawn Seifert as Director of Photography. Several major companies have secured product placement in the film, including Hasbro, Pop Chips, KIND, Marshall Pet Products, Red Dragon Apparel, Defenders of Wildlife, Crayola, Sunmaid and iHome.

“The Magic Ferret” is a family-friendly comedic story centering around a six-year old orphan named Sam (played by Jacob Tremblay, known for his role as “Blue Winslow” in the Sony Pictures feature film The Smurfs 2) and his pet ferret, Booger (portrayed by Falcor the Ferret). Sam is as cute as a button, but he just can’t seem to find a family who wants him. When the newest prospective parents come to visit, Sam decides to impress them with a few magic tricks. He becomes “The Great Sambini”, with Booger as his assistant. When his most amazing trick flops, Sam is deflated but not defeated, and with Booger’s help he conjures up a different kind of magic.

Also starring in The Magic Ferret is Beverley Elliott, known for her role as “Granny” on ABC’s TV series Once Upon A Time. Canadian actor Fred Ewanuick from the TV shows Corner Gas and Dan For Mayor and the 2005 film Just Friends and actress Lisa Durupt, who is best known for her role as Shandra on HBO’s “Less Than Kind”, join Elliott, Tremblay and Falcor the Ferret to round out the cast.

The film will feature the song “Magic” as sung by Singer/Actress Selena Gomez in its closing credits. The song, originally performed by the Scottish band, Pilot, in 1974, reached #1 on the Canadian music charts in July of 1975. Gomez’ version of the song, which has over 40 million views on YouTube, was also heard in the Disney Channel original Movie Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie in 2009. It was also featured in the film adaptation of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules. In addition to Selena Gomez’ rendition of “Magic”, the soundtrack to “The Magic Ferret” also includes the hits “Spaceman” by Canadian singer Bif Naked and “This House” by Calgary’s own Cat Thomson.

 

Social Media Handles

Website: themagicferret.com
Twitter: @SamAndBooger
Facebook: facebook.com/TheMagicFerret

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

In demand actor Emmanuelle Vaugier returns to popular Showcase Series ‘Lost Girl’

Emmanuelle also guest stars on the popular CBC series Republic of Doyle

The Promotion People - Emmanuelle Vaugier

Stunning actor Emmanuelle Vaugier reprises her role for a fourth season on the innovative series ‘Lost Girl’, a Canadian supernatural drama. Since 2010 Emmanuelle has had a recurring role on this highly rated Showcase original show. Playing the role of The Morrigan, Emmanuelle breathes life into her vain and dangerously sociopathic character. The fourth season of ‘Lost Girl’ promises to be the most electrifying season yet. ‘Lost Girl’ premieres November 2013 on Showcase and January 2014 on SYFY.

Emmanuelle will also guest star in the premiere episode of Season 5’s ‘Republic of Doyle’ slated to air October 2, 2013. This popular CBC series, on air since 2010 focuses on Jake Doyle, and his father, as they run a private investigations agency in St John’s, Newfoundland.

Currently in production in Winnipeg, Emmanuelle co-stars in ‘Teen Lust’, a feature film about an awkward high school student who must lose his virginity before being sacrificed by a local religious cult. The film stars Cary Elwes (Saw, The Princess Bride), Kristin Bauer van Straten (“True Blood”), Jesse Carere (“Skins”), Daryl Sabara (The Philosopher, Machete) and Annie Clark (“Degrassi: The Next Generation”). Blaine Thurier (A Gun to the Head) is directing the film that he co-wrote with Jason Stone (This Is The End).

The Promotion People - Emmanuelle Vaugier

Extremely busy with MOW’s, Emmanuelle’s projects include starring in the lifetime movie ‘Hidden Away’ as Stephanie, a young mother who fakes her own death (and her daughter’s) in order to escape her abusive husband, which aired on Lifetime in July 2013. Vaugier also co-stars as Rebecca Scott, in ‘Absolute Deception’ alongside Cuba Gooding Jr., as an investigative reporter for Spyglass magazine, in New York City. Believing her husband had been killed in an auto accident, she is forced to deal with the repercussions upon discovering his death had been faked. ‘Absolute Deception’ was released to DVD in June 2013.

One of the roles that Emmanuelle connected most with was playing a woman who rescues animals in ‘Susie’s Hope’, a role for which she won best actress at the Greensville International Film Festival in 2013. ‘It’s Christmas, Carol!’, another starring role for Emmanuelle aired on the Hallmark Channel in December 2012, which won her a Leo Award for portrayal of a woman journeying through her past, present and future, with the help of her “ghost boss”.  Emmanuelle will also star in two upcoming independent films; ‘The Wedding Chapel’, shot in July 2012, and ‘Clara’s Deadly Secret’ shot in May 2013.

Vaugier is best known for her popular role as Charlie Sheen’s ex-fiancée Mia on the award-winning CBS comedy “Two and a Half Men.” For three seasons she also played Detective Jessica Angell on “CSI: NY,” leaving fans devastated when her role came to an end. In 2010, Vaugier was cast alongside Piper Perabo in the USA Network crime series “Covert Affairs,” where she played the recurring role of Liza Hearn, a journalist and blogger not afraid to push boundaries.

Her other recent television appearances include a recurring role on FOX’s action/drama series ‘Human Target’ as well as guest roles on ‘The Mentalist’, ‘Big Shots’ and ‘Supernatural’. She was also the new female superhero for the television pilot of the comic ‘Painkiller Jane’ for the Sci Fi Channel, and had a starring role in the ‘Master of Horror’ series directed by John Carpenter. Her other television credits include: ‘One Tree Hill‘, ‘Monk’, the Fox Television series ‘North Shore’, UPN‘s hit series ‘Veronica Mars’, as well as ‘Call Me, The Rise and Fall of Heidi Fleiss’, and the WB comedy ‘My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star‘. She also portrayed Dr. Helen Bryce; Lex Luthor‘s wife on the WB‘s hit drama ‘Smallville’.

Her feature film endeavours are just as impressive: Emmanuelle starred in the thriller ‘Mirrors 2’, a sequel to the hit 2008 horror ‘Mirrors’, starring Keifer Sutherland. Her appearance in the film adaptation of Stephen King’s acclaimed short story ‘Dolan’s Cadillac’, starring Christian Slater, can be seen on DVD. She also appeared in the feature ‘Hollywood Untitled’, directed by acclaimed director and producer Mun Chee Yong. Her other credits include ‘Saw II’, ‘Saw IV’, ‘Hysteria’, produced by former L.A. Laker Rick Fox, ‘Far Cry’ (Til Schewiger, Inglorious Basterds), ‘Bachelor Party 2’, ‘Unearthed’ (Charlie Murphy), ‘Secondhand Lions’ (Michael Caine, Robert Duvall),  ‘40 Days and 40 Nights’ (Josh Hartnett), ‘House of the Dead 2: Dead Aim’ and a lead role in the comedy ‘Blonde and Blonder’, which premiered in Cannes.

Off-screen, Emmanuelle, an avid animal lover, is strongly involved in a project that is very close to her heart. She actively supports the charitable animal rescue organization Best Friends Animal Society. Best Friends is an organization aimed at animal rescue and rehabilitation, ensuring the best life possible for injured or unwanted animals. For more information on the Best Friends Animal Society, please visit http://emmanuellevaugier.com/charity.htm or www.bestfriends.org.

This Vancouver native‘s inner and outer beauty shines through as Emmanuelle is among the select group of women to be on ‘Maxim‘s Top 100’ list twice. The stunning actress first made the list in 2006 and then again in 2011. She was also named fifth on Femme Fatal magazine’s 50 Sexiest Women on the Planet’, and was named ‘Sexiest Woman Alive’ for the sixth time by Smartasses Magazine. Emmanuelle has graced the covers of Maxim, Femme Fatal, Dolce Vita, Flare, UMM, Status, Modern Dog, LA Health, Vancouver View, Vancouver Lifestyles, Western Living Condo, Donato and Infamous.

Photography credit: 
Brie Childers
www.briechilders.com

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

Canadian funny woman Jessica Holmes celebrates her milestone birthday in Toronto with a fundraising comedy event at Hugh’s Room on August 25th, 2013

Jessica currently tours the country with her unique brand of humour—appearing as a guest speaker at a variety of events
The Promotion People - Jessica Holmes

Ottawa native Jessica Holmes continues to delight and amuse national and international audiences with her popular comedy routines and celebrity impersonations. Holmes has opened for the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Leslie Nielsen and Ellen DeGeneres throughout her career. Jessica is a sought-after keynote speaker at high profile events across the country. Most recently, she appeared at the Women in Glaucoma Conference last month in Vancouver, and will be at The Women In Biz Network Go For It conference (designed to give women entrepreneurs the support and skills to enhance business performance) in October.

The Promotion People - Jessica Holmes

Between raising her family and her busy professional schedule, Jessica has also been gearing up to celebrate a milestone birthday. At the end of this month, Jessica will turn the big 4-0 and felt it was an important birthday to celebrate, while also giving back. “For a woman in my industry, aging can be considered a bad thing. So I wanted to turn that on its head and make my 40th birthday something I’m proud of, something I would shout from the mountaintops! And I found that opportunity: I’m celebrating my 15 year career, my friends in the industry, and my involvement in philanthropy in an intimate fund-raiser at Hugh’s Room,” says Jessica. “I’m happy, healthy, and submerged in community, friendship, and a career I love. Turning 40 is awesome!” The fundraising event, which offers a night chock-full of entertainment, supports Yellow Brick Road House—a shelter for abused women and children. More details on Jessica’s event at Hugh’s Room is available HERE.

Jessica is best known for her seven-year stint on the award winning CBC series “Royal Canadian Air Farce”. In 2002, Holmes landed her own sketch comedy show appropriately titled, “The Holmes Show”. The show featured dead-on personifications of Celine Dion, Liza Minnelli and Geri Halliwell. That same year, her musical comedy special “Holmes Alone” won the Platinum Award at WorldFest.

In recent years, Holmes has shifted her comedy from the stage to the print world as a comedy author. Her book titled, “I Love Your Laugh: Finding the Light in My Screwball Life”, offers readers her witty observations on everything from her hilarious take on parenthood, her eclectic upbringing by a Mormon father and feminist mother, and her experiences as a missionary in Venezuela.

The Promotion People - Jessica Holmes

Holmes has become on of the most sought-after speakers in Canadian business by creating a motivational comedy performance about positive psychology called “The 60 Minute Perspective Makeover”. She tours the country offering audiences her own tips and perspective on how to lead a more fulfilling and happy life through setting personal goals.

It’s hard to imagine that this funny woman didn’t always see the laughter in things. Holmes suffered from a near crippling depression that threatened her every day life and career. Once recovered, she made the decision to dedicate her life to discovering what creates lasting balance and fulfillment.

She originally majored in writing at Ryerson University’s Radio and Television arts program when a classmate dared her to try standup. The Second City, Just For Laughs festival and TV shows like “Little Big Kid” and “The Itch”, got her noticed by television casting agents.

Holmes is shooting the new web series That’s My JD, developing a comedic reality series with Pivotal Media and a tween musical series with Marblemedia, appearing as a frequent guest on shows like “Entertainment Tonight Canada” and “George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight”, and is set to release her second comedy book due out in 2014.

The Promotion People Jessica Holmes

 

Social Media Handles

Website: jessicaholmes.com
Twitter: @happyfeetholmes
Press: huffingtonpost.ca

 

 

 

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

Comedian and Popular TV Star Jessica Holmes Brings Her Unique Brand of Comedy to Vancouver This Summer and Fall

The Promotion People Jessica Holmes

Ottawa native Jessica Holmes continues to delight and amuse national and international audiences with her popular comedy routines and celebrity impersonations. Holmes has opened for the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Leslie Nielsen and Ellen DeGeneres throughout her career. Jessica is a sought-after keynote speaker at high profile events across the country. Her next appearances are at the Women in Glaucoma Conference on July 16th in Vancouver, and The Women In Biz Network Go For It conference (designed to give women entrepreneurs the support and skills to enhance business performance) in October.

She is best known for her seven-year stint on the award winning CBC series “Royal Canadian Air Farce”. In 2002, Holmes landed her own sketch comedy show appropriately titled, “The Holmes Show”. The show featured dead-on personifications of Celine Dion, Liza Minnelli and Geri Halliwell. That same year, her musical comedy special “Holmes Alone” won the Platinum Award at WorldFest.

The Promotion People Jessica Holmes

In recent years, Holmes has shifted her comedy from the stage to the print world as a comedy author. Her book titled, “I Love Your Laugh: Finding the Light in My Screwball Life”, offers readers her witty observations on everything from her hilarious take on parenthood, her eclectic upbringing by a Mormon father and feminist mother, and her experiences as a missionary in Venezuela.

Holmes has become on of the most sought after speakers in Canadian business by creating a motivational comedy performance about positive psychology called “The 60 Minute Perspective Makeover”. She tours the country offering audiences her own tips and perspective on how to lead a more fulfilling and happy life through setting personal goals.

It’s hard to imagine that this funny woman didn’t always see the laughter in things. Holmes suffered from a near crippling depression that threatened her every day life and career. Once recovered, she made the decision to dedicate her life to discovering what creates lasting balance and fulfillment.

She originally majored in writing at Ryerson University’s Radio and Television arts program when a classmate dared her to try standup. The Second City, Just For Laughs festival and TV shows like “Little Big Kid” and “The Itch”, got her noticed by television casting agents.

The Promotion People Jessica Holmes

Holmes is shooting the new web series That’s My JD, developing a comedic reality series with Pivotal Media and a tween musical series with Marblemedia, appearing as a frequent guest on shows like “Entertainment Tonight Canada” and “George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight”, and is set to release her second comedy book due out in 2014.

Holmes will be speaking in Vancouver in July for the Women in Glaucoma Conference on July 16th, as well as this October as part of The Women In Biz Network Go For It conference which is designed to give women entrepreneurs the support and skills to enhance business performance and workplace productivity.

 

Social Media Handles

Website: jessicaholmes.com
Twitter: @happyfeetholmes

Contact The Promotion People

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

Jasmyn Pozzo – Publicist
jasmyn@thepromotionpeople.ca
705.255.6887

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