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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

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.

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.

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.

Canadian 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

Lawrence & Holloman to Premiere at the 2013 Vancouver International Film Festival

Telefilm Canada funded Feature Film
LAWRENCE & HOLLOMAN
to PREMIERE at
THE 2013 VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Directed by MATTHEW KOWALCHUK
based on the stage play by MORRIS PANYCH

STARRING
BEN COTTON & DANIEL ARNOLD
with KATHARINE ISABELLE & AMY MATYSIO

Ameland Films and Quadrant Motion Pictures are proud to announce that the Telefilm Canada funded dark comedy LAWRENCE & HOLLOMAN which filmed November 5-28, 2012, in Vancouver, Mission, Maple Ridge & Abbotsford, BC, Canada will have its world premiere at the 2013 Vancouver International Film Festival on October 1 and screen again Oct 9, 2013.

The film will also screen at the Edmonton International Film Festival Oct 4 and 5, 2013.

Lawrence & Holloman In this darkly ridiculous buddy comedy, Lawrence, an ever-optimistic suit salesman, lives a happy-go-lucky, charmed life, in which everything goes right — until he meets Holloman, a cynical and pessimistic credit collector, and everything starts to go wrong. Very wrong.

Is happiness determined by our outlook on life? Or can our destiny be changed … by another.

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

“We are very excited to premiere Lawrence & Holloman to the ‘hometown’ crowd first at the Vancouver International Film Festival. We shot the film here, nearly all our cast and crew are all local, Morris Panych (who wrote the play) lived in Vancouver; it’s homegrown in every way. With our industry in crisis, now is a time more than ever to showcase our own work. And with so many high quality productions coming out of Vancouver right now, we are honoured to be chosen among them.” – Director Matthew Kowalchuk

The film stars Ben Cotton (Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome, Cinemanovels) and Daniel Arnold (The PI Experiment, Penguins) with Katharine Isabelle (American Mary, Ginger Snaps, Cinemanovels) & Amy Matysio (inSAYSAble, Single White Spenny).

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

The project attracted a talented team including story editors Kyle Hunter & Ariel Shaffir (producer/story editors on 50/50, Goon, This is the End), story consultant Daniel Petrie Jr (Academy Award nominated writer of The Big Easy and Beverly Hills Cop), and award winning twin Cinematographers Nelson Talbot & Graham Talbot (Primary), Production Designer Guy Roland (Backmask), Costume Designer Jojo MacDowall (The PI Experiment), Composer Don Macdonald (Camera Shy, Kissed) & Editor David Legault (Kink). The film was cast by Emmy-nominated Candice Elzinga Casting.

The film received production funding from Telefilm Canada and development funding from The Astral Media Harold Greenberg Fund, Corus Entertainment & Creative BC. Super Channel & OutTV will broadcast the film following a film festival run and a theatrical release.

Social Media Handles

Website: lawrenceandholloman.com
Twitter: @lawrenceholoman
Facebook: Lawrence & Holloman

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

Valerie Harper, Lauren Holly, Cameron Bancroft and Lucie Guest Star in the UP Original Movie: The Town That Came A-Courtin’

Based on Novel by Best-Selling Author and  Syndicated Columnist Ronda Rich

Production began this week in Vancouver on UP’s Original Movie The Town That Came A-Courtin’, starring Valerie Harper (“Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “Rhoda”), Lauren Holly (“NCIS,” “Motive”), Cameron Bancroft (“24,” “Beverly Hills: 90210”) and Lucie Guest (“Heath Nutz,” “Blackstone”). The film is produced by Odyssey Media Inc. and directed by David Winning (“XIII: The Series,” “Andromeda”). The movie is based on best-selling author and syndicated columnist Ronda Rich’s novel and loosely based on an experience she had during a book tour. Sheryl J. Anderson (“Charmed”) wrote the adapted script. The Town That Came A-Courtin’ will make its world television premiere on UP in January 2014.

Abby Houston (Lauren Holly) is a smart, beautiful, successful author and fiercely independent Southern woman. When we meet her, she is curiously being kept captive in a remote cabin in the woods by an obsessed fan. Days earlier, Abby and her publicist Jamie (Lucie Guest) were visiting the lovely town of Bliss, Mississippi on her most recent book tour. The town of Bliss, local Magnolia Blossom B&B owner Charlotte (Valerie Harper) and their well-meaning prayer chain have big plans for her – as the perfect match for their widowed Mayor Spencer Alexander (Cameron Bancroft), a single dad of two. A series of collisions, several bouquets and numerous good words later, Abby relents to having dinner with Spencer, and finds a handsome, earnest man. Eagerly encouraged by the entire town, they embark on a whirlwind, public romance. But just as they are about to share a first kiss, Spencer is reminded of his late wife and abruptly pulls back. Hurt and sad, Abby is determined to leave Bliss behind, only to find her obsessed fan waiting. With phones buzzing and the town mobilized, what happens next will determine her future.

“UP is thrilled to have the always inspirational Valerie Harper as part of our talented The Town That Came A-Courtin’ cast,” said Barbara Fisher, svp, original programming, UP. “Joined by Lauren Holly, Cameron Bancroft, and Lucie Guest, this uplifting, sometimes bumpy romance showcases how a community’s spirit and good will can help people connect and find each other.”

UP presents an Odyssey Media Inc. production. The Town That Came A-Courtin’ stars Valerie Harper, Lauren Holly, Cameron Bancroft and Lucie Guest. Directed by David Winning. Executive produced by Kirk Shaw, Stan Spry, Rich Middlemas, Marybeth Sprows and Eric Andrews. Casting by Bim Narine. Director of Photography is Curtis Petersen. Editor is Sabrina Pitre. Composer is Michael Thomas. Adapted screenplay by Sheryl J. Anderson.

Follow our cast at:
• Valerie Harper on Twitter @ValerieHarper and on her website, valerieharper.com
• Lauren Holly on Twitter @LaurenHolly and on her website, laurenholly.com
• Lucie Guest on Twitter @Lucieguest

About UP
UP, (www.UPtv.com) based in Atlanta, is America’s favorite network for uplifting family entertainment. The network presents original and acquired movies, series, stage plays and music specials along with gMovies, the first faith-friendly streaming movie service. The UP brand is reflected in “Uplift Someone,” the network’s successful pro-social initiative. UP can be seen in more than 61 million homes on major cable systems including Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications and Charter Communications, as well as DIRECTV on channel 338, DISH Network on channel 188, and Verizon FiOS on channel 224. Follow UP on Facebook & Twitter http://facebook.com/UPtv & @UPtv.

About Odyssey Media Inc.
With its head office in Vancouver BC and branch offices in Brisbane, Australia and Los Angeles, California, Odyssey Media Inc. is a leading international entertainment company specializing in film and television production, financing and packaging. Odyssey’s 2013 production resume includes the features “Drive Hard” (John Cusack & Thomas Jane), “Bad Karma” (Ray Liotta & Dominic Purcell), “Absolute Deception” (Cuba Gooding Jr. & Emmanuelle Vaugier) and “Way of the Wicked” (Christian Slater).

Social Media Handles

Website: www.UPtv.com, valerieharper.com, laurenholly.com
Twitter: @UPtv, @ValerieHarper, @LaurenHolly, @Lucieguest
Facebook: http://facebook.com/UPtv