Tag Archives: TIFF

Multi-talented, multi-lingual pop-artist, actor and model Elisabetta Fantone adds motherhood to her list of growing roles

The renowned multifaceted performer is tackling her most important project yet, with the anticipation of her first child in July

The ever engaging artist/actor Elisabetta Fantone has been garnering acclaim worldwide from her various art, film and television projects. Now, Elisabetta is preparing for the most important role she has tacked to-date, as she prepares for the arrival of her first child in July. Elisabetta’s work was most recently featured in her GOING POP exhibit, which was displayed at the Lacey Contemporary Gallery in London earlier this spring. This latest show comes on the heels of a well-publicized tour of her artwork across North America, with highlights including The Thompson Landry Gallery in Toronto during TIFF, Calvin Charles Gallery in Scottsdale, Latitude Gallery in Calgary, and the Myra Galleries in Miami.

Elisabetta’s art reached new heights, literally, with one of her largest creations; a mural she painted for Art Basel in Miami. The piece, titled ‘Crimes Against Art’ features the portraits of Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol posing for their fictional mugshots. The mural is located at 227 NW 26^th Street in Miami (Wynwood). Last year, Elisabetta painted the widely revered mural titled ‘The Affair”, featuring the portraits of the Kennedys and Marilyn Monroe. ‘The Affair’ was later featured in a Bacardi commercial. You can view Elisabetta’s variety of art here: elisabettafantoneart.com.

Elisabetta’s unique approach to recreating images of iconic figures is widely popular, and the portraits are often acknowledged by the subject of her pieces!

The Italian-Canadian multi-talent has accomplished countless artistic endeavors, including notable credits in the realm of film and television, modeling, music, painting and literature. A highlight of her productions include: the role of Marta in the Golden Globe Award winning film “Big Eyes” directed by Tim Burton, the noir-mystery feature “Havana 57”, and a lead role in the feature “My Name is Sandy”, which screened at the Cannes Film Festival. And, of course, the role that changed it all for Elisabetta, the Canadian TV series “Loft Story”, which gained her notoriety as a break out star in front of the camera. Since then, her remarkable versatility as an actor has allowed her to successfully play roles ranging from light comedy to gritty drama in both English and French productions.

When not on set, or writing (her first book, entitled “Journal intime d’une Lofteuse” and the accompanying CD were recently released), she is giving her followers a peek at how she makes her art with time-lapse videos demonstrating the creative process that goes into the creation of her innovative pieces. You can see her videos on YouTube on her channel:OfficialElisabetta.

With her acting projects on the continual rise, and a painting career that is more in-demand than ever, with pieces in galleries and private collections across the world, Elisabetta isn’t slowing down anytime soon. And, with the addition of a new role this summer, Elisabetta will be tackling her greatest personal project: motherhood. The healthy living enthusiast is planning on having a natural water birth, and is preparing for the natural birth with a hypnobirthing class next month. She has continued with a well-balanced plant based diet throughout her pregnancy (not always easy when around a tempting craft services table!), and her and her husband plan on raising their child has a vegetarian as well.

Elisabetta has balanced her pregnancy, mind and body wellness, and a busy art and film production schedule, while continuing to impress those around her in all facets of work and life.

Elisabetta is available for interviews and photographs upon request.

For more information and media requests, please contact:
Lesley Diana – lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca ph: 604-726-5575

Social Media Handles

Website: elisabetta.com, elisabettafantoneart.com
Twitter: @elisabettatweet 
Facebook: ELISABETTA FANTONE
Instagram: @elisabettafantone
YouTube: OfficialElisabetta
IMDb: elisabettafantone

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.

By 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.

And 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.

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.ca, mongrelmedia.com/film/preggoland.aspx, indiegogo.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

Taking 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 8^th 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

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 15^th, 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 27^th, 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 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.

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

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

Musician/Actor Tara Beier stars in the role of Buffy Sainte-Marie in the film “COVERED” to screen at the Whistler Film Festival on Friday December 5th at 1:30pm

The Promotion People - Tara Beier

Musician/Actor Tara Beier stars in the role of Buffy Sainte-Marie in the film “COVERED” to screen at the Whistler Film Festival on Friday December 5th at 1:30pm

Multitalented Musician/Actor/Filmmaker Tara Beier stars in “COVERED”. This docudrama short film is an interpretation of an interview and performance of Buffy Sainte-Marie that originally aired on CBC TV’s program TBA with host John O’Leary in 1966. “COVERED will screen at the Whistler International Film Festival on Friday, December 5^th at 1:30 pm. www.whistlerfilmfestival.com

Tara Beier (aka, Browne) is the actor, filmmaker and musician starring in the role of Buffy Sainte-Marie in the short film “COVERED”. Most recently Tara won “BEST EXPERIMENTAL” for the film at the Imagine Native Film Festival in Toronto, which premiered at the TIFF Lightbox.

Press and peers praised Tara for her directing debut for the documentary “I Met A Man From Burma” on the life and country of Ler Wah Lo Bo-a Burmese refugee and former revolutionary fighter for the Karen National Liberation Army turned activist. The documentary premiered at The Vancouver International Film Centre/Reel Causes program then Female Eye Film Festival, The Berlinale Film Cloud and Hot Docs program.

Tara has always remained true to her voice as a creator. Since the age of 6, she trained in classical conservatory piano for over 10 years. While in preparation for over a year to play the legendary folk singer Buffy Sainte-Marie, Tara’s writing and acting naturally spawned her to create her own music with a message.

Now, with the unexpected success of her music, Tara has garnered a huge online following on Facebook and Twitter and a climbing presence on Youtube with thousands of hits for her songs: Freedom Island, This Innocence, Guns Road, Mayan Sun, In The Desert and more. Tara and her band will be recording their first album of eight original songs this January at Rose Room Recording Studios in Toronto.

Ottawa’s music critic Zachery Houle reviewed Tara on “PopMatters” deeming her “one of a kind in Canadian indie rock and worth to listen to” comparing her voice and style to Neil Young and Joni Mitchell.” http://www.popmatters.com/review/184836-tara-beier-purple-trees-ep/

Tara is currently on tour with her band The SilverThorns”. The band includes renowned classical guitarist Michael Savona, Juno-nominated drummer Tony-Nestbitt Larking and bassist, George Chenery. They recently shot a high quality music video for “Guns Road” in Toronto with Motorcyle Stunt Riders produced by Commercial Film Production Company Familystyle.tv.

You can check “Tara Beier & The SilverThorns” out on YouTube for their live performances at The 3030 Bar in The Junction, Toronto. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqsmv1b5aIKc1jZfEuPOzpA

Tara, a native of Vancouver, is now living in Toronto.

Social Media Handles

Website: www.whistlerfilmfestival.com
Blog: tarabeier.blogspot.ca
Twitter: @tarabeier
Facebook: Tara Beier Music

Samples of music/live performances:
Freedom Island: http://youtu.be/2sS6pDXSQig
Mayan Sun: http://youtu.be/ZeCiyfO8bo8
Guns Road: http://youtu.be/-ZiolyHsGRk
Hate Street Dialogue: http://youtu.be/vmfH7aoTKoE

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

Early 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 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

Canadian Corey Large Executive Producer On The November Man In Theatres Now and Revenge Of The Green Dragons Premiering At TIFF

Corey acts and produces in BC film Poker Night premiering December 5, 2014

The year 2014 is proving to be busier than ever for Canadian actor/writer/producer Corey Large. As an executive producer, the B.C. native has a handful of blockbusters screening at prestigious film festivals and in theaters worldwide. Earlier this year “It Follows” premiered at Cannes and more recently, “Revenge of the Green Dragons” was accepted into the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival. “The November Man” opens this August and, later this year, “Poker Night” debuts in theatres across North America.

Starring Pierce Brosnan, “The November Man” is the first of Corey’s new slate of films to hit the big screen, debuting on August 27. Corey executive produces and Roger Donaldson (“The Bank Job”) directs. The spy thriller also stars Olga Kurylenko and Luke Bracey.

Alongside famed director Martin Scorsese, Corey executive produced “Revenge of the Green Dragons” starring Ray Liotta, Justin Chon, Kevin Wu, Harry Shum Jr, Shuya Chang, and Geoff Pierson. The film premieres at TIFF on Sept. 10 as part of the festival’s Special Presentations programme. This dizzying, decade-spanning crime saga from directors Andrew Lau and Andrew Loo follows two best friends as they rise through the ranks of New York’s Chinese underworld in the 1980s.

Corey not only produced, but also co-stars in “Poker Night,” a feature film shot in his hometown of Victoria, B.C., starring Beau Mirchoff, Ron Perlman, Giancarlo Esposito, and Titus Welliver. The thriller, which features twists and turns that will leave you guessing till the very end, opens in theaters nationwide on Dec. 5.

Earlier this year Corey produced and acted in the Canadian feature “Kid Cannabis,” which opened to rave reviews on April 20and continues with strong DVD sales.

At the helm of Wingman Productions and Tunnel Post, Corey runs his own studio and post-production company controlling the direction of projects he chooses to work on. His Santa Monica-based companies specialize in creating high-end media content for film, television, live events, commercials and music videos including, “Killing them Softly” with Brad Pitt, “Broken City” starring Russell Crowe and Mark Wahlberg, and “The Tomb” with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone.

Along with his partners, Corey has written, produced, co-starred in and sold a number of full-length features to Hollywood studios, including: “Loaded”, “Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever,” “Toxic,” “The Penthouse,” “The Obama Effect,” “Welcome to the Jungle,” and “The Frozen Ground”. Corey executive produced “Fire with Fire” starring Josh Duhamel, “The Angriest Man in Brooklyn”starring Mila Kunis and the late Robin Williams, and “Broken City” starring Mark Wahlberg and Russell Crowe. Other features include “Lap Dance” “Zombeavers,” “Don Peyote,” “Unconscious” and “Empire State”. Recently, Corey had a role in the Oscar-nominated “Lone Survivor” starring Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch and Eric Bana.

Staying true to his Canadian roots, Corey will venture back to British Columbia to produce and act in “The Passenger” with Vancouver director Chad Krowchuk, Corey splits his time between Victoria and Los Angeles. He is available for interviews upon request.

Social Media Handles

Website: wingmanproductions.com, tunnelpost.com
IMDb: Corey Large, Poker Night
Trailers: Revenge Of The Green Dragons, The November Man

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

Gemini Award-Winning Gabrielle Miller Makes Her Directorial Debut in Seed&Spark’s Newest Project ‘CLAUDETTE’

The Promotion People - Seed & Spark

Gabrielle Miller is set to direct a short film starring her Corner Gas co-star, Tara Spencer-Nairn and Toronto actor, Scott McCord. Currently in pre-production, the film will shoot for two days on December 7th and 8th 2013 in Toronto. Entitled, CLAUDETTE, the script is a murder mystery surrounding the disappearance of the title character’s husband.

Through the platform of Seed&Spark, the film will be produced primarily through donations. They will go forth in whatever manner they can based on their fundraising at that time, which will end a few days after they wrap. This gives viewers a unique opportunity to actually be a part of the outcome by contributing in real time in response to activity on set. Every donation increases their ability to make a better film, and the more they have going in, the more resources will be available on that day.

Find out more about the project and how you can support it at: seedandspark.com/studio/claudette

SYNOPSIS
After an early morning spent replanting her garden, Claudette wearily comes inside her home. It is autumn, the leaves are falling, it’s not the time for this type of yard work, but that does not concern her. She is too concerned with other things.

Once in doors, Claudette removes her gum boots and places them just inside her kitchen next to a muddy shovel. She climbs the stairs, removes her clothes and showers. Claudette towels off. Claudette gets dressed. Claudette quietly and meticulously packs her bags.

Later, in her kitchen, Claudette lights a kettle for tea on the stove, one last cup before– there is a tapping at the back door, a knocking rather. Claudette goes to it.

It is Detective Koslovski. The Detective assigned to her husband’s case. He had been coming around a lot, but not for the last few weeks. She had wondered about that… she wonders why he was back here now. On today of all days.

Koslovski admires her garden. Claudette agrees to allow him to come inside once he tells her that some ‘news’ has come to light.

In her living room she sits with Koslovski as he explains that the people that her husband owed money to are not the type of people that one would necessarily want to owe money to.

Claudette lets this information bounce off of her shoulders as casually as she can, declaring it was not she but her husband, Jeremiah, who owed the money. Claudette’s evasiveness leads Koslovski to call out the elephant in the room. He states aloud that it is most likely that her husband has absconded leaving his troubles for her to deal with.

The tea kettle in the kitchen whistles. Claudette asks if Koslovski would like some tea and begins to wonder just what exactly Koslovski is here to ask her…

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Promotion People - Gabrielle Miller

GABRIELLE MILLER – Director/Producer

Gemini award-winning Gabrielle Miller (Corner Gas, Call Me Fitz, Moving Day) has appeared in over 75 productions in the past two decades. She is best known for her lead roles on two television series: the runaway hit CTV series Corner Gas, and the critically acclaimed dramedy Robson Arms. In 2013, Gabrielle was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for her role in Mike Clattenburg’s feature film Moving Day, the opening film for the Canadian Images Program at VIFF in 2012. Combined, Gabrielle has garnered 12 Gemini and Leo Award nominations and five wins. In 2012, Gabrielle had the honor of being a member of Oldenburg International Film Festival’s first ever all female jury. Gabrielle can be heard this fall in the City TV/Hulu adult animated series, Mother Up!, and her most recent foray in the world of independent film, Down River, can be seen in theaters in the Spring of 2014. Gabrielle splits her time between her residences in New York and Toronto.

“I come from a performing background, having been an actor for over twenty years in Canada and the United States. I am very excited to be making my directorial debut with CLAUDETTE.” – Gabrielle Miller

ALEXANDER CENDESE – Writer/Producer

Alexander Cendese is a American/Canadian actor, writer and producer living in New York and Toronto. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to a Canadian father and an American mother, Cendese spent significant time in Florence, Italy growing up, before attending the Perry Mansfield Performing Arts School and Camp and eventually, Carnegie Mellon, where he received his Bachelor’s in Acting from the School of Drama in 2004. In 2004, Cendese took up permanent residency in New York City, where he has been a working actor ever since. In 2011, Cendese developed, produced and appeared in the feature film, Blumenthal, starring Brain Cox and Laila Robins. Blumenthal had its world premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in 2013 and is set for a spring 2014 release. Cendese has produced several short films, including Feeling Tall, and Defaced, which he wrote, shot, edited and directed, and he recently wrapped principal photography on the feature, Best Man in the Dark, which he co-wrote and starred in. Since November of 2012, Cendese has maintained a home in Toronto, as well as New York City.

“I wrote CLAUDETTE for Gabrielle Miller to direct. She is one of the most talented actors I have ever known and having been closely involved with her over the last few years has led me to understand her deep desire to approach story telling from a new perspective. We both share an innate interest in telling stories specifically about women who do extraordinary things. Without painting Claudette’s actions one way or the other, it can certainly be said that she is a surprising woman.” – Alexander Cendese

TARA SPENCER-NAIRN – Claudette

Spencer-Nairn was born in Montreal, raised in Vancouver and currently calls Toronto home. A former competitive gymnast, she is a graduate of the Vancouver Film School. Her big breakthrough came in 1999, when she was cast as Lou in the highly-acclaimed film New Waterford Girl which played at Sundance and TIFF and was nominated for seven Genie awards. Tara is best-known for her Gemini-winning turn as Karen Pelly on the #1 rated sitcom Corner Gas. She can currently be seen in the recurring role of Sandy in CTV’s hit drama The Listener.

Photography credit: Ted Belton

SCOTT MCCORD

Scott Mccord is an actor, musician, voice actor and filmmaker. He is bandleader for the soul-rock band SCOTT MCCORD AND THE BONAFIDE TRUTH (Best New Artist of the Year Nominee – 2010 Maple Blues Awards). Scott recently appeared on stage in Rosa Laborde’s MARINE LIFE (Aluna Theatre) and Sky Gilbert’s NAKED HAMILTON.

Film and TV credits include LOST GIRL, 16 BLOCKS, SHOOT EM UP, REPUBLIC OF DOYLE and THE ELEVENTH HOUR. Animated TV series include TOTAL DRAMA ISLAND, BAKUGAN BATTLE BRAWLERS, MOTHER UP! and CAMP LAKEBOTTOM. Scott’s voice acting talents led to him being invited to New Zealand and Australia as a celebrity guest for ARMAGEDDON FAN EXPO 2011.

KEN KRAWCZYK, CSC – Director of Photography

Having been behind the camera on many award winning series like, Corner Gas, Hiccups, and recently, In Security, Ken Anton Krawcyzk has experienced success at many levels as a director of photography. Although best known for his series work, Krawcysk’s love for motion photography goes beyond television comedy. Driven to create engaging photography for over twenty five years, Krawczyk has extended his craft to many feature film and commercial projects. Krawcyzk was nominated for the Gemini Award for best photography in a comedy program in 2008, 2010, and 2011. Most recently he was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for his photography on In Security in 2013.

Social Media Handles

Website: seedandspark.com/studio/claudette, gabriellemiller.com
Facebook: Seed&Spark, Gabrielle Miller, Scott Mccord
Twitter: @claudetteshortf, @MillerGabrielle, @alexcendese, @TSpencerNairn, @ScottyMcCord, @seedandspark

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

A Tribute to Cory Monteith

Our hearts go out to Cory Monteith’s family and friends.

We were lucky enough to work with Cory as his publicist from 2007 to 2009, while he was on his road to “Glee”.

Cory is one of the nicest people that anyone could ever meet. The last time we saw Cory from a far was with Richard Branson in Vancouver at a Board of Trade Luncheon. Of all people in the world, Richard Branson chose Cory to be his Virgin Unite Ambassador. Cory also supports Project Limelight for homeless youth in Vancouver to give them the chance to discover their strengths and potential through the arts.

Cory was a talent of course, but also a caring, lovely man who will be greatly missed. He had love and respect from everyone who knew him. Our hearts go out to his family, friends and Lea Michele. Cory was blessed with his long time agent Elena Kirschner, who guided Cory’s career from the beginning. We know how much they care for each other.

From the first time we meet Cory, we knew that he had a very successful career as an actor ahead of him. We were with Cory when he walked his very first Red Carpet at the Vancouver International Film Festival. It turned out to be the first of many. After an interview with the Biography Channel early on in his career, the reporter told us that Cory was one of the most amazing interviews that she had ever experienced. He was so honest about his struggles to succeed.

Cory drove to Los Angeles to audition for “Glee”. He had to pull into roadside rest stations to conduct press interviews along the way. We were so excited when Cory called to tell us that he had booked his role as Finn Hudson on the new Fox hit series.

Cory has had a US publicist since the explosion in popularity of “Glee”, so we were thrilled when we could work with him again at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival, while promoting Carl Bessai’s Feature Film “Sisters & Brothers”, with co-stars Dustin Milligan, Amanda Crew, Gabrielle Miller, Ben Ratner, Gabrielle Rose, Camille Sullivan, Tom Scholte, Jay Brazeau, Kacey Rohl, Ali Liebert, Monica Delain and Beatrice King; all past/present clients. It was a very special time and Cory was genuinely happy to see me and gave me a huge hug. One I will always remember.

We join Cory’s family, friends, the cast of ”Glee”, actors, media and millions of fans everywhere when we say:

“Cory you will be missed. You left us all far too soon.”

– Lesley Diana and The Promotion People team

Press:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/glee-star-cory-monteith-dies-584965
http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/cory-monteith
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1816642/

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

Acclaimed pop-culture artist & alluring performer Elisabetta Fantone returns to Canada to display unique artwork at Vancouver’s Kurbatoff Gallery April 11th to 23rd, 2013

Italian-French Canadian actor, artist and author Elisabetta Fantone continues to impress with her talent in many mediums; excelling in artistic, film and literary projects. The international beauty is not only a talented actor, widely recognized reality television personality, model and author, but a gifted painter as well. Elisabetta has been garnering attention across North America for her engaging Youtube videos, which capture her creating her dynamic art pieces, from start to first. To personally view some of Elisabetta’s pieces come to life, visit her Youtube channel: youtube.com/user/OfficialElisabetta

Currently, Elisabetta is gearing up for her next show (her first solo show on Canada’s West Coast) at the Kurbatoff Gallery from April 11th-23rd, 2013. Her recreations of the images of iconic figures are widely popular, and are often acknowledged by the subject of her pieces! She was notably commissioned by the Kardashian sisters to showcase a piece of her art in their famed clothing boutique “DASH”, in Miami.

This latest art show comes after Elisabetta’s well-publicized tour of her artwork across North America last year. She had her pieces displayed at the Kurbatoff Gallery, The Thompson Landry Gallery in Toronto during TIFF, the Soho Gallery in Montreal and the Myra Galleries in Miami. Her shows paid homage to classic icons, including Marilyn Monroe, Mick Jagger, Audrey Hepburn and Marlon Brando.

Her artistic work isn’t the only aspect of her career on the rise: The vivacious actor is starring in the original feature film “Havana 57”. The noir mystery marks the first co-production between Canada and Cuba, and touched upon the subjects of the mob, revolutions and a beautiful dancer, played by Elisabetta.

“Havana 57” follows Rubén Velez (Juan Reidinger), a newly appointed homicide detective in the Havana police force of the 1950s, before the Cuban revolution. Velez is working on the case of a murdered chorus girl with connections to the mob, but soon finds himself in danger when his idealistic principles of justice meet head-on with the corrupt and brutal practices of the police force. Elisabetta plays Juliana in the film, a torrid Cuban dancer and roommate to the murdered chorus girl. Juliana seduces detective Velez and reveals secrets that lead him to the killer, but also puts herself in the mob’s line of fire. She finds herself torn between her need to survive and her love for Velez.

This multi-talented beauty has been busy with acting roles since she was discovered in 2006 when she won over the hearts of French speaking Canadians thanks to the insatiably popular docu-reality TV series “Loft Story”, of which she quickly shone as the break out star. Since then, Elisabetta has accomplished numerous artistic endeavors, including film and television, modeling, music, painting and literature. She has already released her first book entitled “Journal intime d’une Lofteuse”. Just a few short years later, she had added celebrated pop-art painter and vocalist as additions to her already impressive repertoire.

Elisabetta decided that she would marry her two passions of painting and performing, and head to the U.S. to further both talents. Born in Montreal to Italian parents, Elisabetta grew up with her three older brothers and made the move to Italy at the age of four where she caught the acting bug. Elisabetta, a true animal lover, now lives in Miami with her two small dogs, a Chihuahua named “Dolce” and a Mini-Pin named “Topolina”.

When not gracing the covers of magazines around the globe, doing TV interviews, or working, Elisabetta enjoys reading, working out, playing 80‟s video games and baking. She is also passionate about charity and has been associated with Breast Cancer and Aids charities as well as The Children’s Foundation in Montreal. Elisabetta continues to volunteer her time hosting events, doing commercials and auctioning her paintings to raise awareness and money for charity.

Social Media Handles

Website: elisabetta.ca
Facebook: ELISABETTA FANTONE
Twitter: @elisabettatweet 
YouTube: OfficialElisabetta

Contact The Promotion People

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