Cinemars

Toronto International Film Festival Blogger

So the time has come for the city's favourite event, The Toronto International Film Festival. I'm looking forward to all the festivities as well as hopefully some great films!

I'm going to be taking part in a live TIFF blog for First Weekend Club. The blog will be an insiders look into TIFF, the great movies and the great parties!

Check out:

www.firstweekendclub.ca

I'll be posting my TIFF blogs here aswell!

Fellowship and Global City University Project

I am excited to announced that I have been offered a Research Fellowship at Osgoode Law School along with the opportunity to direct an amazing film in collaboration with CURL (Collaborative Urban Research Laboratory) and professor Peer Zumbansen.

Exploring the idea of a Global City University, the film will look at the potential of public education reform, the interplay between the city, the university and in turn the community - ultimately it will look at how the university can create impact on a global scale.

The film is set to premiere during York University's 50th Anniversary celebrations at the Presidents Gala in April 2009!

Mars meets the Hills

I just got back from a wonderful week in LA. I stayed with my close friend Grazka Taylor in her gorgeous Beverly Hills home - it was pretty unreal. Grazka is an independent film producer based in LA. I had a chance to shadow her for a few days and get the real Hollywood experience. Screaming agents, facelifts, Sunset Boulevard, and an atmosphere that lives and breathes movies. The latter was my favourite part of the whole experience. I love the fact that film lives at the epicenter of everything in LA. I'm definitely planning a trip back...

Traveling Light: Alison Murray's Cinematic Dance

My interview with filmmaker Alison Murray is finally posted in the most recent issue of FilmCAN. Check out www.filmcan.org for the article and other exciting news about Canadian cinema.

"Alison Murray’s work is infused with a poetic punk essence. She describes film as a mere setup for a dance sequence, and from train-hopping hobos to fairground workers traveling with the American Midway, a nomadic ballet takes centre stage in her work. Her latest film, the documentary Carny, sold out all three of its screenings at Hot Docs this year, so it’s little surprise she was recently deemed worthy of a retrospective at Toronto’s Royal theatre..."

Collaborative Urban Research Laboratory...

I am currently involved with a group at York University dedicated to the study and research of the City. I will be working in collaboration with CURL on a film project about the past and present development of York University and its relevance as a player on the global stage.

I'm really excited at the opportunity to be a part of this great new initiative that is really pushing the boundaries of interdisciplinary collaborative research!

Check out CURL:

www.criticalresearchlab.org

 

curl constitutes an unprecedented, interdisciplinary and multimedia research laboratory, dedicated to the hitherto missing cross-section of legal, sociological and geographical research on global cities with image-based media forms such as documentary film, video art and photography. The researchers and artists working in curl collaborate  on text/non-text based projects to provide an integrated research portal on  global cities

Working with FilmCAN!

I've recently started my involvement with the Canadian online film magazine FilmCAN! They have been around since 2004 with quarterly releases as well as regular updates exploring interesting content in Canadian aswell as international cinema. You can check out my first installment in this upcoming summer issue - with an interview with insightfully imaginative filmmaker Alison Murray.

FilmCAN's goal Is to be the premier online resource for the discussion and promotion of Canadian film culture. We aim to spotlight the best of Canadian and international cinema through critical analysis and by providing immediate, digital access to films and visual media. Our primary areas of focus are independent cinema and those artists attempting to push the boundaries of both the form and audience of Canadian film.

www.filmcan.org
 

Nuit Blanche Project!

I've been invited to be part of a Nuit Blanche exhibit called "Concurrence". The event will be happening in October and I will be preparing a short film to showcase.

Concurrence

    A multi-disciplinary exhibition of contemporary visual art by Emerging
Canadian Artists.
    Concurrence is a showcase of contemporary art featuring works by young
creative minds meeting together for one night only to share their unique
experiences, successes and perspectives at Nuit Blanche 2008. The event's
aim is to encourage a dialogue and a creative exchange between emerging
artists and new audiences.
    The theme of Concurrence refers to a rare snapshot of the young artists'
development from their origins to the present and beyond. Simultaneously, it
is through the mapping out of their individual paths across continents,
cultures, styles, ideas and media that Nuit Blanche happens. With various
points of departure the artists harmoniously blend a global consciousness
with fine art and design practices, thus capturing the state of creative
expression as being in constant flux.

More details will be posted shortly at:

www.scotiabanknuitblanche.ca
 

Tanya Mullings: Music Is My Life Premieres on BRAVO! Feb.5th

The second episode I directed as part of the "Heartbeat" series will be airing on BRAVO! February 5th at 7pm.

The episode profiles Canadian Reggae Pioneer Tanya Mullings - who was most recently nominated for a Juno for Best Reggae Album.

EPISODE 11 : Tanya Mullings: Music is My Life

Tanya Mullings, the Canadian born diva who has won the heart of fans all across Canada and the Caribbean. Being the daughter of the late great Jamaican reggae music producer Karl Mullings, means Tanya has been taught by one of the best.

Watch the trailer:

Tamara: The Art of Weaving - Premieres on Bravo February 5th

A half hour documentary profiling world-renowned artist weaver Tamara Jaworska. This film was completed by a group of us on behalf of a filmmaker named Michal Maryniarczyk who unfortunately passed away in the middle of production. The world broadcast premiere is this coming Sunday at 7:30pm on BRAVO!

Saidah Baba Talibah: Stepping Out Premieres on BRAVO Jan.1st!

A incredible way to start off the new year! My first episode of the "Heartbeat" series premiered on January 1st 2008! Saidah Baba Talibah: Stepping Out features daughter of Salome Bey and Howard Matthews.

Saidah Baba Talibah is a truly gifted performer, who possesses a refreshingly energetic personality and a presence that exudes a shimmering warmth. Her voice, powerful and inspiring, holds a deep-seated sensuality and a soulful mastery rivalled by such music legends as Minnie Riperton and Etta James. Her versatility tickles your senses and speaks to your heart.  She is a respected performer, who can command an audience and hold her own on stage.

Check out the trailer:

The half hour series will continue on every Tuesday night on Bravo. Be sure to check out my next episode profiling reggae super star Tanya Mullings - February 5th 2008.