May 2013
4 posts
5 tags
17 tags
Mnemonic Theatre Productions: authentic shows for...
“If we can’t get a younger crowd to the theatre, then we will bring theatre to the younger crowd,” says Caleb McMullen, Artistic Producer and co-owner of Mnemonic Theatre Productions. “Our events are geared towards a 20’s and 30’s crowd at the places they would be - like the beach, the club or the bar. They are not going to the theatre, the theatre is coming to them and we believe that makes a big...
6 tags
9 tags
What is a Fashion Incubator?
There are 33 fashion incubators around the world based on the Toronto Fashion Incubator (TFI) model which was established 26 years ago.
“Toronto’s Fashion Incubator is an award-winning, non-profit centre that nurtures, supports and promotes emerging fashion designers,” says Susan Langdon, Executive Director. “The Incubator plays a key role in helping designers thrive and survive in the...
April 2013
5 posts
7 tags
Tim Laman, photojournalist extraordinare for...
National Geographic Photojournalist, Tim Laman spent 8 years, made 19 trips to New Guinea and took 39,568 pictures to create the stunning book, Birds of Paradise: Revealing the World’s Most Extraordinary Birds.
zeeBigBang spoke with Tim Laman about how being a Ph.D rain forest biologist inspires his photography. “For me, it’s not just about creating the pictures, it’s about telling the...
10 tags
Jazz Bistro: a place to showcase great musical...
Jazz Bistro has opened in downtown Toronto to some well-deserved glitz and glam with anxious patrons waiting to hear some good jazz. zeeBigBang met with General Manager, Sybil Walker to find out what it takes to run a jazz dinner club and hire talent that patrons will keep coming back to see.
Lucien Gray on guitar
Walker hires the musical talent for the club. She says she plans to hire latin,...
8 tags
Dream Weaver Collection: original clothing and...
zeeBigBang spoke with Eric Seace who, together with his mother, Joan Morgan, run Dream Weaver Collection, an exquisite store offering breath taking original art couture clothing and jewelry by some of the world’s best designers.
Art couture original by designer, Catherine Bacon
Founder, Joan Morgan, started as a struggling artisan. As a potter she traveled to craft shows throughout the summer...
12 tags
Chris Sandvoss: Master Violin, Viola and Cello...
zeeBigBang interviewed Chris Sandvoss, professional musician and award-winning master craftsman of fine violins, violas, and cellos.
“I don’t manufacture I create,” says Sandvoss. “When I have a chisel going through a piece of wood, I am getting to know that piece of wood the entire time. And the more time I spend with it [wood] the more time it tells me what it needs to be. I get to learn about...
6 tags
The Toronto School of Circus Arts helps Martin...
Over 800,000 people saw Martin Short flying above the stage during the opening ceremony of the first Canadian Screen Awards. It was The Toronto School of Circus Arts hard at work behind the scenes that handled all the flying about of Martin Short.
zeebigbang interviewed Decker LaDouceur, Director of the Toronto School of Circus Arts about his school and the expertise required in professional...
March 2013
5 posts
6 tags
WatchCloudburst: composed by Eric Whitacre, words by Octavio Paz, sung by a virtual choir
Simply extraordinary!
zeeBigBang sends a big shout out to composer and conductor Eric Whitacre and his “virtual choir” of voices from around the world singing in real-time using skype. Whitacre puts the words of poet Octavio Paz to music in “Cloudburst.” Another TED Talks marvel.
...
10 tags
Museumsinsel Berlin Museum: the new James...
The Museumsinsel Berlin exhibit featuring the new James Simon-Galerie, designed by architect David Chipperfield, can be viewed at the Canadian German Consulate in Toronto, Canada until April 26, 2013.
zeeBigBang was on hand as Dr. Michael Eissenhauer, Director of Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, unveiled the plan. The James-Simon-Gallerie will be the sixth museum space within the Museumsinsel Berlin...
9 tags
Ontario Science Centre Game ON 2.0 Video Gaming...
zeeBigBang spoke with Mathieu Ranger, Science Educator, Ontario Science Centre about video gaming and the Centre’s Game ON 2.0 interactive exhibit. Barbican Centre in London, England created the exhibit over 10 years ago and it has been travelling around the world ever since.
We asked Ranger what he thinks the difference is between good video games and great video games. He said, “Great video...
12 tags
Writing from the inside out - Ann Ireland and The...
zeeBigBang spoke with award-winning author, Ann Ireland, about her craft and her new novel, The Blue Guitar, published by Dundurn Press.
She is not a typical author. Each of her first three novels hit a home-run with audiences and literary critics. zeeBigBang wanted to find out what makes Ireland’s novels stand in a league of their own with each one having won or been nominated for important...
8 tags
February 2013
3 posts
13 tags
7 tags
Writing Books for Children – Get Book Savvy
“Once you have written your book, the process is just beginning,” says award-winning author and self-publisher Jane Wood. Her company, Florida Kids Press, publishes her series of mystery and adventure books for young readers ages 8-14.
Jane told zeeBigBang that education and running workshops on self-publishing are central to her work as a writer and publisher. She says, “My inspiration for...
8 tags
Promoting and Branding Artists with John Thomas
When you receive constructive criticism - appreciate it and thank the giver - look at it as a service that you have paid for and LEARN from it,” says marketer and videographer John Thomas, President of TrustPoint Communication, who helps brand and promote artists.
zeeBigBang spoke with US-based John Thomas, who has created promotional videos for artists such as sculptor Kyu Yamamoto and...
January 2013
4 posts
6 tags
Creative Industries BA program: first to bridge...
zeeBigBang spoke with Dr. Ira Levine, Dean of the newly designed Creative Industries four-year BA degree specializing in Business, which opens at Ryerson University, September 2013.
“Creative industries are the engine of growth in every western country. They are bigger than the financial sector in London, England in terms of GDP contribution,” says Dr. Levine. He explains that the data points...
8 tags
Novel in a Day: Author Vic DiGenti
“Talent is important, but so are perseverance and hard work,” says Vic DiGenti, instructor of the Novel in a Day Workshop. zeeBigBang asked award-winning novelist DiGenti for the skinny on his advice for writers and novelists.
Best known for his Windrusher adventure triology and the Quint Mitchell mystery series written under the pen name, Parker Francis, DiGenti has honed his...
11 tags
Inside the Scottish Highland Games, Sarasota,...
zeeBigBang spoke with Kathy Wilson, President of the Scottish Heritage Society of Sarasota, about the Highland Games, a mix of arts, culture, athletics and centuries of tradition. “Sarasota, Florida was settled by Scots which makes it the perfect location for the Highland Games,” says Wilson.
Bag Piper at the Sarasota Highland Games
[[MORE]]
Musicians, dancers and ax-throwers are part of the...
November 2012
3 posts
5 tags
The Detox Market
Real - Luxury - Health
San Francisco, West Hollywood and now Toronto. zeeBigBang spoke with Bita Doagoo, owner of the Toronto Detox Market about her popular store and its 100% natural and organic products.
The Detox Market in Toronto opened its doors at the end of September. Bita Doagoo said that the response has been fantastic since she launched the first Canadian store after falling in...
4 tags
3 tags
Michael Fukushima: The Art of Producing Art
Reel Asian International Film Festival
zeeBigBang attended Michael Fukushima: The Art of Producing Art at the 16th Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival which runs from November 6-11 in Toronto and from November 16-17 in Richmond Hill, Ontario. The festival showcases over 60 films by East and Southeast Asian artists in Canada, the U.S., Asia and other parts of the world.
Michael...
October 2012
11 posts
10 tags
EQ3 and The Michaëlle Jean Foundation Help Foster...
zeeBigBang attended the launch of this first ever EQ3’s Generation Art project, an initiative in partnership with the Michaëlle Jean Foundation.
From left to right: Peter Tielmann, President of EQ3; Michaëlle Jean; EQ3 Official Selection Winning Artist Simon Yiu; Toronto Designer Benjamin Kofi; Filmmaker, Philosopher and writer Jean-Daniel Lafond (Photo by Irina Grozavescu)
Co-founded...
7 tags
8 tags
Spotlight on PromaxBDA
PromaxBDA is the global leader for those marketing television and video content. The association represents more than 10,000 companies and individuals and is a resource for education, community, creative inspiration and career development in the media and media marketing sectors.
zeeBigBang spoke with PromaxBDA President/CEO, Jonathan Block-Verk to find out more about the organization, the role...
6 tags
Partners in Art celebrates 10 years in Supporting...
Partners in Art (PIA) is celebrating 10 years of supporting and promoting contemporary visual arts within Canada. PIA is volunteer-based organization that has helped fund 31 projects and raise $800,000 over the years. It was recently awarded the 2013 Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA) Award in Contemporary Art.
zeeBigBang spoke with Mimi Joh, the 2012 PIA Co-Chair, about their...
7 tags
imagineNATIVE Industry Panel - Music in Film & TV:...
The 13th Annual imagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival comprises a line up of thought-provoking films, New Media Art exhibits and an Industry series, which celebrate the works of Indigenous peoples who are at the forefront in film and new media.
zeeBigBang attended the Music in Film & Television panel, which connected Indigenous musicians with Indigenous...
7 tags
The Year of the Pig
zeeBigBang connected with director and actor Nick Latimer, who recently completed his short film, Hogtown. The film follows Boris Gilmour (played by Latimer), aka Baxi, Hogtown’s lone piggy back taxi whose “pig” passengers drive him from sanity to a life of bloody street justice. Watch Hogtown below and then read Latimer’s personal account of the trials and tribulations of making this short...
7 tags
Snare - Spotlight on Director Lisa Jackson
The Stolen Sisters Digital Initiative (SSDI) exhibit starts today as part of the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival. SSDI is an artistic commission of four one-minute digital works made by award-winning Canadian Indigenous filmmakers.
The films celebrate and honour Indigenous women and shed light on the hundreds of unsolved cases of missing and murdered Aboriginal women across Canada.
...
10 tags
Planet in Focus Industry Series - The Funding...
The Planet in Focus Film Festival kicked off on Wednesday, October 10 with a full line-up of environmentally conscious films and an industry series.
zeeBigBang attended The Funding Panel earlier this morning, which gave emerging and veteran filmmakers the opportunity to meet the funders directly, learn about their programs and hear tips on what makes a successful application.
The panel...
13 tags
Northwords - an Interactive Literary Documentary
Northwords, premiering at this week’s Planet in Focus Film Festival, is a cross-platform documentary that follows five of Canada’s leading authors as they explore the stunning and harsh terrain of Torngat Mountains National Park in Newfoundland.
Trailer courtesy of filmCAN.
The film, a FilmCAN production from the creators of the National Parks Project, was inspired by...
10 tags
Spotlight on L.A.'s The Acting Center
This week zeeBigBang shines the spotlight on The Acting Center, a renown acting school located in Los Angeles, California.
The Acting Center was founded in 2006 by a group of seasoned stage, television and film actors and teachers. Since then it has quickly become one of the most respected places to study acting in Los Angeles.
We spoke with one of the founders of the centre, Tamra Meskimen...
5 tags
Canadian Opera Company brings International Stars...
The Canadian Opera Company’s 2012/2013 season is underway with a line up that brings international opera stars to Canada and continues to place the COC as a world renowned opera company.
Il Trovatore - Ines Salazar - Vladimir Galouzine, photo courtesy of COC
zeeBigBang spoke with Alexander Neef, COC’s General Director, about his role in the company, what their new season has in...
September 2012
8 posts
9 tags
Experience the Sun during Culture Days
Sun Life Financial will be showcasing a collection of three short films from leading-edge directors from across Asia as part of Culture Days’ three day-long celebration starting on September 28 in Toronto.
As the Founding Visionary Partner of Culture Days, Sun Life Financial walks the talk on supporting the arts. zeeBigBang spoke with Sun Life’s Assistant Vice-President of...
4 tags
Hart House Theatre's 2012-2013 Season
Hart House Theatre kicked off their 2012/2013 season with a line up that includes Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, Romeo & Juliet and Robin Hood: The Legendary Musical Comedy.
Exterior of Hart House Theatre; Photo courtesy of Rasheed Clarke/Gleaner News.
zeeBigBang spoke with Jeremy Hutton, Hart House Theatre’s first Artistic Director in 30 years. We talked to him about...
7 tags
RocketFuel Media seeks to help TV Producers move...
Stephen Ellis is the co-founder and president of the recently launched RocketFuel Media, which aims to assist television producers as they make the leap into convergent media.
Stephen Ellis, President and Co-founder of RocketFuel Media
zeeBigBang spoke with Ellis to find out more about why he started the company and how transmedia story-telling is changing the way people consume...
9 tags
Culture Days 2012 - Spreading Culture Across...
Culture Days announces its third year, with thousands of free hands-on activities happening simultaneously across Canada beginning on September 28, 2012.
zeeBigBang attended the Culture Days media preview earlier this week at the new Regent Park Arts and Cultural Centre. Performing at the preview were Regent Park dance artists from COBA and Juno Award-Winning musician Sean Jones.
Andre...
7 tags
5 tags
Jeremy Ball's short film, FROST, Premiers at TIFF
FROST, a Canadian Film Centre Short Film by Jeremy Ball, tells the story of Naya, a young arctic hunter who uncovers a strange world while on the search for food outside of her ancestral hunting grounds. It is the first CFC Short to be shot in an HD format and features over 70 visual effects.
The film, which premiers tomorrow at the Toronto International Film Festival, has been a long time...
8 tags
Deco Dawson Gets Inside the Creative and Bizarre...
Deco Dawson’s film, Keep A Modest Head, is a biographical documentary focusing on the life of artist, Jean Benoît, the last official member of the Surrealist group.
The film, which premiers at the Toronto International Film Festival this weekend, is itself a surreal experience within within the mind of Benoît. Keep A Modest Head features rare audio recordings and film footage taken in...
5 tags
Toronto Urban Film Festival - The 'Underground'...
The Toronto Urban Film Festival (TUFF) kicks off tomorrow, bringing TTC Subway commuters a wide range of one minute short silent films on subway platforms across Toronto.
TUFF will screen 73 films from 18 countries on over 300 of the TTC’s Pattison Onestop subway platform screens. TUFF is also the only commuter film festival of its kind in North America.
zeeBigBang spoke...
August 2012
16 posts
7 tags
Inside the Creative Mind of Thom Fougere
Thom Fougere is a Canadian furniture designer and Creative Director for EQ3, a sleek modern furniture company with locations across Canada.
Thom Fougere; photo courtesy of Design Milk
zeeBigBang spoke with Fougere at a preview of the new EQ3 flagship store in Liberty Village, Toronto. Here’s what he had to say about his design inspirations, what it’s like to work with EQ3 and...
8 tags
Simonee Chichester - 2012 Kodak New Vision...
Simonee Chichester is an award-winning filmmaker who was recently named the 2012 WIFT-T Kodak mentorship winner.
zeeBigBang spoke with her about the screenplay that won her this mentorship award, and the lessons she’s learned from past mentors throughout her career.
Her winning entry for the Kodak New Vision Mentorship award was an original screenplay for Merv, a coming-of-age...
9 tags
Cirque du Soleil from the Perspective of a...
Cirque du Soleil opens in Toronto next week with their newest show, Amaluna.
zeeBigBang spoke with performer, Andreanne Nadeau, about what it’s like to be part of Cique du Soleil and what makes Amaluna so unique to other Cirque du Soleil shows.
[[MORE]]
Nadeau is from Montreal, Canada and has an intensive background in athletics and competitive dance. She studied at L’Ecole...
5 tags
Stage 32 builds network for film, television and...
“Stage 32 appeals to writers, screenwriters, actors, pretty much anyone who aspires to get involved with the film industry,” says Curt Blakeney, co-founder and COO.
The idea for the networking website came together when Blakeney and co-founder and CEO Richard Botto, saw how frustrating it was to put together film projects.
“We went out to the American Film Market, a conference in Los...
6 tags
Buskers make the streets their stage at Scotiabank...
The 13th annual Scotiabank BuskerFest in Support of Epilepsy Toronto begins today for four days in the historic St. Lawrence Market neighborhood. Scotiabank BuskerFest is the largest event of its kind in North America and this year more than 100 buskers from around the world will be performing.
Toronto Busker, Peter Jarvis, entertains the crowds as Silver Elvis.
[[MORE]]
“We have over...
7 tags
Pedestrian Space Grows for Celebrate Yonge
Pedestrians can now experience Toronto’s downtown Yonge Street in a new way. Celebrate Yonge is a community-based event that has expanded public space on the stretch of street between Queen and Gerrard.
The celebration offers people the opportunity to stop and enjoy the iconic downtown road with art installations, extended restaurant patio space, and different event programming taking...
4 tags
A Song for Tomorrow at SummerWorks
A Song for Tomorrow, written by Toronto-based playwright Christina Wong and produced by New Harlem Productions and Eventual Ashes, expresses the differences between Chinese and Canadian culture. Premiering at the SummerWorks Festival, the play stars May and Ping, a Chinese couple who immigrated to Toronto in 1971, all the while demonstrating the cultural differences in their daily lives.
...
