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Montreal Sketchfest - 10th Anniversary!
Montreal has no shortage of festivals. There are so many in fact that some might not even land on your radar screen. Don't let that be the case with the upcoming Montreal Sketchfest! From May 21st to the 30th, Le Nouveau International is producing the 10th Anniversary of Montreal Sketchfest at Theatre St. Catherine (264 Sainte-Catherine E.) and the Montreal Improv Theatre (3697 Saint-Laurent). For those of you who are not familiar with sketch comedy, think Saturday Night Live or This Hour Has 22 Minutes – short vignettes of crazy characters, designed for maximum laughs in quick succession. Sketch comedy is always zany, high energy, and lots of fun!
A 10th Anniversary is kind of a big deal, and Le Nouveau International seems to have pulled out all the stops to bring Montreal a top-notch line up. This year the festival includes 60 local and out-of-town improv troupes from Toronto, Vancouver, New York, and Philadelphia, spread out over 10 days of laughter. Some highlights to look forward to include the award-winning, Toronto-based Falcon Powder, who count among their achievements a Canadian Comedy Award, as well as Best of the Fest in Toronto Sketchfest and LA Sketchfest. Also on the line-up, Peter n' Chris, a three-time Canadian Comedy Award winning sketch troupe from Vancouver BC who have contributed to The Irrelevant Show, CBC Punchline, and CollegeHumor, plus The Dead Dads Club from the highly-acclaimed UCB Theatre in New York.
This edition of Sketchfest will also include a special Women in Comedy Panel co-presented by Sketchfest, No More Radio, and Women In Comedy Montreal. The panel will be held at 3 p.m. May 23rd, and that evening of Sketchfest will be dedicated to ladies' sketch troupes. The panel will not only be featuring performers such as Chantale Renée, Kristen Bartlett, and Dawn Ford, but also comedy producers such as Sasha Manoli from The Brunch Club and Dave Sawyer, Associate Producer of the Boston Women in Comedy Festival.
All in all, there really promises to be something for everyone at Montreal Sketchfest, including a Franco show on Friday May 22nd. The festivities open on May 21st at Theatre St. Catherine with a dynamite line up hosted by Chris Sandiford and Daniel Carin, also known as Ladies & Gentlemen, and the winners of last year's Sketchfest. Opening night also features not one, but two CJLO hosts performing as a part of Sketchfest! Jacob Greco from Don't Mess This Up Jacob (Thursdays 1 p.m.) will be performing with the his troupe HOT RAW FIRE, and Sarah Stupar from Best of the West (Thursdays 2 p.m.) will be performing with the troupe Swamp Mouth. A festival pass is available for $50, good for unlimited sketch shows for 10 nights. Each night features a few separate blocks of sketch, and double feature tickets can be purchased at the door for $20, or $12 for individual shows.
The final night on the 30th will feature awards, and a Best of the Fest presentation. For tickets and more information visit http://montrealsketchfest.com!
News for May 20th, 2015
by Emeline Vidal
Montreal will be seeing electric busses on it's streets next fall.
The B.C. government is under scrutiny after a report revealed that it failed to provide proper assistance to a distressed First Nations teenager.
According to CBC News, children’s rights advocate Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond urged for accountability and reform for the well-being of aboriginal youth in downtown Vancouver.
A report shows that a blind teen known as “Paige” died due to a combination of extreme substance overdose and dangerous living conditions.
Despite reaching out for help, her case was underreported and was not given the proper care.
Turpel-Lafond says that Paige’s tragic death is one of more than one hundred similar cases on file.
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The European Union is planning to launch a mission next month to destroy people-smuggling boats operating out of Libya.
According to BBC News, the plan is in response to the vast amount of illegal migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea from Africa and the Middle East to reach Europe.
In addition to disrupting smuggling networks, the European Commission is also urging the EU to adopt quotas for housing migrants and to ease pressure on Italy, Greece and Malta.
This year alone, more than 1,800 migrants have died in the Mediterranean.
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The Southern Tablelands region of Australia experienced some rather peculiar weather is month- as millions of baby spiders rained down from the sky.
According to NBC news, the phenomenon known as “spider rain” or “angel hair” is actually not all that uncommon.
Baby spiders naturally use wind currents to travel, using their spider silk as parachutes.
Unfortunately in this case, a change in wind currents caused the spiders to fall en-masse on the rural countryside.
May 20th, 2015
Hosted by: Caitlin Spencer
Stories by: Caitlin Spencer, Saturn de Los Angeles
Produced by: Emeline Vidal
Op-ed: Is firing the men involved in the FHRITP debacle appropriate?
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are that of the author's and do not reflect the views of CJLO 1690AM, CJLO's editorial board, or our partners and affiliates.
By now some of you may be familiar with the FHRITP debacle unravelling in Toronto. This is a trend that began in the United States with some hoax videos involving bystanders screaming "F**k Her Right In The P***y" during 'live' broadcasts. Unfortunately for humanity this 'prank' caught on, and now some people apparently make it their life's mission to hunt down news cameras and scream the very same slogan during reports. It happened recently to Shauna Hunt, a CityNews reporter while she was interviewing soccer fans at a game in Toronto. Hunt decided to confront some men before they were able to pull the same stunt and the segment was later aired. Sadly, according to Hunt, many reporters deal with this on a daily basis. In the fallout from that segment, the men who were identifiable will be subject to a one year ban from games of the Toronto Football Club, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Raptors, who are all owned by Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment. One man, identified by was identified as Hydro One employee Shawn Simoes actually was fired from his job over the incident.
I had a variation of this happen to me about two months ago. I was participating as a panellist on a comedy panel show here in Montreal. The panel, made up of four comedians, debates certain issues and, hopefully, makes hilarious jokes about them. The last time I participated in the show, our first topic was the FHRITP phenomenon. We talked about it, made jokes, and generally dismissed all those who participated as morons. About 15 minutes later we had moved onto another subject and as I was doing my best to crack jokes about Austerity Measures, a man in the audience, probably in his late 40's, stood up and yelled "F**k her right in the ass!" Being far less cool than Shauna Hunt, my immediate reaction was to try and fight the guy. The man was shocked by my behaviour and actually backed down, saying "No, I wasn't talking about you!" I couldn't fist fight a man backing away with his hands in the air so I had to let it slide. After the show he came up to me and apologized, saying that he hadn't meant to offend me. It was a very surreal moment. I felt the man was genuine, and it was hard for me to understand how he really didn't think beforehand that what he was doing was offensive.
This sentiment is echoed by the men Ms. Hunt speaks to in the video. One of them keeps repeating that FHRITP is not about her, that they are not talking to her, or about her, and thus they have no comprehension of she would be angry. This is a problem. These individuals at this point cannot understand that regardless of their intentions, this act is demeaning and cruel to the reporter. Their reactions illustrate that we live in a society with over-arching power structures that condone and reproduce misogyny, but is targeting individuals the most effective was to combat this power imbalance? Should misogyny be a fireable offence?
Subjecting these men to a year long ban from all Maple Leaf sports is a justified response. Public naming and shaming is certainly deserved, and hopefully will lead to more open discussions about why this type of behaviour is not OK. Criminal mischief charges could be an effective tool to protect reporters from continued harassment. But a man losing his job? What purpose does this serve? He was acting as an individual, not on behalf of his company. It's not that I have sympathy for this man, I'm just concerned that such an action is worse, in the long run, for society. Instead of just dealing with a public naming and shaming (which is more likely lead to behavioural changes) this man will instead feel justified in increased hatred and aggression towards women due to what he undoubtedly believes is wrongful termination (the labour board will most likely agree, assuming there is not a stipulation in their contract about statements made outside of work environment or something similar). Combating misogyny in society is a serious task and it needs a serious plan of action. I'm not convinced that turning individuals into sacrificial lambs is the best one. Punishment is not a substitute for education. Fines and educational classes may have rehabilitated this man, instead we end up with an angry sexist on welfare. Problem solved?
--Sarah Stupar hosts Best Of The West every Wednesday at 9 AM, only on CJLO 1690AM. Follow Sarah on Twitter and Instagram @somegirl514.
Op-ed pieces on CJLO.com are not the opinion of CJLO 1690 AM, but only of the author.
ANIMAZE 2015 - The Land of the Magic Flute
An Invitation into the Colourful Abyss
The audience was immediately swept into a world of mystery. Was it a dream, or was it a strange, fantastical reality? Perhaps it was both?
Berlin artists Fons Schiedon, Philippe Lambert, and Benjamin Schreuder have devoted the past two years to this outstanding project, based on the desire to find ways of bringing classical and operatic music to younger generations. The project was based on the famous Mozart opera, The Magic Flute. The music is heavily inspired by the opera itself, and the story is an adaptation of the libretto written by Emanuel Schikaneder. The festival presented a short film/motion comic based on their interactive graphic novel.
For those who are unfamiliar with motion comics as an artistic medium, it is essentially short film presented in the form of a graphic novel. Comic strip panels are turned to animated scenes, often with music, voice acting, and other audio elements found in film. This particular work had no spoken word and the folly was seamlessly incorporated into the live, electro-acoustic accompaniment. The result was an immersive viewing masterpiece that put the viewer at the heart of innovative storytelling. One can only imagine how much more entrancing the full work must be.
In its short film form, the piece was wholly mesmeric. It began by washing the audience in ambient music that was kept alive buy subtle changes that helped tell the wordless story. When the scenes depicted water, the ambiance had the persistence of waves eternally kissing a shore. When the characters journeyed through a forest, the music was alive with the buzz of insects and wild grasses teeming with life. There was a great comfort to familiar sounds in an alien world.
Visually alluring, the transitions between scenes were slow and hypnotic. With moments of pure black, nothing but the entrancing ambient music was there to foreshadow the beauty that the audience was enveloped in. When the art reappeared, it granted its audience abundant time to absorb every detail and mesmerizing movement. Each gesture on every panel ebbed and flowed with the musical backdrop as the story unfolded. The simplicity was powerful.
The characters and scenes were crafted with their own musical layers and themes. As images overlapped and played with one another in a firework of calculated chaos, their accompanying themes would imbricate and tessellate, sending chills through the audience, herding us to teeter on the edge of tears.
Journeys this compelling are rare. Do not miss the chance to embark on this profound, emotional odyssey, available at The Land of the Magic Flute - The Motion Graphic Novel.
--Tune in to The F Hole (Monday 12-2PM) and Shibuya Crossing (Wednesday 4-6PM) for all your musical needs! Only on CJLO 1690AM in Montreal.
ANIMAZE 2015 - Notable picks from the Death and Horror block
Unless you're the adventurous type, the concept of dying and fear may sound like a very morbid, depressing, and emotionally triggering combination to see on the silver screen.
In the world of animation, portraying something as taboo can also open doors to expressing ideas that are creative and cool. As seen in the following selected picks represented in ANIMAZE's Death and Horror block, everything doesn't have to be floundered into the obscenity of darkness to appreciate an often overlooked but inevitable fact of life.
'Sale Gueule' (Broken Face) from Canada (Quebec)
What would you do if you were stranded in a lighthouse all your life, and be welcomed with a new companion set out to replace you?
Sale Gueule explores the sporadic human emotion surrounding the lonesome job of a lighthouse keeper on the brink of death at every unsolicited moment. This locally produced animated film by Alain Fournier evokes the spirit of the maritime life as it tells us the story of a stubborn lighthouse keeper through the eyes of a newly trained apprentice set out to replace him. Set in the post-World War I Atlantic seas, the ambience is a throwback to a much more simple and quiet past that has a ton of unpredictability - especially when this pair of protagonists figure out how to fight a pesky creature in the middle of a month long deadly storm, and to find out that the anticipation of an end - whether his shift is over, or his own demise, is at the core of a lighthouse keeper's dark soul.
What makes this stand out is the ability to bring out the beauty of life out of the darkness, whether that is the detailed animation, the minimalist style of narration, or even the ambient score that's put together. With a goal to touch your soul and make you feel slightly uncomfortable with monsters that spontaneously come along, Sale Gueule is definitely a feast for the eyes and a one-of-a-kind adventure worth exploring with together.
'The Sinners' from Belgium
Remember that time when Adam and Eve used to live together in oblivious harmony inside the Garden of Eden? How about that time when she was tempted to take a bite of that apple offered by that conniving snake? Remember how all hell broke loose - according to that infamous entry found in the book of Genesis?
The Sinners gives us an in-depth blow-by-blow account of the consequences around Eve's curiosity to take the so-called bait - as seen from the eyes of what is perceived to be three young descendants - three women in three different historical periods living their own lives but being faced with challenges. Things will feel confusing at first, but stick around towards the end to understand everything (didn't we just tempt you to see it, eh?).
Briskly paced and narrated in a non-linear fashion, this film be both perceived is both a satire and critique to the way mainstream society has treated women throughout history. Hailing from Belgium and spearheaded by Gerlando Infuso, this quarter-hour long eclectic animated piece is presented in a full, luscious, and colorful stop-motion animation glory that aims to spark your curiosity and maybe even a deep conversation about womanhood.
The Sinners is something that will definitely feed your curiosity - just don't forget that you might find yourself be tempted for something else too in the end.
'Deadly' from Ireland
Does dying peacefully have to be as fearsome, sad, and solitary as Death's gnawing claws visit the front porch of your retirement home?
Hang onto your scythes everyone, you might want to reconsider your options after seeing this light-hearted short that shows the more brighter side of living (and leaving) life with fulfilment. After all, can Death's raison-d'etre isn't limited a mere creature that sucks your soul out with a vacuum cleaner into the abyss of the mysterious afterlife?
Sounds like a deadly (an Irish slang for cool) idea isn't it?
A film that warms your heart and sparks a few chuckles on the side, Aidan McAteer directs the eight-minute long film Deadly. Backed up with a superb Oscar-billed voice acting cast, and sprinkled with good ol' friendly Irish humor, this animated short documents the life of Boney, a miserable creature doing his rounds at a retirement home, and his endless encounters with an eclectic old lady named Bridie. Witty, feisty, and always looking for adventure, the retiree finds ways to keep the unhappy marrowbone-head distracted with her wishes and perhaps subconsciously build a genuine lasting friendship that transcends life and death in itself. If this was a morbid animated sitcom with a delightful outlook on living, then this would have probably been a great pilot episode.
Showcased in good old hand-drawn animation with light pastel colors and a unique and cozy signature Irish vibe, this film is definitely not a typical DIY guide for how to retire in conspicuous contentment, but more of a genuine way to live up life to its fullest no matter how dire, depressing, or downright down your situation is. Deadly is a pocket full of sunshine and genuine love boxed in a house full of grim and dim.
Indeed, that definitely sounds deadly.
--Saturn De Los Angeles hosts Shibuya Crossing every Wednesday from 2 to 4 PM on CJLO.
News for May 15th 2015
by Emeline Vidal
No decision has been made yet as to whether or not Dzhokhar Tsarnaev should be sentenced to death or life in prison for the deadly 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.
According to Reuters, the same jurors who found Tsarnaev guilty of killing three people and wounding 264 finished their first day of deliberations on Thursday without reaching a verdict.
The prosecution is arguing that the 21-year-old is an unrepentant mass murderer, while the defense says he is an unfortunate college student who was influenced by his older brother.
If Tsarnaev is sentenced to death, it will only be if all 12 jurors reach a unanimous decision.
The Supreme Court of Canada rejected the federal government's bid to have Omar Khadr declared an adult offender on Thursday.
According to CBC News, Khadr should not have to serve 5 distinct 8-year sentences.
His lawyer states that concurrent sentences advocated by the federal government would be without precedent under American law, and not supported under Canadian law.
The Supreme Court previously sided with Khadr twice:
Khadr, who was accused of killing an American soldier in Afghanistan when he was 15, spent the past 13 years in custody before being released on bail last week.
The mayors of Montreal, Laval, Longueuil and surrounding suburbs are joining the lawsuit against Canada Post’s decision to reduce door-to-door delivery.
According to CTV News, the mayors say no consultations were held with municipalities before the decision was made and that seniors and those with reduced mobility will be negatively affected.
Canada Post says however that it has no choice but to reduce its delivery service due to a continuing drop in letter volume.
It has also stated that it will be installing community mailboxes despite court challenges, and will take the matter to the Supreme Court of Canada if need be.
Friday May 15th 2015
Hosted by Julian McKenzie
Stories written by Catlin Spencer + Emeline Vidal
Produced by Catlin Spencer
The Gold Diggerz on Autobeat tonight.
This week’s on AutoBeat, The Gold Diggerz stop by the station for a 2 hour set. Composed of former Salvation from Sin host, Michael Terzian and fellow Vinyl afficinado The Rawsoul, the duo will take us on a sonic adventure with classic house tracks and rarities handpicked from each DJs large collection that spans decades. Their visit is a little preview of what‘s in store this Sunday, as the guys are part of the opening day lineup for Piknic Electronik’s 12th season, playing all day on the Videotron stage.
Tune in midnight to Friday 2am, and in the meantime, check out their promo for Piknik Electronik here:
Tonight: The Couch Addiction performs on a Pouzzafest edition of Champions of the Local Scene: 6pm
Pouzzafest, Montreal's very own punk festival is but two sleeps away- its 5th edition taking place Friday May 15 to Sunday May 17 with over 200 groups participating. Tonight, on a special Pouzza themed edition of Champions of the Local Scene, we will have The Couch Addiction play an acoustic set live in studio! The Couch Addiction is a Montreal ska-core band that formed in 1999 and was active until 2006. This year, they have reformed for one last show at Pouzzafest- they will play at the Pabst Outdoor stage (de Maisonneuve/ Clark) Saturday at 7pm with BruceLeeBand, The Beatdown, The Resignators, Survay Says! AND The Planet Smashers! We will be talking to them about this reunion show and playing a few other Pouzza artists, including an acoustic track that Punchline 13 came and recorded a few weeks ago! Tune in at 6pm - hosted this week by Andrew Wixq.
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