Where There’s Smoke. . . Musings of A Cigarette Smoking Man by William B. Davis. (ECW Press, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Where There’s Smoke

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

The title of the book evokes my next guest’s most famous, iconic role in television, that of the Cigarette Smoking Man or Cancer Man on The X-Files. It’s the role he’s well known for, for better and worse. The book however is more than just a dishy memoir of his years on the science fiction series that was initially shot here in Vancouver. The book discusses the life of William B. Davis, from his upbringing in Ontario, to the development of Canadian theatre in the 1950s and 1960s, his time in the British theatre encountering people like Laurence Olivier and Albert Finney, to his time back in Canada working in Toronto and here in Vancouver, up to his role on The X-Files. It’s a compelling read, as he’s candid about himself, and he’s insightful about his craft, acting in the theatre and on television. He’s perhaps too honest when it comes to discussion of his personal life, his sex life especially, but one wonders what his lovers think. It’s a fascinating and most enjoyable read. The book is called Where There’s Smoke. . . Musings of A Cigarette Smoking Man. It’s published by ECW Press. The website for more is at www.williambdavis.com. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, William Davis; Good morning, Mr. Davis.

Manny Pacquiao by David Drebin. (C.J. Oyster Publishing, 2011) Click to buy this book: Manny Pacquiao

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

Manny Pacquiao is without a doubt the most famous Filipino in the world today. A new book captures the boxing champion through the lens of the noted photographer David Drebin, who joins me now. Mr. Drebin photographed Pacquiao, capturing him training, and in and out of the ring, giving the viewer a glimpse into the world of the fighter who carries at least ten world titles, not to mention other monikers such as ‘fighter of the decade,’ ‘the people’s champ,’ and the best ‘pound for pound fighter’ in boxing today. The book is called, appropriately enough, Manny Pacquiao. It is the first and only authorised book of photographs of Pacquiao, and it features a foreword from the boxing promoter Bob Arum. David Drebin who joins me from Miami Beach this day, is a graduate of the Parsons School of Design, and is an internationally renowned photographer. His work has sold at record prices, and he counts celebrities as fans and collectors of his pieces. Mr. Drebin’s work is known for its dramatic, epic, and cinematic qualities. They’re described as voyeuristic, psychological and opulent, among some choice adjectives. The book is published by C.J. Oyster Publishing and is available at www.mannyboxingbook.com, where you can get a deluxe hardcover, or a more affordable paperback. The website for more is at www.daviddrebin.com. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, David Drebin; Good morning, Mr. Drebin.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

A holiday tradition in Vancouver is the annual production of The Nutcracker put on by the Goh Ballet. This year it’s on at The Centre for the Performing Arts, Thursday, 15 December to Sunday, 18 December 2011, with evening performances at 7.30pm, and on the Saturday and Sunday a matinee at 2.00pm. Joining me now to preview the production is Chan Hon Goh, the executive producer of the show, and a former prima ballerina with the National Ballet of Canada. The website for tickets and more information on the show is at www.gohnutcracker.com. Whether you’re a dance aficionado or it’ll be a first time for someone like me, they say there’s something for everyone in this production. I’ve heard from people who’ve seen this show previously, there are elaborate sets and lavish costumes. Live music will be performed by the Vancouver Opera Orchestra, as well the show features principal dancers from the American Ballet Theatre. Chan Hon Goh retired from the National Ballet of Canada in 2009 after 20 years with the company. She was born in Beijing, but emigrated with her family at a young age. Her parents, both dancers, founded the Goh Ballet Academy here in Vancouver. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Chan Hon Goh; Good morning, Ms. Goh.

At the World’s Edge: Curt Lang’s Vancouver, 1937-1998 by Claudia Cornwall. (Mother Tongue Publishing, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: At the World’s Edge

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

Seeing that I have authors on this program frequently, and have a particular fondness for featuring books on local Vancouver and British Columbia figures, one invariably follows the trades like the indispensable BC Bookworld and Quill and Quire. I read about my next guest’s book now sometime ago. Claudia Cornwall has written a new book, At the World’s Edge: Curt Lang’s Vancouver, 1937-1998. I didn’t know who Curt Lang was, but the black and white shot of Vancouver in neon intrigued me. The Gary Busey-looking guy on the cover, with a cigarette in his hand was apparently Curt Lang. I’ve been reading Claudia’s book, and it’s just a fascinating read about Lang, who is a fascinating and remarkable figure on his own. He was a poet, an artist, as well as a photographer, he fished, he did work in software. The book captures a Vancouver from a bygone era, and it also shows how we’ve evolved to quote another book, from milltown to metropolis. We’ll ask Ms. Cornwall about Curt Lang, who he was, what he did, how she knew him, and more. The book is published by Mother Tongue Publishing. Claudia Cornwall is a freelance writer, who’s won many prizes including the Hubert Evans Non Fiction Prize in 1996 for her book Letter from Vienna: A Daughter Uncovers Her Family’s Jewish Past. Her own website is at www.claudiacornwall.com. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, in North Vancouver, Claudia Cornwall; Good morning, Ms. Cornwall.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

Joining me again is Hal Wake, the artistic director of the Vancouver International Writers and Readers Festival. The 24th annual event, which runs at various venues on Granville Island begins next Tuesday, the 18th goes until the 24th. Over the six days, there will be 69 events, culminating in the tribute to the 75th anniversary of the Governor General’s prize featuring Nino Ricci, John Pass, Joan MacLeod, and John Valliant. Another event features a former Governor General, Adrienne Clarkson. And some of the other authors appearing include Elizabeth Hay, Miriam Toews, David Adams Richards, Ian Rankin, and Russell Bank, among many, many others. There are events in French, as well as many events for young readers. We’ll get Hal to tell us more. Hal Wake is a former broadcaster and journalist, and has been at the helm of the festival since 2006. The website for more is at www.writersfest.bc.ca. They do great work not just this time of year, but year round. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Hal Wake; Good morning, Mr. Wake.

Walk Like a Man: Coming of Age with the Music of Bruce Springsteen by Robert J. Wiersema. (Greystone, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Walk Like a Man

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

Robert Wiersema joins me again. His new book, a sort of memoir and a sort of biography and criticism of Bruce Springsteen’s music is called Walk Like a Man: Coming of Age with the Music of Bruce Springsteen. It’s a great book; a beautiful, thoughtful book about growing up and growing older. I’m not a Springsteen fan. I have ‘Born to Run’ on my iPod, but that’s about it. Sinatra, another singer from New Jersey is more prevalent on my iPod. But Mr. Wiersema writes with such affection, care and honesty about his own life as seen with Springsteen’s music as an underscore, you can’t help but appreciate Springsteen as an artist, cultural icon, celebrity, and the person who illuminates Wiersema’s life, for both the writer and the reader, just a little bit more. Robert J. Wiersema is an independent bookseller in Victoria, and a prolific critic and book reviewer. He’s written two bestselling novels, Before I Wake and Bedtime Story, and was last on to talk about his novella, The World More Full of Weeping. His website is at www.robertjwiersema.com. This book is published by Greystone. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Rob Wiersema; Good morning, Mr. Wiersema.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

The filmmaker Vikram Jayanti joins me now. He’s been responsible for a number of well-known documentary films. One of his most recent, Rolf Harris Paints His Dream has screened here at the Vancouver International Film Festival. It’s a fascinating, lively, compelling sketch of the Australian born entertainer, Rolf Harris, who is a fixture on British television entertaining as a singer and comedian, as well he’s a noted artist. In this movie, Harris reflects on his life and careers as it were, and paints a number of models depicting scenes from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Harris wrote many songs, including ‘Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport,’ as well he is credited with the invention of the wobble board, and the Stylophone. Harris, now 80, is also noted for his playing of the didgeridoo. Vikram Jayanti produced and directed this movie. He also produced The Agony and the Ecstasy of Phil Spector, Lincoln, When We Were Kings, and one of my favourite documentaries, The Man Who Bought Mustique, which was about the late Lord Glenconner, the former Colin Tennant. I’m very pleased to welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Vikram Jayanti; Good morning, Mr. Jayanti.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

Tomorrow and Friday at the Vancouver International Film Festival screens a fascinating, important documentary, Give Up Tomorrow. It’s about a young man in the Philippines, Paco Larrañaga, half-Spanish, half-Filipino who’s sent to death row for a crime he didn’t commit. Two sisters in Cebu, an island nearly 600 kilometres from Manila, Marijoy Choing and Jacqueline Choing disappear in 1997. At the time of their alleged disappearance, rape and murder, Larrañaga was elsewhere, which some 35 witnesses have testified to.

Over the years, I’ve indulged my interest in the Philippines by talking about its politics, history and its culture with various guests. With my guest now, the film’s producer, Marty Syjuco, we’ll talk about this case, what happened, how the country dealt with capital punishment, how corruption and the media twist things beyond recognition. I’ll ask Mr. Syjuco about the politics involved, the lives lost and the incarceration which continues to this day, albeit in Spain. It’s an interesting journey. Mr. Syjuco’s brother is married to Mr. Larrañaga’s sister, but beyond that, this film is a fair, sobering account of Larrañaga’s fight for justice. The movie screens tomorrow night, Friday afternoon, and there’s an additional screening next Thursday morning. Check out www.viff.org for more information. The website for the movie is at www.pacodocu.com. It’s already won awards at the Tribeca Film Festival. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Marty Syjuco; Good morning, Mr. Syjuco.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

The movie is called The Woman in the Septic Tank. It’s a movie from The Philippines, and the country’s official entry for the Academy Awards. It’s recently played here at the Vancouver International Film Festival. My guest now is the director of the film, Marlon Rivera. The movie is a witty, biting film about making movies, as well as a view onto the Philippines. Three film school graduates want to make an Oscar-worthy movie, set in a dumpsite chronicling the life of a single mother. They set out to craft the film, court its star Eugene Domingo, and find the right looking slum. The movie is dramatic, and it’s comedic; there’s also a musical sequence. Miss Domingo is one of the country’s leading film and television stars. She appears on all the major television networks, and works in major studio pictures as well as independent films. Marlon Rivera has won awards for this movie, his second. He is also a fashion designer and the president of a Manila advertising firm. It’s already the highest grossing independent film in the history of Philippine cinema. We’ll talk to Mr. Rivera about the movie, making it, and the Philippines portrayed therein. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Marlon Rivera; Good morning, Mr. Rivera.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

We’re in the midst of the Vancouver 125 celebrations throughout the city marking the 125th anniversary of Vancouver. A great way to mark the birthday is to see the show being staged by the local Pi Theatre company. Visions of Vancouver is a work showcasing four short plays written by five Vancouver playwrights, each of whom expresses their idea and vision of Vancouver. Joining me now is Pi Theatre’s artistic director Richard Wolfe, who directs this show which debuts 05 October 2011 in previews, and opens Thursday, 06 October; with performances from the 6th to the 8th, 10 to the 15th at 08.00pm, with performances on the 9th and 15th at 4.00pm. It’s happening at CBC Studio 700 on Hamilton. Tickets can be had at www.vancouvertix.com, and more information of course at their website www.pitheatre.com. Mr. Wolfe shall tell us about the pieces written by playwrights Adrienne Wong, Michele Riml and Michael St. John Smith, Dennis Foon, and Kevin Loring. The piece reflects on this place, and perhaps gives us a sense of who we are. This world premiere production is inspired by the style of old-time radio broadcasting created for an in studio audience, and performed live and recorded for internet podcasting. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Richard Wolfe; Good morning, Mr. Wolfe.