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.

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.

The life, death and legacy of Tom Thomson are featured in a great new documentary screening this weekend at the Vancouver International Film Festival. The film is called West Wind: The Vision of Tom Thomson. Its directors Michèle Hozer and Peter Raymont join me now. Despite a number of documentaries and a feature film on Thomson, this is a necessary film, as it takes a wider look at Thomson’s life, and doesn’t just focus on how he died and where he’s buried. We learn about Thomson’s early years, his art, and his legacy. We also ponder Thomson’s art and what it means to the country, and what’s reflected in his art about Canada. Roy MacGregor who was on this program last year when his book on Thomson came out, is someone who’s featured in this film. The movie screens at the Empire Granville Saturday at 6.45pm, and Sunday at noon. Peter Raymont is an award-winning filmmaker, journalist and writer. He’s done over 100 documentary films, including two favourites of mine, Flora: Scenes from a Leadership Convention and History on the Run. Michèle Hozer is an award winning documentary editor and director. She won one of two Gemini’s for her work on Mr. Raymont’s Shake Hands with the Devil: The Journey of Roméo Dallaire. They co-directed the feature length documentary Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould. They join me from Toronto this day. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program Peter Raymont and Michèle Hozer; Good morning, Ms. Hozer; and Good morning, Mr. Raymont.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

In Vancouver, I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

Sturla Gunnarsson joins me now. He is one of the country’s best known and prominent filmmakers. He’s the director of the soon to open, Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie. It’s screened at the Toronto and Vancouver International Film Festivals, and will open nationally on Friday, 15 October 2010. The film, presented by eOne Films, tells Suzuki’s story and throughout the film is a lecture he gives about his views on life, the environment and more. It’s already won an award at the Toronto festival, and the word on the film has been quite good. Sturla Gunnarsson is a multiple award winning director. His films include the epic Beowulf and Grendel, Rare Birds, and Such a Long Journey. He also directed the documentary Air India 182, as well episodes of television series such as Defying Gravity, Degrassi: The Next Generation, DaVinci’s Inquest, and more. He joins me from here in Vancouver. $1.00 from every ticket sale of Force of Nature will be donated to the David Suzuki Foundation. For more information visit www.davidsuzuki.org, as well as Mr. Gunnarsson’s website, www.sturlagunnarsson.com. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Sturla Gunnarsson; Good morning, Mr. Gunnarsson.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

In Vancouver, I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

A movie screening at this year’s Vancouver International Film Festival is Two Indians Talking. It’s a comedic drama that gives us a view on to reserve life as two First Nations men talk through life, culture, politics, women, literature, and more. The two people talking are Adam, played by Justin Rain, who’s appeared in one of the Twilight films, and Nathan, played by Nathanial Arcand, who’s appeared on North of 60 and Heartland. The dialogue is often sharp, humorous and thoughtful. The screenwriter is Andrew Genaille. Joining me now is the director of the film, Sara McIntyre. This is her first feature as a director, after successful careers as an actress, singer and casting director, producer and more. She is a past president of Women in Film and Television Vancouver. The movie, Two Indians Talking screens at the film fest this Wednesday, the 6th of October at 9.15pm, and Thursday the 8th 12.40pm in the afternoon. The websites for more are www.kissdustpictures.com and www.twoindianstalking.com. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Sara McIntyre; Good morning, Ms. McIntyre.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

In Vancouver, I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

In previews now at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage is the Arts Club Theatre Company’s production of Glengarry Glen Ross. The David Mamet play, opening next week, reinvented the language of modern theatre, and this play which he won the Pulitzer Prize looks at workplace struggles as a group of salesmen try to survive, and attempt to pursue the American Dream. The 1992 film, starring Jack Lemmon, Al Pacino, and Kevin Spacey might be more familiar to some, which immortalised the place of Glengarry Glen Ross as one of the great dramatic works of the 20th century. This Arts Club production runs until August 22nd. The cast is headlined by Will and Grace star Eric McCormack, and includes some of Vancouver’s finest actors, Gerard Plunkett, Vincent Gale, Brian Markinson, Bart Anderson, and Daren Herbert. Another member of this remarkable company is John Pyper Ferguson, who joins me now. His television credits are legion. I looked him up on IMDB and it looks like he’s appeared in every single television drama there is, including the last episode of Lost, and from where I remember him most, the season and half he appeared on Brothers and Sisters. He will also be appearing in Score: The Hockey Musical, which opens the Toronto International Film Festival later this year. He was also in Hard Core Logo and Unforgiven. This is not the first time he’s appeared with the Arts Club. He was previously seen in Unidentified Human Remains. Glengarry Glen Ross is directed by Michael Shamata. Go to www.artsclub.com for tickets and more information. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, John Pyper-Ferguson; Good morning, Mr. Ferguson.

My Judy Garland Life by Susie Boyt. (Bloomsbury, 2009) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: My Judy Garland Life

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

You need not need share the author’s appreciation and adoration of Judy Garland to enjoy the book, My Judy Garland Life by Susie Boyt. It’s a remarkable memoir that was a Globe and Mail book of the year, and a critical hit here in Canada, the United States, and in Britain. It’s a wonderful mix of a memoir, of how the author grew up adoring Judy Garland, admiring her talent, enjoying her work, and examining the less than glamorous aspects of the legendary film, television, and stage performer who is arguably, according to Ms. Boyt, the greatest entertainer of the twentieth century, or any century. The author joins me now from London, England just as the book has been published in soft cover. If you haven’t read it, it’s definitely worth reading. It’s a serviceable biography of Garland, as well as a marvellous meditation on fame and hero worship. Susie Boyt is novelist, part-time bereavement counsellor, and a columnist for the Financial Times. Her great-grandfather was Sigmund Freud. Her website is at www.susieboyt.com. The book is published by Bloomsbury. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Susie Boyt; Good morning, Ms. Boyt.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

A look at British Columbia’s artistic landscape is had in the forthcoming documentary cArtographies. The film was shot and directed by Brian Johnson, and its co-writer and producer Leah Mallen joins me now to preview the film which premieres at 10.00pm, Monday, 17 May 2010 on the Knowledge Network. Leah Mallen is the founder and president of Twofold Films. She’s been in the film and television business for well over 12 years. She is co-chair of the Documentary Organization of Canada, BC Chapter and is a board member of the Hot Docs International Film Festival. She also teaches at the Vancouver Film School and UBC. The website for more is at www.twofold.ca. Some of the people profiled include Stan Douglas, Veda Hille, Michael Turner, and Fumiko Kiyooka, among others. They are profiled, and their work is viewed through where they live in British Columbia. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Leah Mallen; Good morning, Ms. Mallen.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

We check in with Graeme McRanor. The music writer for the Vancouver Sun, he’s covered arts and entertainment in Vancouver for the past five years. He’s also a freelance writer and producer, a dad, and he makes these great videos you can watch online. There’s some funny stuff there, like the Hitler video on the Olympics. At www.jawbone.tv, you can read his semi-regular series of pieces, Cokehead, which, as it says in the cautionary note: chronicle ‘one man’s journey to and from the depths of cocaine addiction including entanglements with Mexican drug police and a trio of knife-wielding pimps in Amsterdam, and life as a second-rate model in Milan, a bartender in Toronto and philanderer everywhere.’ They’re great pieces; witty and fascinating. The website for more is www.fluentfuel.com. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Graeme McRanor; Good morning, Mr. McRanor.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

Stephen Hunt is back. He is an arts reporter for the Calgary Herald, and the author of a great book—The White Guy. He is a movie fan among other things. We’ll talk about the Oscars, as well as the Olympics. His Blade Runner blog on the Herald’s website is a regular read of mine. And the website for more is www.stephenbhunt.com. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Stephen Hunt; Good morning, Mr. Hunt.