FutuRéale September 2009 Issue by Ravish Rawat

September 2009 volume 2 issue 7

FUTURĂ&#x2030;ALE www.futureale.com

arts . culture . living

Fashion Infatuation With Leviana Coccia TIFF Dinner Party Themes by Valerie Lam No Folly for Foley on composting Fitness Trends Balancing Perspectives A Society of Fear 6 DAY RIOT REVIEW Interview with Rebecca Miskin Tara Elizabeth and Brandon Ludwig (Cover Story) 3215

< 1916

arts.culture.living

FUTURÉALE VOLUME 2 ISSUE 5

Editor in Chief Ashley Foley

Associate Editors

A rtistic Director Zack Lovatt

Senior Editorial Designer Ravish Rawat

Junior Editorial Designers Salwa Ali Kevn Baranda Adam Gillis Jenn Reid Alexia Trizna

Contributing Writers Leviana Coccia Melissa Doyle Ashley Foley Shazia Islam Karen Lam Valerie Lam Andrew Rainnie Randy Resh Jess Silver Sarah Subnath Cashlyn Teggart Mike Varrin Don Young

Webmaster Heroymo Allen

Online Content Editor Shawn Shapiro

A dministrative Director Shaq Alam

E xecutive Director Omar Murji

Cofounders Vincent Lorenz Omar Murji Contact Futureale at:

04 No Folly for Foley

CHANGE IS INEVITABLE – It is all around

Ashley Foley

us and uncontrollable. It is present in our bodies, our lifestyles, our likes and dislikes, our relationships, current technologies, and themedia. As entertainment and media continue to change, futuréale promises to change along with you keeping you up to date withToronto’s best arts, culture, and lifestyle entertainment. Change is challenging–many people don’t like change. We get stuck in our perfect, comfor table niche, pushing away and never fully embracing the beautiful experiences change can bring us. So whether you’re moving out or movi ng i n , g r adu at i ng or get t i ng pro mote d , ta ke on the changes life brings you sta nd ing fierce against any negativity that comes y o u r w a y. W het her you’re brea king up or mourning, lacking faith or feeling lonely, find the positivity in every hard time you face—because we all know we’ve had them and there will be more to come. give in to the changes we cannot control. Change is growth – experiences help us evolve into beautifully unique individual from the day one until the day we die. this can also be said for our environment, society and way in which we live our lives. We grow individually, but our growth is constantly entwined w it h ever y t h i ng a nd ever yone a rou nd us, affecting everyone whom we come into contact with. For these reasons and more, I am greatly honoured to represent futuréale as an editor in chief. I will guide you through the changes futuréale has undergone in the past, is planning for the future, and most importantly—the beautifully uncontrollable changes that change us.

05 Toronto’s Festival of Beer: Simply BEERLICIOUS! J. Tyler Smith

06 Tuition Hikes JMike Varrin

08 Balancing Perspectives: A Society of Fear Karen Lam

09 Generation XL Fiona Bramzell

10 The Cover Story: Tara Elizabeth & Brandon Ludwig Valerie Lam

14 Fitness trends: A Quick Fix Jess Silver

16 Look at me, I’m famous

Edward Landa

18 Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Andrew Rainnie

20 Fashion Infatuation: Everyone is a hat person Levianna Coccia

21 6 DAY RIOT Bryna Jones

22 Host your own TIFF- themed party Valerie Lam

24 MOON

Andrew Rainnie

26 The Hangover Andrew Rainnie

28 The Taste of Danforth Sarah Subnath

29 Interview with Rebecca Miskin Leviana Coccia

30 Obsolete Crafts: Pam McFayden’s customers are a diverse bunch Claire Biddiscombe

31 Poetry

Ashley foley

Boris: Life Flows, Myna Wallin’s Transcendence, Randy’s Sated

- editor in chief of futuréale magazine

admin@futureale.com www.futureale.com ISSN 1916-3215

FUTUREALE

Cover image: photograph of Tara and Brandon by Paul Bannister

FUTURÉALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Leviana Coccia Melissa Doyle Russ Martin Valerie Lam Karen Lam

Note From the Editor

arts.culture.living

NO Folly for FOLEY What do egg shells, table scraps and stink-free garbage all have in common?

by Ashley Foley

Composting COMPOSTING SHOULD BE A PART OF EVERY HOME, RESTAURANT AND OFFICE. Most “greens” (fruits, veg-

etables, etc.) and “browns” (leaves, twigs, etc.) can be used in all types of composting. Depending on your area and composting method, diapers, paper towels and meat can also be composted. For more information on successful composting, check out http:// www.london.ca/d.aspx?s=/Recycling_and_ Composting/Compost_at_home.htm It’s an essential green habit that numerous people overlook, underestimate and even worse: forget altogether! When people put table scraps, vegetable & fruit waste and other foods into a garbage, not only does it fill up your garbage and make it smell bad (which often results in maggots and other pests), but it also fills up our landfills with reusable ingredients to make rich soil. This can be done in three easy bin-able ways. There are a number of ways to compost depending on the area you live in and your living arrangements. For those of you who are pressed for space, you might want to try out vermicomposting (see one of my previous articles on vermicomposting in our May edition for more information). Vermicomposting is a type of composting using red worms, referred to as ‘red wigglers’. Contained in a box, these and ‘fed’ foods which becomes converted into

beautiful, rich soil used in gardens or houseplants (see http://www.agbio.ca/DOCs/ Vermiculture_FarmersManual_gm.pdf for a cross reference). This type of composting is convenient for those with small or no yards to place a traditional black bin. This brings us to our next type of composting: the tradition black bin, often seen in the backyards of rural homes (see http:// www.compost.org/backyard.html for more information). This type of composting is very popular and is especially useful for those with large yards and gardens. It can produce more soil since more food waste can fit into each black bin than a vermicompost bin. Though it seems like common sense, I am amazed to see how many homes are not fashioning a black bin – it also makes me wonder how smelly, bug-infested and large their garbage bins must be! Finally, the Green Bin – and those of you in Toronto are (or at least should be) experts on this already. The Green Bin (http://www. toronto.ca/greenbin/index.htm) is where food and wet waste goes. This makes it possible for garbage pickup to only occur twice a month in Toronto, while the Green Bin (filled with food and everything organic that is known to give garbage a foul smell) is collected every week. The Green Bin follows a five step process: weekly collection, contents

being pre-processes, processes by anaerobic digestion, secondary processes by anaerobic compost, and then finally using the compost in gardens and in the earth. Interestingly enough, the CBC reported that PEI and the East Coast practice the best composting habits in Canada (see http:// www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/03/27/ compost-statscan.html). In PEI and Nova Scotia, curbside compost, such as Toronto’s Green Bin, has been common for a number of years. As a result, statistics prove curbside composting has cut down on food garbage in Eastern Canada. Luckily for us, Toronto has now been fashioning the Green Bin since 2004 and has been a major contributor in helping gardens grow and landfills diminish. ~Save a Tree~

– ag

FUTURÉALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

Toronto’s Festival of Beer:

Simply BEERLICIOUS! By J. Tyler-Smith

OVER THE LAST FIFTEEN YEARS, thousands of people have come to Toronto to enjoy the opportunity of celebrating Beer. This year, the new tradition has continued at a new venue. No longer housing such a unique and enjoyable event was Fort York, citing that they (The Fort and the City of Toronto) would no longer rent the historical site for the festival. A

new home was soon found in Bandshell Park, located within the grounds of the easily accessible Exhibition Place. The Festival was a three day event (August 7th to 9th) set up for everyone who enjoys beer to come out and be educated in various aspects from its early brewing stages straight into the store shelves. Festival goers were provided with one ‘sample cup’ and five tokens. The sample cup served to regulate the amount of beer given out at one moment by the exhibitor, with the one token filling the cup half way, and two tokens filling it to the brim. There were several token booths set up so those wishing to dive into every booth can go purchase as many tokens as they wish. Lose a cup? Replacements were also available, but at the price of $20–definitely not worth losing. Park enforcement was in effect for the safety of the grounds and the visitors, with several security and alcohol enforcement surveying the land to make sure no inappropriate or disorderly conduct was happening.

FUTURÉALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

Over 200 various selections of beer were on hand split up among 84 exhibitor booths. There is not enough room in this article to lay out every choice, but among the breweries present were Budweiser, Stella Artois, Guinness, Molson, McAuslan, Japan’s Asahi, Mexico’s Tecate and Belgium’s Palm. It is not necessarily those breweries that made this festival

The busiest of the three days was Saturday, almost immediately selling all 6000 tickets online back in early spring. A s t i me d r e w c l o s e r t o t he e v e nt , 50 0 additional tickets were made available, selling out in the blink of an eye. Funny enough, one could say that for every person there that Saturday, they each represented

special. The festival also welcomed breweries of all levels, with a central focus on the local scene—breweries such as Mill Street, Old Credit and Steam Whistle. Bringing some true pioneer heritage to the scene was Black Creek Historic Brewery, stemming from the heritage village in Northern Toronto. Most of the exhibitors also gave out coasters or pamphlets detailing more about their own brewing process. One seven year festival visitor and current University of Toronto student Jeff Currie has begun to brew at his own home, experimenting and one day hoping he will be featured at a Festival of Beer. When asked about how the festival contributed to the cultural and entertainment aspects of Toronto, Currie says, “The Festival provided more knowledge to the casual beer drinker, broadening horizons bringing about greater exposure of the craft itself. It really displayed the positive outcomes of entrepreneurship.”

one year of beer as the oldest beer document dates back 6000 years ago to an ancient clay tablet inscribed in Babylon. Beer was not the only consumable treat, with Ted and Sleeman’s Beer & BBQ Experience set up, as well as St. Louis Wings, Montreal Deli, Mrs. Fajita and La Poutine Machine. All in all, this year’s festival was another great success, laying the groundwork for what will surely be an even more spectacular festival next year. T hose i nterested c a n reg u l a rly c hec k HYPERLINK “http://www.beerfestival.ca” www.beerfestival.ca for updates.

– sa

arts.culture.living

WHEN THE RINGING OF A SCHOOL BELL becomes synonymous with the ring-

ing of a cash register, it should be accompanied by the ringing of alarm bells. Tuition costs are quickly becoming even more of an impediment to the goals and dreams of today’s students. Without a changes from universities and the government, creative drive in our economy and future leaders will be forced to choose between compiling an almost insurmountable and prohibitive debt – or even worse, lowering their aspirations altogether. The Educational Policy Institute (EPI) warned earlier this year that as part of a “recession survival plan”, universities may attempt to hike tuition by as much as 25%. According to Stats Canada, the average tuition cost of one university year in Canada is $4,724. However, in Ontario tuition is about $1,000 more, averaging at $5,643. The lowest average annual cost is in Quebec where students pay about $2,167 and the highest is in Nova Scotia at $5,932 -- although they are the only province to have shown a decline over the last three years, assisted somewhat by increased government funding and stable enrollment figures. In the last three years, tuition costs have hiked approximately 3.3% annually across the country. These numbers only represent tuition costs, and anyone who has attended college

or university knows the money paid to the school is just the beginning. Universities and colleges in the country have increasingly taken to the practice of levying “special fees” onto students. In many case, hundreds of dollars are added on for things such as athletic facilities, technological access, health plans and other programs of the like. On average, the Canadian student pays $663 dollars in these fees, in addition to text books, course kits and the cost of living and/or transportation. At a time when many families are watching their finances take an MMA-style pounding, the need for students to borrow large sums of money and accumulate severely stressful levels of sinking debt is almost inescapable. Being armed with a post-secondary education in the form of a degree or diploma is and will always be the most enabling way to enter the job market w ith g uns blazing. Unfortunately much of today’s youth, similarly to today’s adult population, do not have a clear idea of how they want to earn a living. As the disastrous eventualities of an economic downturn are dramatically affecting many industries, it is evident that even the best made career plans often need altering, and sometimes abandoning altogether. For today’s students and prospective enrollees,

the daunting specter of massive debt from rising education costs makes choices on where to spend their thousands much more crucial. The question still lies: is there a good chance you will start earning a sufficient salary to cover the cost of living and advancing your goals while also paying off your school debt? Or will your increasingly expensive Caribbean Studies degree from York U make you the most eligible candidate for that lowpaying job at the local roti place? T he level of educ at ion av a i lable to Canadians is admittedly high, but without accessibilit y and direction, it’s useless. There needs to be an effective support system available to guide and assist graduates with financial health and the transition from debt-accumulating student to productive (and debt-servicing) member of society, or we will continue to produce nothing more than a wealth of unsatisfied workers striving for subsistence far below their productive potential. As colleges and universities know already, there will always be plenty of firstyear dropouts for that. - jr

tuition hikes:

In times of economic downturn and raised tuitions, what is the real cost of a post-secondary education? by Mike Varrin

FUTURÉALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

FUTURÉALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

arts.culture.living

GENERATION

Balancing Perspectives: A Society of Fear

By Karen Lam

For years, the Jane-Finch area has had a GEORGE ORWELL’S NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR depicts a society where bad reputation for Toronto crime. Certainly, surveillance is not only a form of maintaining social order but also encourages the voyeuristic and vicarious attitude in watching television. Since Jeremy Bentham’s Panopticon, the concept of surveillance has infiltrated popular culture. Modern day media such as video games, Silent Hill 4 and Sanitarium, are examples of how surveillance is used as a mode of punishment, and mirrors the Panoptical control tactic through isolation. In real life, Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) is set up all over the world and are everywhere – we are being watched. News, by definition, brings current events to light. H1N1 killed very few people in comparison to AIDS; however, the public is more concerned about catching the influenza virus. Therefore, hand sanitizer is now a requirement at the entrance of almost every major public building. The media, in effect, influences the way we react to information. Media, much like surveillance, over-represents certain areas or groups of people, causing moral panic. The public over-reacts to intentional actions and thus under-reacts to accidents or natural phenomena. Immediate threats can grab our attention, but long-term threats such as war, generally lack a large reaction. The shady part of town may only be an over-reported case of crime, but this doesn’t give indication that any one area is more or less dangerous than another. Terrorism causes far more anxiety than common street crime, even though the latter claims many more lives. Perhaps people overestimate the extent of violence, building up unnecessary fear because these are risks that cannot be controlled, but the majority believes that it is within society’s capability to stop crime, even if this isn’t really the case.

socio-economic status is a crime determinant, but the well-known intersection of northwest Toronto may simply be a cliché. Per capita, the large majority of crimes are committed in Toronto’s downtown core. The Toronto Police publish a statistical report each year, with crime rates broken down by category and police division. According to the 2008 statistical report, 52 division of the downtown core has slightly more crime than 31 division of northwest Toronto. To make sweeping generalizations about the crime rates in the city based on statistical reports would lead to a variety of inaccuracies. Toronto police divisions encompass large and diverse sections of the city, where the JaneFinch area is but a small part of a larger division. As in many of Toronto’s marginalized communities, it is easy to notice the negatives when removed from the history and context of the situation. Media literacy is all the more important when it comes to understanding that there are biases in newsgathering and publishing. Often, all one really knows about the Jane-Finch area is through news coverage. Crime is everywhere, regardless of the socio-economic status of the residents. Affluent areas such as High Park are not immune to instances of robbery or hit and runs. The stigma is apparent, but there is hope that positive news can balance out the negative stereotypes. Unbiased news reporting is essential – if we expect crime to happen, it is natural to be on guard and to look more closely, but polarity of surveillance and assumed danger causes us to under-react to crime in Jane-Finch and over-react to crime in High Park.

arts.culture.living

by FIONA BRAMZELL

While we can’t stop crime, there are expectations that it can be controlled. If crime rates are in fact a problem, then it is only indication of underlying issues, such as the need for better social and afterschool programs. When residents can make a social connection by contributing to their neighbourhood’s overall well-being, maybe the fear of being watched and the need to watch others will no longer pose a threat to society. We must look at neighbourhoods not as a gutter or a blemish but as an area rich in spirit, despite its problems.

IT WILL COME as no surprise to anyone who simply looks around, that the population is growing – growing fatter that is. The average weight of a fully grown human in North America is significantly higher than it has ever been, leading not only to a slew of dubious weightloss companies making some tidy profits, but more worryingly, the increase of obesity-related health conditions and diseases. As an overweight adult, there are a number of different options when it comes to making healthy choices, and while some causes of obesity are out of their control, most adults are intelligent and educated enough to know what it takes for them to lose weight and cut the risk of disease. For children however, this is not quite as easy, particularly when they are subjected not only to somewhat deceptive children’s advertising, but also poor parental and social examples. Of course, there has always been and always will be, children who are heavier than their peers, just as the natural weight of adults differs and fluctuates throughout their lives.

– sa

FUTURÉALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

While an overweight child will not necessarily become an overweight adult, the likelihood of this happening greatly increases, particularly if preventative steps aren’t taken when the child is still young. Given the lack of physical activity and wealth of tempting fast food options for kids, it is no wonder that over 70% of overweight children do end up being overweight later in life, setting them up for a lifetime of poor health, including type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure and risk of heart disease. In addition to this, children who are overweight may already experience certain weight-related ailments, in particular asthma and sleep apnea, a condition which is not only dangerous but can also affect memory and learning abilities. When looking at the problem of childhood obesity it is very easy to blame external factors and indeed there is no doubt that, as a society, our general lack of exercise, reliance on appliances and gadgets designed to make our life easier (i.e. not as physical) and sedentary lifestyles all contribute to our children’s growing waistlines. While it is true that taking in more

calories than are being expended will cause weight gain, many doctors now believe that obesity, especially in children, has much more to do with what they are eating, how they are eating and the way food in is being advertised. By the time a child has reached 18 years old, they will have viewed an average of 200,000 commercials, being targeted through television, the internet and more commonly nowadays, seemingly benign product placement in shows and movies. Despite lobbying by concerned consumers and governmental steps being taken to curb the amount and type of children’s food advertising, the responsibility ultimately lies at the feet of the parent to ensure their child is protected from a lifetime of obesity. Becoming educated about nutrition, daring to be the ‘bad guy’ by reducing the amount of television watched, and making an effort to incorporate fun family activities will pay off ten-fold in the future. And who knows, by setting a good example, we may just lose some pounds along the way ourselves.

-kb

– sa – kb

FUTURÉALE FUTURÉALE

ARTS ARTS | | CULTURE CULTURE | | LIVING LIVING

h t e b a z i l E Tara

arts.culture.living

Valerie Lam WHAT HAPPENS when you put stunning to the place where they are in their career. Guyanese-Canadian model/actress in the same café with young comedic talent who is bursting out of his own constellation? I was going to find out at Le Pain Quotidien, where the two rising stars sat down at the communal table. Tara Elizabeth, as tall as you’d imagine her to be from her photographs, arrived breezily in a white baby-doll summer dress cinched sharply with a red waist belt, her ebony hair casually held back by candypurple shades atop her head. Brandon Ludwig’s easygoing nature was even more apparent when he arrived with the friends he’s touring with; I shook their hands and found myself among the most engaging actors I’ve yet met. “The more you do, the more you succeed,” Tara nodded intently to Brandon’s remark when talking about how they came

Brandon started doing free gigs, but worked hard, accepting invitations and eventually finding an agent. Starting out as a history major in university, Brandon soon left his engineering group in his last year of school when he met Dave Roberts at Second City, the popular Toronto comedy club. Everything changed from there. Realizing that acting was what he did best, Brandon plunged into the dramatic arts with both feet. Working with Dave, they found themselves to be an unbreakable duo. Even today at the café, Dave came with Brandon, along with Holly Greene, the nouvelle actrice from Montreal. The three are touring as a comedy troupe, and meeting lots of actors along the way. When they perform, there’s a sense of accomplishment that comes from a team ef-

fort, says Holly. It’s refreshing to work in a group, because each member brings something different to the table, even though the three are all in the same genre. It’s important to draw on each others’ strengths, and the chemistry of their work together is what makes their performance dynamic. Just last night, they joined a comedy bar’s audienceinteractive set that was weaved with video content of what twenty-four hours of improv filming produced. You can imagine how fun their job is. But filming is not easy. Pointing to the glass of water in front of him, Dave pointed out that in everyday life, we take the simplest intricacies for granted. How you lift the glass, how it’s held, the way you purse your lips to take a sip (or not) – simple gestures are all built into the character. That’s what most of the acting workshops are all about:

FUTURÉALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

arts.culture.living

making the character believably natural to the audience. It’s one thing to read the script, but to work with the director and create the person behind the plot demands total devotion to the character. And getting into character is what Brandon does best. That’s how he’s been able to secure a majority of lead roles in his budding career. Being in the centre of the mainstage, Brandon’s been able to receive a lot of coaching and perfect the exact manner in which to pick up that water glass! For Brandon, comedy is what he loves best, but shifting between genres can be a negotiation with the audience. It’s usually easier to move from a serious role to comedic role –otherwise, audiences can feel somewhat betrayed that their reliable leader of laughs has become unrecognizable. “You build relationships with the audience, so they react the next time when they see you on stage, and you’ve changed roles,” Dave explains. Despite his first love for comedy, Brandon’s pursuits are expanding. Next year we can find Brandon Ludwig as Bennie on the television series The Bridge, the new police drama airing mid-season on CTV and CBS.

“I’m not just a model.” Tara is not one to be limited either. She and Brandon have more in common than the fact that they were casted in the same commercials during the start of their careers, or that their birthdays fall on the same days that Marilyn Monroe and James Dean passed. Like Brandon, Tara began in a completely unrelated field. Starting off as a writer, her stars aligned to another path when the magazine’s photographer asked her to stand in for some shoots. “It went from there, and then I started getting paid work.” You might have spotted Tara at this year’s Taste of the Danforth, her photos featured across billboards, or perhaps sporting green gloves as part of the Green Bloor ad campaign in Yorkville. “At one point, my mom called to say that both my ads were on opposite sides of the road she was driving on!” Tara laughs. It was easy for her to transition into acting, because when she’s in front of the camera, much like

Brandon, she’s able to deliver the character that the client is looking for. From happy clients, her name has been passed to other directors, which snowballs into the modeling/acting double threat she has become. Tara also wants her friends to be successful. You’d wonder about the shape and size of the beautification coterie who would follow a model around. So when she hears about an opportunity with a director, she’ll ask if her friends who are make-up artists would be able to join the work. “Some days you get a call and other days you wait by the phone. I just want everyone to be happy.” Presently acting as her own agent, she’s been lucky to seize a variety of opportunities. At present, Tara’s aiming for movies and television, and has had recent success. Excitedly, she tells that tonight she’ll see her first screening of the short film, Nothing Personal directed by Peter Sawka and explains how to cry on cue: “I go into my room to prepare myself, think sad thoughts and then once it’s going, I’m ready to come onto the set.” So, I guess we’ve got to get off our happy place for times like these. Anyone who has seen her photos would know that Tara’s olive complexion and dark

arts.culture.living

arts.culture.living mane gives her “that exotic look that works.” She’s caught the attention of Aaron A, the unstoppable young talent who has directed, produced, shot and edited music videos for Nelly Furtado, Jully Black, and Kreesha Turner. Tara will appear in “Changes”, the newest single of Canadian band Thornley. With a variety of trades in her bag, Tara’s ready to take it to the next level. Her advice? “Luck, timing and talent. If you’re a natural, you’re a natural. Do what you do best.” For Tara and Brandon, coming into acting wasn’t exactly their first planned route. “What you think you want to do isn’t always what you will be doing. You have to take what comes your way because you don’t know where it could lead you.” From the looks of where Tara Elizabeth and Brandon Ludwig have been led to, you can expect to run into them a lot more in the coming years. - rr

FUTURÉALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

FUTURÉALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

arts.culture.living

The ingredient that doesn’t top the recipe to a healthy lifestyle. by Jess Silver

A GAME OF PICK-UP BASKETBALL; a morning jog in the spring, or a good old rep of ten push-ups -- these are just some of the basics people do in order to increase their energy levels and keep in shape. Today, everyone is concerned about following trends; which means staying in tune with the latest technology, gadgets and things to enhance the daily routine. The same is true for the fitness and the health industry, when people ‘try on’ different fitness routines for size, as if fitness is like the latest pair of jeans. The problem here is that everyone is interested in ‘a quick fix’. However, a healthy lifestyle doesn’t work that way, especially when it comes to tackling a problem as widespread as childhood obesity. Recently, gaming systems such as Nintendo Wii Fit have stepped into the limelight

the gaming aspects, particularly for young people, but one shouldn’t use it as a substitute for the real thing.” The aim of integrating fitness into the world of entertainment and gaming is to encourage youth to be more active. Young people today grow up with access to the Internet where the whole world is at one’s fingertips; therefore, the need to get up and be entertained while being physically active is rapidly diminishing. Bryant, a Nintendo Wii Fit expert says, “Wii Fit isn’t likely to replace regular trips to the gym especially for those who are already fit, it’s great for the person who hasn’t been doing a whole lot.” People today are interested in looking after themselves by being in tune with what’s new and hot. For this reason, it has become immensely popular to observe the latest fit-

of the fitness world in an attempt to revolutionize and innovate the concept of working out. It’s making fitness fun and in turn helping kids understand that fun can, in fact, go hand-in-hand with fitness. A fitness gaming expert says, “it’s a nice idea to take advantage of technology that’s typically associated with sedentary behavior and use it with some of

ness trend lists to see what everyone else is following. Within the last year, routines such as yoga and pilates have soared in terms of popularity. These artistic methods of physical activity have been around for hundreds of thousands of years and have recently regained footing in a modern societal practice bec au se t hey combi ne slow st retch ing

and meditation with strength, balance and endurance training. Other fitness routines becoming increasingly popular are resistance and core training, the use of medicine balls for toning the abdominal muscles, as well as, using balance boards and freeweights for strength training. “Corporate wellness programs are one of the fastest growing sectors of the fitness industry because of rising health care and insurance costs,” says Dr. Thompson, who analyzed most recent fitness trends within the corporate world. It’s easy to forget the importance of finding a way to balance work and enjoyment while taking care of our health. We live in a society that is so concentrated on getting ahead that there is not enough time being devoted to what is ultimately most important -- taking care of you! For this reason, fitness trends of 2008-09 have noticed an increase in the amount of workplaces that integrate working out into their daily routine. One example is attaching treadmills to workplace desks, so one can do cardio-vascular training while working. Wii Fit goes along the same objective, which aims to take out sedentary behavior from the regiment of young game lovers . A lt houg h i n nov at ive idea s a nd quick solutions are always popular when it comes to weight loss, nothing will take the place of the real sweat-it-out workout. “Kids today are introduced to computers and Nintendo Wii’s at early ages whereas twenty years ago, we knew about sports or outdoor activities. It’s a pity to see so many children with abdominal obesity and inactive lifestyles … unless parents do something about it, Type 2 Diabetes will even double in the next ten years,” says Dimitri Giankoulas, Certified Personal Trainer, and Manager of Pure Motivation Fitness Studio and In- home services in Richmond Hill, Ontario. “Too many parents buy into the fad of getting their children these games and electronic gadgets because they play them too. If you are looking at giving your child the best future and to teach them not only discipline but proper values in life such as, money skills, teamwork, and to appreciate their health; parents themselves need to make an effort to be fit in order to set a good example.”, Staying in shape and being health-conscious all comes down to the realization that

FUTURÉALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

there are no ‘quick fix’ solutions to feeling and looking great. Everyone needs to push themselves to do things they are capable of while realizing your body calls for a recipe keen on individuality without getting caught up in the latest trends or electronic frenzies. Healthy is not a fad.

– ag

FUTURÉALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

arts.culture.living

by Edward Landa

CELEBRITY GOSSIP MAGAZINES lit-

ter the shelves of every news stand with pages and pages of weak attempts to chronicle the lives of the faces of the entertainment industry; an industry so dominant that it consumes every waking moment of mundane life. The greatest child of the entertainment industry is ‘prime-time’. ‘Prime-time’ is a concept which divides our day: we have work-time, meal-time, time for hygiene, and of course sleep-time. All completely necessary and undeniable nonchoices we have to live by. But above all we have prime-time. As the name indicates, this time is prime; it is ripe, fun, interesting, top

of the line, has no parallel, the real deal, and is first to receive our love. Prime-time also comes with the best selling item of all time: choices. This is because prime-time is supposed to be your time, the time that lets you put yourself first, and when you do so what do you do? You seek entertainment. We attempt to construct our day to accommodate as much entertainment into our twenty-four hours. And when it comes to entertainment, the fine arts step in with their heads held high. Music, fashion, dance, all aspects of film, and of course the art of drawing and painting make up most of our concerns for a happy life. In

turn, the artists which operate these conceptual machines become icons and symbols of society, seeing that their work garners most of our attention. Celebrities are understandably famous. Yet why are we so obsessed over their lives, can’t we simply allow them to live as recognisable individuals with whose work many are familiar with, and leave it at that? Obviously, many of us cannot. We obsess and place them on pedestals as idols, role models, and occasionally even apply messianic properties to them. Do we need to make them out as a more privileged few? Are we simply empty followers? Their existence as icons of power and success is necessary for many. Those who follow their lives, all yearn to be like them. They yearn to attain a position that they themselves created. That is why many people obsess over celebrities; it is because they want to be able to be like them. This idol-worship provides entertainment on a level of meaning, in the sense that people seek to know of and follow these artists in order to find some common ground to act as a base for self identification through others. It is almost as if they seek to find themselves by living vicariously through whom they see as successful individuals, or rather people they wish to be like. This state of mind has found nest in most inhabitants of western society, and is seen at its most perverted intensity in such attractions as Madame Tussaud’s wax museums. These wax museums could be found in most Western major cities, including New York, Los Angeles, London, and Las Vegas. The principle of such a place in the nature it was constructed is to showcase how wax figures could appear so lifelike, to awe and amaze the public. The function of these wax figures seemed more of an attempt at sculpting more believable characters than those in stone. But, the evolution of places such as Madame Tus-

FUTURÉALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

FUTURÉALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

saud’s proved otherwise; this chain of museums has grown to accommodate only wax figures of celebrities, set up in action poses and dressed in real clothes with real equipment so that to create the illusion that it’s actually a real person standing there in front you. Now, such a place acts only as a testament of this obsession with celebrities that the majority of the public hangs upon. People arrive from across the globe to take pictures along with these wax figures, and pretend as if they are hugging John Travolta, danc-

erature and stories of rags to riches. But the authors are not to blame, they only told the stories that the people wanted to hear. Today’s tabloids do much of the same with celebrities, they write what sells. They build whole magazines on the basis of giving the public constant and weekly updates on their celebrities of choice. They have basically fabricated an ongoing biography filled with rumours and up to date notices. There was never a rise or decline of celebrity culture, there was only a change in

ing with Jennifer Aniston, or even sharing a beer with Woody Allen. The entire museum is filled with people not studying the elegant wax work by different artists, but snapping photo after photo of themselves in different poses with celebrities. People are excited, and are willing to pay up to thirty-five dollars to create these false memories, just so they can knowingly fool themselves into a state of importance, or what they consider importance. Yet these museums are not the problem, they are simply standing and operating testaments of how weak the masses actually are. The problem itself, if it even is a problem to begin with, has existed for about as long as humans existed in society. In the ancient world people obsessed over heroes of war and divine leaders. In later times authors the likes of Austen and Tolstoy took common folk by the hand and led them into the world of nobility and leisure. They created a society obsessed by the lives and loves of their nobility, to which they believed themselves to rise unto, feeding this dream with excessive lit-

what the term celebrity stood for. So, with the changes that our society has undergone with its entertainment industry and its constant necessity thereof, the targets of such obsessions have changed. This long love for celebrities is one that is simply explainable as a condition of human weakness, instituted by the very masses themselves, because it is the people who choose to move social structure and distribute envy in such form as to only create a class system, putting themselves on the bottom, with dreams for the top.

– ag

arts.culture.living

There are also some notable absences. While Jim Broadbent is charming as Professor Slughorn, Alan Rickman’s presence is decidedly missing from the film. This is the first film not to show a Defence Against The Dark Art class, which his character finally gets to teach. Again, the focus is pulled from the darker elements of the novel. Even the final scenes, of Snape coming into his own, move far too quickly and are anti-climactic given the implications of the events. Despite what it lacks, the Half-Blood Prince has some wonderful moments, notably the final act set pieces and the scenes with “Pensieve memories”, showing a very creepy Hero Fiennes-Tiffin playing a younger version of Tom Riddle / Voldemort. And while some of the romantic elements are slightly mishandled, there are some genuinely tender moments between Emma Watson’s Hermoine and Rupert Grint’s Ron. Ultimately though, it seems as if the filmmakers, especially Yates, decided to take a calm and collected breath before riding the storm of the last two sequels.

By: Andrew Rainnie

Director: David Yates Writer(s): Steven Cloves (screenplay), J.K. Rowling (novel)

THE FINAL HARRY POTTER NOVEL has come and gone, leaving the films behind. Though, Harry Potter and Half-Blood Prince is the film of penultimate book it is the third to last installment of the film series. This is due to Warner Bros cashing in and splitting the last novel, Deathly Hallows, into two films ala Kill Bill. It is also the only entry since Chamber Of Secrets to retain the previous Potter director, David Yates, who managed to turn the weakest of the books, Order Of The Phoenix, into one of the best films. Yet, despite Yates’ previous accomplishment, he fares far worse with the Half-Blood Prince. There were early rumours Guillermo del Toro and Terry Gilliam had been offered the film. If the rumours are true, it is a shame that they turned the project down, as the film needs a darker touch.

Director Yates and screenwriter Steven Kloves choose to focus on the romantic elements of the book, while downplaying Harry and Dumbledore’s exploration of Voldemort’s past. According to Kloves, Yates trimmed that plotline from his original script. The two plots jar against one another, and a film that should be about Harry’s education of his nemesis’ past turns into a British teen rom-com, with a splash of dark magic for good measure. It seems, knowing what was ahead of them, the filmmakers decided to make a light-hearted entry before the double-feature length finale. The film strays from the novel in many ways, notably the addition of Fenrir Greyback as the central villain. Greyback’s lack of dialogue and action makes the role seem redundant, a pawn for the sequel. The

attack on London’s Millennium Bridge—the perfect excuse to break out the IMAX camera—feels unnecessary, while the attack on the Burrow brings some much needed action and tension, interrupting the blossoming romance between Harry and Ginny. The chemistry between Daniel Radcliffe and Bonny Wright is remarkably stinted, flashing between a deliberate comedy of awkwardness and stiff, wooden acting. Newcomer Jessica Cave is perfectly cast as Ron’s new love interest, Lavender Brown. She steals the film from the ever-present Potter Trio with a delightful, over the top performance. Returning as the kooky Luna Lovegood, Evanna Lynch shows distinct comic timing, proving she may develop as a comedic actress. And Tom Felton brings some much-needed depth to the misunderstood Draco Malfoy.

FUTURÉALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

- ag

FUTURÉALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

arts.culture.living

Fashion Infatuation with Leviana Coccia “Everyone is a hat person”

t o i R y a D 6 by Br yna Jones

WHETHER IT IS A BEANIE, A BERET, A COWBOY HAT, OR A FEDORA-

IN THE LAND THAT 6 DAY RIOT INHABITS THERE ISN’T A CLOUD IN THE SKY and you can’t imagine that

there ever might be one. On an album infused with folk, pop, calypso, and something uniquely Eastern European (think accordions and oom-pah-pah percussion), it’s all blue skies and rainbows. Despite its sunny demeanour, 6 Day Riot Have a Plan is undeniably intelligent. With a five piece ensemble cast led by the adventurous singer-songwriter Tamara Schlesinger, thoughtful lyrics, and cascading instrumentals take centre stage in an album that’s part Alice in Wonderland, part social commentary. The weight of Have a Plan is carried in its first five tracks. Run for Your Life and O

hat on for size. Ladies and gentlemen, fedoras are great for a suite and tie event. Dressy berets are also superb for any outfit whatsoever. Do not be afraid to mix and match patterns and colours on formal events because without a little risk there would be no point in dressing up for the occasion.

There is only one guideline you must follow when choosing a hat for Friday night and that is to wear a hat you really adore. For without that chemistry between you and your chapeau there will be friction and friction causes hat hair and frizz. We wouldn’t want that, now, would we?

-jr

FUTURÉALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

Photographed by yrrek

hats are in. The only problem we face is how and when to wear them. I, for one, have my very own collection of beanies that I proudly wear when my hair’s a mess, when my outfit could use an extra splash of colour, or when I feel like mixing and matching. Some people, on the other hand, may posses a fear that I call “chapeaufobia.” This is where they feel they are not “a hat person”. I strongly disagree — everyone is a hat person. Whether you have a rounder face or a slimmer face, there is a hat out there for you. The key for finding a hat that fits your face is by abiding by one rule: if you like the way a hat looks on you and you have confidence in your hat, no one will think otherwise. It’s like going out in a pair of shoes that don’t exactly flatter your feet as best as they should. But If you like the shoe, and the shoe fits, strut your stuff without the stress or worry of what someone else will think. We are in the era of expression and creativity where fashion explorers are constant innovators. I never thought I was a hat person until I went on the search for a hat that fit me just the way I liked it. Now I realize that the chapeau has made its way back into the fashion industry, especially in the bohemian/hippy look. When wearing a pair of solid coloured slacks with a solid coloured shirt or sweater, a lace beret or beanie can spice up your look. Whether you are attending a concert, a casual dinner party, or a small gathering, a beret or beanie will get people talking. If you happen to be going out to a more formal event for the evening and your hair just is not cooperating or your outfit needs something other than salt and pepper, try a

Those Kids are alive with the fun and joy that seem to permeate the album. Though comparing 6 Day R iot to any other artist seems unfair, on track three Tamara is decidedly Ingrid Michaelson-esque. Out of turn for 6 Day Riot is the reflective Rise Above, a track that despite breaking the carnival ride momentum of the album, is so lovely you don’t mind the digression. And when you find out that Go! Canada was written 15,000ft in the air after an abrupt band break-up and re-group you can’t help but admire Schlesinger’s pluck and determination. W hether invoking a gypsy caravan or simply highlighting Tamara’s striking vocals; this album is most definitely defiant. It doesn’t play into the self-important

melancholy-schtick that so many other artists buy into. It bravely forges ahead without the angst (thank you very much). Have a Plan is perfect for people who aren’t satisfied with being labelled ‘grown-ups’ despite their day jobs.

-jr

- jr

FUTURÉALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

– xx

arts.culture.living

Whip It

Host your own TIFF-themed party by Valerie Lam

If it’s not Cannes, if it’s not Sundance, then it must be TIFF. FROM SEPTEMBER 10-19TH, Toronto hosts this year’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) – and if that’s news to you, your head ought to be wound up in one of those enormous film reels and sent straight to the theatre! For nine glorious, red carpet-laden days we will be drunk with stardom with more glitter on our clothes than Katy Perry in Vegas. It’s showtime, baby! And oh, the celebrity treatment can indeed be expected for the Hollywood guests supporting this year’s cinematic line-up, which o p e n s w i t h C r e a t io n d i r e c t e d b y Jo n Amiel, and ends with

Creation

FUTURÉALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

Canadian Jean-Marc Vallée’s The Young Victoria. Last year we milled about Yorkville hoping to run into the rich and famous, including haunts like the Ultra Supper Club (Paris Hilton with boyfriend Benji Madden spotted), brunching at Sassafraz (Colin Firth), and a whole coterie at Windsor Arms Hotel (Jennifer Aniston, Matt Damon, Queen Latifah and Sandra Oh). This year, Nota Bene will be drawing its curtain as the eatery destination. Nota Bene, emerging from the Oliver and Bonacini blueprint but hav ing Chef Dav id Lee’s designs, is disting uished to hold the same level of quality and pizzazz as Splendido, but catered more toward the business casual clientele on Queen West. While you may be hard-pressed to find reservations during the TIFF week at Nota Bene, why not let the illuminated glow of the stars fall chez vous? Here are some ideas to host your own TIFF-themed dinner party. Though ivory-radiant at 34, ever si nce D r e w B a r r y mor e ’s f i r s t f a mo u s m a r k o n Hollywood at age seven in ET, it seems she’s kept her youthf ul roles. No exception then, when her first stab at directing is a plot set in a high school where awkward girls find their tribe in a roller rink in W hip It. Bring the buoyant fun into your party with the menu of an arena: pile the plates high with jalapeños and nachos, chilli cheese fries, hot dogs and fry baskets that would make a chip truck spin off its wheels. Now is not the occasion for elegance when you’ve got liquid cheese on the tap. Better yet, go wholesale with the napkins and paper plates.

FUTURÉALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

Is horror more of your genre? Midnight Madness is a week-long fest of the grotesque, “for those more interested in choking on their popcorn in the wee hours of the morning than watching Danish art films at midday,” (well said, Paul Matthews.) Look out for horror f licks like Dorian Gray, where Colin Firth is set in a frightfully sensational spotlight. Why not re-create nineteenth-century London in which Oscar Wilde envisioned the portrait to twistingly deform? Go Gothic with the theme, and don’t forget the mirrors. Not the first time for Jack W hite, music mixes with film in rockumentary, The White Stripes: Under Great White Northern Lights (Jack featured with Jimmy Page and The Edge in the 2008 music doc It Might Get Loud.) In Under Great White Northern Lights, the brother and sister duo trek across all ten provinces and three territories on their 2007 Canadian tour in little but a bus and their videographer Emmett Malloy, whose footage of impromptu performances ends in their home province Nova Scotia. And if we stay long enough on the East Coast after the band has up and left, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to let the Acadian breeze into your kitchen. Get all the guests out on a picnic table with corn on the cob, seafood chowder, mussels washed down with Alexander Keith’s, and lots of pie. Make Michael Smith proud. So whether it’s Chris Rock hairy comedy, Net herla nd i sh a r t-hou se, or blu nt de l i v eries from M ichael Moore, celebrate f i l m i n Toronto in the comfort of your home!

Dorian Gray

-kb

arts.culture.living

MooN

Director: Duncan Jones Writer(s): Duncan Jones (original story) and Nathan Parker (screenplay)

By: Andrew Rainnie

AMIDST A SUMMER that has so far had a fair share of science-fiction multi-million dollar extravaganzas such as Wolverine, Terminator: Salvation, Star Trek and Transformers, it is perhaps ironic that a film made for $5 million and using retrograde technology rather than CGI as standard, oozes quality from every pore, from the concept of the stor y, the amazing cast you can c o u n t o n one hand, the limited sets, the model special effects, and last but not least, t h e t h e m e a n d m e s s a g e o f the f i lm. This is not explosions, guns and robots; no this is a film with personality, a film with something to say. The film, as you would expect, takes place on the moon. In a small base on the far side of the moon, automated machines harvest helium 3, a fuel embedded in the moon’s surface maintenance of the machinery and base. Coming to the end of his three-year con-

tract, he is looking forward to being back on Earth with his wife and daughter. However, a near fatal accident changes his perception of his entire life, and the real reason for him being on the moon. Duncan Jones’ debut feature is a bold, brave masterpiece that is hopefully a sign of things to come from the young director. Perhaps his most brave decision is to use real models instead of CGI animation for the exterior shots on the moon and the base. Although possibly a budgetary constraint, it works to the film’s credit. Although there are a few moments where it looks like a Gerry Anderson TV show, it looks and feels real and adds to the retro mise-en-scene, whereas many of the other blockbusters mentioned earlier, notably Wolverine and Terminator, had moments where the CGI animation looked horrendous. Thanks to Jones shooting and the pacing of editor Nicholas Gaster, the few rooms that make up the base, on which the entire film is set, never become stale or repetitive. In fact, it is almost like an onion, which Sam starts to peel away at to try and solve the mystery of the film. Sam Rockwell, a vastly underrated actor, is superb in his role as the isolated man try-

ing to rediscover who he is, and although it may be early, this could be a contender for an Oscar nomination. Kevin Spacey, who voices Sam’s robotic companion GERTY, manages to walk the tightrope between robotic creepiness reminiscent of Douglas Rain’s HAL 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey, and a warm, almost caring companion. Rockwell manages to create a natural chemistry with the robot, making it a more believable character than most of the Transformers cast. This is a slice of sci-fi indulgence, drawing on the likes of Alien, Dark Star and Outlander, to create an impressive film, using and reusing sets with such fresh economy not seen since Cube. While it may not be to everyone’s tastes, it raises questions about human morality that we may have to answer in the not too distant future, and it is perhaps for this reason that Moon rises above the rest. -at

SUMMARY REVIEW Every once in a while a fresh filmmaker comes along, and with a limited cast and meagre budget, manages to make a film of beauty, style, and most importantly, substance. Moon is an instant sci-fi classic. 5 out of 5 stars H H H H H

FUTURÉALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

FUTURÉALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

arts.culture.living

R E V O G N A H E H T by Andrew Rainnie

MOVIE REVIEW

A film for anyone who has ever woken up won dering what the hell ha where the hell am I, ppened last night, and whose bosom am I using for a pillow? Un from beginning to en ashamedly funny d

.***

FUTURÉALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

FUTURÉALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

Director: Todd Phillips Writer(s): Jon Lucas & Scott Moore Rudy: Let’s have a bachelor party with chicks and guns and fire trucks and hookers and drugs and booze. Gary: Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! All the things that make life worth living for! - Bachelor Party (1984) IT IS WITHIN The Hangover that director

Todd Phillips manages to capture the spirit of Bachelor Party. After a decade of teen comedies and rom-coms, someone has finally made a comedy for men. Everyone will enjoy it and be tickled ribless with laughter, but unless you have been to Dusseldorf with twenty friends dressed as superheroes on a 48 hour Altbier bender, you may not appreciate it as much. Groom to be Doug Bi l l i ngs ( Ju st i n Bartha) journeys with his two best friends Phil (Bradley Cooper) and Stu (Ed Helms), as well as his future brother in law, and possible Aspergers sufferer, Alan (Zach Galifianakis) to Las Vegas for one night of male-orientated fun. However, the trio wake up to find their room trashed, a tiger in the bathroom, and that they all have no recollection of the night’s events. Oh, and the groom is missing. Thus they try and piece together the proceedings of the previous night in the hope that they will find the groom in time to make it back to Los Angeles for the wedding. The three main leads own this film. Best known are perhaps Bradley Cooper, who starred as Will Tipping in TV hit Alias, and Ed Helms from The Office. Yet it is stand-up comic Zach Galifianakis that steals the film from his co-stars. They all have moment s of genius, especially Helms’ musical number, but Galifianakis’ comic timing and dead pan delivery of often dark but hilarious one-liners marks every scene. But the actors are only as good as the script, and writers Lucas and Moore do not fail them. While the set-up is slightly contrived

and the conclusion is a no-brainerit is quickpaced and throws comic obstacles at our three unlikely heroes exactly when needed, suddenly turning and taking us in unseen directions. The humour is dark, sometimes sick, and very male, yet it never feels rehashed as with other recent male comedies of say Will Ferrell or Adam Sandler, perhaps because of the unknown quantity of the actors, or perhaps it owes more to Phillips directorial style, allowing actors to improvise certain points. Phillips (who cameos as a guy going down on a woman in an elevator) was so convinced of the movie’s success that he waved his usual fee for part ownership, ironic given the film is set in the gambling sin-bin of Las Vegas. Apparently the producers were also confident, as a sequel was green lit before the film even hit the cinemas. But, let’s not bet the house on the follow up just yet. The Hangover will entertain your from beginning to end, a rare combination of great comic acting, superior comedy writing, and a director who, although well traversed in the world of comedy with films such as Road Trip and Old School to his credit, has found the jewel in his crown. A film that should be seen and seen again. And if you can explain the chicken; well done.

–rr

arts.culture.living

Danforth of

W ITH

taste

AT THE AGE OF 18, Rebekhan Miskan

By Sarah Subnath delicious food sold at the festival, as attendees were able to try Greek cuisine. Food ranged from chicken and pork souvlaki on a stick or in a pita, to baklava. This festival also displayed other cultures’ cuisine such as Indian food. Along with the food being sold, vendors also sold souvenirs from Greece. “I love exploring different cultures and this was a great experience. And of course I love eating souvlaki,” says first time attendee of the Taste of Danforth festival, Razeena Bacchus, 19. Bacchus adds, “I’m also happy I got to meet NDP’s Jack Layton at the festival I didn’t expect him to be there and I was surprised to see him.” With all the food, the festival provided special beverage gardens to get refreshed and cool those taste buds. There were three gardens at

the festival, with the first being a beer garden. The second, a Motts Clamato Caesar garden which allowed people to taste and learn how to make the perfect Caesar. The last one was a wine garden, which allowed attendees to taste different wines as well as listen in on different seminars about wine. The festival also allowed attendees to try free samples and gave chances to win prizes from a variety of exhibitors including: Tetley, George Foreman grills, Sunoco and Yak. Although much of the weekend started off with damp and muggy days, it quickly turned out to be a day full of laughs, entertainment and great food tasting; as the sun would begin to shine, Torontonians and tourists quickly began to fill the street of Danforth Avenue. – rr

FUTURÉALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

Rebecca Miskin

a i c c o C a n a i v Le

success A young, triple threat, Canadian independent artist with a passion for

Photographed by Anthony0723

Toronto, holding more than 200,000 residents of Greek ancestry. So what better way to celebrate the heritage, than with a Greek festival. T he G r e e k t o w n’s Taste of Danforth sponsored by Pilaros kicked off its 16 th year of the three-day long festival on Friday August 7, lasting the entire weekend until Sunday August 9. T h i s festival highlighted the best of Hellenic food, culture and music. T he fest iv a l con si sted of t h ree d i fferent stages, “The Celebrity Stage”, which featured a taste of Broadway. Such acts included, The Sound of Music, Jersey Boys, Stage West’s “Breaking Up is Hard to Do” and the comedy show Second City. The second stage known as the “Broadview Stage” featured music and lifestyle related performances. Such acts included, The Swamp Dawgs, t he c a st of “Sec ret s of a Black Boy”, Hannan’s Belly dancing , Embr ujo Flamenco Dancers, The Argentine Tango Milango and karate demonstrations from the Japan Martial Arts Centre. The final stage was the “The Greek Stage,” displaying traditional Greek dancers, singers and musicians. This stage allowed the audience to get interactive as they learned traditional Greek dances. Such performers included, Yia Mas, Parea, and Ola. The festival also contained a sports zone, which included interactive games created by some of Toronto’s professional sports teams, such as the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Toronto Raptors, the Toronto Argos, and the Toronto Marlies. Sports games included two volleyball courts, one for adults and one for children and a basketball shoot out. The section titled “The Oly mpiada” held activities such as a Mount Olympus C l i mbi ng Wa l l a nd a n Oly mpic Torch Carry for the younger crowd. Attendees of the festival also had the opportunity to meet celebrity Greek chef Maria Loi Kouzina. Loi Kouzina is the popular Greek telev ision food star from New York who is also cookbook author and restaurateur. She is k now n as the “Greek Queen Bee”, back home in Greece. Of course, one cannot forget all the

Intervie w

Photographed by Autumm

THE THIRD LARGEST HELLENIC C O M M U N I T Y outside of Greece is

arts.culture.living

put her acting, dancing, writing and producing skills to work to bring a short film called Anya into production. Today, Miskin is working on a film called Figurative Reality. The multi-talented artist wrote Anya’s script and acted in the f ilm. The young Canadian says she worked closely with director Kai Hoecke but also gave everyone on set the space needed to interpret her script. “I think it’s extremely important as a writer to allow your vision to be influenced by the input of everyone else on set,” Miskin says. Working as both a writer and an actor during the production of Anya, Miskin says she was more nervous to have others read her script than she was to have them watch her perform. “I really tried to be an actress and compartmentalize the writer part of my brain while I was on set the same way I focused strictly on the script development in pre-production,” Miskin says. In Figurative Reality, Miskin is playing the role of the lead’s alter ego. Miskin explained her character represents the part of the human psyche that acts on inclination and desire. “In our real lives we have many other parts of our personalities that stop us from acting on our impulses. My character does not have inhibitions.” She says the film is “a really honest story that delves way more into character development and doesn’t ignore the ‘ugly’ side of our humanity.” Miskin believes that hard work and initiative are the two key ingredients to take control of one’s own career and make one’s

FUTURÉALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

own opportunities. She’s hoping her passion to stand on her own two feet will take her far in the world of independent art, where having a blockbuster or two doesn’t necessarily define what a talented filmaker is. Thanks to the popularity of the film festival and to the freedom of the Internet, independent artists have an equal chance at showing their talents. “I think ‘art-house’ (so to speak) film is/will become more accessible to the public because the Internet can be used to view these projects and/or promote them for free,” Miskin says. In the same way many people find information online by reading a news website or an online magazine, the Internet would be used to expose people to the indie art and film market. “The Internet has become an open-source field of information,” says Maskin. “Therefore, people who previously would not have been exposed to smaller screenings of indie films will hopefully have increasingly easier access to the marketing and buzz that blogs, Internet publications and online previews can create to gain a wider audience.” She hopes the Internet will help independent artists expose themselves and believes the Internet is going to alter viewers’ perception of television and film. “My feeling is that, in this particular case, the Internet doesn’t replace any other medium.” She also hopes to see more interesting talents independent artists have to offer by the advancement of exposure. “I think there are a ton of independent artists who have so much talent and no means of promoting themselves . . . they are doing so

many interesting things that I wish I got to see more of,” Miskin says. Through working in film, Miskin has learned that not even impatience can bring one harm. She admits being ex tremely anxious when waiting for phone calls. In the meantime, she said she “felt it was important to stretch my talent and try it myself.” As a growing independent artist, Miskin says she admires two people. One being Drew Barrymore for her ability to both produce films and act. The second is on a personal level: her Uncle Jeff. “He is an incredibly successful businessman who is entirely self-made and everything he has, he built himself from the ground up. I hope I am like that.” Throughout her experiences as a young independent artist, Miskin narrowed down two negative and two positive points in her career thus far. She believes the biggest problem in the film industry is the shortage of production in Canada. “Although it is getting better I would like to see more opportunities for Canadian artists in general.” The second problem she sees in the film industry is the lack of compelling stories about women. “I would like to see more films and TV shows that have better-written female characters.” On a more positive note, Miskin says she is very lucky to have the opportunity to create her own films and projects and also that people in the film industry have been very supportive, approachable, and willing to help in any way, shape, or form. “Film is a collaborative effort and I am so grateful to everyone that is onboard for Figurative Reality.” – rr

arts.culture.living

Pam McFadyen’s ”Customers are a diverse bunch” SOME ARE COLLEGE STUDENTS buying one-of-a-kind items for their first apartment. Others are middle-aged women upgrading their housewares from cheap mass-market brands. And of course, there is the younger guy with the scruffy goatee who bought a mug from her at a recent show, because as McFadyen says: “men love buying mugs.” There is something about her mugs, with their generous proportions and glazes in shades of green and blue, that attracts this eclectic set of buyers. Priced at $16 US through her Etsy shop, Lurearts, each of McFadyen’s mugs is handmade to be one-of-a-kind. High school art teacher by day and potter by night, McFadyen is a Torontonian in her 30s with a home studio near the Beaches. Her ceramic mugs, bowls and clocks, are a prime example of the way crafts many consider obsolete are still being practiced. Both McFadyen and Jennifer Wang, a Toronto software developer and knitter, say that part of the appeal of these old crafts is that it provides work for the hands and peace for the mind. “With clay there’s this really long tradition. It keeps you grounded, having your hands in the mud,” McFadyen says, adding that she finds something “Zen” in building or throwing a piece on the wheel. Wang, 28, on the other hand, learned to knit as a child – the skill was passed down from her mother – but took up knitting and yarn thrifting, the practice of reclaiming yarn from old sweaters, more seriously in 2005. “It’s a very meditative craft and also gives me something to do with my hands while watching TV and waiting around,” Wang describes. “And I really like having a very unique item when I’m done a piece.”

arts.culture.living

LIFE FLOWS

By Claire Biddiscombe

Darkness hits when things are changing and you loose sight of your core, when you don’t know what’s important anymore.

I found both McFadyen and Wang through online handicraft communities – McFadyen through her aforementioned shop on Etsy, HYPERLINK “http://www. etsy.com” www.etsy.com, a one-stop marketplace for handmade products of all sorts; and Wang through Ravelry, HYPERLINK “http://www.ravelry.com” www.ravelry.com, a social network functioning as Facebook for knitters, spinners, crocheters and other fibre artists. McFadyen says Etsy opened a worldwide market for her products and encouraged her to take her pieces to small shows instead of only selling her works to friends. She says she thinks that Etsy came along at the right time to accompany a resurgence in handmade goods, and that the trends feed off one another. She ventures that this renewed interest ties in with the whole foods/local products movement, where an increasing number of consumers want to know where their purchases come from. Similarly, Wang says she believes we are seeing a “renaissance for craftsmanship.” “There is so much technology around us doing so much work for us that we are losing our sense of being able to actually “do” anything,” she writes. “Environment, economy, individuality are also other reasons driving this revival.” Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some socks on the needles that are calling for attention.

You are trying to think about the adventure behind the next door but all you can feel is the open sore from the last wrong step you made on the shifting floor. Ouch comes to mind until you to come to view, and then time stops. And its just me hand you. flowing like water over a field of land mines. Hell it wouldn’t be the same if you weren’t mine, if you were just by side doing your thing, going your way. Away from me. Cause then you wouldn’t be with me.

– sa

FUTURÉALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

arts.culture.living

Transcendence She wore her corsage everywhere. The petals began to fall but she didn’t notice as she sat in the dark watching people fall in & out of love— she ate flowers with her popcorn, crying. She watched a couple of pigeons from her office at work. One clucked and paced the narrow ledge, while the other went out, gathering branches. When she moved into her new apartment, the first thing she bought was a pair of lovebirds. She had to know that it was possible, had to see it with her own eyes. Every week she bought a fresh bunch of tulips or daisies. The petals fell into her cereal sometimes, and she tasted hope in every mouthful. © Myna Wallin 2006

FUTURÉALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

FUTURÉALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

arts.culture.living

SATED Ashlar is lying on my chest claws dug snug into my rising falling breast; deep enough to pinch the nerves without drawing blood wriggling acupuncture accoutrement staring sated smirk of long slow blinking content waiting my reaction: she loves me like a kind generous woman

FUTURĂ&#x2030;ALE

ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING