December 8th, 2011
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The U.S. vs. John Lennon by David Leaf & John Scheinfeld
Filmmakers David Leaf and John Scheinfeld offer a compelling look at the efforts of the United States government to silence one of rock & roll's most outspoken war critics in this documentary detailing the Vietnam-era struggle between the Richard Nixon administration and iconic peace activist John Lennon. The Vietnam War was raging and the nightly news was filled with stories of failed offensives and massacred U.S. troops. As anti-war protests back home gained momentum, it was the hopeful voice of former Beatle Lennon that served to perfectly encapsulate the frustrations felt by many citizens that the U.S. had gotten caught up in an quagmire from which there was seemingly no end in sight. More »
There's a high price to be paid for standing strong in your beliefs and openly criticizing the ruling elite, though, and now, through interviews with those who knew him best and revealing glimpses into an era where all hope seemed lost, filmmakers finally uncover the truth behind the Nixon administration's highly classified efforts to isolate and eventually deport the man whose powerful words threatened to actually make sense in a world slowly suffocated by the grip of insanity.
The screening is sponsored by Steve's Music, Find A Way and co-hosted by Occupy Toronto.
Directed by David Leaf, John Scheinfeld. Starring John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Stew Albert. (99 min)
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Gord Downie—Water Protector presented by The GreenHeroes Campaign
Tragically Hip front man turned environmental activist
Gord Downie's journey with water activism began with a battle against a cement company. The company was experimenting with burning tires as an alternative fuel source. He joined forces with the Lake Ontario Waterkeeper after hearing a speech by Robert Kennedy Jr. and put a halt to the unsafe practice in the lakeside village of Bath, Ontario.
If you jump in and expect the government to help you out… don't.
CineFocus Canada, a Toronto based TV production company of arts and social issue documentaries and new media productions like wants to hear from you! They have created this short survey to understand how on-line activities can be used to enhance participation in real world initiatives around improving the environment.
We encourage you to take the five minutes to complete the anonymous survey so CineFocus can continue to enhance their productions and deliver them in ways that are most relevant to you.
Should you have any questions, please email CineFocus Canada directly at mail@cinefocus.com
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John Lennon Tribute Concert featuring Bill Colgate, Don Francks & Steve Hunter
Bill Colgate is a bar band singer turned actor turned critically lauded and award winning singer/songwriter. He describes his music as "lyric driven uprooted roots". Awards include: 2nd Grand Prize Overall in The USA Songwriting Competition—this win was out of over 32,000 entries and represents the highest standing ever by a Canadian in the history of the contest to that date (including such notables as Shirley Eikhard and James Keeleghan)—1st Place Gospel in the same competition, 5th Place in the Gospel category of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest for "Let It Be There" and a finalist in The Mountain Stage NewSong Contest for "Emperor's New Clothes". More »
Bill was born in Welland and raised in Toronto. As a singer/songwriter, he has shared the concert stage with, among others: Ron Sexsmith, Jim Cuddy, Amos Garrett and John Lee Hooker. As an actor, he has worked in every aspect of the profession: stage, screen (big and small), radio, cartoon and commercial voice work and appeared with such notables as Tommy Lee Jones, Matt Dillon, Diane Keaton, Diane Lane, Anthony Edwards, Sarah Polley, Kyra Sedgwick and Kiefer Sutherland.
Bill is the principal songwriter as well as front man for both Bill Colgate and The Urbane Guerillas and Cadre.
Don Francks (Iron Buffalo), earthling, iconic Canadian actor, musician, artist and activist was found at an orphanage in Vancouver B.C. At age five started on stage singing and acting. Later began radio and television… nightclubs and writing. Then moved to Toronto to pursue career. Performed in NYC on and off Broadway and recorder albums. Next to Hollywood appearing in movies and on television. Quit lala land Married Lili on Red Pheasant Cree Nation. Returned to Vancouver to join Greenpeace movements. Then back to Toronto to raise children Cree Summer and Rainbow Sun. You may say I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one. Free Tibet! Peace.
Don's film credits include Top Cops, Mister Rogers, Road to Avonlea, Ice Princess, Wild Wild West, Man From U.N.C.L.E., Little Men, Traders and Mission Impossible, among others. His voice has been heard in literally hundreds of commercials and animated series including Beetlejuice, Free Willy, Cadillacs & Dinosaurs and Inspector Gadget. In additional to being a fine singer Don also plays the trombone, drums and flute and has made several jazz albums.
Steve Hunter's career has been a juggling act between the studio, jingles, theater and clubs. Highlights include Etta James, Petula Clark, Bobby Vinton, Little Anthony, Joan Rivers, Emmylou Harris, David Clayton Thomas and TV appearances with Donny Osmond, Chet Atkins, and Colm Wilkinson on the 2005 Jerry Lewis Telethon.
Some of the shows Steve has conducted and played on include Cats, The Phantom of the Opera (with Colm Wilkinson), Joseph (with Donny Osmond), Forever Plaid, Jane Eyre, Tommy, Blood Brothers (with David Cassidy), Rent, The Lion King and most recently, Billy Elliot. Steve has had the pleasure to work with Colm Wilkinson as his musical director/arranger for the past fifteen years and recently took part in a birthday celebration for the late Ted Kennedy's birthday celebration at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC with President Obama in the audience.
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Post-film Panel Discussion feat. Greig Andrew Nori, Christopher Ward & Occupy Toronto
The subject of the panel will be John Lennon and the Revolutionary Power Of Music.
Greig Andrew Nori is a producer and former frontman, lead vocalist and guitarist of the pop punk band Treble Charger. In the late 1990s he began working as a producer with Sum 41 and was its in-house producer and manager until 2004.
In 2007, Greig went back to the studio to produce for the pop punk bands Cauterize and Hedley, with their albums Disguises and Famous Last Words, respectively. More »
Nori is one of the heads of Bunk Rock Music, a Canadian artist management company. He manages bands including Gob, and Surplus Sons, and The New Cities. He is currently signed as producer by Nettwerk. Since 2008, Nori has been featured as the Musical Guru on the show DisBAND.
Christopher Ward has written songs for Diana Ross, Hilary Duff, Wynonna Judd, The Backstreet Boys, Meredith Brooks, Tina Arena, Amanda Marshall, Peter Cetera, Colin James, Roch Voisine and many others. His best-known song is the worldwide # 1 hit for Alannah Myles, 'Black Velvet', recently included in Bob Mersereau's book 'The Top 100 Canadian Singles'.
Previously, Ward was a member of the 'Second City Touring Company', based in Toronto. In 1984, as Canada's first 'VJ', he helped launch MuchMusic, where he interviewed artists as diverse as Paul McCartney, Neil Young, Peter Gabriel and Tina Turner.
In 2002, Ward was featured in 'Austin Powers—Goldmember' in the group Ming Tea, alongside Susanna Hoffs, Matthew Sweet and Mike Myers. Ward contributed more than 20 songs over four seasons to the soundtrack of the Epitome Pictures/ CTV hit series 'Instant Star'. His songs have been performed on 'Idol' shows around the world. American Idol 2010 runner-up Crystal Bowersox performed a version of 'Black Velvet' on the finale.
Recently, Ward was working with Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys on material for his new solo project. Four new Ward co-writes were debuted on the Degrassi Next Generation Hollywood feature. The second Degrassi feature, set in NYC, premiered in the U.S and Canada in July 2010 and contains 5 new Ward co-writes.
Ward can be seen as a judge on the Tricon Pictures hit show 'The Next Star' on YTV. Season 4 runs through September of 2011. The Cirque du Soleil extravaganza, 'Banana Shpeel', opened in November 2009 and featured several Ward co-writes.
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Derek ForgieComedian
When he's not entertaining the daily in-studio audiences at MTV Canada he somehow manages to balance a hardy diet of stand-up comedy, activism and popping up in the occasional television commercial/show. If you were to add up every time he's been a: warm-up act, DJ, comic, emcee, host, keynote speaker and actor, in front of a crowd, it adds up to a staggering 1800+ different audiences before the age of 30. Some of Derek's memorable activism efforts have been acknowledged by: Reddit.com, The David Suzuki Foundation, and The World Wildlife Fund.
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Occupy Wall Street— The Revolution Is Love
MINT is proud to host the theatrical world-premiere screening of Occupy Wall Street—The Revolution Is Love directed by Canadian Filmmaker Ian MacKenzie. The short film is being released as part of the feature documentary Occupy Love produced by Velcrow Ripper, Ian MacKenzie, Gregg Hill which will be released in 2012.
The Revolution Is Love shares the true heart of the Occupy movement, which is really the movement of humanity. We are waking up from the dream of Separation, from the old mythology that we are isolated beings in an indifferent universe. We are realizing that our economic system, while powerful, is entirely unsustainable. More »
And not only that, it is incapable of what we truly desire: a life of connection and meaning. Author Charles Eisenstein weaves a stunning tapestry that this revolution is not about defeating the "Other"—it's about waking up to the more beautiful world our hearts tell us is possible.
Director: Ian MacKenzie
Produced by: Velcrow Ripper, Ian MacKenzie, Gregg Hill
