Heyerdahl and Herman
Vancouver actor Christopher Heyerdahl has made a career playing vampires (The Twilight Saga), conflicted immortals (Sanctuary), and twisted baddies (Hell on Wheels), but he leapt at the opportunity to attempt a wholly different kind of role in the upcoming Pee-wee’s Big Holiday.
The made-for-streaming film follows Pee-wee Herman – Paul Reubens’ bowtie-wearing man-child from 1980s Saturday morning TV staple Pee-wee’s Playhouse – as he ventures into the world for his first real holiday.
Heyerdahl plays Ezekiel. “He’s a very gentle, beautiful character, much like the world of Pee-wee Herman,” Heyerdahl told Reel People on the red carpet at the Leo Awards.
“He is such a childish, impetuous character, and it was wonderful to work with Paul [Reubens],” said Heyerdahl, who took home the Leo Award for Supporting Performance by a Male in a Motion Picture for his scene-stealing turn in Eadweard. “I’m a huge fan, so having an opportunity to work with him – just to audition for him – was a blast.”
The Pee-wee Herman reboot – directed by John Lee and co-produced by Judd Apatow – will debut on Netflix in early 2016. Before that, Heyerdahl will reprise his role as The Swede in the fifth season of AMC’s Hell on Wheels.
Taking My Parents to Burning Man
A locally produced film about an unforgettable journey to Burning Man comes home to Vancouver this month.
Taking My Parents to Burning Man follows Vancouver-based multimedia performer Bryant "Spry Bry" Boesen (who also co-directed and co-produced the doc) as he drags his newly retired parents to Burning Man.
For the uninitiated, the progressive weeklong arts and culture festival is held annually in the Nevada desert. It’s notorious for dust, destruction, and debauchery: not exactly qualities that scream “heartfelt family bonding,” and yet, that’s – well, no spoilers here. Suffice it to say, the Leo Award nominee is one helluva coming-of-age story.
Taking My Parents to Burning Man screens at the Rio Theatre on July 12. Tickets at RioTheatre.com.
Peter Benson nets two Canadian Comedy Award nominations
Peter Benson might play the titular dummy in What an Idiot, but he’s getting recognition befitting a real-world smart guy.
Nominees for the 16th Annual Canadian Comedy Awards were announced last week, and the Vancouver-based actor-director is up for Best Writing and Best Director nods for his work on What an Idiot, in which his character pretends to be gay in order to bond with the woman of his dreams (played by Benson’s real-life wife, Julia Benson).
Next up for director Benson is Marrying the Family. The wedding-centric comedy features a wealth of Vancouver talent, including Taylor Hill (who also wrote the screenplay), Adam DiMarco, Anne Marie DeLuise, Nicholas Carella, Nicole Oliver, and the Bensons.
Other Vancouverites up for Canadian Comedy Awards include David Milchard (Convos with my 2-year-old), Gabrielle Miller (Corner Gas), Brent Butt (Corner Gas), Ellie Harvie (Some Assembly Required), and Jill Morrison (Package Deal).
The Canadian Comedy Awards will be handed out in Toronto on September 13.
Lawrence & Holloman goes to America
A Vancouver bromedy about a battle of wills between an ever-optimistic suit salesman and a cynical credit collector is going where few locally produced films ever go: south of the border.
Lawrence & Holloman – the award-winning indie flick starring Daniel Arnold and Ben Cotton and directed by Matthew Kowalchuk – has been picked up by American distributor 108 Media Corp and will begin its American theatrical run in Los Angeles on Aug. 7.
Based on a play by two-time Governor General Award-winning Canadian playwright Morris Panych, the feature has won 13 jury awards on the festival circuit and received theatrical releases in Toronto, Vancouver, and Edmonton.
Beginning Aug. 11, Americans will be able to buy it from iTunes, Amazon, Xbox, Vudu, and GooglePlay.
In Canada, you can catch Lawrence & Holloman on the Superchannel, or order your own DVD copy at LawrenceAndHolloman.com.
VIFF wants you
The Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) is looking for volunteers to help out with the upcoming festival. The 2015 edition runs Sept. 24-Oct. 9, and with 600 screenings, numerous Q&A Sessions, the VIFF Industry Conference, and several signature galas), they could sure use some help. Register at VIFF.org/volunteer-at-viff.
Kindergarten, Da Bin Ich Wieder
Also looking for some help: a Crazy8s film with sights set on the festival circuit.
Aubrey Arnason and Kalyn Miles (and a team of volunteers) created Kindergarten, Da Bin Ich Wieder as part of this year’s Crazy8s (an annual creative pressure cooker in which filmmaking teams shoot and picture-lock a short film in eight days).
Now, they’re crowd-funding in order to submit the film – about a grown woman forced to return to kindergarten – to film festivals around the globe. It’s a costly venture, and they’re inviting supporting cinephiles to kickstart – erm, IndieGoGo – the journey. More at IndieGoGo.com
A reel tip…
Ever drive by an active film set and wonder what’s shooting? Creative BC maintains a list on their website of film and TV productions that are shooting or about to shoot. The list is updated weekly. Check it out at CreativeBC.com
