After months of anticipation, the #Crazy8sFilms18 jury has selected the Top 6 projects out of a record 228 applications that will advance to production. Thank you again to everyone that applied!

First our video pitch jury, Bill Hurst, Karen Lam, Mathew Parry, Heath Affolter, Paul Armstrong, Stephanie Halber & Alicia Bernbaum selected the Top 42 to pitch in person out of the 228 applicants. Our in-person pitch jury, comprised of Amanda Tapping, Christine Haebler, Zach Lipovsky, Kaare Andrews, Sabrina Furminger and Lawrence Le Lam then narrowed this down to the Top 12 Semi-Finalists to advance to the script stage.

In mid-December they were paired with their story editors to hone their scripts. Many thanks to this year’s expert team of story editors: Ric Beairsto, Brian Casilio, Bill Hurst, Sara Graefe, Kat Montagu and Rudy Thauberger. The 12 Semi-Finalists then had until January 3 to get their final scripts in to the jury.

On Sunday our in-person pitch jury met to make their decisions. Again this year the scripts were all exceptional, and we want to congratulate all 12 Semi-Finalists for making it this far. But in the end there can only be 6 Finalists.

We are now pleased to introduce you to the 6 teams who will be making their short films in just 8 days starting on Feb 9 through Feb 16 through Crazy8s! Be sure to watch them at the Gala Screening February 24. Tickets go on sale early February!

In the meantime you can support the films getting made and the Gala screening by claiming great perks in our Crazy8s Annual Indiegogo Campaign.

Or by attending the 19th Anniversary Crazy8s DGC Fundraiser Screening at the RIO Theatre January 25 screening 8 classic Crazy8s films.

Here are the #Crazy8sFilms18 TOP 6 FILMS!

Bordered – Director & Writer Anaïsa Visser, Producers Darren Devlin & Marco Bososw

A US Border Patrol Officer apprehends two refugees fleeing the US into Canada and struggles against his duty and his haunted past.

CC – Director & Writer Kailey Spear & Sam Spear, Producer Natasha Wehn

After an AI nanny assaults her employer, an investigative team must determine what caused the attack.

Extra-Ordinary Amy – Director Christopher Graham, Writer Zlatina Pacheva, Producer Kris McRonney

In this fantastical tale, a young girl struggles with the loss of her parents in a freak accident but learns to embrace what she truly loves, dancing, and its chilling consequences.

Gemini – Director & Writer Mily Mumford, Producer Phil Planta & Mayumi Yoshida

In a very near future two VR gamers coincidentally meet in real life and through their interactions expose the dark side of virtual reality and gaming.

Shuttlecock – Director & Writer Melanie Jones, Story by Melanie Jones & Rhona Rees, Producer Kristyn Stilling, Associate Producer Amelia Morris

Washed-up badminton star Winnie will stop at nothing to reclaim her Olympic dreams by playing a match against her former rival while a video crew documents her desperate attempt to prove glory should have been hers.

Small Fish – Director & Writer Maxime Beauchamp, Producer Kent Donguines & Mackenzie Stannard

In a world where only the biggest fish in the sea survive, Laurie, an amateur painter, struggles with success as she finds herself becoming more and more like the tiny fish she puts to canvas.

Break a Leg to all the Teams!

The post Crazy8s 2018 Top 6 Finalists appeared first on Biz Books.

After much deliberation, here are the #Crazy8sFilms18 Top 12 who will advance to the script stage of the filmmaking competition.

Bob  – Director & Writer Graeme Achurch & Daniel Jeffery, Producer Geoff Manton

In a Twilight Zone-esque scenario, Bob awakes to discover his whole world is stuck operating backwards. But when the chronology of the film reverses, it’s revealed that Bob is the one who the world perceives as backwards

Bordered – Director & Writer Anaïsa Visser, Producers Darren Devlin & Marco Bossow

A US Border Patrol Officer apprehends two Syrian refugees fleeing the US into Canada and is forced to choose between his duty and his sense of compassion.

CC – Director & Writer Kailey Spear & Sam Spear, Producer Natasha Wehn

After an AI nanny attacks her employer, an investigative team must determine what caused the attack.

Defence – Director & Writer Hannah Drew, Producer Shiva Kashi

Alexa Wyatt is a good daughter, and an even better soccer player. But when her obligations to her family come into conflict with her duty to her team, and her best friend, Wyatt must decide where her loyalty and love truly lies.

Extra-Ordinary Amy – Director Christopher Graham, Writer Zlatina Pacheva, Producer Kris McRonney

A young girl who is unknowingly death incarnate must accept who she is in order to continue doing what she loves: dancing

Gemini – Director & Writer Mily Mumford, Producer Phil Planta

In a very near future two VR gamers coincidentally meet in real life and through their interactions expose the dark side of virtual reality and gaming.

How Did We Get Here? – Director & Writer Laura Adkin, Producers Lisa Durupt & Victoria Angell

In the wake of a young intern’s sexual assault and subsequent attempted suicide, the people around her must confront their own demons and realize the role that their inaction played in the tragedy.

Imperfect Harmony – Director Tricia Collins, Writer Jennifer Laporte

In a world where people turn into musical instruments instead of dying, a shy teenager discovers that she is turning into a cello, which might be her ticket to finally being accepted by her parents and peers.

The Jobs We Don’t Want – Director & Writer Larke Miller, Producer Justine Warrington

A reptilian shape-shifting alien, who’s lost everything after Pluto was stripped of planet status, winds up working on an organic walnut farm in Northern California.

My Blue Balloon – Director Trish Neufeld, Writer Steve Berry

In a palliative care unit with her mother, Sarah finds comfort in a shiny blue balloon floating on the ceiling. The balloon becomes a metaphor for healing when it unexpectedly comes back to Sarah in a different form.

Shuttlecock – Director & Writer Melanie Jones, Story by Melanie Jones & Rhona Rees

Washed-up badminton star Winnie will stop at nothing to reclaim her Olympic dreams by playing a match against her former rival while a video crew documents her desperate attempt to prove glory should have been hers.

Small Fish – Director & Writer Maxime Beauchamp, Producer Kent Donguines

In a world where only the biggest fish in the sea survive, Laurie, an amateur painter, struggles with success as she finds herself becoming more and more like the tiny fish she puts to canvas.

Congratulations again to all the Top 12! Top 6 Announced January 9, 2018.

The post Crazy8s 2018 Top 12 Announcement appeared first on Biz Books.

This year, Crazy8s hit a new record of 201 video pitches, and after reviewing them tirelessly over the past 2 weeks, the Pitch Jury unanimously decided to choose 42 film pitches to advance to the live-pitch stage!

The live pitches will be held November 25 & 26th, in front of a new jury of film and TV industry professionals. The Top 12 final pitches will then advance to the script stage, announced November 27th!

Here are the Crazy8s 2018 Top 42!

In alphabetical order by Film Title:

@Eloise – Director Jesse Boyko, Writers Jesse Boyko & Jenna Mae Diamante – SciFi

Black or Blue – Writer Murry Peeters – Drama

Bob – Directors Daniel Jeffery & Graeme Achurch, Writers Graeme Achurch & Daniel Jeffery, Producer Geoff Manton – SciFi / Comedy

Bordered – Director / Writer Anaïsa Visser – Drama

The Candy Bar War – Director / Writer David I. Strasser, Producer Jessica Randall and Graem Luis – Historical Drama

Cat in the Postman’s Bag – Director Kaio Kathriner, Writer Tom Malenica – Comedy

CC – Directors / Writers Kailey Spear & Sam Spear, Producer Natasha Wehn – SciFi / Drama

Cherry Blossoms in March – Director / Writer Riley Rheyan, Producer Thomas Emann – Art House / Drama

Cloaks and Daggers – Directors Kristina Hampton & Jordan Dueck, Writer Kristina Hampton, Producer Jonathan Chawla – Drama

The Companion – Director / Writer Michelle Brezinski – Comedy

Concrete – Director / Writer Milton Ng – Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Comedy

Dazzle Ships – Director Kristyn Stilling, Writer Jasmine Pullukatt & Kristyn Stilling, Producer Jasmine Pullukatt – Comedy

Defence – Director / Writer Hannah Drew – Drama

Extra-Ordinary Amy – Director Christopher Graham, Writer Zlatina Pacheva, Producer Kris McRonney – Dark Comedy / Horror

Film-Making The Musical – Director Ed Witzke, Writers Ed Witzke & Matt Ewart, Producer Ed Witzke & Matt Ewart – Musical

The Future of Me – Director Ray Raghavan, Writer Ray Raghavan, Producer Haydn Wazelle – SciFi / Drama

Gemini – Director / Writer Mily Mumford, Producer Phillip Planta – SciFi

Girl – Director Kathleen Mann, Writer Alison Brierley, Producer Alison Brierley, Producer Kathleen Mann – Drama

Girlship – Director Lucie Guest, Writer Lucie Guest, Producer Synnöve Godeseth – Comedy

The Hermit’s Couplet – Director Alex Miro, Writer Alex Miro, Producer Stefania Indelicato & Amanda Konkin – Comedy

Hero Singh – Director / Writer Jasleen Kaur – Comedy / Drama

How Did We Get Here? – Director / Writer Laura Adkin, Producers Lisa Durupt & Victoria Angell – Drama

Imperfect Harmony – Writer Jennifer Laporte – coming of age fantasy

The Jobs We Don’t Want – Director Larke Miller, Writer Larke Miller, Producer Justine Warrington – SciFi / RomCom

The Long Halloween – Director Akash Motwani, Writer Akash Motwani, Producer Satinder Dhillon – Drama

Long Way Down – Director/Writer Michael P. Vidler – Drama

My Blue Balloon – Director Trish Neufeld, Writer Steve Berry, Producers TBC – Drama

My Life with John Paul II – Director Ricardo Plaza, Writer Ricardo Plaza & Bobby Gorman, Producer Ryan Silva & Bobby Gorman – Comedy

Nut-Cracker – Director, Writer Jennifer Nicole Stang – Action / Comedy

OCD: Obsessive Christmas Disorder – Director Ellie Harvie, Writers Brenda Whitehall & Lynda Finch – Comedy

The OOO Block – Director Erik Horn, Writer Erik Horn, Producer Amanda Verhagen – Comedy

Power – Director / Writer Crystal Lowe, Producers Ashley Alexander & Phil Planta – Drama

(?) Questioning – Director Harrison Houde, Writer Kim Chinchilla, Producer Kimi Alexander – Dramedy

Shuttlecock – Director / Writer Melanie Jones, Lead Actor Rhona Rees – Comedy

Small Fish – Director / Writer Maxime Beauchamp, Producer Kent Donguines – Visual Drama

Sophie in the Mirror – Director Greg Melanson, Writer Ren Kennedy, Producer Nadia DiMofte – Drama

Sparks! – Director Hayley Gray, Writers Hayley Gray & David Chin, Producer David Chin & Tina Korki – Comedy

Suburban Desert – Director Shelby Wilson, Writers Shelby Wilson & Matt Seeley, Producer Justin MacGregor & Matt Seeley.- Action Thriller

Take Shelter – Director / Writer Jesse Pickett, Co-Producers Kathleen Mann & Brigitte Patenaude – Post-Apocalyptic

The Traveler – Director / Writer Kay Metchie, Producers Valerie Lopez & Hannah Kess – Action / Thriller

Vivid – Directors / Writers Athena Russell & Tiarra Sulyk, Producers Athena Russell & Tiarra Sulyk – Drama / Fantasy

Waiting for Ganesh – Director / Writer Jacques Lalonde, Producer Arun Fryer & Pat Bermel – Musical Comedy

Break a leg to all the filmmakers!

Meet the #Crazy8sFilms18 Top 12 in person at the Raindance Booze N’Schmooze – 7pm-10pm on Monday, November 27th at the Blarney Stone.

The post Crazy8s 2018 Top 42 Announcement appeared first on Biz Books.

It is two generations into the future. What is left of humanity survives in space stations in orbit around our planet. Interstellar travel is not yet possible and Earth is uninhabitable. A misfit group of college students of the “post script” generation—the first to be born in space—bond over their shared anxieties and a desire to reconcile what happened to the rest of their species.

Artistic Team: Director Mily Mumford
Featuring Main Cast Douglas Ennenberg, Xander Williams, Bailey Soleil Creed, Levi Schneider, Ming Hudson
Holograms Played by Amitai Marmostein, Nina Boosheri, Jay Clift, Luc D’lppolito
Sound Designer CJ McGillivray
Lighting Designer/Technical Director Kougar Basi
Projection Designer Cameron Fraser
Makeup Designer Kelsey Zimmerman
Makeup Consultant Cheyenne Mabberley
Stage Management Samantha Pawliuk
Assistant Stage Manager Nico Dicecco
Production Assistant Hannah Rose Brearley
Production Design Mily Mumford

When: April 11th Preview at 8pm, April 12th-14th at 8pm, April 15th and 16th shows at 2pm and 8pm.

Where: Studio 1398 (1398 Cartwright St.)

For tickets, please visit TheatreWire.com.

Recommended Reading The Perfect Stage Crew
2nd Edition Click a cover for more details Empire of the Son Ignite: Illuminating Theatre
For Young People

The post Generation Post-Script appeared first on Biz Books.

With the ninth edition of the 1-Act Festival set to open on May 26th, we spoke to Nicole “Coco” Roberge about what to expect from the festival as well as her own personal viewpoints on the theatre community.

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Can you start by telling us a little bit about you and SHIFT Theatre?

Sure! I grew up just east of Vancouver and went to school in the most westerly French community in Canada: tiny Maillardville. After extended stays in Victoria and in NYC, I now live in East Van with my boyfriend Desmond and our rescue cat Jason. I’ve been lucky to build a diverse career, but currently I am a high school drama teacher by day and SHIFT’s Artistic Director the rest of the time! SHIFT was founded in 2008 by some passionate former students. Life circled back in awesome irony when the opportunity to steer the ship myself came up in early 2015. SHIFT works project to project as an ad-hoc collective committed to honest, resonant live performance, accessible platforms for activating new works, and a workshop series that brings audiences and artists closer together. This is a good time to thank our creative Board of Directors, and founding A.D. Nick Sartore.

Recommended Reading The Perfect Stage Crew
2nd Edition Click a cover for more details Empire of the Son Ignite: Illuminating Theatre
For Young People

The 1-Act Festival is arriving on May 26^th. How did the festival get started and who is involved this year?

This is the 9th annual festival and I am thrilled about its scope! In our new digs at the Firehall Arts Centre, we’ve re-imagined and re-invigorated this signature event. Through an open submission process, the Festival Jury sifted through 20 applications and a strong theme emerged: empowered women and empowering words. As a feminist and educator, I am thrilled to re-frame this year’s festival as female-focused and community-linked; we’ve got a giving campaign benefitting the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre (DEWC) and we’ve partnered with some like-minded organizations like Karma Teachers yoga studio. The four firecracker playwright/performers involved are Stephanie Izsak, Mily Mumford, Keara Barnes and Bailey Soleil Creed. We’ve curated musical guests for pre AND post-shows; we’re offering a Festival Workshop in energizing Ecstatic Yoga and I’m running our first Festival Reading featuring two brand new plays set in the Downtown Eastside, featuring under-represented women. Donna Spencer, A.D. at the Firehall, has been supportive and encouraging; Festival Production Manager/Coordinator Anthony Liam Kearns is a dream to work with, and our neighbourhood partners have stepped up with door prizes to celebrate anyone who donates to DEWC at any one of our shows. Producing this festival is A LOT of work, and involves turning multiple wheels simultaneously, but it’s shaping up well and I can hardly wait to open.

See you there: May 26, 8pm curtain; May 27 at 2pm and 8pm; May 28, workshop at noon, reading at 3pm, closing night performances at 8pm.  Stick around, hear some music and get into the dialogue!

What can audiences expect from the festival?

We hope to provoke thought, entertain, and continue ally-making. The festival shows will appeal to everybody who likes a good story, and who enjoys life’s Big Questions wrapped in dark comedy.

You’re the Artistic Director of SHIFT Theatre. How would you describe your artistic vision for the organization?

When I read “artistic vision” my first instinct is to describe visually. My favourite metaphor for what I’m working at with SHIFT is a web: I’m a biped web-weaver.

Or a diving board! I want to help build the platforms from which emerging and innovative artists can leap, and soar.

What inspired you to become involved in theatre?

It’s innate, I suppose; my parents remember me performing even as an infant. I am captivated by the self-actualization, the physical and social awareness and creative problem solving skills developed through theatre-making. I love that theatre insists upon liveness, upon community, upon communing.

Theatre persists. I think that’s so cool.

I love movies too! A good story is hard to beat, and the intimacy with which film can invest in those stories is fantastic.

From your standpoint, what do you think are the three most important elements for a strong script?

Speaking from my honest, personal standpoint, it’s got to be do-able on a limited budget! A good script offers a distinct arc, a journey, if not for the characters directly then for the audience. My favourite scripts are believable, but not necessarily realistic; they resonate in the minds, hearts, memories of audiences because a character, or a guiding force in the play, feels familiar without pandering.

What is the biggest challenge facing the Canadian theatre industry today and what steps do you take to deal with it?

Oh man, I can’t speak for an industry. What I can do is make space, build a web, and find an audience, for some of the MANY talented and innovative voices on the West Coast.  With SHIFT I’m also taking steps to deal with inequity and under-representation on Canadian stages, for women.

What books, and authors have been influential in your career so far?

Professor/Author Juliana Saxton first piqued my interest, at UVic, in theatre as a tool for social change; New York University’s Performance Studies founder Richard Schechner convinced me that I could be a scholar and a practitioner, a throw-back and an innovator. Max Wyman’s The Defiant Imagination re-rooted me a number of times; Twyla Tharp’s The Creative Habit and Anna Halprin’s Moving Toward Life fuel my philosophy about embodied learning. Most recently, though I have little time to read, I’ve loved Tina Fey’s Bossypants, Tom Yorton’s Yes And, and Show Your Work by Austin Kleon.

What other projects are you involved with at the moment?

SHIFT is cooking up some truly titillating stuff for next season, including our 10th annual 1-Act Festival, and I’ve got grants to write! Some very special students with whom I’ve built a solid bond and produced hype versions of Urinetown, In The Heights, Anything Goes, are graduating this June, as they do. I’ll miss them. Des and I are headed to the Caribbean in July to chill the f$%& out for a minute. I’m writing a book with my dad, but he doesn’t know it yet. I’m helping to plan a reunion for Theatrix Youth Theatre alumni on July 30th; this Tri-Cities organization has been offering a creative alternative for suburban youth for 25 years. In August, I lead a circus camp near Edmonton called Under the Big Top with an awesome team of international circus artists; we build a show featuring 125 kids. I’m working on keeping my car parked on the weekends, using my purple cruiser to get around.

Y’know, the usual.

Where can we find out more about you, SHIFT Theatre, and the 1-Act Festival?

SHIFT your perspective at SHIFTtheatre.ca! Follow us on Facebook at SHIFT Theatre and on Twitter at @SHIFTtheatre.

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Thanks to Nicole “Coco” Roberge for speaking with us!

Check out the SHIFT 1-Act Festival at the Firehall Arts Centre from May 26th to May 28th. Visit SHIFTtheatre.ca for more information. Tickets are available from FireHallArtsCentre.ca

The post The Biz Interview: Nicole “Coco” Roberge appeared first on Biz Books.