Although filmmakers are finding the Alberta government’s coffers have hit a dry spell, the Alberta Motion Picture Industry Association (AMPIA) continues to flag the cream of the industry’s crop.
On Wednesday, April 21, AMPIA announced the finalists for the 36th annual Rosie Awards — Alberta’s answer to the Oscars — a tribute that honours the achievements of the film and television industry.
Once again three St. Albert connected creative artists have been cited. Director Ron E. Scott, founder of Prairie Dog Film and Television and multiple award-winner, was nominated in four categories including best director. Singled out were Mixed Blessings, a series about a blended Aboriginal family and Blackstone, a one-hour television pilot about corrupt politics on a First Nations reserve.
Once again, Bellerose graduate Mark Haroun was nominated in the Best Screenwriter Drama Over 30 category for his script of CBC Heartland’s The Haunting of Hanley Barn. Last year he scooped the hardware for another Heartland episode, Summer’s End.
And finally former St. Albert Children’s Theatre alumna Bridget Ryan of Citytv received a nomination as Best TV Host for her work on BT on the Roof.
The gala ceremony will be held at the Edmonton Expo Centre at Northlands on Saturday, May 15. The red carpet is at 4:30 p.m., show at 6 p.m. Tickets cost between $85 and $185. To download a ticket form, visit www.ampia.org.
Former St. Albert bassist Kevin Kasper once again teams up with Don Lonsdale and the Ramifications on Sunday for the release of Video Audio Spiritual, a CD with an organic rock approach.
Lonsdale is a former singer/songwriter for Jets to Theory, an alternative rock band that had moderate national success before it dissipated.
Working with producer Ian Martin and Teddy Borowiecki, formerly a k.d. lang band and studio musician, Lonsdale has created a throwback pop-rock sound he likens to Kings of Leon, Audioslave and David Bowie.
Of Kasper, Lonsdale says, “He’s a monster bass player. Kevin is a gentle soul. He’s very creative and his technical ability is unmatched.”
The release party’s opening act is Light Travels, a melodic mix of pop melodies. The CD release is at The Artery, 9535 Jasper Ave. at 8 p.m.
Andrew White, known as Edmonton’s “sound guy” for the past three decades, is getting out from behind the equipment to perform under the lights at Ammar’s Tuesday Night Open Stage. “I don’t know why he isn’t fronting a band due to his powerful soulful voice,” says co-host Mark Ammar.
Joining him is St. Albert resident Paul Finn, a diligent blues man “with a really cool tone in his sound.” The open stage jam is at LB’s Pub on Tuesday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. No cover charge.
This coming Sunday, the senior and intermediate musicians of the Edmonton Youth Orchestra (EYO) get ready to perform their season closer at the Winspear Centre. This concert is also part of the Thelma Johannes O’Neill Memorial Concert, a special event that features the winners of the 29th Northern Albert Concerto Competition.
The competition winners are soloist Kendra Connor singing Leonard Bernstein’s Glitter and Be Gay; pianist Peter Krejcar playing Franz Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1, and pianist Sarah Xue performing Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Piano Concerto in D Minor.
St. Albert’s own Michael Massey also conducts the EYO’s150 young musicians in Dimitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5, a popular four-movement orchestral work the Russian composer wrote that resonated deeply with a grieving population.
The concert starts at 2 p.m. The Winspear Centre is at 4 Sir Winston Churchill Square. Ticket prices are $15 for adults and $10 for students/seniors and are available by calling 780-420-1757, visiting www.tixonthesquare.ca or at the door.
