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NEWS FOR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9TH 2017
Hosted by Patricia Petit Liang
Stories by Patricia Petit Liang
Produced by Patricia Petit Liang
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LOCAL
By Patricia Petit Liang
22 people died in vehicle collisions on Quebec's highways during this summer's construction holidays.
According CTV News, the accidents that took place this summer are the deadliest ever recorded.
The majority of the deaths were caused by speeding and drunk driving.
NATIONAL
By Patricia Petit Liang
Community advocates are concerned that refugees are being tricked into coming to Canada with the promise of finding easy asylum.
According to CTV News, although Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed that Canada has the capacity to process an increasing number of refugees, more than half of all asylum seekers are turned away from the country.
Refugee claims in the province of Quebec have risen from 50 to 150 requests a day over the last several weeks.
INTERNATIONAL
By Patricia Petit Liang
An earthquake in China killed more than 100 people and injured hundreds of others on Tuesday.
According to Reuters, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck China's Southern province of Sichuan, destroying hundreds and thousands of homes.
More than 80,000 people lost their lives in Sichuan during a similar earthquake in 2008.
NEWS FOR MONDAY, AUGUST 7TH 2017
Hosted by Patricia Petit Liang
Stories by Karl Knox and Patricia Petit Liang
Produced by Patricia Petit Liang
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LOCAL
By Karl Knox
Many are uncertain if the new measures introduced to ensure the safety of women attending Osheaga this weekend were helpful.
According to CBC News, officials announced in July that a new group of mobile security teams called The Hirondelles would be present at the festival to help women and those who feel vulnerable.
Festival-goers have reported that The Hirondelles’ services were unclear as their kiosks had French only signs.
These new measures were implemented at Osheaga after a woman last year had her drink spiked and received no assistance from security.
NATIONAL
By Patricia Petit Liang
A series of thefts and the destruction of firefighting equipment have made it more difficult for the BC Wildfire Service to battle aggressive fires across the province.
According to CTV News, a water pump and 10 hoses were stolen from firefighting crews at the beginning of August.
27 evacuation orders have been made around British Columbia and the province has been under a state of emergency since July 7th.
INTERNATIONAL
By Patricia Petit Liang
2 soldiers have been killed and 8 others were arrested for attempting to launch an uprising against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Sunday.
According to Reuters, the attack was motivated by government corruption and the killings of several citizens during anti-government protests.
Maduro's newly inaugurated assembly immediately voted to fire Chief Prosecutor and major critic of President Maduro Luisa Ortega on Saturday and has the power to rewrite the country's constitution and ignore the opposition-controlled National Assembly.
Fantasia 2017: Week 2 - The Midnight Run
The start of the second week of the Fantasia Film Festival, brings in the rhythmic pacing of trying to squeeze in as many movies as you can. This is not the final marathon, however I have tried my best to map out my run with screeners and theatre viewings. The theatre viewings are varied between the Fantasia setting, and the big multiplex for the big releases. As previously stated, I would like to see most of the documentary films that the festival has to offer as a core concentration.
Nothing feels better then starting the midnight run with a dark action thriller from Denmark, Darkland. Director Fenar Ahmad captures the same tone and pulsations of a Nicolas Widing Refn action thriller. When Zaid's (Dar Salim) brother Yasin is murdered by a group of gangsters, Zaid is drawn back into his family and the dark underworld. The dramatic tension about the European Muslim identity is well juxtaposed in this film and the action never misses a pulsating heartbeat.
Next I settled on a gothic horror film from Italy, The Laplace Demon. Shot in black and white, an ode to the vintage horror thrillers, the film focuses on a group of researchers who are brought to a castle on an island. A dark and stormy night with a mysterious figure communicates to the guests through a video tape cassette. There is a recreated set of the mansion with all of the researchers as pawns, and the mysterious figure, the queen, in a literal game of chess. This soon becomes a game of cat and mouse where the researchers must outlive, outplay and outlast this live action game of chess. Not to ruin the ending, but it has a great surprise for the audience members that is reminiscent of an episode of The Twilight Zone, in this perfect homage to the gothic horror genre aesthetic.
The last film you would expect me to watch at the festival would be Drib from director Kris Borgli. Its blend of both documentary and Cinéma Vérité used to create this true story film enticed me. Amir Asgharnejad is a performance artist that never shy's away from provocation, which include him getting beaten up. So the story follows an energy drink company, Drib, which caught the attention of these staged antics and wanted Amir to be the spokesperson. The rest is told in a humorous satiric story that Kris Brogli films, and the only condition is that Amir plays himself. At times, this film is a dramatized account, but when there is a cut the essence of Cinéma Vérité that borders on documentary takes over as the film takes a dark satirical look at the Los Angeles marketing scene.
I should let everyone know now that I have never seen Terminator 2: Judgement Day from director James Cameron. The festival provided a great advantage by having the North American Premiere of TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY 3D in all its epic beauty and beautifully restored in 4K (HD) glory on the big screen in the hall theatre. The crowd went wild for this one, and with good reason. This film is the pure definition of a cult science-fiction action film, that stared notable action star Arnold Schwarzenegger as a Terminator sent back in time to protect John Connor. Even though this is nothing compared to today's use of CGI or Cameron's other works, the film pushed cinematic boundaries at the time for its use of special effects technology. It is being released this year to wide spread theatres for its 25th anniversary.
Liberation Day from directors Ugis Olte & Morten Traavik has to be one of the most fascinating and entraining documentaries screening at the festival. The guerrilla-style documentary does not shy away from its main focus of shining a light on North Korea, a subject that is rarely seen of film. The other stars are Laibach, a controversial rock band from Slovenia, that are known as Slovenian metal-industrial provocateurs. When you get these two controversial subjects in the same documentary, you are going to see some great made for documentary film moments, where both sides face challenges in order to put on a rock concert in less than 2 days. Tensions will flare as we see the North Korea suppression mechanism at all times, and you will be entertained as Laibach re-interprets the greatest hits from The Sound of Music. Nothing can prepare your ears for it.
Geek Girls from director Gina Hara is a documentary that explores geek culture from the female perspective. Even though it is thought to be a marginalized society as compared to the male predominance, Hara proves that women have an important role geek subculture. There are various voices that are heard from ranging from Hara's trip to Japan, and North America. The interviews provide context to find out what empowers the culture, why it is so secretive to be part of the subculture, but also sheds a light on some of the issues that plague the culture and how the issues can be better resolved. Geek Girls makes its premiere at Fantasia July 30th, a film that will make your inner geek come out.
Abu from director Arshad Khan has to be the most personally honest and poetic documentaries this year at the festival. It can be seen from the image I have chosen how you both see the Father scene (Abu) crossfading into his son's (Arshad) scene. The documentary includes home video footage, one on one interviews and animated shorts in order to tell this emotionally raw story about tradition and modernity in conflict with one another. Khan tells the story about finding his own sexual identity, while facing his father whose western culture ideologies were becoming more radicalized traditional ideologies as he converted to Islam. This was also the time that the family had decided to move from Pakistan to Mississauga, Ontario, where not only did Khan have to deal with his own family, but also the issues he faced trying to integrate into Western culture ideologies, that were different from when he was living in Pakistan. A raw and honest documentary about a father and son relationship has never been seen so up close in documentary from, than through the lenses of Khan's story and movie.
That is all for this week. As much as I wanted to hit up the multiplex theatres for Atomic Blonde and Valerian it will have to wait until next week. With this last week of the festival on the way I want to wish everyone a good week at the movies. Bon cinéma!
Remi's Fantasia 2017 full selection list
Follow Remi's Film Viewings
Follow Fantasia film reviews as they happen!
Lakes of Canada Come Out of Hiding to Play Osheaga Opening Party
Montreal’s own Lakes of Canada have been on a bit of a hiatus lately. After months on the road, Jake, Conor, Sarah and Caleb have been in the realm of the musician’s existence that privileges long days in the studio over long nights playing to noisy rooms. Luckily for us though, an offer to play a slot at the opening party of one of their favourite festivals coaxed them out of seclusion.
Looking forward to the show, three of the band’s four members sat down on a sunny terrace in Mile-Ex to tell me a bit about what they’ve been working on, making ends meet as an artist, and climate change. We also talked about how to prepare artichokes, why women should rule the world, and even gave their bassist a new nickname.
Jake, Caleb and I got things started with a round of cherry sours and an quick culinary lesson on the mysterious artichoke. Apparently a man of many talents, Jake explains that you simply steam them whole, dip the leaves individually in butter, and are rewarded by the succulent heart. Brilliant in its simplicity. Thank you, Jake.
Shortly after, Conor arrived and then we got down to business. Right off the bat the guys were discussing a new (and for the time being, secret) deal with Netflix. It’s a project they got through a partnership with Third Side Music. The band has been supplementing their revenue through projects with the synchronization licensing & copyright administration company since last April, and it’s helped make music a viable full-time career. “The band has a lot more income than we’re used to,” Jake explains. “It’s the only way musicians are making money these days.”
It’s a pretty straightforward process that provides musicians with projects, so they can benefit from royalty cheques and keep thing afloat financially. As Conor puts it, “As long as were forced to live under capitalist restraints, money is something I’d like to have.”
Not to say they don’t work hard for this; all multi-instrumental musicians, these guys take what they do seriously and are always looking to push the boundaries of what they can accomplish as a group. When asked how he ended up playing lead guitar line and a drum beat at the same time, Conor responds that when Jake asked if he could do it in rehearsal, he said, “I don’t know, I’ll try.” Long story short, he can and he does.
Caleb, the newest member of the group, is also a multi-instrumental talent, with a “puppy-dog” quality and a penchant for gas prices; the new bassist’s boyish charm lends a degree of levity to the group. The youngest member, he has already had an entertaining rotation of nicknames. From “new buddy” to “full-man puppy,” his latest moniker, inspired by a road trip pastime and an attempt to assert dominance, will remain known only to myself and the band.
Returning to business, I asked about whether they pursued providing the music for the hit series, The Handmaid’s Tale, a TV show based on the same Margaret Atwood novel from which their second album, Transgressions, draws inspiration. They explained that there were negotiations, but that ultimately the show’s creators wanted to go with all female musicians. It was a decision well respected by the band and that prompted Jake to go on a charming rant about how he can’t believe how women still don’t rule the world.
He also said he loved the series, what he felt to be a solid adaptation of the book that had such a big impact on him. Speaking of how Atwood and other speculative-fiction writers are becoming increasingly relevant, Jake notes that “it’s crazy because we are closer to that reality than when I read it, let alone when she wrote it. It’s really terrifying.” Mentioning the #letsmargaretatwoodfictionagain hashtag, the guys all agreed that now is the time to take action.
Which lead us to the topic of their new album: climate change. Although this album isn’t based on a specific work and draws its inspiration from a larger pool, Jake states that science and speculative fiction continues to inform his song writing. Noting Octavia E. Butler, Ursula K. Le Guin and others among his influences, the album is an attempt to confront the reality of our times and imagine an alternative future.
Despite its looming inescapability, climate change is a notoriously tough topic to tackle creatively. It’s an ambitious task and the band has been working hard to bring their vision to life. Formally trained musicians with an appreciation for the narrative and storytelling capacity of songwriting and performance, this band clearly has lots to say and we can expect to continue seeing them come up with inventive ways to say it. Come hear what they’ve been working on this Thursday at Divan Orange, and get a taste of the dystopian instrumental panoply that only Lakes of Canada can create.
NEWS FOR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2ND 2017
Hosted by Patricia Petit Liang
Stories by Allison O'Reilly and Patricia Petit Liang
Produced by Patricia Petit Liang
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LOCAL
By Patricia Petit Liang
Kanesatake Mohawks protested construction on their territory on Tuesday.
According to CTV News, the province of Quebec cut down several trees and began building houses and hydro poles next to The Pines: the territory where the 1990 Oka Crisis took place.
Mohawk activist Ellen Gabriel and other protesters marched through the housing development and will continue to speak out until justice is served.
NATIONAL
By Allison O’Reilly
Officials from the city of Thunder Bay, Fort William First Nation, and the Nishnawbe Aski Nation signed a document on Tuesday pledging to make the city a more welcoming and accepting place for First Nations students and families.
According to CBC News, the Statement of Commitment to First Nation Youth and Families is a response to a call from Grand Chief of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation Alvin Fiddler over the issue of student safety in the city.
In July, Fiddler asked to declare a state of emergency in Thunder Bay, in response to the killings of 7 Indigenous students since 2000.
INTERNATIONAL
By Patricia Petit Liang
A suicide attack on a mosque in the Afghan city of Herat killed more than 29 people and hurt 64 others on Tuesday.
According to Reuters, more than 1,700 civilians have been killed in Afghanistan since the beginning of the year.
This tragedy comes after another attack took place on a 12th century mosque 2 months ago.
The Hillside Music Festival in Pictures
01. Happy Hillside is a common greeting at the festival.
The thirty-fourth edition of Hillside Music Festival took place over the July 16th weekend. Taking place over three days in the scenic Guelph Island Lake, this edition of the festival holds up with the best acts and lives up to its history of over thirty years. The theme this year at Hillside was resistance.
It is through resistance that we can build stronger communities and stronger bonds. We must resist the lines of thinking that tell us to separate ourselves along gender or racial lines, or that tell us we’re too different to get along.
The artists leading the resistance charge were Leonard Sumner, prominent in the Idle No More movement, the long-time hero of the working man Billy Bragg, and closing the festival was the environmental warrior Xavier Rudd. Not to think that it was all politics: there were plenty of bands that got people up and dancing, like the Los Angeles band Les Cafeteras and bluegrass pickers Murder Murder. CJLO’s hometown of Montreal was represented by The Barr Brothers, The Franklin Electric, Lisa LeBlanc and Coeur de pirate.
02. Ron Hawkins of the Toronto band The Lowest of the Low belts out the tunes. Lawrence Nichols on harmonica.
03. Idle No More activist Leonard Sumner.
04. One crowded tent for the Hillside Bluegrass Jam featuring The Blurry Pickers and Murder Murder.
05. The Barr Brothers sharing at the microphone.
06. Jasmyn Burke of the Weaves.
07. A packed tent for Billy Bragg and friends during the “Stop, Hey, What’s That Sound” protest song workshop.
08. Members of Las Cafeterias putting on the moves during the Richie Valens classic blowout “La Bamba.”
09. John Matte of the Montreal band The Franklin Electric.
10. Halifax’s indie pop band Century Egg was one of the many pleasant surprises at the festival.
11. Francophone singer Klô Pelgag and her band.
12. Crowd surfing at a folk festival? Why not!
13. Billy Bragg and Joe Henry at the main stage.
14. One of many anonymous volunteers that make Hillside Festival possible.
15. Lisa LeBlanc having fun.
16. Murder Murder took no prisoners.
17. Returning to the festival, Canadian country singer Lindi Ortega.
18. Xavier Rudd closed out the festival with a stunning performance.
19. Coeur de pirate on the main stage Saturday night.
20. Closing blowout brought to you by Weaves.
NEWS FOR MONDAY, JULY 31ST 2017
Hosted by Patricia Petit Liang
Stories by Karl Knox, Jeremiah Ho and Allison O'Reilly
Produced by Patricia Petit Liang
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LOCAL
By Allison O’Reilly
A Montreal taxi driver had his license revoked, more than a year after complaints were made about his behavior.
According to CBC News, Ben Romdhane Lotfi was arrested by Montreal police in November and was charged with 3 counts of sexual assault.
The Transport Commission ruled last Friday that Lofti could no longer drive a cab, stating that his actions were “not justifiable.”
NATIONAL
By Jeremiah Ho
Ada Lockridge of the Aamjiwnaang First Nation is taking Ontario to court over the province’s failure to conduct an air quality review that it promised to do 8 years ago.
According to CTV News, the Ministry of Environment agreed to review air pollution regulation by industrial facilities around the community in 2009.
Industrial sources of pollution are located directly across the Aamjiwnaang reserve and are believed to be a danger to the community.
INTERNATIONAL
By Karl Knox
Venezuela's election of a new assembly ended with the deaths of more than 10 people, including an election candidate and an opposition youth activist.
According to BBC News, the new assembly was elected so that President Nicolás Maduro’s government could rewrite the constitution and override Venezuela's congress.
Protests continued on Sunday despite being banned across the country and will continue for the rest of this week.
Venezuela, a major oil producer and the country that holds the world's largest reserves of crude oil, has been gripped by political conflict since 2014, with soaring inflation and daily food shortages.
The Collective - Panels & Performances
This is CJLO's second event on mental health awareness!
Due to the success of the first event we are back with more performances and a special panel discussion on mental health. Join us August 15th, 8pm at Le Divan Orange as we create space for people of all abilities to express their experiences with and engage with others about mental health.
Let's erase stigma through education and visibility.
Performers include: Selena Mae, HYRE, Maria Em, Everest Chomolungma, Lucas Charlie Rose, Darcy Valentine Stack, Heather Eaton, The Collective, and more!
CJLOXJFL: AUNTY DONNA'S SMOOTH MOVES TAKE MONTREAL BY STORM
Australian comedy group and YouTube sensations Aunty Donna took Montreal by storm with their outstanding 3 man variety show at The Mainline Theatre. People from all across Canada came to Montreal to watch Mark Samual Bonanno, Broden Kelly and Zachary Ruane perform their incredible first show in the city. Aunty Donna’s super smooth moves captivated their audiences and it’s no surprise that they made the cover of this week’s Montreal Gazette!
Aunty Donna’s New Show is a wild celebration of comedy, dance, music and death-defying acrobatics. Aunty Donna’s sketches are vibrant, energetic and meticulously coordinated to electronic pop tunes. Sound designer and composer Tom Armstrong created an outstanding soundtrack for the show, taking the comedy group’s performance to a whole new level! Their comedy is dark, charming, sexy, silly and 100% self-aware - with everything carefully thought out and choreographed. Aunty Donna’s New Show is unlike any other show you’ll see at the Just For Laughs Festival, pushing the boundaries of comedy to create something beautiful, exciting and profoundly surreal.
Bonanno, Kelly and Ruana are some of the smartest and hardest working performers in comedy. The trio’s New Show featured plenty of fun, original games and audience participation that made the evening feel really special. The trio cares deeply for their audiences and hilariously incorporates them into their comedy. One of their most controversial acts, involving a character named “Lord Whoopie” involves roasting hapless audience members by making them the butt of several fart jokes (pun intended). Aunty Donna were so charming that everyone in the audience enjoyed the silly fart jokes and had a great time.
Seeing Aunty Donna live is very different from watching their YouTube videos as the three cleverly work elements of theatre and loads of physicality in their New Show. Aunty Donna are constantly running, dancing and leaping across the room, contorting their bodies cartoonishly and unleashing their frantic energy for all to see. Aunty Donna’s raw passion, nerve, chemistry and talent are absolutely thrilling to see in person and will leave you in disbelief!
What are you waiting for?! Come watch them pretend to be Ellen DeGeneres, kiss each other and drink the Cordial in their New Show while you still can! Aunty Donna’s shows are an exciting experience you’ll never forget!
Don’t miss Aunty Donna’s last Montreal shows on July 26th, including All Access Live hosted by Mike Birbiglia at Club Soda located on 1225 St Laurent Blvd and Aunty Donna’s New Show at The Mainline Theatre located at 3997 Boulevard Saint-Laurent!
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This is all part of CJLO 1690AM's coverage of the Just For Laughs Festival. Founded in 1983, Just For Laughs is the largest international comedy festival in the world! For more information and to buy tickets, check out www.hahaha.com before they're all sold out!
Fatal Attraction is a surreal comedy talk show hosted by Patricia Petit Liang. Tune in every Thursday from 12PM-1PM to hear her meditate, play weird YouTube videos and give really bad advice!
Audio Documentaries: Bicycles Against Poverty & Finding Diana
Tune into CJLO 1690AM this Thursday, July 27th at 11 AM to hear two audio documentaries produced by Travis Sandeson, who is working as a communications director for CEED Concordia this summer.
CEED is a non-profit organization based in both Montreal and Gulu, Uganda, which views youth as the change agents in their communities.
Each year, an equal number of students from Concordia University and various universities from around Uganda meet in Gulu to develop and work on projects that aim to benefit those involved as well as those in Gulu.
Travis has produced both written material as well as radio documentaries that reflects his experiences with the people of Uganda.
Bicycles Against Poverty
Bicycles Against Poverty is a Gulu-based social enterprise that seeks to make affordable transportation available to small, farmer-run cooperatives in northern Uganda. Travis spent a day with them when they made a bicycle delivery to a small village called Lalogi, approximately 40 kilometres southeast of Gulu.
Finding Diana
In Uganda, a popular form of public transport is the "boda boda." These are basically motorbikes and riders who pick up and drop off people much the same as taxi would, but a lot less expensive. It is a common industry all over the country. What is uncommon is a woman doing it, and in this case why she's doing it. This is the story of Diana.
To learn more about CEED Concordia, visit http://ceedconcordia.org/en/
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