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CBC
11 minutes ago
- CBC
Where are the older Indigenous theatre actors?
Social Sharing A Port Dover, Ont. theatre company wanted to mount the play Crees in the Caribbean, but they ran into a casting problem. They couldn't find Indigenous actors old enough to play the two main characters, who are a First Nations couple in their 60s. Crees in the Caribbean playwright Drew Hayden Taylor wasn't surprised to hear this. In a recent piece for the Globe and Mail, he explained that finding older Indigenous actors has become an increasingly common issue. Today on Commotion, guest host Ali Hassan speaks with Taylor about what to do in this situation: go on with non-Indigenous actors or scrap the whole thing? We've included some highlights below, edited for length and clarity. For the full discussion, listen and follow Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud on your favourite podcast player. WATCH | Today's episode on YouTube: Ali: When you were told that the play was in jeopardy because of casting issues, what was your instinctual or initial reaction to that? Drew: Well, this isn't the first time it's happened to me. There was one production of that play some time ago that was indeed cancelled because they couldn't find people of the appropriate age for the role. Now, I've done other similar plays in the past. I did an elders love story, farce comedy called The Buz'Gem Blues, with, again, two characters in their 60s. It had been produced a few times. And you had to look long and hard, but we always found people to do the role. So one of the things Jane [Spence, the artistic director of the Port Dover theatre company] did — and was urged to do in order to hopefully avoid this whole issue — was start her search substantially before the actual production. But when I heard this, I was like, "Oh, not again." Because, as I said, I missed one production. There's a very popular Indigenous play called The Rez Sisters, which I believe has three actors in their 60s…. And it's always been a bit of an issue to find age appropriate actors for these roles. Ali: If somebody asks you, what is more important: that the story gets told or that the casting is 100 per cent accurate or precise? Drew: Both. I don't think the two are mutually exclusive. Speaking as an Indigenous person, talking to you from a First Nations community, we have spent the last 30, 40, 50 years, trying to get our voice and our representation included in the larger dominant culture. And I think right now, we've got a glut — not glut, that's a bad term — but we have, we have many, numerous Native performers in their 20s, 30s and 40s and approaching their 50s. And I think now, we are just getting to those actors in that later phase of life. So I think it's both important to get the story correct, and to get the right perspective — the right age and the right performer for each role. The option right now [is that] you take an actor in their 50s — and I think that's what's happening — and you age them up. You give them a little gray in their hair. For the female roles, not so much the graying of the beard. But you do try to make them look older and fit them into that particular scene. I have no problem with that. Ali: I understand that since you wrote that [Globe and Mail] piece — a little bit of hope, a little ray of hope — things have changed. Can you tell us what happened? Drew: The day it came out, she [Jane Spence] says, "Oh, by the way, the play's on life support. We managed to find a Native actor who can do it. Now we're trying to confirm a Native actress to do the role." So there is hope at the end of the tunnel. I believe she's making an offer to two actresses this week.
CTV News
30 minutes ago
- CTV News
Military Museums bring history to life at Summer Skirmish
A bit of military history came to life Saturday at the Military Museums in Calgary. It was the Summer Skirmish, where almost 2,000 years of warfare comes to life in a weekend of battle re-enactments and demonstrations. 'It's actually many different periods of history, from the Dark Ages, so about 900 CE all the way up to the Second World War represented,' said Military Museums senior curator and director of collections Alison Mercer.' So it's a lot of people in authentic historical outfits and uniforms with authentic weapons, doing authentic drills.' While military history tends to be observed in November, around Remembrance Day, Mercer said mid-August is a pretty prominent date in military history as well. 'Something that was very relevant that happened just yesterday was the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, so the fact that we get to have this on August 16 and 17th is pretty special too, because, of course, there's a re-enactment component, but there's also the history component available in the museum too that people can see.' Mercer said that since the event was launched in 2003, the Military Museums have evolved the Summer Skirmish to be more interactive and more kid-friendly. 'There's a lot more activities for kids, more hands-on opportunities,' she said. 'For example, (you can) climb inside the T-72 tank. There's a weapons handling tent over there (to) see some authentic guns.' 'It's not just like a like a watch (event),' she added. 'It's (more) like a watch and do and learn (event) that way.' Summer Skirmish continues until Sunday at 5 p.m. at Military Museums. 4520 Crowchild Trail S.W. It's $40 for a family.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
'Weapons' maintained top spot during second weekend, scaring off newcomer 'Nobody 2'
This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Cary Christopher in a scene from "Weapons." (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP) LOS ANGELES — 'Weapons' scared its way to the top of the box office in its debut and managed to stay there during its second box office weekend, beating out 'Freakier Friday' and newcomer 'Nobody 2.' Zach Cregger's horror earned $25 million in 3,450 North American theaters, a 43 per cent drop from its first weekend. The highly anticipated film benefitted from strong audience reviews and social media trends to attract large crowds. 'Freakier Friday,' which lost the battle for first place to 'Weapons' during its double premiere, also maintained its second spot, bringing in $14.5 million domestically. The films' staying power comes during a slower box office weekend, said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for the data firm Comscore. Both films also prevailed against 'Nobody 2,' the R-rated action sequel. The Bob Odenkirk-led film earned $9.25 million across 3,260 North American theaters in its debut weekend. 'August came on strong last year, so it makes comparisons tough,' Dergarabedian said, noting the box office success of movies like 'Deadpool and Wolverine' and the horror sci-fi 'Alien: Romulus' that premiered this time last year. This summer is unlikely to hit the $4 billion benchmark, but succeeded in provided movie goers a dynamic and diverse slate of movies, he said. 'I can't find a genre that's not represented or a demographic that wouldn't be attracted to one of these films out there,' Dergarabedian said. 'It's just that eclectic mix of films with appeal to every demographic.' 'Nobody 2' follows the pandemic success of the first in the series, 'Nobody,' which released in 2021. In the sequel, Hutch Mansell, the assassin-turned-nice-guy, played by Odenkirk, returns to the big screen, this time taking a much-needed family vacation that goes awry. The calm weekend turns anything but as Mansell uncovers a corrupt town. Jim Orr, president of domestic distributions at Universal Pictures, said he hopes the movie's reaction scores — a 89 per cent Audience score and B+ CinemaScore — point 'to a long and successful run at the domestic box office.' 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' took the fourth spot during its fourth weekend in theaters, bringing in $8.8 million domestically. The film stumbled at the box office after its initially strong $118 million debut. Another sequel, 'The Bad Guys 2,' took fifth place with $7.5 million during its third weekend in theaters. Notably, Dergarabedian said, international movies made a splash in the top 15 this weekend. 'Coolie,' an Indian action thriller, debuted domestically and snatched the tenth spot, followed by 'War 2,' another Indian action movie, at number 11. The domestic re-release of 'Shin Godzilla,' a Japanese film that initially premiered in 2016, came in at the 12th spot. Top 10 movies by domestic box office With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore: 1. 'Weapons,' $25 million. 2. 'Freakier Friday,' $14.5 million. 3. 'Nobody 2,' $9.25 million. 4. 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps,' $8.8 million. 5. 'The Bad Guys 2,' $7.5 million. 6. 'Superman,' $5.3 million. 7. 'The Naked Gun,' $4.8 million. 8. 'Jurassic World Rebirth,' $2.9 million. 9. 'F1: The Movie,' $2.6 million. 10. 'Coolie,' $2.4 million. Itzel Luna, The Associated Press
