Ready for TIFF and TUFF

Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) tickets went on sale Monday, July 7 and I've bought my 10-ticket package for $167 (and one for Ivana when she gets back). This year, they're telling us we can't use our tickets to bid for VISA Screening Room movies, even though we've done that every year since 2002. VISA Screening Tickets are $45 (the 8-film package is already sold out at $350+GST) and I paid that last year for 2 individual VISA tickets but we will have to see how they lay everything out in the order form in August.

Every year TIFF increases its prices and adds more rules. Visit haikugirlmovies for my latest RANT about TIFF. I don't think the TIFF founders wanted this "people's festival" to become out of reach for the average Toronto filmlover. They are offering student and senior pricing this year and a new student daypass but what about the diehard non-students like haikugirl & friends who've been going and supporting this festival for years?

I also submitted my TIFF for TUFF 1 minute movie into the Toronto Urban Film Festival. It's a photo montage of the stars I've seen at TIFF through the years. Cross your fingers for me! If I'm a finalist you'll see my movie on the ONESTOP screens in most subway stations - over 1 million people can view it during TIFF in September and vote online!

HBC Run for Canada

Ran 10K on July 1st in the HBC Run for Canada. I really like this event - it's a great way to spend Canada Day running along the lakeshore and we had gorgeous weather. After taking 1 hour and 20 minutes to do my 10K with Mary, I watched Tomas and Luisa run a swift 1K in the Kids Fun Run. After the races we headed into Ontario Place for a bagel and fruit then left Dori and her kids on the waterslides. Looked like fun but R and I headed home to chill and get ready for the BBQ.

Click this link to search race times. Richard finished in under an hour and I ran nearly 5 minutes faster than last year's HBC (2007 Chip time: 1:24:40, 2008 Chip time: 1:20:15). THANK YOU MARY for getting me through! Jean (founder of JeansMarines) and Jan (our coach from last year) were 1st and 2nd in the Womens 60-69 age group and my race partner Mary was 9th out of 17. WAY TO GO! Congratulations to everyone who finished and got the beautiful silver medals from the Royal Canadian Mint. Even the kids got medals with their T-shirts (so worth it for the $24 registration fee). Will post photos soon!

Runner's Martinis and a blistering month of June

Between work, running (I'm baaaaack), parties and present buying, I have had a MANIC month of June. The Euro 2008 has reached an exciting climax with Germany and Spain. VIVA ESPANA! As Rich says: Spain all the way! Check my other blog for a short clip of my young friend Tomas' Spanish pride.

I was also wowed by the piano-playing prowess of Tomas and Luisa when they gave me a concert on my piano on Father's Day. See their delightful performances on video.

On Tuesday July 1st I will be proudly running for Canada and collecting my rockin' medal then having a BBQ. Richard has decided to join me for the run (YAY!) and my friend Dori has signed up her two kids at my insistence. I was a STAR** bartender at Dori's shower for her sister Linda last weekend and will be making my signature POMMARTINIS on Canada Day. You can too: Just follow the recipe below (thankyou LCBO!)

Fill the bottom of a martini shaker with ice.
Pour in:
1 oz vodka (preferably Stoli)
1 oz pomegranate liqueur (PAMA - the POM juice just isn't the same)
4 oz Cranberry-Blueberry juice (buy Ocean Spray - there is no low sugar version of this but think how many anti-oxidants you're drinking!)
Shake vigorously and pour into large martini glasses.
Top with fresh blueberries and ENJOY!

You will enjoy this refreshing drink my friends. I think it's better than a Cosmo, and I will make you one if you come over this summer (since I now keep all the ingredients handy in the fridge or on the shelf). My friend Hardish says it's the "Runner's Martini" with all the anti-oxidant properties so I hope you will mix it up for yourselves sometime soon or come over and let the expert mix it for you!

This weekend I will: run 8K at 7am on Saturday, host an intimate BBQ for my departing friend Hardish on Saturday night, and set up our swing chair on Sunday for Tuesday's BBQ and maybe even see Get Smart on Sunday night. (Richard, you're on call!)

Warren Macdonald

Had the privilege of meeting Warren Macdonald who delivered an inspiring presentation to our team at work on June 26. A double amputee, Warren still climbs mountains and inspires everyone - not just people with disabilities - to change the world by changing how we see the world. Truly a mind-shifting afternoon! Warren had special prosthetics developed to help him hike, climb mountains and even climb a frozen waterfall - truly amazing! So don't even think about complaining about that bad day, my friends...

Hotel Indigo Haiku

After the wonderful experience flying Porter Air to Ottawa, our stay at Hotel Indigo on Metcalfe just south of the Parliament Buildings was equally blissful. The hotel has haiku posted everywhere... in English and French... how welcoming and convenient for haikugirl!! A perfect way to combine my passions of travel, blogging (using their free wireless internet) using my French and writing haiku! Here are a couple of mine followed by a collection of theirs:

Hotel Indigo
calm oasis with haiku
not just Ottawa

[A HAIKU FOR YOU]
signs were posted everywhere
enjoy these samples

[on the Room key card]
Your journey begins
First stop is relaxation
then inspiration

[on the Room key cardholder]
A landscape reborn
Flowers delight the senses
Now, enjoy the view

[on the drink coaster]
Beautiful Spring day
Take time to smell the flowers
Your drink can wait here

All of the hotel's haiku followed the 3-line, 17 syllable (5, 7, 5) structure except some of the French haiku were questionable for me. Like the first line of this one on the coaster which seemed to be one syllable short, unless you pronounce belle with two syllables like bell-uh, which you would do when reading a song lyric or poem. (Well, haikugirl, isn't a haiku a poem?)

Si belle journee
Pour sentir un jolie fleur
Le verre attendra

Haikugirl admits
Writing French haiku is tough
Comme c'est difficile!

Porter Air

What a treat to fly Porter Air to Ottawa (YOW). Everything is so simple and smooth - free shuttle bus from the Royal York, ferry to the Island Airport and a relaxing lounge with leather club chairs, free cookies and cappuccino and free wireless Internet access - whoohoo! Brought my laptop and was even able to draft this blog post before boarding.

Porter Air sublime
redefining civilized
Let's book our next flight!

HBO's Recount

Recount tells the story of an unbelievable time in U.S. history: the Florida recount following the 2000 presidential election. Chock full of A-List actors (Kevin Spacey, Tom Wilkinson, Dennis Leary, and Laura Dern playing crazymaking Katherine Harris among others) these performances are sure to be honoured at next year's Golden Globes. This film is gripping, shocking, and a sad reminder that sometimes, even when you win, you can't win.

Check out the Recount trailer and comments online and see this if you get a chance. Even though we know how it ends, it's stunning to relive the dramatic twists and turns. And despite the obvious point of view of Writer Danny Strong, you still learn more than you thought you knew, or at least get most of the facts with better packaging. Triumph of the rule of law my A**!

HBO's Recount
sure to be rewarded at
next year's Golden Globes

Drop Your Shorts 3

On Mother's Day I made the trek out to the west end to DROP MY SHORT at the Revue Cinema. I was there before 12 noon on May 11 because the first people in line could submit their short film to be screened as part of the 90-minute lineup at 7:00pm on Thursday, May 22 at the Revue Cinema, 400 Roncesvalles for the third instalment of Drop Your Shorts.

In 90 minutes we saw an interesting array of 12 films, all 15 minutes or less. I enjoyed seeing The Last Minutes of Alan Winters by my filmmaker friends from Ireland. It was great to meet the team from Scarlett Pictures - congratulations guys!

SANTE Winemakers' Dinner @ Reds Bistro

Saturday night we were at Reds Bistro as part of the 10th Annual Sante Wine Festival (which we have been attending for the past 6 years). Hosted by our friends Bernard & Sylvie at Le Sommelier (sadly we missed them that night) winemakers Fred Howard of Australia's Dog Ridge Vineyards and Keith Nichols of California were on hand to talk about their wines as we worked through a delicious 5-course dinner. I was the proud winner of a bottle of Dog Ridge The Pup Chardonnay (yummy). Then R, S, C & I broke the bank and bought 3 cases of wine together. Carmen - let us know when it arrives! This will be my excuse to buy that wine fridge I have been craving...

Ironman ROCKS

Last Friday May 9, Sam stopped in TO and we went to see Ironman at the Beach Cinemas. Robert Downey Jr found the perfect comeback vehicle as billionaire scientist and arms maker Tony Stark who has an epiphany after being held captive in the desert. Director Jon Favreau even appeared in his own film as Stark's driver and Gwyneth was "Pepper Potts", Stark's trusty assistant. Jeff Bridges was almost unrecognizable as Stark's business partner (don't worry - I won't spoil it). Ironman rocked from beginning to end, the effects were FAB and the writing was note-perfect. Definitely 4Ms from haikugirl MMMM. Robert Downey Jr was TOTALLY HOT and there was no shortage of his trademark glib humour laced with sexy innuendo. I think that should be my new mantra for future communications ... (?)javascript:void(0)

Tony's Reflections on Hot Docs

My friend Tony just posted some photos and videos from last weekend's Doc Challenge Awards night at Hot Docs in Toronto.

Or just check out Tony's blog in general. I need to post my final hot docs reviews and pics. Probably my best fest yet!

IDC Screening at Hot Docs

Hot Docs is a wrap!
Great to meet the filmmakers
See you all next year...

Met fellow filmmakers from around the world on Saturday night April 26 at the Duke of York pub on Prince Arthur before heading to the IDC Screening at Innis Hall. Despite the sudden TTC strike, the house was almost full and it was great to see the diverse selection of 14 finalists. Enjoyed Bend and Bow by my friends at Team Profluence (about the Saw Lady of New York). I also really liked Click, Whoosh about Polaroid cameras by the Real Grrls of Seattle (they won the $1000 IDC prize), Ars Magna about the high art of anagrams and I=me2 by Year of the Rooster about 2 twin brothers who are also filmmakers (Kevin won best editing). Their film Dante's Massage won Best Sound Design in the 2006 National Film Challenge. Also great to met Tony, Dinah, Joanne & Evan from Team It Donned On Me and congrats to them for picking up 2 IDC awards for directing and cinematography. Their film Stick and Pound about Melanie DeMore and the art of stick pounding made us want to go out and try it (I think it would be a positive stress buster). Interesting to see Beholder by Eric Daniel Metzgar, a New York filmmaker and Independent Spirit Award nominee whose also had his feature doc Life. Support. Music. about Jason Crigler's miraculous recovery screen at this year's hot docs. Also liked Ghost Bike by Team GO! of Toronto. They had the same genre/theme of Art/Change as team haikugirl this year. The music for Ghost Bike was by Tim Vesely of the Rheostatics. Richard was very pleased to meet Tim on Saturday night and the music had a haunting quality that matched the film perfectly. Kind of like the way Curbside Lapse created the atmosphere for Marathon Women!

Visit haikugirlmovies for the complete list of 2008 IDC winners and CONGRATULATIONS EVERYONE!

Hot Docs - 2nd instalment

Tuesday: Saw Man On Wire, a fascinating doc about Philippe Petit who is a wirewalker (the coolest French word ever: funembule) who walked between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center on August 7, 1974. At over 450 metres, it's still the highest wirewalk in history. Director James Marsh succeeds in building the suspense before the walk with another filmmaker's old stock footage of the training sessions in France as well as B&W re-enactments using stand-in New York locations. It's amazing to see the people interviewed today and how young they looked in the old footage from 30 years ago. Marsh also used footage from the construction of the WTC whose empty base at the outset looks eerily like Ground Zero after 9/11. Petit is charming and engrossing as a megalomaniac who is consumed by the art of the act, nothing more. It's interesting how the team bonded and grew together to support the project, then dissolved after the event took place. Well worth seeing - the title is how they labeled Petit's crime on the complaint form filed with the Port Authority.

Wednesday: Saw FLicKeR about Brion Gysin, friend of Beat poet William S. Burroughs and the Dream Machine that Gysin constructed to create a hypnotic, hallucinatory effect without drugs. An interesting account of the times including interviews with many of Gysin's old friends. Like many of my TIFF events, the more people on stage before the screening, the more disappointed I usually am. Director Nik Sheehan invited 20 people up to the front in advance of this World Premiere and the end result was okay, even a bit draggy. Should show up on Bravo (co-funder of this doc) in time. Weird to see Bravo! a division of CTV onscreen (I know that's the story but it's still weird not to see CHUM). My friend Chris should see this as a philosophy PhD from McGill, everyone else wait till it airs.

Friday: seeing Waiting for Hockney then Saturday cheering for my friends at the IDC Screening and Awards presentation at Hot Docs.

Boston Marathon Finishers: CONGRATS!

Exciting to see the 112th running of the Boston Marathon on TV. The weather was perfect (51F, clear, sunny skies) I know 3 runners who finished and I am SO PROUD of them!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

>>My work friend Jowenne Herrera, age 30, (bib# 2580) finished in 2:59:02 AMAZING TIME! (he was 1090 overall and about 8 minutes behind Lance Armstrong (bib# 100, 2:50:58, who was 488 overall). JOWENNE YOU ROCK!!!

>>Dr. Jean Marmoreo, founder of JeansMarines (bib# 18723) finished in 3:55:07 (that's 12912 overall, 4101 place among women) - a pretty awesome achievement for anyone, let alone a 65 year-old woman. YAY Jean!

>>My manager's father Don O'Donnell, age 62, (bib# 19516) came all the way from Ireland to run in Boston and finished in 4:01:21 --WAY TO GO Jenny's Dad!

You can check all the results at bostonmarathon.com

It was the second largest field in Boston Marathon history (over 30,000 runners). The Kenyan Robert Cheruiyot won the men's race for the 4th straight year in 2:07:46 and Ethiopian Dire Tune won a very tight women's race in 2:25:25 holding off Russian Alevtina Biktimirova only 2 seconds behind her. And great to see Kathryn Switzer doing the commentary (I KNOW her - and she signed a copy of her book for me). We also gave her a copy of Marathon Women last year.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL FINISHERS! Truly an inspiring day.

Hot Docs 2008 is HOT!

Been catching up on my movies since Hot Docs started.

Friday: saw Air India 182, an emotional film about the bombing. The director did a beautiful job weaving together the intrigue of the case and interviews with family members who lost relatives in the bombing. Everyone aboard (331 people) died, including 86 children. Over 270 of the passengers were Canadian so it was a huge tragedy for the country and an early introduction to the impact of terrorism. Don't worry if you missed it: CBC will air it uncut and commercial free on the anniversary of the take-off on June 22 (check local listings).


Saturday: Saw Altogether Now, a mesmerizing look at all the work that went into creating the Cirque du Soleil show LOVE using all original Beatles music. Amazing behind-the-scenes camera and interviews with Cirque director and members and the remaining Beatles and their wives. Interesting how Yoko Ono and George Harrison's widow both had so much input to Cirque along with Ringo and Paul. The crew shot 180 hours of footage and genius editor Heidi Haines whittled it down to an engrossing 2 hour movie. Director Adrian Wills was at the Bloor Cinema for the screening along with Giles Martin (son of Sir George Martin, who worked on all the original Beatles albums.) Giles is a hottie and very funny. Adrian's french is flawless. Uncle Wes and Marcella have seen LOVE at The Mirage in Vegas twice. I already have the soundtrack (natch) and told Richard he has a year to take me to Vegas to see it and that I want the DVD of the movie for Christmas. If you've seen LOVE, you need to see this movie; if you see this movie, you need to see LOVE. This has been my top pick of hot docs so far! Great to see it with our friends Tom & Linda - congrats on your engagement les amis!!

Sunday: Saw Talking Guitars about Flip Scipio who repairs and builds guitars. Both he and Director Claire Pijman were at the screening at Isabel Bader. Flip is a nice unassuming Dutch guy with an encyclopedic knowledge of guitars and tremendous skill with the instrument and love for it. He also happens to be based in New York and in demand by a very famous clientele, including Jackson Browne, Ry Cooder, Paul Simon, Carly Simon, Ben Taylor (son of James & Carly) whom we all see in the movie. A relaxing way to spend a Sunday afternoon listening to wonderful calming music and conversation. Lovely to have Hardish, William & Cassie join us.

Next screening on Tuesday: Man on Wire

Under the Knife

haikugirl's been busy recovering from surgery so that's why you've seen no new posts for a while. Thanks to everyone for their support and concern - I am definitely on the mend but these things always take more time than you think. It's amazing how much we use our stomach muscles every day.

surgery went well
4 holes in my stomach and
5-inch fibroid gone

For more under the knife, I saw Nip/Tuck tonight (the Lulu Grandiron episode). Talk about night of a million stars (or should I say night of a million 80's has beens). This one included Donna Mills of Knot's Landing fame, a freaky-looking Joan Van Ark (who appears to have had too much low-budget plastic surgery in her real life) also a Knot's Landing alum, and even a handsome-looking Shari Belafonte. They were playing a group of Miami socialites who wanted Christian (the dreamy Julian McMahon) to do all their plastic surgery. It had a funny twist ending which I won't spoil. It just made me want to search IMdB to get all the names right. And I was wrong about who played Eden, Dr. McNamara's new love interest. I thought it was Kelli Garner of Lars and the Real Girl and Thumbsucker but it's AnnaLynne McCord. And Sharon Gless of Cagney & Lacey is the doc's lying agent. Could they cram more beloved has beens in one 42-minute hour? I think not.

ungraceful aging
how many 80's has beens
can Nip/Tuck cram in?

Doc Challenge Finalists

Check out the list of 14 doc challenge finalists on haikugirlmovies.blogspot.com

You won't find Team haikugirl in the list but I like my friend Joe's philosophy:

Well, whoretoculture did it the first year, and haikugirl the second, but alas, neither of us made the cut in IDC's third year. Oh, well. At least your friends from Team Profluence did. I don't know them, but I'll be cheering them on for the big prize. Congrats on finishing another project, though. Can't wait to swap movies!


IDC's a wrap
14 Finalists this year
GO Team Profluence!

movies, movies, movies

I am looking forward to this weekend's release of Run, Fat Boy, Run - missed it at TIFF and after running a marathon (and making a short marathon movie) I need to see how David Schwimmer directs Simon Pegg who decides to run a marathon to win his fiancee (Thandie Newton) back. I like the message in the trailer: "Relationships are like marathons. They require dedication, discipline and determination, of which Dennis has none." They also borrow the line: "It's not how you start, it's how you finish" which I first heard by Gerard Depardieu as Chef Didier in the delightful movie Last Holiday with Queen Latifah.

Also interested in a couple of films at this year's Cinefranco - the 11th annual French film fest in Toronto. Planning to choose between Toi on Friday, Crossed Tracks on Saturday, or Conversations with my Gardener on Sunday.

Also interested in a charity event on Friday night at the Dominion pub on King East. One of the subjects in my new video has donated a work of art for auction. Will there be time for sleep and a run this weekend??? Watch for reviews early next week.

hot docs and IDC short list

The 15th Annual Hot Docs Canadadian International Documentary Film Festival just announced its schedule of films from April 17-27. The International Documentary Challenge Screening is at 9:30pm on Saturday, April 26 and I will attend even if Team haikugirl is not a finalist (but keep crossing your finger for us). I'll also be attending a few other films as part of my Doc Soup pass.

Last night we heard that 96 teams (out of the original 122) made the cut and are eligible for judging and awards. That means we have a 1 in 8 chance of being a finalist and screening on April 26. Good luck to all teams and see you at Hot Docs!

1985 Media
2012
2HourFilms
2WARDS Productions
Alacrity
Allied Media Group
Anecdote Films
Appaloosa
Asian Mainstream Productions
Becaj Productions
Billo Billo
Blake House
Borderline
Boss and Coder 34
Breakfast For Dinner
Brevity
Cactae
Castparty Productions
Cingulate (fka EG Productions)
CKA Productions
delia's gone
Digital Alchemists
Doc Doc Revolution
DocTeam Vienna
docuNATI
Elvis Cocho
Fade to Grey
Fan Club 82
FILMA
fischer
Fly on the Wall
flycycle films
GEMINCA
Ghost Mountain
Go!
haikugirl
Higher Rock & Downward Spiral Productions
Homespun
Intuitive Eye Productions
It Donned On Me
Jane O'Holly Productions
JDX Studios Inc
KelJo
KTF Films
KYU
lexfilm
Los Indios
Lucky Shot
Masked Men
Middleway
MODindie
New Circle Productions
PDXFCPUG1
PDXFCPUG2
Playin' Possum Productions
Poco Loco Productions
Profluence Productions
Puppy Fight Productions
ReadytoRoll
Red Dog Productions
Reel Grrls
Reel Hard-Workin' Dogs
Rock Creek Productions, Inc.
Rotating Planet
Sawbuck Productions
SCAN of War
Scumberland Productions
Seattle Métier
Shields Films
Shoodhoo Amee
Slim Productions
Smoke In Mirror Productions
Smokeshow
Somatic Cinema
StaringStraight
Surge Media
Team August
Team Endicott
Team Impact
Team Juicebox
Team Nexus
team sour cream
Team Tombrowski
testigo
The Prosimians
Tislet Projects
TPX Productions
TUJ Films
Vegetated Circumstance
White Noise
whoretoculture films
wideshot studios
Willamette Valley Film Collective
Wink
Xian Studios
Year of the Rooster

haikugirl.com, STITCH and Book Club

I finally had a chance to update haikugirl.com - the springboard to my media empire ;-)

I also have hundreds of photos I need to download. We need to send the IDC Producer our behind-the-scenes footage from the weekend so he can edit in Team haikugirl.

Last Thursday I was ON FIRE with ideas and energy. I was problem-solver extraordinaire at work and giving people marketing ideas in the evening when we went to Terroni for dinner and on to a play.

STITCH was an amazing opera that was more like a musical performance installation. Brilliant staging, music and lyrics. BRAVO to all the women involved! I told them to take it to the Edinburgh Fringe (or even Edmonton or Winnipeg) since it was really innovative.

PLUS we got a new title for our book club: Toronto, je t'aime. Written by Alison's neighbour Didier Leclair it won a Trillium Book Award and we'll get to read it in the original French. I thought maybe we could meet him for drinks whenever we discuss his book. On verra....