Everything about Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary, eh?

Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Canadian Original Yukon Gold returns Wednesday Feb. 17 to History

3 Comments

From a media release:

This February, HISTORY’s fan-favourite Canadian docu-series Yukon Gold returns for a fortune-seeking fourth season where tempers are tested, time is ticking and the pressure to strike gold runs high. These miners have families to support and bills to pay, but the prospect of riches outweighs the risks. Miners returning with gold fever this season include “Big Al” McGregor as well as Karl Knutson, Ken Foy, Guillaume Brodeur, couple Nika Guilbault and Chris St. Jean, and Bernie Kreft. Produced by Canadian production company Paperny Entertainment in association with Shaw Media, the new, 11-epsiode season of Yukon Gold premieres Wednesday, February 17th at 10pm ET/PT on HISTORY.

This season, all five mining camps are busier than ever. Some miners are juggling multiple roles in their personal and professional lives while others are tasked with opening up new mines. But all of them are on the hunt for gold. Big Al faced difficult health issues this past year, leaving him in a wheelchair, but his determination brought him back to the Yukon. With the help of his right-hand man, Hiro, he hopes to make a triumphant return and finally hit the jackpot this season. Chris and Nika return to Stowe Creek, now as a new family of five, with the addition of their six-month-old twins. With greater responsibilities to balance, Chris is under more stress to support their family and Nika must juggle her roles as both miner and mother.

Business partners Ken and Guillaume head to Atlin, B.C. hoping to hit it big after years of coming up short in the Yukon. As Ken struggles with endless permit delays and preparing to become a first-time father, the pressure falls on Guillaume to get the mine up and running. Second-generation miner Karl is taking a big step this season. Buying into the mine with his parents, he’s now a gold miner and business owner with more responsibility and a hefty 1000-ounce gold goal. Bernie tries his luck at a new site with sons Jarrett and Justin, but sometimes it’s hard to balance being both boss and father.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Link: Hold Your Fire Is Finally on CBC-TV’s Firsthand

From Jim Bawden:

Hold Your Fire Is Finally on CBC-TV’s Firsthand
It’s a coincidence, of course, but CBC-TV’s new and compelling documentary on alcoholism Thursday night at 8 gets  followed by an equally compelling new documentary on Toronto police procedures titled Hold Your Fire (at 9 p.m.). Because both hours are from Bountiful Films.

In the case of Hold Your Fire the wait has been well worth it.

Hold Your Fire was originally scheduled for October 22 at 9 p.m. on CBC-TV’s Firsthand. The stark and uncompromising look at the police shooting of Sammy Yatim is must-see TV. But the trial of a Toronto police office was still ongoing in October and ever cautious CBC chose to pull it and indeed several subsequent time periods were also abandoned. Continue reading.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Design Icon Debbie Travis Comes to OWN in All-New Series La Dolce Debbie

From a media release:

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network (Canada) announced today that celebrated interior designer Debbie Travis will be joining the OWN (Canada) family with the new documentary series La Dolce Debbie (6X30). The series follows Debbie as she searches for, buys and completely overhauls a 13th century Tuscan property, transforming it into her ultimate dream women’s retreat. La Dolce Debbie premieres Tuesday, February 16 at 8:30 p.m. ET.

La Dolce Debbie takes viewers on design icon Debbie Travis’ most personal journey yet: risking her life’s savings to buy and transform a 13th century medieval watchtower and farmhouse into a luxurious 14 bedroom women’s retreat in Tuscany, Italy. Inspiring, touching, and heart-warming – the series explores the highs and lows of buying and renovating a large property in a foreign country.

In her area of Tuscany, which is deemed an international heritage site, Debbie is forced to conform to rigid historical protection laws and red-tape committees. Working with some of the best architects, designers and tradesmen in Italy, she struggles to grasp the language and assimilate to a new culture, and also has to wrap her head around what it takes to run a 100-acre farm with 800 olive trees and vineyard. While the property slowly transforms, so does Debbie. At the heart of the series is her personal journey to find a new happiness through her desire to create a one-of-a-kind retreat that captures the transformative spirit of Tuscany and the experience of La Dolce Vita – The Sweet Life.

In the first episode, which premieres Tuesday, February 16 at 8:30 p.m. ET, Debbie is on the hunt for an Italian property to transform into the permanent home for her women’s retreats. For more than two years she and her husband Hans scour the country – and when they finally fall in love with the idyllic region of Tuscany, they struggle to find the perfect place.

La Dolce Debbie is produced by Montréal-based WAM (Whalley-Abbey Media).

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

VisionTV presents the world premiere of Hell: A Survivor’s Guide

From a media release:

On Monday, February 8, at 9 pm ET, VisionTV will present the world premiere of Hell: A Survivor’s Guide, a new Canadian documentary examining the history of a place that has maintained its grip on the human imagination for centuries.

Heaven is usually visualized in less specific ways. It’s a place of eternal light, peace, purity, and happiness. Hell, on the other hand, has been mapped out in excruciating detail. In almost every known description of the afterlife, Hell is located underground – a hot, demonic realm of grim tortures and eternal agony.

To understand our ongoing fascination with this underworld, host Brian Paisley (Apocalypse … When?) will turn to great artists like Homer, Virgil, Dante, Bosch, Doré and Rubens, all of whom felt inspired to create compelling images of Hell.

Paisley also talks to scholars, writers, and theologians, and to a psychologist who has studied why the concept of Hell has had such an impact on our lives, and why, even in secular societies, the idea of Hell can still influence our behaviour.

To supplement the documentary, Asterisk Productions has will be launching http://hellsurvivorsguide.com. The website will include 40 minutes of extended interviews with experts, webisodes, additional written commentary, and recommended readings.

Hell: A Survivor’s Guide was produced by David Springbett and Heather MacAndrew. Moses Znaimer is Executive Producer.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Award-winning Steve Fonyo documentary makes Super Channel debut

It’s hard to feel sorry for Steve Fonyo, but Hurt certainly tries. And, sometimes, writer-director Alan Zweig succeeds.

It is tough though, especially when Fonyo unleashes an expletive-filled tirade against his girlfriend’s ex, rails against Canada for “not helping” (a.k.a. giving him money) and opines that recreational drug use makes sex better. In a classic case of “how the mighty have fallen,” Zweig’s documentary—the Platform Prize winner at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival debuts on Super Channel on Tuesday—traces Fonyo’s life from hero to dude struggling just to eke out a living.

In 1985, at 19 years of age, Fonyo completed his run across Canada, after having lost his left leg to cancer. He did what Terry Fox was unable by dipping his toe in the Pacific Ocean, raised $13 million for cancer research and was named to the Order of Canada. Fonyo exudes pride as he goes through boxes of old awards, medals and a picture of him meeting then-Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. Then came the fall, a constant tumble brought on by the sudden death of Fonyo’s father and continuing into petty crime and drug use. Money dried up and the Order of Canada was taken away.

Hurt follows Fonyo during a year in his life, 12 months in B.C. marked by anger, sorrow and heartbreak thanks to a marriage ending and tough economic times. Yes, Fonyo is largely responsible for his own situation, and the stubborn attitude he shows towards his neighbours, ex-wife and family is the same that urged him across the country back in 1985.

Hurt isn’t a pretty picture. As a matter of fact, it’s downright sad in some spots, especially when Fonyo eats Chinese food off a plate set on top of a recycling bin, but there are glimmers of hope that Fonyo will triumph over his demons.

Hurt airs Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET on Super Channel 4 and Super Channel On Demand.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail