Tag Archives: The Tragically Hip

TV Eh B Cs podcast 73 — A Potter’s Craft

Chris Potter was born in Toronto and raised in London, Ontario, Canada. An early start in theatre and music ultimately led to him finding a calling in film and television work.

An actor with great versatility, Chris has a flare for edgy roles. He has accumulated an impressive volume of credits in a 25 year career. Chris is also an accomplished director and producer. On Heartland he has directed 18 episodes. He has starred in seven successful TV series (over 550 cumulative one-hour episodes) in addition to numerous TV guest appearances, television movies and feature films.

Over the length of his career, Chris has become a recognized international actor and star to many loyal fans. He continues to donate his time, his support, and loyal commitment to numerous charities. Chris and his wife Karen have also placed their family life and raising their four, now grown up, children as their top priority.

Listen or download below, or subscribe via iTunes or any other podcast catcher with the TV, eh? podcast feed.

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CTV Presents the World Broadcast Premiere of The Tragically Hip Tour Documentary LONG TIME RUNNING, November 12

From a media release:

On the heels of last night’s big buzz World Premiere at the 42nd Toronto International Film Festival, and a cross-Canada theatrical launch beginning today from Elevation Pictures, CTV today announced the television broadcast premiere of LONG TIME RUNNING, the powerful feature documentary about iconic Canadian band The Tragically Hip and their momentous final tour. The special CTV Feature Presentation premieres across Canada on Sunday, November 12 at 8 p.m. ET. On Monday, November 13, the commercial-free theatrical version of LONG TIME RUNNING begins streaming on Canada’s premium TV streaming service CraveTV.

From acclaimed directors Jennifer Baichwal and Nicholas De Pencier, LONG TIME RUNNING is presented by Bell Media and Elevation Pictures and is produced by Banger Films in association with Shed Creative, a division of Universal Music Canada.

LONG TIME RUNNING chronicles The Tragically Hip’s iconic 2016 Man Machine Poem tour and emotional final concert in their hometown of Kingston, ON after the band’s announcement that lead singer Gord Downie was diagnosed with incurable brain cancer. From Heriot Bay, BC to Gros Morne, NL to Moosonee, ON, viewers are given a unique and exclusive perspective into The Tragically Hip’s world through interviews, verité, intimate behind-the-scenes moments, fan testimonials, audience experience, and performance footage.

Fans can buy their tickets now to see LONG TIME RUNNING in Cineplex and Landmark theatres across Canada, beginning today.

Commissioned by Bell Media, the film is directed by renowned Canadian documentary filmmakers Jennifer Baichwal and Nicholas de Pencier (Manufactured Landscapes, Act of God, Watermark), and produced by Banger Films’ Scot McFadyen (HIP-HOP EVOLUTION, RUSH: BEYOND THE LIGHTED STAGE), and Rachel McLean, in association with Shed Creative (a division of Universal Music Canada). Executive Producers are Bernie Breen, Patrick Sambrook, Scot McFadyen, Sam Dunn, Randy Lennox, Jeffrey Remedios, Dave Harris, Naveen Prasad, and Jeremy Smith.

 

 

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CTV gives Canadians first look at feature on The Tragically Hip and their historic Man Machine Poem concert tour

From a media release:

On the heels of a special sneak peek at the conclusion of its annual Upfront presentation, CTV today released a first look at the upcoming CTV Feature Presentation, a film about Canada’s beloved The Tragically Hip, their challenging year, and their momentous cross-Canada Man Machine Poem Tour. Click here to view the First Look.

As was announced last fall, the film chronicles the emotional and epic lead up to the iconic Canadian band’s now-legendary 2016 tour that captured the heart of the nation. Viewers will be given a unique and exclusive perspective into The Tragically Hip’s world through intimate moments, behind-the-scenes and on-stage footage, personal interviews with the band and close friends, as well reactions from their devoted fans from across the country.

Commissioned by Bell Media, the documentary is set for a fall theatrical run, distributed by Elevation Pictures, ahead of its television premiere in late fall on Canada’s most-watched network, CTV. The network premiere will be followed by airings on various Bell Media and on-demand platforms, including The Movie Network, MUCH, and CraveTV.

The film is directed by renowned Canadian documentary filmmakers Jennifer Baichwal and Nicholas de Pencier (Manufactured Landscapes, Act of God, Watermark), and produced by Banger Films’ Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn (HIP-HOP EVOLUTION, RUSH: BEYOND THE LIGHTED STAGE), in association with Shed Creative (a division of Universal Music Canada).

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Secret Path: The Pathway to Reconciliation?

The opening segment of Secret Path, set to the haunting song “The Stranger” sung by Gord Downie, is perhaps the most illustrative for me. It juxtaposes Chanie Wenjack’s home, and his treacherous walk home. Comic artist Jeff Lemire’s use of colour was perfection. But what I found particularly refreshing was the lack of stereotypical representations. Chanie’s father was not the “wild man” that he and all of mainstream Canada were taught to believe. He was simply a father loved by his son, like fathers everywhere. And this is the secret. But I will come back to that.

Throughout Secret Path, Chanie is illustrated as a dark-haired boy clothed in nondescript clothing. A young, terrified and alone dark-haired boy. He played on swings like all children do, he liked to fish, like so many children learn to do. Even the scenes that illustrated punishment and abuse at the hands of a priest, could have been about any boy in attendance at any religious school—of which we now know there were many worldwide.

Following the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report, Calls To Action were made recommending mainstream Canadians learn about Indigenous culture. And why is this so important? It is not to make mainstream Canadians feel guilty—although we as a collective bear the burden of guilt—but rather to recognize the humanity of an entire segment of Canada that has been ignored, even denied, for centuries.

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With the gravitas the name Gord Downie brings to this project, this animation attempts to bring attention to the inequities present in the northern communities. Secret Path was not designed to teach the story of the Residential School System. That is told elsewhere. This project was, however, about honouring the life of a little boy, about recognizing who was to blame for the death of that little boy, and it was about reminding mainstream Canadians to be empathetic. Chanie, drawn as Lemire did, deliberately suggests he could be could be any little boy anywhere in rural Canada. He could be any child, living with happy childhood memories, any child with a family who loves him.

It is also important to keep in mind that while students in the RSS were being inculcated to believe they were heathen, dirty, subhuman beings not worthy of decent food let alone humane treatment whilst in the care of church and government, so too was mainstream taught the same. Secret Path is teaching us that for reconciliation to truly begin, all people living in Canada need to see the humanity in each of us. It is only with this acceptance that we can use that empathy as a motivation to build the bridges between cultures, from both shores. Chanie’s sister Pearl states, “As big as the world is, we are all connected in some way. I don’t know how, but I know that.” This is the very connection that the Canadian government and the RSS sought to destroy. This is the spark of humanity that is the key, the secret, to begin healing those connections again.

Will this be a project destined for classrooms everywhere? Perhaps. Regardless, it was beautifully structured, and Lemire’s work continues to mature. I was already a huge fan of his illustrative talents. Now I am more so!

What did you think of Secret Path? Comment below.

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Secret Path: The Chanie Wenjack Story is must-see TV

I had been waiting for a screener of The Secret Path to land in my Inbox the moment I heard about this project. I have been a casual listener of The Tragically Hip for more years than I care to admit and I am also a big fan of artist Jeff Lemire’s work. I first took note of Lemire’s work with Essex County, a finalist for Canada Reads in 2011. His style is uniquely his own. Once you are familiar with his work, there is no doubt in your mind when you come across his other projects.

I was going into this preview with some trepidation. I am a firm believer that as Canadians—as we move together through this process of reconciliation—mainstream or non-Indigenous peoples must let Indigenous voices tell their own stories. For too long, non-Indigenous peoples have told them, using those tales to their own ends, often against the very people for whom they belonged.

Lemire had recently created Equinox for the comic Justice League United, based upon Shannen Koostachin, and prior to publishing it he received permission from the community of Attiwapiskat. That Lemire was on board for the telling of the Chanie Wenjack story eased a few of my concerns.

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The animation opens with a brief introduction from Gord Downie as he travelled to Ogoki, Ont., to meet with Wenjack’s family. We meet his sister Pearl, who appears delighted Chanie’s story is finally being told, and bemused, “Who would have thought? Tragically Hip?” doing so.

The story itself is presented in a series of short clips, short vignettes if you will. Each features a different component of Chanie’s lonely and desperate escape from Cecilia Jeffrey Residential School and his fruitless quest to reach his home. Each segment a different song sung by Downie, frontman for The Tragically Hip.

The first song shows memories of home, with Chanie and his family drawn in a warm colour palette in warm tones. This is the only sequence to feature those warm sunny colours. Throughout the rest of the animation, Lemire sticks to the cooler blue in his artistry reflecting the conditions Chanie traveled through, including freezing rain, while wearing only a light cotton jacket provided by the school.

The Secret Path airs Sunday at 9 p.m. on CBC and on the network website.

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