Tag Archives: TAN-The Afro News.

Happy New Year Update!

 

 

Ariadne’s Notes:

I want to thank all  the World Poetry Participants , publishers, the World Poetry Canada International closed groups Peaceathon, World Poetry Youth Team  and, media partners in print and digital  poetry association partners and  film partners. In 2017, the film partners reached numbered 7 and we are grateful for their wonderful films and the opportunity to promote them. We hope to expand into other media as well.

 

The World Poetry Café radio show has been on the air continually since 1991 and the current team will be adding a couple of guest hosts in January and February. We just received a certificate from the station which I hope to post.

The show how has now reached 101 countries and the book launches have also been very popular with a wait list for a variety of  guests from LA and New York , USA, as well as the world.

The World Poetry Peace Celebration still has poems to be read on the show and certificates to be sent out. 700 peace poems were received and are being read on the show with more coming in.

I want to thank all of your who have sent messages, phoned and contacted me in appreciation of what World Poetry has done for them, opened the doors for contacts and positive exposure and in bringing the poets, musicians, artists, writers together worldwide as a family in support of respect, love and peace.  As one media person put it! “They love your positive and respectful show!’’

 A big thank you to are directors and advisors!

This is a volunteer position for me and I hope to do the best job possible promoting all of you.

In the new year, we hope to expand with a FB Media Page, podcasts and World Poetry Media reporters searching out and reporting on positive news with the goals of respect, unity, love and peace.

In peace, respect and love,

Ariadne

 

The Man Who Invented Christmas! A Must See Film!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Man Who Invented Christmas! A Must See Film!

Elevation Pictures brings us another priceless gem just in time for the holidays, opening across Canada this Friday, November 24!

The Man who Invented Christmas features the what is behind  the work of Charles Dickens as he wrote a Christmas Carol, the inner workings of a writer as he dealt with creative blocks and  his personal demons from his childhood. The film is outstanding in that it brought out personal traumas in those who saw the film and offers a possible transformation.  Outstanding performances by Dan Stevens and Christopher Plummer add to the quality of the movie.

The triumph of the Christmas Carol shows the persistence of Dickens against many odds and offers some valuable tips for writers.

Elevation Pictures is releasing their new film THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS in theatres across Canada on Friday, Nov. 24th. The film is a Canada-Irish co-production starring Christopher Plummer (as Scrooge) and Dan Stevens (as Charles Dickens) Director: Bharat Nalluri. Screenwriter: Susan Coyne. The film shows how Charles Dickens came to write A Christmas Carol and how that tale would change how Christmas was celebrated around the world.

https://www.bleeckerstreetmedia.com/themanwhoinventedchristmas

  Source: Elevation Pictures.

Special exhibition: In celebration of the new film The Man who Invented Christmas inspired by the journey of Charles Dickens writing his classic tale ‘A Christmas Carol’, Elevation Pictures and the Toronto Reference Library have teamed up to bring original Charles Dickens artifacts to Toronto. The exhibit, which is free to the public, features first edition copies of Dickens’ novels as well as personal letters and original paintings. The exhibit runs from Nov. 18th – Dec. 3rd on the 5th floor of the library.

With special thanks to the Afro News for this reprint: 

http://www.theafronews.com/http://

www.theafronews.com/the-man-who-invented-christmas-a-must-see-film/

World Poetry Celebrates Unarmed Verses-A Must See Doc at VIFF!

 

 

A Must See Documentary at VIFF! Unarmed Verses by Ariadne Sawyer, MA.

Showing at the festival: Wednesday, October 4, 1 p.m.  SFU’s Goldcorp Centre for the Arts

Friday, October 6,  p.m. Rio Theatre.

Charles Officer’s Unarmed Verses presents a thoughtful and vivid portrait of a community facing imposed relocation, taking a look at marginalized Toronto Community Housing residents in the city’s north-east end. At the centre of the story is a remarkably astute and luminous 12-year-old black girl. The  documentary Unarmed Verses made its world premiere at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival  and now at VIFF festival. The films poignant observations about life, the soul, and the power of art give voice to those rarely heard in society weaves through it like a beautiful tapistery. Unarmed Verses is produced by Lea Marin and executive produced by Anita Lee for the NFB’s Ontario Studio. Source NFB.

In viewing the film; the courage, intelligence and capability of the young girl,  Francine Valentine who cared for her family and was able to see clearly what was happening as her community is re-located to build condos which would be too expensive for any of the community to buy was very powerful

 She is an talented poet, student and shining light in the world.  It is wonderful that she has been accepted into an arts school and will become an amazing asset to Canadian society.

As she mentioned in the documentary: “Youth need to learn to empower themselves. It is important to have someone believe in them .”

Earlier, I had a wonderful interview with Charles Officer about this well done, sensitive and empowering documentary. He spoke of the need for governments and communities to realize the powerful effects that their decisions make on marginalized people and talked about  his commitment to the problems of gentrification, economics and the need to for their stories to be heard. Charles is an amazing director with many credits and part of the  upcoming TV series 21 Thunder which began June 19th. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6145878/fullcredits

Officer has also done such documentaries as Mighty Jerome, the NFB feature on Canadian sprinter Harry Jerome, the recent CBC documentary The Skin We’re In, and the drama feature Nurse. Fighter. Boy, which garnered 10 Genie nominations in 2008.

For an insightful interview. http://www.cbc.ca/radio/q/why-i-direct-charles-officer-1.4096127

 Current update on Unarmed Verses after HotDocs from Katja De Bock, NFB.

Unarmed Verses opened the 14th EIDF Documentary Film Festival in Seoul, Korea. The film was well received. Similar matters around revitalization, disconnection between citizens, developers and lawmakers is  happening across the country as well.  This is a worldwide problem and that needs to be addressed.

Unarmed Verses was screened at Toronto City Hall and hosted by Councillor Shelley Carroll, who also appears in the film. Council members were present, but Mayor John Tory was absent. I have been trying to get him to come see the film, but no luck. I have a lot of respect for Councillor Carroll, it was brave of her to initiate the screening and communicate how much she did learn from the film, and taking in the experience of those living it. Sydney, Q’mal and Lavane were present and had an opportunity to update Council members on the aftermath of revitalization. 

A great doc to see! Previously reviewed on The World Poetry Café Radio Show, 105.FM CFRO and was linked to www.worldpoetry.ca  and published in the Afro News http://www.theafronews.com/a-must-see-documentary-at-viff-unarmed-verses/

What’s next for Charles Officer:

He is  currently in production with a new feature documentary, Invisible Essence: Le Petit Prince. The film explores the mystery and magic of the universally popular novella written by Antoine de St. Exupery. Also re-writing a mini-series adaptation of Mordecai Richler’s Don of a Smaller Hero.  Charles is a talented filmmaker who has an important message to the world.