Canadian Actors and Auteurs

CANADIAN ACTORS AND AUTEURS

Sarah Yamamoto, Liora Fedorov, and Matt

Sinclair

WEIRD SEX AND SNOWSHOES

Book (2001): Katherine Monk

Documentary (2004): Jill Sharpe

Explores Canadian identity

within film culture and analyzes

the distinction of Canadian

movies from other cinemas

ALANIS OBOMSAWIN

“I get very excited whenever I

make a documentary. I love the

form because I’m very concerned

about educating people about

what’s going on. So much history

can be lost if no one tells the

story so that’s what I do. I tell the

stories”.

ALANIS OBOMSAWIN

Born in New Hampshire on August 31 1932, raised in Quebec

One of the most prolific Canadian filmmakers of Abenaki descent

Outstanding Canadian of the year in 1965

Lead an Aboriginal revolution of the arts through documentaries

In 1967, approached by National Film Board to be advisor on film

about Aboriginals

Directed first film in 1971: Christmas at Moose Factory

Made over 16 movies

ERNEST SHIPMAN

A Canadian director who

produced one of the most

successful Canadian pictures of

all time: Back to God’s Country

(1919)

His main creative force:

importance of women and the

landscape in Canadian film.

CANADIAN FILM FOCUS

Main focus: the landscape

Increased American control over production –

landscape continued to be central feature.

Landscape used in backdrops, generally serves as

a counterpoint to the character.

Landscape and photography work together

BRUCE MCDONALD

Born on May 28, 1959 in Kingston, Ontario

Director and Producer

Won $25000 for best Canadian feature at 1989 Toronto

International film festival

First Canadian film to show hipster chic style of Canada

Roadkill, Highway 61, Twitch City

https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw397jw4hPE&list=PLAAA

BDD9F145F5FA1

OPENING THE LENS

Peter Mettler – Picture of Light (1994)

Camera becomes a teacher all by itself

Travel far north to create high-art documentary and to

capture the northern lights (aurora borealis)

Due to extreme weather conditions and equipment failure

the documentary shifts to the subject of creating a film “a

film about a film”

“The movie is the landscape is the movie”

NEGATIVE THEORY

“Canadians show a marked preference for the

negative” • Margaret Atwood, Survival

Defined by what we are not, more so than what we

are survival mechanism we’ve developed over time

to distinguish ourselves from the monolithic

American nation next door

CANADIAN ACTORS AT HOME AND IN HOLLYWOOD

Oftentimes, Canadian actors are only recognized

once they have made it in Hollywood

It becomes difficult to distinguish Canadian actors

from American actors

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nPh6Xb-WbE

WHICH ACTOR’S ARE CANADIAN?

CANADIAN ACTORS TRIVIA

2. Which of the following

movies was filmed in

Canada?

A. My Big Fat Greek

Wedding (2002)

B. Gladiator (2000)

C. Skyfall (2012)

D. Despicable Me (2010)

1. Which of the following

movies was Ryan

Gosling not featured in?

A. The Notebook (2004)

B. Drive (2011)

C. Dear John (2010)

D. Gangster Squad (2013)

DISCUSSION

Do you observe any differences between Canadian

and American actors/directors?

Are Canadian actors/directors being assimilated

into American film culture?

Why do you think Canadian films primary focus is

on landscape and nature?

THANK YOU!