Last night, I got a peek at the Mark’s Spring Summer 2012 collection. Inspired by the spirit of a summer stroll or picnic in the park, the collection is bright and fresh and most of all cozy, yet fashionable.

Some of my favourite items from the mens collection are the DH3 selvage jeans, which come in a variety of fits to suit any style and the new collection of vintage button down shirts, the kind you want to steal from your boyfriend and wrap around you for the extra layer of comfort.

Of course, Mark’s is constantly pushing their innovations, such as the Perfectly Pressed shirts, for those guys that hate ironing, but new this season, Mark’s is introducing their Men’s Don’t Sweat it shirts, which is a special woven material that doesn’t allow for moisture to reach the surface of your garment. This translates to having a shirt that will never get sweat marks. I’ve seen it in action, and it’s quite remarkable.

Regardless of the innovations behind the collection, SS12 makes me want to hop on a bike, makes me want to hold your hand, makes me want to soak in the sun and hang out with that special someone. Until then, I’ll be dreaming of spring’s arrival. Less than two months to go my friends.

They won’t just be betting on the outcome of the game or the total points or even anything that pertains to the game at all for that matter. Every year there is a list of amazing and entertaining prop bets that the public can get in on.

This year there are some great ones (check the Kelly Clarkson and Madonna action at the bottom of the list) that you can play with online or with your friends at home.

Note: Please gamble responsibly. It’s a lesson that too many people don’t learn and it can cause a lot of trouble. Thank you.

So, get some change together, get your pen out and start placing your bets. Good luck!

Coin Toss

Come Up To My Room (CUTMR) is the Gladstone Hotel’s annual alternative design event. It’s a collaboration of artists and designers showcasing their imagination in 11 rooms and 13 public space projects. The four day event is in it’s ninth year, and this year, the installations are outstanding. Below is a schedule of events happening at the Gladstone this weekend as well as some shots from the show.

When is Come Up To My Room? January 26 to January 29, 2012!

SATURDAY, JAN. 28:
12PM-10PM – EXHIBITION HOURS
11AM-2PM – DESIGN TALKS – LET’S TALK: DISPOSABILITY– GLADSTONE BALLROOM
7PM-10PM – OPENING RECEPTION
10PM-LATE – LOVE DESIGN PARTY – GLADSTONE BALLROOM

SUNDAY, JAN. 29:
12-5PM – EXHIBITION HOURS

Room installations:

Gareth Bate, DarkLab, Wendy W. Fok, Fugitive Glue, merk, Sam Mogelonsky & Bruno Billio, [R]ED[U]X LAB, uA in collaboration with Robert Eland and Thomas Nemeskeri, vÆry Studio, Janna Watson and Katrina Tompkins for Tinsel & Sawdust, WE-3

Public space projects:

archiTEXT, Matthew Blunderfield & Skanda Lin, Matthew Davis & Aurelia Adams, Carolyn Fearman & Robin Porter, Hyungshin Hwang, Interstice Studio, Lost Nation, John Mestito & Roland Ulfig, Metropolis Living, TOMA, Sonia Tyagi, Void Engineering, Wes Wilson & Matthew Peddie, University of Waterloo School of Architecture Chair Projects

Growing up in Toronto in the early 80′s meant that I had to own something from Roots. It was one of those brands that every kid at school had to have. I’m not sure what it was about having a beaver plastered across your chest, but it was very cool and very Canadian. In my teens, I still remember getting my first pair of Roots Tuff boots. They were rugged, black and totally took a beating to the Canadian winter weather and I loved them. Apparently, they still make them, which I think is pretty awesome and proves that they really don’t go out of style. Roots has been one of those brands that have been woven into my life since I was young, so when Roots invited me out to play, I was pretty excited to check things out.

Wednesday night, I was invited to an intimate gathering at the Roots store in Yorkville, where I got a sneak peak at some of the beautiful leather products coming out this spring. The majority of the goods were steered towards the female persuasion, but the new collection also featured some great bags, men’s jackets and shoes which I could totally appreciate.

The women’s collection was mostly made up of an earth tones collection and second collection of saturated brights. The one piece that stood out for me was this gorgeous Kristina Bag (shown above). It was a great size with sturdy handles, a colour that was radiant and leather that was supple to the touch. (on a side note, if Roots made a men’s wallet in this colour, I would snatch it up in an instant. Even if you made only one prototype especially for me!)

As well, the Roots made with Love in Canada collection, just hit Roots stores this week, in time for Valentine’s Day. Made up of hot red, black and silver leathers. The pieces in this collection, pop and I’m sure will quickly become a favourite in any woman’s closet.

If you haven’t checked out any of the Roots leather collections before, it’s definite worth looking into. All the products are made with genuine italian leather and are super soft to the touch. The craftsmanship is outstanding and the attention to detail in the design is clean and classic, best of all, everything is sewn right here in Toronto.

Look for these great pieces coming to Roots store across the country in very soon. Also follow @RootsCanada on Twitter as well as on Facebook to keep up to date on their latest products and deals.

While you are at it, Check out these other amazing Roots gear on my wish list.

- Men’s Nordic Boot

- Modern Satchel Ranger Leather

- Men’s Varsity Jacket Deer Leather [sold out]

- The Summit Tribe Watch

- Beaver Canoe Throw

This past Friday, I headed down to Queen and Bathurst to the old Big Bop building to check out the new CB2 store, the first one in Canada. CB2 is a more urban branch of the Crate and Barrel brand which first opened it’s doors in Chicago in 2000. This year, they are expanding into Canada, opening stores in Toronto as well as Vancouver (in February).

CB2 has done an amazing job and renovating and revitalizing the old building, peeling away the purple paint and showcasing the original brick. The store is large and spacious spanning two floors and is filled with some amazing CB2 merchandise.

Visiting the store last Friday, I bumped into a lot of friends and took mental added a whole slew of merchandise into my own mental wish list. If you haven’t checked out the store yet, it’s worth a visit. You can follow the Toronto CB2 store on twitter @CB2queenwest and don’t forget to visit their website for your chance to win a $500 shopping spree.

Most of the songs I found have been around for a long time. They’re classics if only because they are so often heard at games.

Can you believe it’s already 2012? Okay, we are already over two weeks into the new year. And it’s time I’ve pulled myself out of holiday mode, it’s time I’ve pulled myself out of feeling sorry for myself mode and it’s time I get myself together and start living life again. Easier said then done.

The last two years years have been a challenge, learning to be myself, learning to live with myself, learning how to be a single man. It’s had it’s up and downs. I’ve set in place coping mechanisms to get me through, and now I think it’s time to start shedding it all away. It’s time for me to grow up and becoming responsible again.

Not to say that the last couple of years haven’t had good times, I’ve sang a bunch, way too much, karaoke became my life, a way for me to cope with my feelings, with my loss, with my loneliness. It also brought me a bunch of close friends whom I love dearly and I’m grateful for.

In any case, a new year brings new things, I have resolutions and goals but I’m not going to get into them here. The one thing I do want to get back into which I will mention, is writing here on the blog. This past September I will have had a blogging for over 11 years. On the 3rd of January, I have been on Twitter for 5 years. And I think moving forward, I’m gonna be putting more effort here, sharing with you my images, my words, my life.

I don’t know what 2012 is going to bring for me. I do know it’s going to be a year of change, a year of challenges and it’s going to be a new chapter. Wish me luck.

I’ve been a sports fan for my entire life. I’ve been to games, watched on TV, played baseball, basketball, volleyball and more and I’ve dreamed big dreams.

Some of those dreams are just that – big dreams that are wonderful and fun to drift into. They exist in an alternate universe where I am a different person with different skills and opportunities.

Things I Dream About Doing In Sports…

Winning the Super Bowl: I actually had a dream the other night that I was playing in some weird practice type atmosphere against Tom Brady of the New England Patriots. I don’t like Tom Brady, I don’t cheer for Tom Brady, I’m jealous of Tom Brady. But it would be awesome to throw 3 touchdown passes and raise the Lombardi Trophy.

Hit a Big League Home Run: I’ve hit home runs in little league and playing rep baseball as a teen and playing fastball in my 20s… but I’ve never hit one 405 feet to straight away centre field off a 90 mph fastball. I know what it feels like to really hammer a ball on the sweet spot of a bat. I dream about rounding the bases, shaking the third base coaches hand and giving out some high fives in the dugout.

Score a goal on a breakaway: I didn’t play organized hockey when I was a kid. In fact, I’ve only had full equipment on once in my life. However, I can skate. I skated a lot on the pond at home when I was younger and I have a little confidence in being able to play some pick up puck. I would love to feel the speed of my blades and the puck on my stick and maybe I’d go with a triple deke (Charlie Conway style) before going top shelf on the glove side.

Dunk a Basketball: I’ve dunked before, but with the help of a stage riser. I can still get a hand on the rim when I jump, I can still handle the ball and I can even shoot a little bit. I would love to be able to get the “ups” to throw down a thundering dunk. Perhaps I’d add in a little stare down or trash talk after.

Be Awesome on the High Dive: I don’t do much diving. In fact, I’ve never been on a high board and I’m okay with that. But, it would be cool to do some twists and tumbles and flips on the way down and enter the water without so much as a splash.

Hit a Hole In One: I’ve golfed. A little. I used to spend some real quality time at the driving range. But I’ve never come close to hitting a hole-in-one. I’d love to exerience that feeling. I’d love to have to buy my playing partners a round at the 19th hole. I want to bend down, pick my ball out of the cup and hold it high over my head proudly and scream “yeah bitch!”

I’ve dreamed some crazy sports dreams in my life… these are just a few of the things that it would be really cool to accomplish.

Here’s hoping that you dream too – it’s a great way to live.

For decades we have been listening to professional athletes talking to reporters and teammates and saying some of the most ridiculous things ever. There are some great lists all over the web and I couldn’t stop myself from grabbing some of the best (worst?) quotes and putting my own list together.

Please note the Mike Tyson did not make my list because most of his most memorable quotes are offensive to the point that I don’t feel comfortable sharing them. But if you want to find them it’s really easy on the google.

Big shout outs to former NBA star Shaquille O’Neill who starts the list and makes a second appearance a little further down the post.

While their primary job may be to entertain us on the field, court, course or in the ring – these athletes have crossed the boundaries and have entertained us with their words as well… for that I thank them.

Enjoy.

Reporter: “Did you visit the Parthenon while in Greece?”
Shaquille O’Neill: “I can’t really remember the names of all the clubs we went to.”

“We’re going to turn this team around 360 degrees.” – Jason Kidd

“Left hand, right hand, it doesn’t matter. I’m amphibious.” – Charles Shackleford

“I’ve seen George Foreman shadow boxing and the shadow won.” – Muhammad Ali

“The sun has been there for 500, 600 years.” – Mike Cameron

“I don’t want to shoot my mouth in my foot, but those are games we can win.” - Sherman Douglas

“I made a 1,600 minus 800 minus 200 on the SAT, so I’m very intelligent when I speak.” – Shaquille O’Neal (again)

“Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein.” – Joe Theismann

“You guys pair up in groups of three, and then line up in a circle.” – Coach Bill Peterson

“My sister’s expecting a baby, and I don’t know if I’m going to be an uncle or an aunt.” – Chuck Nevitt

“Football is, after all, a wonderful way to get rid of your aggressions without going to jail for it.” – Heywood Hale Broun

“I’m not an athlete. I’m a professional baseball player.” – John Kruk

“Me and George and Billy are two of a kind.” – Mickey Rivers

“I may be dumb, but I’m not stupid.” – Terry Bradshaw

“I quit school in the sixth grade because of pneumonia. Not because I had it, but because I couldn’t spell it.” – Rocky Graziano

“(We) should be allowed to wear shorts. God almighty, (LPGA) women are allowed to wear ‘em, and we’ve got better legs than they do.” – Greg Norman ]]> http://www.photojunkie.ca/archive/2012/01/phjoshua-on-sports-sht-athletes-say/feed/ 0 http://www.photojunkie.ca/archive/2012/01/phjoshua-on-sports-whats-coming-in-2012/ http://www.photojunkie.ca/archive/2012/01/phjoshua-on-sports-whats-coming-in-2012/#comments Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:24:22 +0000 phjoshua http://www.photojunkie.ca/?p=9526 Good day all,

2012 is upon us (finally) and since it may be the last year we have, I think it’s a great idea to start planning to make the most of it!

With that in mind I have a quick list of some important sporting event dates in the next 7 months or so. We’ve got tennis, baseball, auto racing, football, hockey, basketball, soccer and the Olympics covered… so there should be something for almost everybody.

Get your calendar out…

There are,

From my house to yours, have a safe and happy 2012 – all the best – be awesome!

It’s been five years since the last Mission that proved possible for Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt, after M:i:III got it’s fuse relit by JJ Abrams. This welcome fourth quarter is part powered by the Bad Robot while Brad Bird takes the directors seat ditching his pixel pallete for a pound of real life flesh & bone actors with Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.

The stunning IMAX is a must movie option as Budapest is the first location we are transported to where a rooftop chase ends with a deadly assassin & an iPhone distraction.  Moving the action to Moscow, a jail break out in synchronized style reunites Hunt with Benji Dunn (played by Simon Pegg – now fully graduated to in field operations yet with a gadget & computer close at hand) and an introduction to agent Jane Carter.  While in Russia it seems only fair that a tourist trip to the biggest attraction at Red Square is in order as the reluctant led group takes on a new task.  A double dip of deception frames them for planting more than Gremlins in the Kremlin as the landmark goes kaboom.  With this action set piece the titular Ghost Protocol kicks in, issued by the head of the Impossible Mission Force – Hunt & his colleagues are now labeled as terrorists as they race to find out who framed them with the help of an unlikely analyst.  MI4 is a spectacular jaunt across the globe with the trademark gadgetry that truly feels not that far away in terms of finding it’s way out of fiction. In one scene a camera stalk attached to an iPad peers round a corner while augmented reality contact lenses that pick faces out of the crowd, have already ended up on the eyes of bunnies!  This was the first IMAX screen I’ve visited in Canada which made my jaw drop more than a 3D poke penetrating my eye ball could ever muster.  Certain scenes pop the top & bottom of the large screen format.  A taller than the CN Tower scaling in Dubai & a sandstorm mark the highlights of the movie for me.  This is the full on action adventure of the festive season that you need to end the year on.  I can’t wait for a MI5, though I think that name might already be spoken for.

For a chance to win a MI4 Prize courtesy of Paramount Pictures Canada enter below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Because we all seem to be procrastinators, I’m here to help. If you have a sports fan on your shopping list I think I can help you find something to get them. I’m not kidding, I’m the guy that you could have to shop for some day (hey, it could happen) so I’m very qualified to be the assistant shopper here.

All of the ideas here are cost effective, cheap, not a lot of money… however you want to say it. Some of the options will have higher priced options, but you don’t have to go big.

- Key Chains: Every day I leave the house with a Montreal Canadiens key chain that a friend brought back from a trip to the Bell Centre gift shop. It’s a great little bobble that I love. And I know that it didn’t cost too much. Makes a great stocking stuffer.

- Trading Cards: Cards aren’t as popular as they once were. But there’s something pretty awesome in a childlike way about opening up a foil package of cards. They’re on my list every year. Another great stocking stuffer.

- Christmas ornaments: Tis the season. Some people may think that they’re tacky (they kind of are) but it’s still a nice treat to represent your fav team on the tree over the holidays. If you look hard enough you can even find ornaments that look nice… trust me.

- T-shirts: It can be hard to find something for under $20 sometimes. But the pieces are out there. Whether you are looking for a boy or a girl or a kid, a t-shirt with their fav team’s logo on the front is always a good find. Do your best to get the right size and you’ll have a big win!

- Books: Sports fans read to you know. And there are a lot of great sports books on the shelves. From biographies to photo collections to fictional classics… the selection will seem endless. But the good news is that because the selection is so huge, there will undoubtedly be something on sale and under $20.

- A picture of yourself Tebowing: If you haven’t heard of Tebowing or you don’t know what it’s all about – check out www.tebowing.com and you’ll know what I’m talking about. Snap the pic, get a cheap frame and you’ll have a great smile and laugh on Christmas day!

-  Bobble Heads: They can get expensive. They can be limited edition. But they can also be readily available. Check out ebay and amazon and I’m willing to bet that you find a whole bunch of options in your price range. Just be careful, nobody wants to get a bobble head of a disgraced former star of their team… like maybe Vince Carter in Toronto as an example.

- DVDs: If your fav sports fan’s fav team has ever won a championship there should be a dvd of their win. I’ve got the Blue Jays dvds from 1992 and 1993… I love them. It’s a great buy.

So, there you go kids. A bunch of ideas that won’t break the bank. If you still have some shopping left to do in the week leading up to Christmas please feel free to lean on this list and see if you can get some smiles and thank yous.

Here’s hoping that you all have a safe and happy holiday season. Thank you for stopping in at photojunkie.ca to check out the content put together by the entire group of talented people hanging around here.

smile big, be awesome, drink your eggnog!

It’s midpoint in my merry challenge with six movies under the belt which also includes my favourite so far.  How often do you start a Monday morning watching a R rated comedy at the TIFF Bell Lightbox in the company of legend Ivan Reitman?  This time last week I was doing just that after seeing an invite pop up on the Facebook fan page for Servitude – a new Canadian comedy set in the world of  waiting tables.  I’d first heard about the movie last year when a contest was running to win a cameo in the project, where the best video confessional about working as a server could rescue your from dish delivering duties & land you on the big screen in a meta movie moment.  Servitude is the story of Josh the star waiter at the Ranch Steakhouse as he tries to quit his job & head back to school.  With a rodeo for the theme of the restaurant it’s more than the mechanical bucking bronco in the waiting area that he & his colleagues have to tame in a weekend from hell, full of hungry patronizing patrons.  About to hand in his server’s bib, Josh is called on for one last favour from manager Godfrey (Dave Foley) as the Ranch has an inspection from a new German owner.  If you’ve ever worked in the industry of filling ungrateful bellies you’ll get an extra kick out of seeing the exaggerated characters that really are out there.  Serving up dirty potatoes & “cuppies” on the team are Tommy – a pretty boy with more mature taste for the ladies, Barb – a frazzled working mum who’s patience  clocked out before her shift even started, Krissy – a gum chewing by the book cowgirl who uses mostly text message/internet speak abbreviations rather than syllables & Simon – the wannabe actor who gives his best performances in the washroom.  As if balancing these personalities & plates wasn’t  enough alone cue a ravenous rabble of customers and the restaurateur version of the  Third Reich threatening to deplete more than a 15% tip at the end of the meal.  Staging a mini revolution Josh & cohorts decide to start giving as good as they get & stop biting their lips when they discover their jobs are for the chop.  Speaking of lips Margo Kidders are plumped & pouting as the martini gargling table for one lady that steals the show in every scene.

It’ll probably get a lot of comparisons to American Pie but this maple flavoured tart is a full course serving of funny rather than a just desserts, gross out gag routine audiences have come to expect.  The wait time to be seated for Servitude is a little while away, February/March 2012 is what we were told in the screening.  Be sure to Like & Follow the movie to be kept up to date.

Second up was a more serious situation at the NFB Mediatheque for the last of this year’s Green Screens.  The Chocolate Farmer was quite apt for December considering we’re all about to stuff ourselves full of the stuff during the festival season.  A moment on the lips & a lifetime on the hips but how much time between those two are you spending on thinking where this sweet treat came from?   Eladio Pop works the land in southern Belize, recognising that he isn’t cash rich on a monetary level but the land sustains him and his fifteen children and wife.  The documentary follows his machete swipes through the jungle foliage as he farms cocoa beans.  These were once the gold for his Mayan people and now in present day are traded for modern currency.  Two of his son’s, a female cultural activist & a co-op owner are also introduced in to the story of the community being changed by globalization.   After the screening a presentation by ChocoSol Traders gave some added insight to the processes & the responsible trading & interactions with these communities.

Last up in the week that was, I called the NFB Mediathque home again for a sneak peek of Millions, a kickstarter webisode/TV based project about twenty-something Asian-Canadians living in Toronto who decide to reignite a high school pact & become millionaires by the age of 30.  The 15 min teaser introduced a few characters on the road to establishing this quest as we learn about their unfulfilled lives working the 9 to 5.  The cliff hanger ending of the pilot left me wanting to find out more, which luckily the website expands upon & relieves some of the frustration left as such a short running time.

Six movies left in my festive quest, any recommendations of other Canadian films screening in the weeks ahead?  What did you see over the weekend?

Follow @emaninTdot
@emaninTdot

Inspired by last year’s programming of “Good Canadian Cinema?” at Toronto Underground Cinema last year I decided to set my own little challenge related to the festive season with the 12 Days of Canuckmas where I aim to watch at least twelve Canadian movies over December.  Big screen, small screen, portable pocket screen all count.  Starting on December 1st here were the first three I’ve watch so far on my mini mission – as if December wasn’t busy enough already?!

Surviving Progress - Cumberland 4 – Alliance Cinemas 159 Cumberland Street, Toronto

I survived Surviving Progress!  Normally I check my brain at the door ready for pure jaw dropped drooling mindless escapism fun at the movies.  I knew I wasn’t going to be able to get away with such a mind set going in to this film.  If anything this was confrontism (is that even an ism?) on the big screen, presented in the style of a hand on your shoulder gently informing you rather than a giant wagging finger & tutting in surround sound.

Starting by trying to define the term progress the documentary seeks answers from a host of notable intellects and reflects on how this is draining the planets resources.  Still chugging along from the industrial revolution we’re gauging more machines as a success measurement.  While our devices are getting smarter we are still running the same primitive hunter/gatherer operating system behind our eyes.  The human mind needs an upgrade before it’s too late.  While thoughts are connected via the internet there is a new moral perspective filtering through, the bigger companies & economic situations still out there are akin to brain damage.

It was great to watch with an audience who applauded during several scenes featuring David Suzuki.

Much like the poster, it’s easy to dig a hole and pretend to be an ostrich ignoring the problems.  If you’re going to involve an ostrich I’d suggest problem solving like the Swiss Family Robinson & ride one in to the future with a new route of hope.

Everything & Everyone - Screening at Projection Booth East Until Dec 8 1035 Gerrard St. East, Toronto

Bittersweet Complexity replaces the words behind the BC abbreviation of British Columbia, where Everything & Everyone was filmed.  Opening on an eventful afternoon Rose & William snatch a few moments for a funny bedroom fumble while their yet to fly the nest son, Noah, has a special delivery from a care worker in the form of his 8 year old son.  His new found Fatherhood manual seems to have been lost in the mail & a dog training book delivered in it’s place, as he’s helped by Rose to raise Ben after the sudden passing of his mother.

When best pal Eric visits Noah on the street during his unsuccessful charity collection he meets Max a hot headed businessman who soon becomes more than a partner for sharp banter.

Life being turned upside down by those entering & leaving, ripple across the interconnecting relationships between family members and friends.

An added pressure from an unannounced illness balances the comedic elements showing that the people we love are never a burden.

Showtimes  Mon 5pm Tues, Wed at 9pm Thurs at 5pm

NURSE.FIGHTER.BOY –  DVD

Deciding to take a break from the theatre going experience, where it’s often hard to find a Canadian film outside of a film festival or special set of programming, I decided to find a movie to take out & home.  Luckily Toronto has a host of indie video stores, much like Rep Cinemas, that specialise in hosting a great library of titles.  Big Daddy’s DVD Shop on Dundas Street West was the closest place to browse the boxes hoping for something to jump out and catch my eye.  The “Canadian Eh!” easily assisted me on my mission to watch.  Noticing the bright type capitalised title on the spine of the case I chose NURSE.FIGHTER.BOY, the first time feature from Charles Officer.  Each titular punctuated character is introduced through colour as we meet Jude raising her son Ceil.  She’s working in a hospital taking on a night shift when she treats Silence a trained boxer & street fighter.  Mature for his age Ceil finds magic everywhere from conjuring tricks to his hidden den of a stage like space.  By chance Jude & Silence connect again as she rides her bike between the alleys of neighborhoods in Toronto on her way to work, pausing to listen to the music leaving the window from his apartment.  At first unwilling to let her guard down they both take the chance to let each other inside their lives.  I normally prefer watching a movie with an audience as a communal event but this film felt perfect for a more intimate viewing.  I’d almost forgotten about special features on a disc & enjoyed learning about the production experience & watching a family of crew members retell their memories on set with some stills and video diaries.  Two short films were also included that worked well as an introduction & follow up to the feature.

You can follow my progress finding the other nine movies over on tumblr - 12daysofcanuckmas.tumblr.com

Maybe it wasn’t what you planned. Maybe you got blindsided. Maybe you were tricked. Or maybe you didn’t think it was going to be a big deal. No matter how it happened, here you are, dating a sports fan.

There are some important things to look out for when you are dating a sports fan. Especially if they are more than a casual observer of athletic competition. Life is going to hit some bumps. Moods are going to get out of control. Things will be said that both of you wish could be taken back. Like it or not, it’s going to get messy.

Two of the first things that you need to understand if you are going to date a sports fan is that there are going to be massive mood swings and heartbreak on an ongoing basis. Sometimes you may be able to understand it (ie. a playoff loss) and other times you will have no idea what the big deal is (ie. random Tuesday night loss). As a sports fan (and a big one) I can tell you that those nights can be prepared for in most circumtances. If you pay enough attention to know that the playoffs are in action, or that your S/O’s fav team is playing their biggest rival, you can be ready for the potential fallout. When it happens – and it will – try to keep these tips in mind.

1) Try not to laugh. If you’re not a fan you may not understand how personal these things can feel. It hurts like a punch to the stomach and your 3rd grade crush kissing another boy at the monkey bars all at the same time. Laughter is not going to help the situation.

2) Don’t tell your partner how cute they look. Trust me, I’ve heard this one and it did not help. I don’t need to hear that I look adorable as I stand in stunned silence and aching sadness after a game 7 playoff loss. I need to be told that the Boston Bruins are bums and got lucky and that you’re going to make me feel better.

3) Give them a break. I’m not saying that you need to wait on them hand and foot. But be nice. Maybe grab them a drink and tell them how great they are. The feeling of UGH will fade, but it will take a little time. Just ride it out.

After the emotional compontent you need to factor in the time commitment involved in being a serious sports fan. Some fans cheer for one team or have one favourite sport. Others (like myself) are sports junkies and can be found following scores of all sports at all times and probably have a fav team in hockey, baseball, football, basketball, college sports and more. Being dedicated to those teams takes a lot of time. Seasons overlap, games are played 7 days a week and sometimes it can seem like a lot. The best thing I can recommend to you is this – put together some sort of agreement for watching sports together from time to time AND make sure that your S/O has an app like The Score Mobile on their smartphone so that they can check scores and stay sane when you are doing something other than sitting on the couch or a bar stool. I’ve written about some ideas that can be used, feel free to check them out

The March Madness Widow Survival Guide

The March Madness Widow Survival Guide 2.0

Watching Sports With Your Wife/Girlfriend – A Guide

In the end all sports fans and all relationships are going to be different. But, if you can find out how deep your S/O is in you will have a better chance of calmly and humorously dealing with situations.

Good luck, there are times when you’re going to need it.

There’s no denying video game movies have a reputation for being bad due to their button bashed breeding.   From a Dennis Hopper dinosaur in Super Mario Brothers to a Kylie Minogue Cammy cameo in Street Fighter the 90′s tried it’s darnedest to bash some real gold coins out of pixel bricks.  While these hands free conversions sit fondly in the memory blocks of my mind, when you dust them off for a modern day outing it’s easy to see where they went wrong – you need more than  ↓, ↘, → in your script to make things work.

The FP (the abbreviation Frazier Park – a mountain community in California)  takes inspiration from a rather different coin-op lurking in your local arcade.  In a similar brain wave to Disney adapting the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in to a motion picture, the Brother’s go for another unusual vessel for their movie.  Dance Dance Revolution the tune syncing feet stomper is rechristened Beat Beat Revelation and takes on a far darker use than the bubble gum pop song body rhythm generator.  Opening with rivals gangs taking to the machine to battle it out like a stripped down one on one version of Michael Jackson’s Bad music video.  Leaders from each district step up, Zangief-esque, L Dubba E with his gold grills, mohawk & mutton chops toe taps against BTRO, sporting a silver starred bandanna & best moon boots since Napoleon Dynamite.  When BTRO’s knees buckle & goes gamer over forever his brother JTRO vows never to place a foot back on the neon lit arrows.  A year later the JTRO is tracked down reducing trees to logs by family friend & game commentator KCDC.  He’s brought back to a changed town where the liquor store is now run by  jump suit wearing L Dubba E, with the booze tap in town under his control the residents have taken to hard drugs to pass the day.  JTRO sets about winning the girl & the champ title street cred back for his fallen brother.  Trained in a secret prohibition underground HQ there are some really hilarious montage sequences as he gets his game back to ultimate combo caliber.  The wardrobe is surprisingly important as the ludicrous concept and gang talk is visually punctuated with the most outlandish gems from a thrift store receiving hipster donations via Thunderdome.  Over the top and awesome this is how a video game conversion should be.

Two video game movies to look out for with a local connection in 2012 are Resident Evil: Retribution & Silent Hill: Revelation.

Which console title would you like to see hit the big screen or movie made playable?  While you take a moment to think about it check out what I witnessed on College street over the weekend.   Say hello or shoot me a Hadouken on Twitter – @emaninTdot

It’s been a long and arduous process for basketball fans as the NBA lockout has kept us away from arenas and TVs for what should have been the first month of the season.

But now it looks like we only have 4 weeks to wait until the ball will officially be tipped off on Christmas Day 2011. I’m a very excited and happy boy.

Now, as a Toronto Raptors fan I will admit that I am not excited about the season because I think that the team is going to win the NBA championship. In fact, I don’t even expect them to be very good. In what will be a 66 game regular season I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t win more than 15 games.

The team is in flux. The organization has holes to fill and the best way for a rebuild will be through the draft.

But even still, as a sports fan and a basketball fan, I am ready for ball.
Players like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwight Howard and Chris Paul will all want to prove that they still have it. That the layoff didn’t hurt them. And I expect that there will be some amazing performances and games early in the season.

Here are my early, early predictions – The Miami Heat will have a good season because their superstars will be able to carry the load against teams that haven’t had a chance to gel. The Los Angeles Lakers will be good in the west as lead by Kobe and Pau Gasol. The Chicago Bulls will be feisty in the east and challenge the Heat, just like they did last season. And the Dallas Mavericks will be the toughest test in the west for the Lakers.

While it isn’t very adventurous to say that I think the Lakers will be in The Finals, I will go out on a limb and say that the Bulls will represent the east.

There are 28 days left before the 2011-2012 NBA season starts. I think that I might even create an Advent type calendar for the countdown.

I hope you’re as excited as I am!

I decided to stay away from the sexing & the suckers of cinema this week as Shame previewed & Twilight premiered.  Crossing off effing & fangs I went with the third F from the NFB – Free Favorites at Four.  Much like the movie they showed, Invisible City, I really feel The NFB Mediatheque is a hidden gem in the city.  Just across the street from the Scotiabank Theatre there are literally hundreds of movies waiting to be watched without losing a loonie.  While their digital database can be viewed on custom coupled chairs, the larger auditorium hosts their main presentations.  The screening of Invisible City caught my eye due to the nature of the local story.  After a year here I’m still getting to know Toronto, so this seemed a perfect opportunity to use the documentary to get an informed visual representation of the community in a different area.  Invisible City follows the story of two boys growing up in Regent Park housing project.  From school grades 10 – 12 the film accompanies Kendell & Mikey, candidly interviewing them about the events of their life in a low income social housing project.  The peer pressure of entering adulthood soon leads to bad decisions.  Both mothers and school mentors are the guiding forces in their life trying to steer them toward a better future away from trouble.  If you look for the good in Regent Park you’ll find it but the same applies for the bad.  ”There’s love for the community but not for the building structures” says Ainsworth Morgan who is looking out for the boys trying to positively influence as a teacher at the Nelson Mandela Park Public school. He also grew up there, finding success as a Canadian Football League player, now returning in this role.  Who are the heroes in your community?

The next Free Favourite at Four is Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie.  4pm not the right movie time?  Check out the NFB apps for iPad & iPhone/Touch.

The Fifteenth annual Toronto International Reel Asian Film Festival downtown event came to a close on Sunday.  With a Richmond Hill satellite festival planned for the 18th & 19th  November here’s my blog diary from the showcase of contemporary Asian cinema.

Day One

The Isabel Bader could have quite possibly hovered, if not lifted a little off the ground with the high spirits of the crowd, special guests and some helium filled birthday balloons as opening night finally took flight.

A few extra peddles down from the renovating Bloor, the fifteenth year really graduated to another level at the lush venue. While I loved last year, the Bader really gave the red carpet a space to breath without the line competing for the busy Bloor sidewalk.

The anniversary theme was carried through out the evening with the poster boy Franco Nguyen donning the frilled shirt once again to bring the festival trailer to life with a bouquet of inflatables.

After messages from the committee and supporting sponsors the curtain raised with a surprise, CHOIR!CHOIR!CHOIR! serenading the audience with a hit from 1997 to turn back time to the festival’s origin date as well as another number.

With music being the food of love then the main course for everyone to visually feast on was served by actor and first time director Derek Tsang Kwok Cheung & an absent Jimmy Wan with Lover’s Discourse.

Love is the drug of choice as the opening credits seemed surprisingly scientific to set the scene for the movie posing the question that as much as we know, some mysteries are more than chemical reactions under our skin.

Told in segments that crisscross cleverly I was prepared for a mushy love story but was pleasantly surprised at how all sides of the spectrum from the power of love, whimsical to hurtful were expressed on the screen.

Starting with the story of two old flames meeting up, getting playfully drunk before a lip lock on a pebbled path, the predictability stops there and the intertwining of characters aware or in unrecognized life proximity begins.

Fantasy infatuations in a laundromat by the suds specialist behind the counter make for some amazing hilarity as her daydreams are cultivated by one male customer who she falls for while fluffing and folding for him.

This attachment and getting to know someone at a distance takes a darker shade during a flashback by twelve years when the detective work of a smitten teen is besotted by the mother of a friend. His unwitting malice and stalking comes full circle as the story ties it’s self in a bow connecting the dots, proving not everyone survives once struck by Cupid’s bow.

Day Two

Day two of the festival let me sample the sensation of a little opening night nerves, although on a smaller scale.

My heart fluttered a little faster as I hosted Reel Asian’s Industry series panel on Social Media Strategy for Film Makers to discuss how the role of digital communication can impact marketing and engage audiences with story telling alongside guest speakers Anthea Foyer, Shasha Nakhai & Sol Friedman.

The love theme from the festival movies spilled over in to the debate with Anthea’s companion piece to Sarah Polley’s forthcoming Take This Waltz, Conversations About Love using the core theme elements of the movie to be supportive without directly referencing or spoiling the actual feature. Shasha from The Sugar Bowl discussed the approach from a perspective of entering the festival with a film & the lead up from initial funding processes to dispensing content at a rate of sustaining interest. Sol, who won last years winner Reel Asian Movieola Best Short Film or Video Award for Junko , talked about Junko’s Shamisen and the perfectionist involvement on behind the scenes footage as well as some of the tactics behind getting your film seen in contrast to the art of the piece.

Mumbling to myself about the wet weather that had appeared while inside I headed to the Innis Town hall for Summer Pasture which abruptly put my spot of rain complaining in to perspective. Documenting the life of a nomadic couple in Tibet with their small daughter their daily routines are intimately captured with an amazing openness and stunning visuals. The tasks of living in this manner is fast changing with traditions being eroded as modern life is reaching out. The advantages any family would want for their child are at the core of surviving. I never thought trading & yak poop spreading would sound like something appealing to watch but Locho & Yama are captivating characters. You can view the question and answer session here.

Normally it’s sweet sixteen but The Sugar Bowl brought more than a spoon full to the table of the 15th Anniversary for the first set of shorts I’d seen at the festival in the Trailblazers presentation alongside A Drummer’s Passion, Totte Mitsu, Let’s Go To Russia, Grandpa’s Wet Dream & Granny’s Rock.

I’d previously watched these alone so was craving to see these super charged seniors dashed across the big screen with extra audience involvement. It was definitely an added experience sharing the movies en masse. Grandpa’s Wet Dream provided the most laughter as a 76 year old is documented on his secret accident life as a mature star of a niche adult porn film industry. The juxtaposition of his collected vintage movie posters with his own catalogue of X-rated accomplishments were an interesting legacy to be left behind. Another less secret legacy came up in A Drummer’s Passion. Mr. Kwon is the name of the Korean Drummer who set a beat to over a million views on YouTube. While it was easy to smile and share the clip, this was the time to hear about the reason behind his style and his life before the internet shone a spotlight on him. Stealing the show is what he does best as a personal warmth transcended the screen. Granny’s Rock reminded me of a real life Harold & Maude with a true bond between young and old generation. With an outsider art style of capturing portraits Miya Yumemi is the streaking legend who’s work can be found worn on people’s t-shirts & scattered all over bars in her area. Satoru Yasuda befriends her and joins her drinking & art antics making his film in to a gallery of her work and personality. The Sugar Bowl was the most anticipated section of the series for me. Having seen their winning pitch in 2010′s So You Think You Can Pitch contest it was very satisfying to have seen the start of the journey come to conclusion in the same event space. The Negros Island, provider of the sugar supply to America is a prince to pauper story on a grand scale effecting everyone of the inhabitants. The lavish lifestyles that accompanied the plantation abruptly ended as Government and sweet alternatives sunk the price of sugar like a dissolving cube in a cuppa. The industrial elements remain on the lush green island as rebuilding and hope returns. A once decadent dwelling is now a museum and the occupier now the tour guide advanced in years that provided the eccentric fit in to the overall presentation.

Day Three

Hard to believe it was already the mid point of the festival, day three was the final visit to the Innis Town Hall before moving to the Royal for the weekend festivities.

Greeted by a large furry lion head I knew I was in for more than a conventional screening. Lily Eng: Real Asian Canadian Warrior Woman was Reel Asian’s Canadian Spotlight. In attendance Lily Eng and writer/filmmaker Peter Dudar were honoured for the evening with a traditional dragon dance brought to life with the costumes from the corridor. Sitting in the front row I received a playful fluffy mauling which was another cheeky highlight of the festival so far.

Having no reference for Eng’s work I was very lucky to witness a special piece acted out live by the performance artist. Taking the open stage space before the screen she provided a kinetic controlled interpretation of music almost playing it with her fingertips and limbs in movement. The screenings which followed were documentation and recorded extracts from a vast career that moved chronologically from the 70s – 80s. Powerful expressive body movements rippled over the screen in the restored retrospective. The question and answer session was a perfect end to the presentation with tales of interrupted performances at the AGO and relentless concurrent takes. She truly can find in a universe inside a small space and masters the invisible constrictions.

Fortune Teller was the follow on documentary film to finish the evening. Li Baicheng takes the titular profession which is technically illegal to practice and is treated akin to prostitution in the eyes of the law. Sex workers and others seek him out to find a solution in advice from another level. The film is split in to segments of clients starting with a Madame who wants to learn about the prospect of future happiness. Li Baicheng is very blunt and to the point with his forecasts. Changing your name as well as releasing animals in to the wild are some of the rituals needed to alter your set course. While going about his life we are introduced to his wife Pearl who is mentally handicapped and mute yet the pair share a bond. Their relationship is the focus of the documentary as we learn how Li Baicheng rescued her from an abusive family. His compassion was premeditated for company which at times he regrets. Images of the Fortune Teller feeding a bird with saliva and the drama around those seeking predictions make the film a curious winding tale behind the lives & stories of those overlooked.

Day Four

11/11/11 only comes once on a calendar which was a reminder to Seize the Moment with the presentation of the same name. This round of shorts were the best Asian Canadian selection.

Starting with a PRESS START and 1 player mode was Insert Credit the 8bit narrative. The Side scrolling Nintendo-esque beat-em up tackled growing up from boy to manhood. This is my favourite film of the festival so far. Maybe the medium is tapping in to the buttons I tapped growing up on a controller. This is the perfect primer before going in to a viewing of Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World. If that was a love letter to Toronto this must be a low res LOL at Vancouver with Whales spraying hockey sticks through their blow holes and Maple leaf lasering death rays.

Much like the season it start to get dark early in the presentation. The next short was also animated with a retro, in the sense of traditional hand crafted, style by last year’s Master Class maker Koji Kamamura. 2010 saw him show Franz Kafka’s A Country Doctor informed by the director’s misadventure to Prague. 2011 presented his take on another historical figure, Eadweard Muybridge the pioneering motion photographer. Various beasts take their footsteps triggering a camera capture with a tale told about the process and life of the man which included a true tale of his wife taking a secret lover which Muybridge shot as well as the paternity questions over a child. Mixed with surreal beauty the strings of life are indeed very tangled

Introducing the selection in perhaps the funniest video memory testimonial, Randall Okita’s No Contract was even more amazing on the screen of the Royal with the venue feeling like an extension of minimal set. A twisted Houdini seemingly invites friends to witness his combustion (which sounds like the plot from a old classic horror no?. .I could imagine envelopes arriving at the household of each person). What connections they have is only known by the director. The eerie sound design and glimpse cuts make the mystry even more uncomforting before a beautiful ballet of flames dance from each side.

Plants Out of The Sunlight was the work of the poster boy for this year proving that the funny man is more than a cinephile with a penchant for taking balloons on a date to the flicks. The serious issues of Mia a mother in Toronto finding isolation in her home as her son is out and unwilling to help let alone communicate the events of his day. Work is tough with a language and cultural cuisine understanding missing from the attitude of her boss.

Left-Behind Woman and A Winter Song closed the screening. The penultimate visited China where men are leaving the family home to seek work that is well paid leading their wives to work the land and take on other more labour intensive jobs. There’s a war like resonance where these task are undertaken in their absence. While the traditional head of the family is gone what impact this has remains to be seen. A Winter Song felt like the right conclusion with the medical worries of a store owner during the Christmas season in Montreal. More hard work and long hours are complicated by the potential of returning ailment hidden from family members. Was it the right choice to come to Canada for a better life?

Saigon Electric pumped a little extra body heat & sweat in to the crisp air outside as my main feature of the evening. The Vietnamese dance movie set on the bustling streets of Saigon lets us arrive to the big city with Mai a young Ribbon dancer, leaving her countryside life to try out for dance school. Her neon pink ribbon twirling is looked down upon at the interview but her endearing qualities are accepted by Kim a hip hop dancer who befriends her and introduces her to the urban environment with the help of her troupe Saigon Fresh. Much like the open scene of dueling roosters in a spray painted ally the dance demeanor of Kim is bold & boisterous which is contrasted by the gentle fabric rotations of Mai. As Kim lets her guard down to the advances of a rich guy who’s never ending attempts to woe her finally work she leaves her friends in the lead up to the big Samsung sponsored dance off. Things are also in jeopardy as the practice venue is threatened by redevelopment. The fancy footwork and other body parts popping to the beat were undoubtedly the highlights punctuating the character journeys beyond the initial desire to make it to the big time with traditions showing them that team work and community are more important.

Proving that after a year I still don’t know the city well without WiFi I finally made it to the music night to see Goh Nakamura perform ahead of his movie Surrogate Valentine (screening Sunday). Providing something outside of simply film is such a great way to diversify the festival content and allowing free entry with a ticket stub from any movie really makes Reel Asian special and accessible.

Day Five

Sounding a little like a new Indiana Jones Adventure – Lost Secrets of the Royal opened at the home of Reel Asian, 401 Richmond, in the A Space Gallery. The exhibition was a rebirth for old salvaged film prints that Colin Geddes had rescued from what was to become the Royal Cinema.

These prints were identified and given as the pallet to artists to interpret. There were two projects in the gallery (the sister site is in Mississauga’s Blackwood Gallery is the home to more). The first encounter is through black curtains passed a glowing lightbox poster case for the piece, Officer Tuba Meets the Happy Ghost. A Character taken from the two films interact in new landscapes shot by artist soJin Chun in Toronto and Sao Paolo. Her love of grain and super eight adds a beauty & bleakness to Toronto which makes Brazil and other other footage pop like a frog flying at the screen. The other projection is a triple threat when your eyes won’t know where the action with fly from next.

Pumped for Jump Ashin! I returned to the Royal with an new extra curiosity of what else was hiding in the bowels of the building. The gymnast gone bad redemption story was the action element I was hoping to find at the festival after last years kick off with Gallants. I wasn’t disappointed as JA provided lots of action, drama & comedy. This was the busiest screening I’ve attended thus far with the Taiwan support raising the roof for the director.

Based on the true story of the director’s brother Ashin starts his childhood gate crashing a traditional stage show with some added cartwheels and bouncing where it didn’t belong. Finding more mischief he spies on a gymnastics class after finding an escape in to fantasy while bouncing on a trampoline. It isn’t long before he’s enrolled in the class. Jumping forward in time his skills are growing yet his landings leave a lot to be desired. His doubting Mother finally reveals to his coach that his legs are not equal and insists he leave the spring boarding behind to help the family fruiterer business. Taking this badly he rebels using his natural bounding to fight with gangs in his town. With his best buddy Pickle they both find themselves in a dire situation when things get out of control. Forced to run away they escape to the city to flee their crimes. Set before 1994 there’s a sweet story revolving around a pager messaging service operator who is the human message delivery service before SMS. Their lovely interactions anchor some light hearted moments as it comes time for Ashin to return to face his past. Previously seen in Lover’s Discourse, Eddie Peng is the pin up hubba hubba anti-hero Ashin who bulked up between roles. His heartthrob status was cemented when the girls in front of me at the screening took photos at various points in the movie. An energetic question and answer session followed that had everyone one their feet and shouting jump!

Piercing 1 was the next interesting later night film that I was open to but unsure about.  Beavis and Butthead had been the token comparison animation style linked to the movie. Short enough to give the benefit of the doubt too I’m I stayed in the squeaky seats at the theatre. Much like my folkes not being able to see past The Simpsons being a cartoon, it did take at least 20 minutes to adjust to the simple line drawings. Zhang is a little out of luck like the rest of the world in recession. Beaten a few too many times and not believed for honest actions lead him and his friend in to funny plot between shady goings on with the corrupt police and fat headed business owner. The injustice experienced by the main character is really felt. The situations he finds himself in become so comical with an edge of grit.

If you’ve made it all the way to the bottom you can read about Day Six over on Reel Asian’s Blog !  I might even explain this…