presents
4th annual
freedom walk HOSTED BY OMNI TELEVISION’S
veronica chail
sat.sept.14 THE FAIRMONT ROYAL YORK 100 FRONT ST. W. | TORONTO
9:00AM REGISTRATION OPENS 10:00AM HONORARY CEREMONY 11:30AM 4KM WALK
freethem.ca presenting
gold
#freedomwalk2013 silver
HELP STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN CANADA bronze
Please enjoy responsibly.
#BEOPEN
26.
14. firsThand knowledge
one of a kind
24. fresh from us
20. Start walking
12. editor’s letter
table of contents 30. BOLD DECISIONS
60. NOT THE WHITE FLUFFY BUNNIES
34. your next night out
42. NOW RUN
46. THE VERY NEXT DAY
50. IF YOU BUILD IT...
63. EASY RIDER
illustration: rosie pea
Kyle Kofsky Editor In Chief Isabelle Savard Deputy Editor
Ana Opulencia Copy Editor
Sass Fraser Creative Director
Jonathan Broderick Lead Writer
Brian Sweigman Managing Director
Melissa Allen Lead Writer
Product staff
hair & makeup artists
Jasmine Williams Assitant to the Deputy Editor
Lexy Robidoux Lead Hair/MUA
Adam Hendrik Senior Writer
Michelle Silverstein Lead Hair/MUA
Ronit Rubinstein Senior Writer
Christina Rufino
Isaac Zelunka Senior Photographer
Emily Anne Helsdon
Mark Tym Senior Photographer
Giovanna Minnena
Max Power Senior Photographer
Michelle Wu
Kertney Lynn Russell Publicist
Svitlana Skiba
Janis Seftel Assitant Copy Editor
contributors
Adam Zivo Assistant Director
Alex Browne Contributing Director
Joe Swallow Assistant Director
Alex Mathers Founding Designer
Paul Steward Assitant Director
Meg Sethi Contributing Writer
Christine Brogan Fashion & Media
Tim Luther Contributing Writer
Juan Mendez Internal Affairs
Craig Boyko Contributing Photographer
Hayley Campbell Health & Sports
Cristina Arce Contributing Photographer
Aziz Vivant Senior Stylist
Rosie Pea Contributing Illustrator
Tal Shalmon Web Manager
Caitlin Wright Contributing Stylist
Maxime Bellemare Account Manager Sherif Badr Project Manager Complimentary issues travel the city. To reserve your personal copy of PRODUCT, subscribe at www.producttoronto.com and get your issues delivered to your door.
Thank you
Colin Hanks La Rivolta Paula Whitmore Shauna Ireland
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Printed six times annually issue no. 09 (2013)
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editor’s letter aziz vivant, christine brogan michelle silverstein, kertney lynn russell, jasmine williams, kyle kofsky, lexy robidoux, isabelle savard
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adness. I find myself more often than not completely suspended in a state of waiting and for the moment claim an hysterical condition. The sparks and explosions are the easy part. They come with a set of rules, and if you abide, you will succeed. I am an idea machine - curating these conceptuals, their creation, and execution inclusive. This leaves me occupied and simultaneously vacant at all times. The ability to make good on this purpose keeps the straight jacket off - a purpose that is always evolving and whose appetite is experiencing geometric expansion. Every effort I make directly contributes to the relentless task of living out constructive functions. Every now and then, a brick goes through my window,and I lock eyes with the horizon. The universe is always balancing itself out. In my current position, I have seen firsthand the city on a tight rope at its finest - bearing witness to incredible feats of inspiration and achievement, with cataclysmic moments bringing me to pure joy. And with this firsthand knowledge also came the balance - something I was not expecting to be as significant as it has been. It has been a lonely year; it has been a difficult time in which I have unwillingly opened my eyes to the uninspired - the faction of the universe unwilling to step up and accept purpose. With this eye opening experience, I have adjusted my overall mantra as a Cultural Curator, now with the defined hope to attempt to build a bridge - a one way causeway to usher those willing to lay down their suspicions and saviour the notion of doing better. I am stronger than I ever thought possible and just knowing that makes me know that you are too. The potential you have is stunted only by your own fear. Fear is a necessary motivation, but it is never worth your potential. Everyone at the festival gets an All Access pass, for inspiration is contagious. There is no monopoly on satisfied living. All you have to do is ask for your ticket. You can fly, carpool, maybe take the train, or even jog it. Now, take out your phone and check your calendar. Then make a list of that which is accessible to you, that which will get something positive accomplished. We’ve talked about them before: your techniques, your faith, your team, your wits, your drive, Sister Mary Clarence. Any combination of these All Access passes is all you need to command your own potential and begin to engage our world with rewards.
words: Kyle Kofsky photos: PAUL STEWARD hair & mua: emily anne helsdon, michelle silverstein,lexy robidoux & svitlana skiba
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firsthand knowledge
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nce there was a boy who sat afloat on his motor boat on Stoney Lake. A stack of newspapers balanced the small aluminum craft. A young Dave Nolan would deliver the “Toronto Star” and “The Globe and Mail” to 75 secluded, boataccess cottages, whose owners subscribed to the delivery service that provided insight into the “outside” each morning. He was only 12 years old when he started his first business. Today, Dave is a rugged man. His hair is wild, his beard is long and his eyes are kind. He is exactly what I expect a carpenter to look like, but it’s his passion that sets him apart. It’s completely contagious. Growing up, his family’s cottage was too small, so they hired a crew to build an
addition. Dave was offered as help to haul lumber and clean debris. He got along with the foreman and was hired each summer to help build and renovate the other cottages on the lake. It wasn’t long before he began working on his own projects. As his collection of tools grew, so did his skills. He built himself an elaborate tree house using salvaged wood from old barns and cabins. “I’m pretty into the self-employed stream. I like that I can choose what I want to do on a day-to-day basis,” Dave proclaimed. Nolan left his hometown of Peterborough to study at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He got his degree in Mechanical Engineering and also a degree in Biology. “I finished [university], and didn’t feel like I was up for a professional type [of ] job. I
wanted to have a place to keep my tools. I didn’t know what I was going to do.” Naturally, there was a pretty girl in Toronto, which prompted Dave’s move to the city. He set up shop and began shaping metal and raw lumber into works of art. His first project was to build a large marquee sign that lit up, using 100 light bulbs. He forged Mindful Fabrication, acting as the owner and sole employee of his company. “I make things… I’m doing furniture nowprimarily because it’s something I can do. People buy it, not like art. Everyone needs furniture. I realized [that] I had the capabilities to make some of the stuff people are into these days. I can build anything you can draw on a napkin…metal and wood, that’s where I focus my manufacture.”
Dave hasn’t stopped working since his first endeavor on Stoney Lake and likely won’t stop soon. After all, he has all of the tools in his shop pointing towards his success. “I did a lot of reading on nanotechnology at university. I think it’s something that is going to be hot in our lives. I feel like it would be silly not to get in on the ground floor and set up something that would do good things for the world as well as be lucrative. It holds a lot of answers for renewable energy and structural materials.”
words: ADAM HENDRIK photos: MAX POWER HAIR & MUA: GIOVANNA MINNENA location: MINDFUL FABRICATION
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hen Martin Luther King being forced labour and sexual exploitation,” spoke his famous words, comments Invidiata. “The average age of “I have a Dream”, many entry in Canada is just thirteen years old, civilians imagined a world which means that to get an average that low, decades later where all persons lived with the you need to have many kids under the age basic essentials of liberty, peace, and justice. of thirteen who are being forced into a life We imagined a world where despite race, sex, of exploitation - children aged nine, ten and or religious belief, each human was afforded eleven years old.” the basic right to freedom and equality. DecThis is the purpose of the [free-them] Freeades later, [free-them], one of Canada’s leading dom Walk, to make Canadians aware of this anti-slavery organizations is continuing the horrific reality, and at the same time enable fight for justice, raising Canadians to get involved dollars and awareness and do something to see “Every day we to fight human trafhuman trafficking eradificking with its fourth cated. Among those walkhave a chance to annual Freedom Walk ing last year was Canada’s change the world”. in Toronto. leading politician in the – Shae Invidiata “The Freedom Walk area of human trafficking, is a declaration for MP Joy Smith. justice and a voice for “Our generation has the silenced,” says Shae Invidiata, founder, the opportunity to end this horrific crime of [free-them]. “Presented by the Fairmont human trafficking. Each person that joins the Royal York and hosted by OMNI Television’s movement against modern slavery makes a Veronica Chail, it’s an opportunity for people permanent impact. You can be that person,” from all over Ontario to come together and comments MP Joy Smith. “From young girls demonstrate that slavery and human traffick- taken from the streets of Montreal and sold ing will not be tolerated in our Nation; that abroad, to the vulnerable children seduced in Canada we will not tolerate people being on our First Nation reserves, it is a crime that bought, sold, or exploited. reaches all elements of our society. Human This September, hundreds of people trafficking must be stopped.” (dubbed Freedom Fighters by the [free-them] Other notable attendees at last year’s walk team) will gather at the Fairmont Royal York included Timea E. Nagy, an author, speaker, located in downtown Toronto and participate and survivor of human trafficking and Conin the annual four-kilometre walk. In its stable Lepa Jankovic, one of the two RCMP fourth year, the Freedom Walk has grown officers who brought down Canada’s largest from an initiative of 15 people to over 500 human trafficking ring to go before Canadian walkers of all ages that ends on the steps at courts. Last year’s walk also raised $30,000 City Hall. for victims of human trafficking in Canada “People are shocked that human trafficking and was featured on major news programs exists, and then they are even more shocked across the country. when they learn that slavery exists right here “Awareness is the first step to ending slavin Canada, with the two most prevalent forms ery nationwide,” comments Invidiata. “You
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cannot fight something that you are not aware exists. The more Canada learns about human trafficking, the more support we receive when working with federal, provincial, and municipal governments to create action proposals, by-laws, legislative bills, national strategies, and tactics to help end an injustice so rampant in our own backyard”. Faced with such a serious topic, the team at [free-them] is committed to educating students and families early. Among the attendees are children, seniors, and even babies alongside their parents. The ages and participants are diverse but unanimous in their message. Leading walkers since 2011 with his chant, 12 year old Christopher Cardenas-Avila shouts “Kids are not for sale. Set them free,” as many supporters chime in and hold handmade signs that say, “I’m not for sale.” “I want to educate my children on the issue and the Freedom Walk is a great way to do so,” says Sheila Cardenas-Avila, Executive Committee Event Coordinator for [free-them].
“My son needs to learn what to do if anyone approaches him or one of his friends.” As the presenting sponsor for the fourth annual Freedom Walk, The Fairmont Royal York plays a key role by providing a home base for the walk’s Freedom Fighters. Participants start the motivating morning on the convention floor of the Fairmont Royal York with an honorary ceremony, performances, and keynote addresses from some of Canada’s leading voices and change makers in the fight against human trafficking. “The team at the Fairmont is committed to giving back to the community and is thrilled to support the [free-them] Freedom Walk for a second year,” Says Kerry Ann Kotani, Regional Director of Sales and Marketing, Fairmont Royal York. Returning in a larger capacity for the 2013 [free-them] Freedom Walk is OMNI Television’s, Veronica Chail. As a [free-them] ambassador, Veronica will be the official host for this year’s walk and will provide support through OMNI Television
and City TV, this year’s official media sponsors. “Human trafficking is the worst kind of depravity imaginable, as it impacts the most vulnerable in our society,” says Veronica. “[free-them] has done amazing work to inspire change, and I am proud to support the organization’s annual Freedom Walk, along with OMNI Television and City TV.” The team at [free-them] is knee deep in preparation to make the 2013 walk even larger than in previous years. This year’s program includes speakers from RCMP law enforcement, government officials, and survivors. Other onsite activities include a fair-trade, slave-free vendor area to support initiatives that donate proceeds to victims, a kids zone with activities for youth, a media lounge for private interviews, and notable walkers and participants. The 4th Annual Freedom Walk presented by the Fairmont Royal York and hosted by OMNI Television’s Veronica Chail takes place on Saturday, September 14, 2013 at the
Fairmont Royal York Hotel located at 100 Front Street West. Registration is $12 per person (children under 18 are free) and families are welcome. Breakfast is provided. For more information or to register to walk, please log on to www.freethemwalk.ca.
words: MEG SETHI photos: alex browne
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heir mission is simple. “Everything that we do is motivated by our commitment to increase access to healthy food,” explains Rachel Gray, Executive Director at The Stop Community Food Centre. The Stop is a byword for better living, and the engaged group at this community food centre is dedicated to educating and connecting with Torontonians on everything from honing your green thumb to social equality. With an admirable drive, they are creating a healthier and happier Toronto in the process. Over the last 40 years, The Stop has grown into an incomparable Toronto resource. It all began with Campbell A. Russell at the Church of Saint Stephen-in-the-Fields. Rachel explains that Campbell noticed a need for a “social connection” among community members. He believed that coming together and supporting one another was the best way to overcome the unemployment, housing, and access to healthy food issues that were affecting so many. Russell’s beliefs led to the formation of one of the earliest food banks in the country and this notion of connecting with people is still an integral part of The Stop’s philosophy. Today, The Stop – located on Davenport in Toronto’s west end – features a wide range of projects including Farmer’s Markets (which support local growers), Community Greenhouses (which provide produce for the food centre as well as to the community growers), and group cooking classes (which introduce attendees to new, healthy foods and the ways that they
cristina arce, isaac zelunka, maxime bellemare, joe swallow, Wendy Bunston mark tym, sass fraser, Scott MacNeil alex browne,kyle kofsky, Gillian Bogden max power, Marius juan mendez Sarunas & jill lerner Omar Liendo
can be prepared and eaten). All of the programs at The Stop emphasize “a focus on food skill, education, and access to healthy food.” The Stop also offers after-school programs that teach kids the value of a healthy lifestyle while showing them how to grow and prepare their own food. They host adult cooking groups where people from all walks of life can come to learn and get the healthy food options to which they might not otherwise have access. Torontonians of all ages and backgrounds come to The Stop to learn, teach, and get involved in making themselves and our community healthier and happier. Every interaction at The Stop begins with a conversation. They have an informed staff that is committed to “community building” and to finding the right solution to every unique problem while treating everyone as equals. “Welcoming people with dignity” is at the forefront of everyone’s mind at The Stop. They listen. They understand. Rachel insists that “there is no reason for anyone in this city or in this country to go hungry.” The Stop Community Food Centre is committed to making Canada a country where everyone has access to healthy food, in the hopes of making a better nation for us all. It may seem like an ambitious goal, but all it takes is a seed and some care. Then, we watch it grow. Toronto, where there is food, there is hope. words: TIM LUTHER photos: ISAAC ZELUNKA
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ONE OF A KIND
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tefan Brogren knew at a young age that he wanted to be in the arts. There was simply nothing else he’d rather do. His dreams became a reality when he landed the role of “Snake” on the hit Canadian series, Degrassi Junior High. “I think it was a shock to everybody watching the show. It was exciting [and] funny to know that we could get away with it. It made us feel more adult at the time.” Stefan was the first person to say “fuck” on Canadian television. “It was kinda different. Things were just so weird back then - what you were allowed to get away with.” Being a young star always presents a unique set of circumstances. Stefan states that much of what he did in his own life was blended into
five or six scenes and he often recalls his double life as a real life high school student as well as being a student on Degrassi. “I think they sort of intermingle sometimes in my memory. They sort of blended together where I was like, ‘That guy wasn’t on the show, I [actually] went to high school with him.’” After his run as Snake, Stefan went to theatre school. He wanted to know if he could play another character and if this was actually something he wanted to do. “I think while I was there I started feeling like I wanted to be a little more on the other side of the camera and started befriending young filmmakers and editors my own age. They were trying to figure out how they could get into the film biz.” In collaboration, he made a few shorts. He also made an independent feature that was sold to The Movie Network and to the IRC when he was just 24. He ended up winning “a couple” of Gemini Awards for directing and producing and was also nominated for two Emmys. Outside of the arts, Stefan is also a partner at Dog and Bear - a bar located on Queen Street West. “I don’t know anything [about] the restaurant industry at all, so I was a little timid,” said Stefan. Upon discovering that the Dog and Bear was going to be a sports bar, his interest grew. His major contribution, besides finance, is the wallpaper on the back wall. He prefers to let his partners run the establishment. “Watching them work is spectacular because they really know how to spin a bar. I screwed up a gin and tonic. It’s a lime, not a lemon in that one,” he says with a smile. Currently, Brogren is focusing on producing and directing, and has been working for Epitome Pictures. “They’re a great company for pitching ideas and for allowing people to have a lot of creative control. I think it’s really great because you’re not living in a vacuum. You’re allowed to explore, and that’s what I think keeps Degrassi fresh in this stage of the game. We do things that sometimes our Executive Producers look at and [they’re] like, ‘What the hell were you thinking?’ And we reply, ‘Ya, it’s hysterical, isn’t it?’”
... a unique set of circumstances.
words: ADAM HENDRIK photos: max power & SASS FRASER LOCATION: THE DOG & BEAR
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bold decisions
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uilding a business is a daunting, difficult, and demanding task. It requires courage and passion. PRODUCT has always hoped to expose its readers to the idea that success is not accidental. While many people take their own path to entrepreneurship, ultimately their success is earned through hard work and determination. Jesse Jones’s path began in front of hundreds of people. In 2010, he had studied marketing and had been working as a brand manager at Timex Group Canada for a few years, when he was invited to speak at a business and marketing conference at Queen’s University. His presentation, touching on how he applied lessons from school to his job and loved it, received amazing feedback from the attendees. Inspired by the positive reaction, he created the idea for U-ology 101 on the ride home. U-ology 101 is the name Jesse used to brand his innovative and inspirational approach that helps people uncover their passion and how to actually live to achieve it. Then in January 2011, he launched Ten81 Lifestyle Inc., a consulting agency that applied his methods to branding and marketing. Inspired by his own message, Jesse left his “9 to 5” job to follow his passion. He was invited to speak at more conferences, developed engaging social media platforms, and saw his message stick. However, the business was not growing as fast as he hoped. A little over a year after he started Ten81, Jesse found himself working part-time jobs to keep the lights on. Facing the hardship and struggle many small business owners suffer through, Jesse seriously questioned whether he should take the easy route and go back to being an employee, or remain on the rocky, solitary path of entrepreneurship. Jesse decided that he didn’t want
to sacrifice what he loved and wanted to do whatever he had to do to keep his passion alive. Ten81 and U-ology would survive another day. About a month and a half later, in 2012, Jesse got his break. He received a call from a friend at McDonald’s with an opportunity to conduct a portion of their employee training about how to brand yourself as an employee and build yourself and your business. The success of that session was a testament to Jesse’s belief that his ideas were fresh, innovative, and transformative. Jesse used that experience at a major corporation as a stepping stone to keep building Ten81. Using Inspirational/Aspirational Marketing, Ten81 endorses the art of engagement among people and uses a holistic approach to marketing – one that connects to consumers not just through a logo, but as a part of their lifestyle. Ten81 helps put the soul back into business so companies can find more in their relationships with consumers and their employees. The unique, multi-faceted level of engagement Ten81 promotes helps organizations learn to understand individuals and their lifestyle choices as the means to engagement. Through his passion and belief in himself, Jesse Jones persevered and created something successful. The determination needed in order to follow your dream rather than run back to safety requires the resolve to make it work and the passion to believe in yourself. As Jesse’s story teaches us, success may be around the corner! words: BRIAN SWEIGMAN photos: CRISTINA ARCE hair & mua: emily anne helsdon stylist: caitlin wright clothing by: gian paolo mazzotta & loft 604 LOCATION: MERCHANTS OF GREEN CAFE
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your next night out
ALYSHIA ASHLEE, STELLA LARVA, ELLIE SHULIN ZHANG, PRISCILLA CARIPAN, VANESSA KIRALY, MAUREEN MANANSALA, DASHA CHU, CHLOE VANLANDSCHOOT, SERGIO SENATOR & MARK HOLLAND
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he pulls her eyelid and it stretches while her two friends apply the adhesive to attach the fake, extralong eyelash that will highlight her new look. Mascara is applied and those new lashes curl. Shoes are picked to add BOOM! to the outfit, a red dress that shows off her body, but it’s OK because it’s her birthday! “We wanna go to Cinema!” the girls yell to the taxi driver. And they’re on their way, zooming down Yonge to King St. with a hard left onto Fraser, then to the corner at Liberty. It’s going to be a good night. The line to get in the club goes around the corner. “Where does it end?” ask the girls. “It’s over there,” a long-legged brunette tells them. “It won’t take long,” she says reassuringly. The girls join the line. I walk past guys who wear shoes with squared toes and dress shirts that have two buttons undone. The girls waiting in line are all wearing high heels that showcase legs hidden in skirts that go way up. I walk past all of them. No need to stop. “Hey, you! The end of the line is that way!” A flash of red catches my eye. “We’ve been waiting for over an hour,” says another girl, quite short, standing next to the one in the red dress. I smile, say hi. “Do you know Sergio Senatore and Mark Holland?” I ask. “It’s their party. Cinema is their club, and they’re celebrating its one-year anniversary this month. You’ve probably been to one of their parties before. They throw them all over town: Brassaii, Bloke & 4th, EFS. In 2006, the guys started Kleen Media which is an
events promotion company that deals with everything from marketing to staffing events. When it comes to parties, these guys have it dialed. They credit their success to something they call, ‘The New York Hustle.’ At 18, Mark stepped onto a bus en route to New York City. Not long afterward, Sergio, then 19, moved to NYC to join Mark. They refer to it as their ‘training ground’. In NYC, they learned a few things, like how to throw a party. It was eat, sleep, and work. They bussed tables, bartended, DJ’d - they did what they could to survive and it paid off for them. They threw parties for all kinds, including birthday parties for Paris Hilton and Christina Aguilera.” “But why would they leave New York if it was all going so well?” asks the short one. I reply, “They never planned to stay in New York. They came home with something new to offer Toronto. They took the work ethic they learned in New York and started Kleen Media. In just six years, they transformed into one of the biggest names in Toronto nightlife.” I walk by all those people waiting outside the club. “But why does he get to skip the line?” It’s the shorter one again. “He comes here all the time and spends so much money. We had to make him a VIP,” said the bouncer, an intimidating guy with thick arms. “Can you let them in with me?” I ask. “We’re at capacity. You know how it is. We like to keep the place under control. Never too full, we don’t want people rubbing shoulders. That’s how fights start. Anyhow, the line’s moving now, it won’t be long before they can join you for a drink inside.”
They came home with something new to offer Toronto.
Don’t Stop the Party blasts me with sound waves as I walk inside. The ceiling is ornamented with rows and rows of animated fluorescent light bulbs that pulsate along with the music. The fog blows in and the laser show glows. It’s wild. I find my buddy in a corner, sitting in a booth. “These lights are crazy,” he observes. “I haven’t seen anything like it.” I order a bottle. “The lights were imported from Miami. It’s the only light show like it in the city,” I explain as a tall blonde in heels walks towards us with a flickering flash light and a bottle of vodka. She pours us each a drink and we sit back and enjoy the music. Unexpectedly, there’s a flash of red in the corner. They’re inside, the girl in the red dress and her two friends who follow close. The DJ drops Yolanda Be Cool and the girls smile, regroup, and then move toward us in a way that resembles dancing. “Sit down for a drink?” I pour them each something sweet. “There they are,” I remark, pointing toward Sergio and Mark, the long-time friends who are busy entertaining their guests.”I’d love to have a job where all I do is go out and party!” says the girl in the red dress. “That’s what you see,” I say. “There’s more to it than the party. They’ve got to set it all up. They work in an office all day, seven days a week, so that all these people can have a good time.” The quiet svelte friend sits up and says, “It must be hard for them to run a business and to be best friends.” My buddy says something to the girl in the red dress and they run off to the dance floor. “Yeah, it would be,” I reply. “It’s a fine line between a misunderstanding that might crush a friendship and a strong
mind that will look past the impersonal and not interpret it as such. In the beginning, they were friends, but then they became brothers. Their relationship is based on trust. There is no doubt. They rely on each other in business and in life and have walked a dangerous line doing so. They prioritize their business relationship. Everything else comes second.” Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke fills the room. More girls walk by in tall heels, some more awkwardly than others. Some flick their hair extensions as they strut by, others act coy. The svelte one smiles at me. She is playing with her hair. I ask her, “Can I take you out for dinner? Kleen Media has opened a new restaurant on Dundas Street West called Hudson Kitchen. They serve contemporary American peasant cuisine which is a save-all, don’t-throw anything-away-style of cooking.” She nods in approval and the rest of the night gets blurry.
They prioritize their business relationship.
words:ADAM HENDRIK photos: PAUL STEWARD & SASS FRASER hair & mua: michelle Silverstein & michelle wu clothing by: garrison bespoke & moose knuckles location: cinema
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ALYSHIA ASHLEE, STELLA LARVA, ELLIE SHULIN ZHANG, PRISCILLA CARIPAN, VANESSA KIRALY, MAUREEN MANANSALA, DASHA CHU, CHLOE VANLANDSCHOOT, SERGIO SENATOR & MARK HOLLAND
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now run
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very movie set has its share of nervewracking challenges – whether it’s an unprepared cast member, post-production fixes, or too many directors on set. But what’s the biggest challenge of all? Ask Hayden Currie and TJ Derry. According to the best friend/cameramen duo, creating a movie that’s exciting and gutwrenchingly more hilarious than your average Hollywood blockbuster on a shoestring is as hard as it gets. The Film Student Movie – a comedy mockumentary that chronicles the trials and tribulations of one man’s rise from film student to star – has gained traction in the Toronto film scene for its witty script and guerrilla filmmaking style. Now in post-production, what began as a joke about lax film school admission requirements four years ago has since evolved into a full-length feature film. With over 15 years of combined experience in the film industry (Hayden left film school and works as a director for Dollface Films and TJ is a retired pro-snowboarder who is now Director of Hard Citizen, a Toronto production company), the filmmakers knew they could cut costs by taking on multiple roles; together they wrote, cast, starred in, produced, directed, and edited the film. They even used their Toronto apartment as the primary filming location. “I always knew I wanted to make movies,” says Hayden when asked about his inspiration behind the film. “I come from a small town where nothing seems possible. I knew I could do it; I just had to figure it out.” “We needed to do it. Every day that passed I was dying a little on the inside,” adds TJ who was also the first to admit that he and Hayden couldn’t have done it alone. Luckily, they have a long roster of skilled, dedicated, and connected friends to which they could turn.
Scott Taylor – a music supervisor with Girth Music and close friend who both acted in and executive produced the film with Hayden and TJ – financially invested in the movie before even reading the script. This plainly proves their shared passion for film and a mutual trust in their creative abilities. Scott and Girth Music have also headed up music supervision in post-production. TJ adds that the unbelievable support they received from William F. White made a significant difference in the film’s production value by providing access to top-notch equipment. Relationships with Pabst Blue
TJ DERRY, HAYDEN CURRIE, RYAN LONG, TREVOR DUWYN, SOFIA TROOP, SCOTTY TAYLOR, DARREN CHOW, JAREK HARDY, ZACH DULMAGE & SEBASTIAN KENNEDY
Ribbon and Toronto’s George Street Diner added elements of credibility on a local and international level. They also credit Sebastian Kennedy and Zach Dulmage for invaluable support during the post-production phase. After sharing a beer, lots of stories, and a ton of laughs with Hayden, TJ, and their friends, it was obvious how these charismatic guys were able to create a movie that has some big-time companies showing serious interest in marketing the film. They’re proof that likeability, creativity, and tenacity can go a long, long way. Be sure to keep an eye out for these guys.
Don’t be surprised if you see them at Sundance or TIFF in the near future. For more information on the film’s progress and to learn about upcoming screenings, check out www. thefilmstudentmovie.com or follow them on Twitter: @thefilmstudent_ #theherp
words: KERTNEY LYNN RUSSELL photos: PAUL STEWARD MUA & HAIR: LEXY ROBIDOUX
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the very next day
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t only 27, Strikes is one of Toronto’s most in-demand music video directors. Most known for his work for big-time Canadian acts like Karl Wolf, Shawn Desman, and Kardinal Offishall, Strikes has been working his way through the industry since he was just a teenager. His interest in the film industry was sparked at age sixteen, when his teachers thought he showed promise in video production classes at Kipling Collegiate. But as a youth growing up in Toronto’s West End, he was more focused on a career in sports than the arts. It was a shock when at eighteen, he decided to quit soccer and pursue film. He might not be kicking around a soccer ball anymore, but Chris Strikes is making his mark in a whole new way. “It wasn’t something that was warmly welcomed, especially by my family. My parents are old fashioned; they weren’t very open to getting a career in the arts,” says Strikes. Over time, his family became more supportive as he proved that he was serious about his career goals. In 2005, he was accepted to Centennial College’s Broadcast and Film program. Strikes also worked on music video and television commercial sets as a production assistant while in school, working with noted directors RT, Little X and Cazhmere. However, his life took another turn when he decided to quit school a year and a half later. “It came to the point where I’d go to school and I wouldn’t be learning anything, because I’d learned so much on set. I felt like I was wasting my time,” says Strikes. The very next day, he was online researching different film concepts, teaching himself in the span of an afternoon what would have taken a week in college. He continued working on sets and bought a professional video camera so he could shoot his own projects and do freelance work.
The very first video he directed was for a Montreal rapper called Swift KID, a simple black and white affair with only the artist. Six years later, his recent video for Karl Wolf and Kardinal Offishall’s song Turn It Up features almost 100 background performers and has over 150,000 views on YouTube. It also garnered him his very first MuchMusic Video Award nomination for Pop Video of the Year, which he calls “a very amazing and very humbling” experience. Constantly evolving, Strikes has branched out from music videos to longer works. He directed a documentary in 2009 chronicling a group of Torontonians who travel to Barack Obama’s Inauguration, and this year he completed his first short film One Night A Stranger, which was accepted into the Cannes Film Festival. The film industry is notoriously tough, and with the advent of YouTube and viral videos, Strikes says it is an industry that is getting a lot more saturated. Still, the amount of success he has achieved at such a young age shows that it is possible to make it if you persevere. He leaves PRODUCT with some advice for future filmmakers: “You have to make sure you’re on top of your game. You can never get too comfortable.”
words: JASMINE WILLIAMS photos: CRAIG BOYKO
47
IF YOU BUILD IT...
jordan tannahill
T
he sign, poking out from a storefront in Kensington market, is hard to miss: white block letters spell “Videofag” on a hot pink background. Depending on when you visit, if you peek through the window, you might see a stack of old CRT televisions, a ceiling covered with glowing glass bottles or some experimental work of performance art in progress. Videofag is Toronto’s latest gallery, cinema and performance venue, and it is unapologetically carving out a space for innovative, boundary-pushing and queerpositive artists in the city. Videofag opened this past October by couple Jordan Tannahill, a playwright, theatre director and filmmaker, and William Ellis, an actor who also works in non-profits. The pair curates the events in the gallery space and lives in the apartment behind the storefront. Tannahill says, “Since Will and I met, we’ve been fascinated by people who fashion their homes into artistic hubs… [We’ve] found lots of examples of people converting old storefronts into theatres or abandoned homes into art projects – and that really helped us imagine our home as something that could foster community and art making.” The two were struggling to find a live/ work space that would meet their needs, until Tannahill happened upon a sign in a barbershop window on Augusta Avenue. “Kensington Market has turned out to be the perfect neighbourhood for us. It has an eclectic, devil-may-care attitude that really fits with what we’re doing.” They moved in and immediately got to work transforming the storefront for their first event. Ellis says, “We had less than three weeks to renovate the space from a barbershop into a gallery, which involved cleaning up the years of hair that had accumulated.”
Since opening, Videofag has hosted a wide array of events: new play readings, live music, screenings, performance installations and spoken word nights. The space is constantly booked, with short runs that allow many artists to reimagine and reinvent the space. Especially memorable events have included trans performance artist Nina Arsenault’s Ophelia/Machine, a 72-hour live installation inspired by her involuntary three-day stay in a mental institution, and Henri Fabergé’s Feint of Hart, a steamy two-part punk-rock opera that mixed film, theatre, music and comedy. When selecting the works to present, Tannahill and Ellis are looking for new and transgressive pieces by artists wanting to take risks and experiment. Videofag has opened up room in Toronto for projects that some of the older or bigger institutions in town might not be able to take a chance on. Says Tannahill, “What we lack in resources we make up for in a willingness to try anything. Also, I think queer-centric and multidisciplinary art spaces are still quite rare and necessary.” The in-your-face name they chose captures the spirit of the work they have been putting up. Ellis explains, “It’s representative of our aesthetic, our community and the work we wanted to see. I think we were excited by the possible reactions to it, and also interested in the way that a connotation attached to a word can change.” Upcoming events at Videofag include a queer video arcade, a play about a wizard on a psycho-sexual rampage, an installation that will see the space turned into a tea shop, and a “Grinder-powered thriller” – in other words, something for everyone. Check out www.videofag.com for event listings and ticket info. words: ronit rubinstein photos: adam zivo hair & mua: christina rufino
william ellis
the WHITE FLUFFY BUNNIES
not WHITE FLUFFY BUNNIES
NICK RAINES, BRANDON BERETTA & CRISS RAINES
D
ressed in a tight black V-neck, leather pants, and pointy-toe boots, Nick Raines, lead singer of The Blackstone Roses, pauses in the middle of their set at the Cadillac Lounge. He grabs the mic and snarls at the crowd. “This next song’s a grinder.” He looks over at his younger brother, dressed similarly, except for a black hat perched low over his eyes. His fingers move at a blistering pace as he grinds out an impeccable solo, and the crowd moves along to the pulsing, bluesy beat. The Blackstone Roses, a rock band from Parkdale consisting of brothers Nick and
Criss Raines, Brandon Beretta on drums, and a currently vacant spot for bass guitarist, is making huge waves both north and south of the border. Their punk-goth look sets them apart but they have a sound that is rooted in the familiar. They name classic blues and rock acts like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and The Rolling Stones as major influences on their music. “We grew up with our parents’ records around the house all the time,” says Nick. He adds that bands like Guns N’ Roses and Motörhead influenced the band’s name. Nick started playing guitar at 12
and younger brother Criss started around the same time on drums and bass guitar before moving on to electric. Nick remembers the first time he heard his brother play, “I thought to myself, ‘That’s a damn good guitar player. I should see who it is and steal him.’” When he found out it was Criss, he fired his band the same night. “And the rest is history as they say,” says Nick. Their latest album, The Dead City EP, has been huge for the band, with the title track qualifying for curation in the Grammys Amplifier competition. That means it will be heard by panel judges the likes of Ozzy Osbourne and Rihanna. “It’s definitely humbling,” says Nick. “It makes you feel like all the turmoil you got through is all worth it.” Adds Criss, “It’s a big nod to get.” The boys have been through their fair share of hard times, and they describe their album as an “audio diary” of everything they have been through over the past few years, from travelling between Toronto and Los Angeles trying to make it in the music business to
indulging in the stereotypical rocker lifestyle. “This record is the end of that era for us,” says Nick. Their next record, which is currently being written and will soon start pre-production, is what Nick describes as “back to the basics,” with a stronger blues influence than their latest EP. The style is something like home for the brothers, who even have a blues band as a side project called Criss Raines and the Grimm Rhythms. With fists full of rings, eyes ringed with black eyeliner, skinny jeans, and leather jackets, you literally can’t miss The Blackstone Roses. Their tough-as-nails look is loud and their throwback sound is even louder.
words: JASMINE WILLIAMS photos: SASS FRASER location: THE CADILLAC LOUNGE
61
easy rider
T
here are four types of people in Toronto: people who walk, people who cycle, people who take the bus, and people who drive. A few short years ago, one could sit down and do the math over coffee and a pie graph and see that the slices were not equal. Today, I imagine that the numbers have changed, all in favour of a healthier lifestyle. I sat down with Jeff Scullion, owner and employee at Cycle Couture, to discuss how Toronto has shifted into a new a gear: A Cycling City. Jeff is a graduate of Brock University and originally worked in the corporate world as a VP of a popular marketing firm. Jeff was given the golden opportunity to travel around the world. While visiting some of the top cycling cities, a love story ensued with Jeff and cycling culture. “Even during my travels, I was always really excited to come home to Toronto. I love the city... I wanted to add to it,” Jeff explained. While abroad, Jeff came across a variety of brands with a “clean aesthetic.” His idea was to bring brands like Velorbis, PUBLIC, Swobo, and Herskind to Toronto and to be the first dealer in Canada for many of these brands. As Jeff got to work on this rather challenging endeavor, he compiled a business plan and started the hunt for a retail space. “I found a shop on College and was really drawn to the simplicity of the space,” Jeff reminisced. Cycle Couture is located at 926 College Street West, just past Dovercourt, where Jeff precisely curates the bicycles and items sold. With its urban, modern aesthetic, Cycle Couture is a shop that is sure to charm. Jeff states that he really wanted the
products to speak for themselves and to act as art within the space. This eye for detail enhances the look and feel of the brand and is nothing short of couture. Besides making Toronto cyclists Instagram-ready, Jeff and the team at Cycle Couture are committed to catering to your everyday bike needs. “It’s really about building community through common interest,” explains Jeff. Although Cycle Couture is a boutique shop, they provide many of the same services as your average bike shop in the city at comparable prices (although an appointment might be required). “We still do tune-ups and repairs and we also carry a bunch of accessories like messengers [messenger bags] and the Levi’s Commuter Line,” Jeff added. For the past eight months, Jeff has worked at his shop full-time. Business is thriving. “This is all new to me, but change is exciting,” Jeff says as we stand outside Cycle Couture. Through the window, I can see a clear vista to a Light Bright which reads: “Show your bike / Show <3”. As Jeff’s kismet love affair with cycling culture continues to blossom, look forward to an even stronger brand presence in Toronto and perhaps a sister store in another Canadian city. No matter your mode of transportation, show your love and show it in style.
words:JONATHAN BRODERICK photos:ISAAC ZELUNKA
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