AC Newman, one of Canada's - nay, the world's! - greatest songwriters. The New Pornographers, AC's band of merry men and women. Broken Social Scene, another brilliant empowered creative socialist collect rock machine. The Organ, Wolf Parade, The Awkward Stage, Arcade Fire, The Weatherthans... what do all these artists have in common? Hmmm....
Movies
There is only one.
Television
If you must stay at home, you must watch The Sopranos. And maybe stick around for that kooky Big Love show. Or watch CBC, even when it's not playing hockey.
Books
The collected works of Douglas Coupland are enthusiastically endorsed. And check out Will Ferguson too.
Heroes
Rick Mercer, Bubbles, Monty Hall... And more seriously (for real) Terry Fox.
About me:
May 19, 2008: Get up! Get out! Get busy! It's summer dang. Victoria Day is sick.
Dec 16, 2007: Happy Holidays - salt the steps.
July 1, 2007: Happy Canada Day! Wow, you guys rock. Really. Your posts of favourite souvenirs are AWESOME! We're gonna leave them up for everyone to enjoy, which was always the point in the first place, but of course there has to be one DVD winner randomly chosen by the filmmakers and it is... Mark! With his evocative multi-sensory souvenirs.
Congrats! And thanks to all you amazing Canadians and honourary Canadians who helped create a very cool thread. High school students are writing papers on your answers.
June 2007: We are very excited to let you know that Souvenir of Canada will have its CANADIAN TELEVISION PREMIERE June 28th at 8pm on CBC -- just in time for Canada Day. We are also launching a fun contest on MySpace to lead up to the broadcast and here's where we need your help. Please visit our MySpace page and let us know what your personal favourite "souvenir" of Canada is. From all the posts, the filmmakers will randomly choose one favourite on July 1 and its poster will win a free DVD copy of the film... but we'll all be winners for the conversation that ensues. Drop by today to get the ball rolling!
To help out, here are a few to start...
Ookpik
ketchup chips
The Hip
99
December 5, 2006: Austrailian Premiere! Chauvel Cinema, Sydney as part of Possible Worlds. How cool is it that they have a festival devoted to Canada in Australia? Why are we light years behind? Where is OzFest Ottawa? PerthStock à Montreal?
www.possibleworlds.net.au
September 26, 2006: SOUVENIR OF CANADA is available today on DVD! Check your local video store. And if it's not there, harrass them to order it!
August 2006: It was great screening SOUVENIR OF CANADA all across Canada this summer! Thanks Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa for the four star reviews! The DVD is set for release September 26th and it's packed with fun, rare DVD extras like an extended in-depth interview with Douglas Coupland, hilarious lost NFB educational masterpieces, deleted scenes, audio commentary with Douglas and the filmmakers, plus plus plus. Look for it September 26th in your local DVD store or if you like you can pre-order it on amazon.ca or at www.indigo.ca. For more info, you can also visit www.maplepictures.com. Happy home viewing!
May 2006: OK Canadians. Sure you can go see Pirates of the Carribean again, or MI:3 again! But come see a MOVIE OF OUR OWN this summer. Yes, a movie that only Canadians will ever really understand -- and yes, a movie that will make you laugh and cry and want to drink good beer. I'm talking about a really fun movie called SOUVENIR OF CANADA. It's based on the best-selling books by Douglas Coupland - one had a stubbie beer bottle on the front. Yeah, that one!
PS - I know for tax credit purposes X-Men 3 MAY qualify as a Canadian film as well, but aren't we tired of watching Canada-as-Ambigious-American-City? Come see Canada as Canada -- Vancouver as Vancouver; Tranna as Tranna.
Ho, you may say you'd also like dazzling sci-fi special effects in your summer movies -- Souvenir of Canada will even offer you those! Ever wondered what Baffin Island will look like in the year 3001? Come see!
So put down your ookpik, pass the vinegar and crank up the game...
