CreComm Year One

Okay, so I'm late with this post. I probably won't get any marks for it, but CreComm Year One is over now (short of a visit with my advisor), and I feel great. Going back to school after a few years of working in professional positions that just weren't me is the best decision I've ever made. I'm lucky that I was accepted into the program, and have had the opportunity to meet and work with so many talented people. I've changed for the better in ways that I can't fully detail,

Creative Communications is a tough course that seeks to test students at every turn, pushing us out of our comfort zones, leaving us with several deadlines hanging over our heads at a time. We learn a huge variety of skills during this first year, and I can't wait to join my Media Production compatriots for a second year full of amazing hard work and success.

Big ups to all the instructors at RRC's CreComm. They make the program what it is, sharing their coaching and mentorship with us lucky students. I look forward to learning twice as much next year and plowing through long Thursdays in Broadcast Journalism with Forde and Joanne. I've learned a lot, but I have so much left to go.

Making Friends Montage Video

Here, watch this short film I made. It's my excuse to make other people hear the song I've listened to every day for the last six weeks, No Sentiment by Cloud Nothings.

I shot my roommate as a disturbed man with an egg shortage. It's the third short I've made (the first in years), and I'm pretty happy with the results. I hope you like it.

Rick and Morty - Season One Finale

I'm no stranger to cartoons. I think I'm part of the first generation of people to have a lot of adult-oriented animation options, and I'm very happy that the nice creative people are making them for us grown-up types. There are an infinite number of stories that are not feasible to be told through live action, either due to technical or practical limitations.

Rick and Morty is my new favourite animated show, taking its place in the pantheon with Bob's Burgers and Venture Bros. (Archer has been slipping this season). You can read a complete piece on the show in my Pop Culture Cornucopia column in the most recent issue of The Projector if you're a Red River College student, to be re-published here in the near future.

Legit

This week, I've found the time to watch the entire first season of Legit. It's an FXX sitcom starring Australian comedian Jim Jefferies, former The Daily Show correspondent Dan Bakkedahl, and everyone's favourite emaciated scarecrow-man, DJ Qualls. DJ Qualls plays Billy, who has muscular dystrophy and relies on a wheelchair and support workers.

I've always found DJ Qualls annoying, but Legit is turning things around for me. The guy plays the character with loads of heart, and he's got good comedic timing.

The Ultimate Fighter Nations: Canada vs. Australia

I've been watching The Ultimate Fighter Nations: Canada vs. Australia since February, part of a trend where I seem to not be able to get enough UFC. I'm not even sure why I'm into MMA a lot of the time, and sometimes I even feel guilty about enjoying the sport.

On last week's episode, Chad Laprise had to face teammate Kajan Johnson. In past seasons, when teammates had to fight in the semifinals, their team's head coach would remove him or herself from the fight preparation, separating the coaching staff for the fight, and usually the fighters would be cornered by other members of their team.

For Laprise vs. Johnson, that's not how things went. Laprise was proactive, seeking out a coaching staff for the fight well in advance. He got two Team Canada coaches and one of the Australian coaches to be in his corner, he was being given advice (quietly but not inconspicuously) by head coach Patrick Cote, and he gave his coaches instructions to be super loud to damage Johnson's confidence.

Bill Burr in Winnipeg

I had the good fortune to see Bill Burr perform last night at the Burton Cummings Theatre. He's one of, if not the best, currently-working stand-up comedian. It was an inspiring show, one that has my mind deep into stand-up in the hours since.

Bill's opener was Paul Virzi, who was hilarious. They'd been in Canada for ten days already, so of course they had some spot-on observations and jokes about Canada and Canadians, but the pandering was minimal.

I listen to Bill's Monday Morning Podcast occasionally, but I avoided his material for the months leading up to the show so I could get a full, fresh dose of what's on his mind, and it was a treat.

Shout out to Just For Laughs for producing the tour. It's Bill's first Canadian tour and he claims he'll be coming back.

Sargent & Victor & Me (& Me)

While technology advances, live entertainment holds its value. The immediacy of being in the room for a performance captures a shared humanity whether it's in the form of theatre, music, comedy, sports, or even juggling.

There are many possible pitfalls for a one-person show, and many things need to go just right in order to pull it off well. I saw the one-woman version of Sargent & Victor & Me at the University of Winnipeg on March 4th, and found it a powerful experience at times. Debbie Patterson plays all the parts with equal commitment but varying results.

I found myself tearing up several times during the performance, but it was more to do with my personal experience with people living with multiple sclerosis than anything else.