The Whistler Library is setting the stage for passionate readers to dish out their take on their favourite book.
Are you all about trumpeting everything Canadian, maybe The Big Why by Michael Winter?
Or do you want to analyze society in a Petri dish with Joseph Campbell’s The Power of Myth?
Whatever Red Tent rant or Lumiere Light gospeling, Whistler Reads wants to hear it at the Video Book Review filming on Feb. 28 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Whistler Library.
Readers are invited to come forward to film a two-minute review of a book for the Whistler Faces to Book video program. The video will premier at the Whistler Public Library’s Opening Gala Week, Apr. 11-17 and will also be available online.
There is a child, youth, local adult, visitor and athlete category. Already Steve Podborski has bookmarked a review of Lord of the Rings.
Reviewers will state their name, the author and the title of the book, what the story is about, why you loved the book, and why others should read it.
To book your book review, contact Paula Shackleton at 604-907-2804 or paulas@bookbuffet.com .
Whistler Reads is a Village-wide book group that meets every eight weeks to discuss a new book, often in the presence of the author. The next meeting looks at Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson. The book spent more than 70 weeks on the bestseller list.
The event is free with Whistler Read members receiving a 10 per cent discount on the current Whistler Reads book selection at Armchair Books in Whistler.
Last chance for Battle of the Bands
Bands and solo artists must register by Friday, Feb. 29 if they want a chance to sing it out for the grand prize of the 2008 Sea to Sky Battle of the Bands — a $5,000 recording/marketing prize package.
The annual event has really upped the ante this year with event organizers LUNA (Late and Unique Nighttime Alternatives) and Club Shred partnering with new sponsors Echo One Productions and REMG, the largest urban-music concert promoter in Canada.
First prize for both the soloist and band category will include a demo critique by a national music industry agent, a demo recording deal, an opening for a headliner act, a professional photo session, air time on Mountain FM, and an artist marketing and development consultation deal.
The only thing standing between artist and prize is a jury of industry professionals to vote for the Best of Show. Runners up will also receive prizes and there will be an Audience Choice Award as well.
The Battle is open to solo artists or band with a least one member under the age of 35 years old, and at least one member residing in or between Horseshoe Bay and D’Arcy. Solo artists and bands with an album nationally distributed by a major label are not eligible.
Free transportation will be available for qualifying semifinalists who will step up to the mic in March.
Entry forms are available at www.lunawhistler.com. Completed packages must be received no later than Friday at 4:30 p.m.
New Squamish film festival is looking for filmmakers
Do you think you might be the next Fellini, Truffuat or Tarantino?
Even if you had to Google those names that doesn’t mean you can’t hold a camera, so if you have recently produced a short film the Sea to Sky Film Festival wants to put your flick up on the big screen at the Emerging Artist Competition on Thursday, Mar. 13 at the Squamish Adventure Centre.
Films can cover any subject your imagination can come up with and must be no longer than 10 minutes. All films and videos must be submitted on DVD. The deadline for entry is Friday, Mar. 7. There is no entry fee and more than one film/video can be entered.
So take a stab at getting the chance to see your name up in lights, or at least become a little better known in the corridor at this new competition.
Prizes will be given and filmmakers will have the opportunity to take part in filmmaker discussions and workshops.
A panel of judges will award certificates for Best Drama, Best Comedy, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Direction, Best Editing, Best Cinematography and Best Screenplay.
For entry forms, visit c-to-sky.net/filmfest or call Adriane Polo at 604-815-9057.
Tuning into local guitar talent
Local guitarists both pro and amateur will tune their guitars for a community showcase at the second annual Pemberton Guitar Recital on Friday, Feb. 29 at the Locals’ Livingroom in Pemberton.
This year features Chicks with Picks as well as more than two-dozen guitarists of all ages and abilities.
The program covers everything from the Beatles and Joni Mitchell to Jack Johnson and the Rolling Stones.
Organizers are even throwing in a little music theory and rock trivia contests to make sure the evening jams well into the fun-loving night.
New monthly music films in Whistler
LUNA (Late Unique Nighttime Alternatives) and the Whistler Public Library have joined forces to host a new monthly film viewing night with the Screening Room.
Pink Floyd the Wall will be the first film to screen of the series on Friday, Feb. 29 at 8 p.m. at the newly opened library.
Pink Floyd The Wall stars Bob Geldof as Pink, a man slowly descending into madness. From baby to burnt-out rock star, from World War II imagery to fascism and drug abuse, the Wall flashes through Pink’s neurotic flashbacks and dreams. The cult film is based on the music and themes of Pink Floyd’s album The Wall.
Screening Room is hosted the last Friday of each month in an effort to attract more young adults to the library and to promote the release of new music films in the library’s DVD collection.
Filmgoers must be 18 years or older to attend.
Admission is $3 for LUNA members or $5 for non-members.
Refreshments will be served by Nesters Market.
Michael Franti returns to TWSSF
Michael Franti and Spearhead dials up their thinking man’s hip hop once again on the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival mainstage on Apr. 20 in Whistler – the band’s only West Coast stopover south of Anchorage.
Tune into tracks from Franti’s newest album Yell Fire! at the free live outdoor concert staged in Skier’s Plaza at the bottom of Whistler Mountain.
The new album delivers Franti’s most uplifting set of songs to date, inspired by a trip to war-ravaged Iraq, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
"The thing that I found when I was in war zones was that nobody wants to hear songs about war,” Franti said in a release. “They want to hear songs about connection to people, and songs about love and life, songs that make them dance."
Franti will kick off the mainstage lineup still underway. Other acts to look forward to include Rolling Stone cover boys The John Butler Trio and Canadian rockers The Trews.
The 72-hour filmmaking shakedown
Filmmaker Showdown finalists will screen their five-minute shorts at the Celluloid Social Club Screening on Mar. 12 at 8 p.m. at the Anza Club in Vancouver.
Like the Celluloid Club, the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival aims to connect the filmmaking community with an audience.
Every year filmmakers gather up a caffeinated-fueled crew to take part in the 72-Hour Filmmaker Showdown as part of the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival every April. Artists are challenged to produce a three to five minute digital film set within a 100-kilometre radius of Whistler over the space of 72 hours. This red-eye competition is an exercise in patience and stamina as amateur and semi-professional teams battle it out for a finalist spot.
Finalist films will screen before an audience of 2,000 rowdies cheering on their favourite teams with one winner, Best of Show, chosen by an expert panel of judges to reap the rewards of exposure and $15,000 in prizes.
Advance online registration is available at http://whistler.mtv.ca under the Filmmaker Showdown link until Apr. 1. The entry fee is $50 per team.
Space is limited and with the popularity of this event ever increasing, it’s always a good idea to register early and not miss out on the filmmaking mayhem.
