BookShorts Newsletter February 2008

Robert Lantos & Anne Collins join Moving Stories FF

We are thrilled to bring you the lastest on Moving Stories Film Fest - the addition of two stellar and inspiring champions of expression - ROBERT LANTOS (Serendipity Point Films) and ANNE COLLINS (Random House of Canada). As if they need any introduction! Go ahead and Google - those returns are *very* impressive, and we are incredibly jazzed that they have lent their considerable gravitas to our project.

Mr. Lantos and Ms. Collins have agreed to take part in our venture as FILM ADVISORS, which means that we will be providing them with the roster of films selected for the upcoming Festival.

Take note those of you in the filmmaking and author community - the regular deadline for submissions is MARCH 15 - all the Guidelines are available at movingstoriesfilmfest.com

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Randall Maggs' Night Work Premieres Feb 19

RANDALL MAGGS launches his epic prose poem NIGHT WORK: THE SAWCHUK POEMS at Toronto's Hockey Hall of Fame accompanied by the fresh-off-the-plane (literally!) short film adaptation by multi-award winning filmmakers -- Director JUSTIN SIMMS based in St. John's, NL with a screenplay by GREG SPOTTISWOOD. Greg will be representing all the talented artists who worked on the film, and read the poem that inspired the film live from the stage.

More screenings + readings in Winnipeg and Corner Brook as the well-deserved attention for Randy's book starts to climb! See more about the book and film here >> http://www.bookshorts.com/watch_nightwork

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Donner Prize Commission to Celebrate 10th Year

This year, THE DONNER CANADIAN FOUNDATION proudly celebrates the tenth anniversary of the Donner Prize, which annually rewards excellence and innovation in Canadian public policy writing. The largest and most prestigious prize of its kind, the Donner Prize awards $35,000 to the author of the winning book, with $5,000 awarded to each of the other shortlisted titles.

To enhance and amplify the integral role the Prize has fulfilled since William H. Donner founded it, Writer / Director BRUCE PIRRIE will delve into the subject of civic engagement by means of a showcase short film and a series of video Author Profiles. The collective pieces will exlplore how surprisingly prevalent public policy is in determining the well-being of Canadians on an every-day level, and the success of Canada as a whole.

The series of videos will premiere at the Awards ceremony April 16, and be widely distributed by long-time publicity representatives Susan Meisner and Sherry Naylor at MEISNER, DE GROOT & ASSOCIATES. For more on the Prize visit the Donner website here

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CBA MovingStories.TV picked up by booksellers

We don't want to toot too loud because it has really just started and at the same time we are very encouraged by the increasing amount of press and industry attention out there, on the confluence of moving media and the written word. Of course that is my bias - I agree with you, it might even be termed an obsession at this point.

Canadian Booksellers Association members across the country did respond to our new program, proof positive we are not alone :) Check out our serialized episodes of MovingStories.TV - you can place the video player once and it will update itself with new content each time we publish. Then let us know what authors you would be interested in hearing and seeing.

On the upcoming roster: Dave Bidini, Diane Schoemperlen, Randy Maggs, Paul Quarrington for Canada Reads, Astrid Young and more.

MovingStories.TV

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Greystone orders up Food, Sex and Salmonella

Lots of "firsts" on this project -- the first work for new client GREYSTONE BOOKS, a division of Douglas & McIntyre Ltd. First time we've worked with media artist KATE HOLLETT who brings her amazing eye, aesthetics and probing mind to this film project.

Oh, and the project -- well that's the first time for us that an author has put FOOD SEX AND SALMONELLA in the same title! The subtitle of the book is just as interesting ... "Why Our Food is Making Us Sick."

Kate and her team will be interviewing author Dr. DAVID WALTNER-TOEWS on February 27, the first step in crafting a BookShort Author Profile for the good folks at Greystone to use at pub date and beyond, in large part due to the fact that Dr. Waltner-Toews will be miles and miles up the Amazon conducting research when the book hits stores. By the time the next e-Newsletter goes out, you'll be be seeing food through quite a different lens!