Canadian Screen Awards 2018

I appreciate that Canada didn't try to block non-Canadian viewers from the ceremony, which made it easier, naturally. 

This time around, Emma Hunter and Jonny Harris hosted the Canadian Screen Awards, two individuals who I am unfamiliar with. This set the tone for a program in which I was uninformed. Honestly, I watched most of this while jumping rope.

There was a spirit of civil progress at this event, like the Oscars, but it was focused less on women, and shifted more to indigenous cultures and peoples overall. 

I was intrigued by one show starring Caroline Dhavernas of Hannibal, Mary Kills People (that said, don't hold your breath). 

There were a few interesting lifetime achievement awards, first was the Academy Board of Directors’ Tribute Award, which went to Margaret Atwood the writer. This year her works were the inspiration behind two top series: The Handmaid’s Tale and Alias Grace (winner of this year’s Best Limited Series or Program).

Second was the Earle Grey Award for Clark Johnson, an actor who specializes in street tough, street smart roles, notably The Wire and Homicide: Life on the Street.

My favorite part of the ceremony was the awarding of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Peter Mansbridge. Peter Mansbridge is a news anchor. I never heard of him before, but I enjoyed hearing his voice over various news footage. The first video below is my own, ripped-from-the-live-stream clip of the tribute package. The second video is the high quality, official Canadian Screen Awards video of the speech.

         

 

If the Oscars ceremony was underwhelming, the Canadian Screen Awards convinced me just how not American Canada really is. There was very little overlap in the nominations. 

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE

Here comes dangerous territory. Before the actual ceremony, I saw on my Instagram feed that A MacDonald won Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Series for Cardinal. This was not featured in the main broadcast, unfortunately, but there is a social media record to dig into. 

Canadian Screen Awards 2014

Overall, I liked the Canadian Screen Awards 2015 more than 2014.  The 2014 show spent too much time on the red carpet and not enough on the actual awards, resulting in a rushed show with fewer awards.  I’m impressed how many awards were added to the presentation and how relaxed the 2015 show was.  I also thought Andrea Martin was a more comfortable host than Martin Short.  Martin Short was a little combative in his humor.  Andrea Martin went a more self-deprecating route.  

Martin Short with Mugwump from Naked Lunch on the red carpet.

A number of small revelations stood out.  Far more original Canadian reality shows were up the previous year; this year it was mainly Canadian versions of American shows.  Last year, Tatiana Maslany won for the first time for Orphan Black, which was quite emotional; this year it was expected.  I realized that the American market was concerned about the title to the Daniel Radcliffe film The F-Word, which was renamed What If?  That really changes one’s focus throughout the film.  They also changed the venue.  This year’s Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts was particularly snazzy (I love the glass and opera style tiers); last year it was held at Sony Centre for the Performing Arts.    

Sony Centre for the Performing Arts.  Image not from telecast.

I’m not going to go into the awards as this is old news and they can be looked up online.  

Jay Baruchel honors David Cronenberg.

However, one part of the 2014 show was my favorite Canadian Screen Awards Moment of all: the Lifetime Achievement Award for David Cronenberg.  It was definitely David Cronenberg night.  Both Jay Baruchel and Viggo Mortensen spoke in honor of him.   Jay Baruchel gave nervous remarks about how grateful he was for the chance to work with David, which led into a fabulous montage, which is something you don’t see in a Lifetime Achievement montage at the Oscars.  Then Viggo Mortensen gave a more stern speech that lamented the under-recognition of David Cronenberg.  He pointed out that Cronenberg was never nominated for an Oscar.  He compared Cronenberg to Swedish film-maker Carl Dreyer, both of whom, according to Mortensen, were groundbreaking and original voices in cinema who created distinctive bodies of work.

Viggo Mortensen honors David Cronenberg.

David Cronenberg was one of the funniest and well-spoken of any Lifetime Achievement Award recipient that I’ve seen.  He told a joke:

Patient: Doctor, I can’t pee.

Doctor: Well, how old are you?

Patient: I’m 93.

PAUSES

Doctor: Well, you’ve peed enough.  

David Cronenberg.

Cronenberg went on to suggest that the industry is telling him that he’s peed enough.  Then he went onto the possibility of an afterlife.  He suggested that he could go for the After-Lifetime Achievement Award.  That’s the first I’ve ever heard such a concept from such an honoree.  He decided to embrace delusion after expressing doubt in the afterlife, which will allow him to believe in the afterlife and be a happy honoree.  His speech was simultaneously one of the funniest and cleverest, as well as one of the darkest I’ve ever heard.   

Besides Cronenberg, the night was mostly forgettable, but also confirms that The Canadian Screen Awards are on the right track.  

David Cronenberg hold up his award in appreciation of his wife.

The 2015 Canadian Screen Awards: This American's First

Four Seasons Center for the Performing Arts

Tatiana Maslany

One of big winners of the night, Canada's pride, and international star of Orphan Black.  She was one of the few I actually knew.

Kiefer Sutherland.

What can I say?  Love this man.  When it comes to men who I would have a bromance or orgy with, he's one of my top five.  Granted, it would still be very weird and possibly traumatizing, but I'd be somewhat ready and willing.  Although he was born in England, he waves the Canadian flag quite well; he's often spoke of his grandfather, Tommy Douglas, Premier of Saskatchewan, who introduced Canada's first universal healthcare system.  Not to mention Donald.  Sure enough, his presence was primarily one of communicating Canadian pride.

Part of his speech: "As a self-deprecating nation, we might take the history of Canadian film and television for granted, but we really shouldn't.  What would our childhood's have been like without Mr. Dressup, Anne of Green Gables, or The Friendly Giant?  And how good is it that we get to claim Norman Jewison, Atom Egoyan, David Cronenberg, James Cameron, Ivan Reitman [...]?"  What followed was a beautiful montage, which capped off the moving tribute to Canada's contribution to world film and television.

Interior Four Seasons Center for the Performing Arts, Stage

Interior Four Seasons Center for the Performing Arts, Auditorium Rear*

* I love theaters with opera house style.  Look at those horseshoe tiers above.

I was impressed with Andrea Martin's hosting of the Canadian Screen Awards, this will probably stick with me for quite some time.  She made a few Red Carpet jokes that I loved; "What are you wearing? Canada Goose; Why is Bruce Jenner hosting the award show?  I didn't even know he was Canadian."  Love the US tabloids reference.  She also "thanked" Target Canada for the wonderful gift bags, talk about self-deprecation.  Below, I offer my own celebratory contribution to the Andrea Martin's spoof of award show falls, complete with pixelated crotch.

Andrea Martin's Big Sight Gag

Andrea Martin.

Eugene and Daniel Levy also had a funny "dispute" as presenters over whether or not every nominee was a winner.  Daniel assumed the "everybody in here is a winner" opinion.  Then Eugene said: "Let's find out, according to your theory, which of the winners is the actual winner."   

Louis Ferreira and Kristin Lehman in Motive.

 I was happy to see Motive get plenty of screen time and recognition, a show that almost doesn't exist in The Golden Globes, The Screen Actors Guild Awards, or The Emmy Awards.  I was sad to see Rookie Blue beat Motive for the Golden Screen Awards Best Drama (in other words, the people's choice of Canada).
 

Bruce McCulloch's Intense Gaze.

Bruce McCulloch was here.  I actually already read about this, but seeing it is something else.  I'd love Bruce McCulloch to be my boss/co-worker.  He looks like an incredibly pleasant man.  Perhaps his appearance here is foreshadowing awards, at least nominations, to come next year?

Kacey Rohl was nominated for Best Actress in a Comedy (paraphrasing) for Working the Engels.  I've never heard of, but I'm intrigued.  I enjoyed Kacey Rohl in The Killing and was at times hypnotized by her work in Hannibal.
   

Just another shot with another expression.

Joanna Cassidy, winner of best actress in a comedy, emphasized that she was American, and said, "When I think of Candians, I think of Mounties."  Can we expect anything less from this Blade Runner alum?

Joanna Cassidy in Blade Runner

Dan Beirne and Mark Little in Space Riders: Division Earth.

Way to go Canada for having a Best Web Series category.  Space Riders: Division Earth won.

Andrea Martin Orphan Black Audition Sketch

Andrea Martin Spoofing Orphan Black Audition

Andrea Martin Spoofing Orphan Black Audition

Andrea Martin Spoofing Orphan Black Audition

Andrea Martin Spoofing Orphan Black Audition

Joke from leopard jacket portion; "'Do you know how many animals had to die so you could wear that jacket?' I said, 'Do you know how many animals I had to sleep with to get it.'"

Iron Chef Susur Lee.

Big Brother Canada Parody.  Great ponytailed apple eating.

I was impressed to learn that Canada had so many reality shows, both unique (Battle of the Blades) and versions of American series (Big Brother Canada, The Amazing Race Canada, and MasterChef Canada).

Another intriguing discovery was the series Arctic Air.  I'm a sucker for moody, icy drama (and comedy).  Canada's doing their best to make me surrender even more of my productivity potential.  Worry not, I shall tread carefully.

Pompeii was honored with the Cineplex Golden Screen Award.  One of the Canadian productions that I saw (in 3D in my home theater).

Kudos to Canada for honoring their news anchors and news programs, their equivalents are not as appreciated in the United States.  And, of course, the winner was not a host for a New York/United States export, but the host of City National News for Canada's own CTV.    

Julianne Côté and Marc-André Grondin in Tu Dors Nicole (You're Sleeping, Nicole)

One of the major nominees of the night (including best picture) was Tu Dors Nicole (You're Sleeping, Nicole).  I'm impressed with it's visual look (Julianne Côté is a big reason) and it is now on my to-see list.  Between this and Mommy, Quebec had a good year.    

John Cusack won for Best Supporting Actor (paraphrased) for Maps to the Stars.  He was absent.  A definite shame and loss.  I saw Maps to the Stars very early, months before its release.  Cusack was impressive as a life-improvement guru.  Julianne Moore, who was present at the show (she's Canadian too), played a vulgar Hollywood actress who refers to her privates as "old holes."  And Evan Bird, also a nominee, played a total headcase prick.  This film was non-existent at the Oscars, I felt validated (for my ambivalent viewing experience) to see this recognized here.

Timbits by Tim Horton's.

Thanks to A.J. Cook, I now know of Timbits.

Ultimately, the Canadian Screen Awards 2015 made up for an underwhelming Academy Awards (United States) 2015, actually it's more akin to The Golden Globes where both film and television get honored.  The broadcast was tight.  And it was somehow cozier and more inviting.  I'm going to try to watch these live next year on the internet.  Great.     

Find the complete list of nominees and winners here: The Nominees and Winners