Tag Archives: Toronto

David Merry: Magician, comedian, writer

David-Merry-Brain

Are you a risk taker? Have you managed to find a balance between the creative process and earning a good living?

As a writer, David Merry has written jokes for legendary comedians including Joan Rivers and Rodney Dangerfield.

As a magician, he’s invented some spectacular tricks

And as a comedian, he’s one the most “in-demand” performers I’ve worked with doing hundreds of shows each year.

Through all of this David’s taken risks and he opens up about the ups and downs of his many ventures.

David’s a lifelong learner who’s in the process of meeting the requirements to become a member of the Director’s Guild of Canada, but most impressive is that through all the ups and downs and transitions in his entertainment career he’s been a great husband and father.

SHOW NOTES
David’s Website DavidMerry.com.
David Merry on YouTube .

Brian D. Johnson, Filmmaker, critic

Brian D. Johnson Safer Route (2) (1) (1)

Brian D. Johnson’s work as a journalist explores art with the insight of not only a passionate observer but also an accomplished artist with a fascination for the human condition.

For almost 30 years Johnson was the staff film critic and Arts writer for Macleans, Canada’s top current affairs magazine. He’s retired from Macleans but continues to submit stories while pursuing his own artistic endeavours.

Brian’s directorial debut, the documentary “Al Purdy Was Here,” is a beautiful piece of work on many levels, I think you’ll really enjoy our chat about the creative process behind it.

We discuss everything from Brian’s easy working relationship with Leonard Cohen to the inspiring story behind the creation of a film celebrating one of Canada’s most prolific poets: Al Purdy.

Incidentally, we recorded last year prior to Leonard Cohen’s passing.

Our conversation begins with the fact that more films than ever are being made in Canada but there are less “Canadian” films.

Show Notes
Al Purdy Was Here website
Al Purdy Was Here on iTunes
The Al Purdy A Frame Association website
Follow @briandjohnson on Twitter
Brian D. Johnson Films website
Words the Literary and Creative Arts Festival: WordsFest.ca

Writer, Comedian: Joanne O’Sullivan

1 Reply

Joanne’s written for the hit TV shows “This Hour has Twenty Two Minutes” and the “Baroness Von Sketch Show.”

Joanne has performed stand-up comedy across the country, she’s also done storytelling at the Stratford Festival’s “Late Night with Lucy Peacock cabarets,” and improvisation for four seasons of “Sin City,” Toronto’s popular live, improvised soap opera.

Plus she’s had a hit Fringe Festival show and is about to debut her new show “She Grew Funny” at the Toronto Fringe.

We talk about parenthood and the impact having a daughter had on her career. Prior to writing her latest show Joanne took a course to help with her writing, something she never imaged herself doing at this point in her career, but as you’ll hear it really helped kick start the process that led to her second Fringe Festival show.

SHOW NOTES
Joanne’s Show “She Grew Funny“.
The crowd funding site.
Joanne O’Sullivan on Twitter.
Tracey Erin Smith Soul O Theatre.
Albert Howell on Twitter.