Counting down the seconds now until Katrina’s and my #yff12 Road Trip to commence.  We’ve ditched the boys this time in favour of roamancing our way with the gals to Yorkton.  We know Erica Hargreave knows what she’s getting herself into and only has herself to blame, but Annelise Larson is another story.  Really though, at this stage of the game, all we can do is wish her luck (and maybe that you all show her a little love on the road @veriatweet).

Feel free to join in the shenanigans by following along with #yff12 and our tweets from @Katrinavision, @veriatweet, @EricaHargreave, @Roamancing and little ol’ moi @EmmeRogers.

Kisses from the land of the Golden Sheaf,

Emme xoxo

Courtesy of Halder Mauicio's Facebook

I’m glad to say though that the Saskatchewan Film Industry is not one to go down without a fight and there is still time to find a solution before the House is released for summer on May 19, 2012.

Here’s how you can help:

• To volunteer: email helpsavefilminsask@gmail.com,
• Share your voice: Tweet using #skpoli as the hashtag,
• Write a letter,
• Share your Story: Tell your friends on facebook about your experience with film and TV in Saskatchewan,

and this Friday, show Saskatchewan Filmmakers you care by promoting Saskatchewan-made film, television and interactive projects and / or their artists / creators on facebook and on twitter using the hashtag #FilmFriday.  If you need help brainstorming Saskatchewan-made projects, check out SMPIA’s Pinterest Boards. Here’s one with our very own Richard Yearwood starring in it:

Photo of the InSecurity Cast, taken by Kharen Hill

Why do I care?  I’m not a Saskatchewan Filmmaker or resident.  I care, because the Saskatchewan Film Industry is very near and dear to my heart.  This film community fostered our company, Ahimsa Media, in it’s early days, showed us the ropes, gave us honest advice and our first TV Show, and shows us a Hell of a good time on a yearly basis at the Yorkton Film Festival.  This is a film community I love and won’t stand to lose, so help me out in ensuring it’s survival. Tweet your love!

Thanks to SMPIA and Katrina German for leading up the digital stampede.

How does one go about starting a conversation with a bull rider? Is it all ‘yeehaws’ and ‘howdy thar partners’? Guessing I shouldn’t be calling him a ‘marm’ or ‘young filly’, but I do wonder how he’d take to being asked if those are Daisy Dukes he’s wearing?

Sadly you won’t catch this Bull Rider on the telly during Season 1 of Dust Up, but you can catch the rest of the cast and some good old Sask fun tonight at 6 & 6:30 pm EST & PST on History Television, online, or during the regular broadcast schedule for the next six weeks.

Kisses,

Emme xoxo

I was lucky enough to have such an opportunity this past winter, thanks to the Saskatchewan Pavilion during the Olympics. In fact, I enjoyed listening to her so much that I went back two nights in a row.  Here she is, as filmed by moi:

Am a little jealous of the Prairie folk this week and next as Andrea is strutting her way across the Prairies in her Holiday Sparkle Tour, yet alas she stops just East of the Rockies.  Drat!  Oh how I wish I was in Toon Town with Teddy this coming Wednesday so I could go enjoy her show.  As for her other stops for all you fine Prairie folk:

• Winnipeg – Fri. Dec. 3, 2010 – 8 pm – West End Cultural Centre (huge apologize to the Peggers for not getting this up yesterday)
• Regina – Sat. Dec. 4, 2010 – 8 pm – Casino Regina Show Lounge (not too late for tickets – get your ass off the couch & dial the box office)
• Saskatoon – Wed. Dec. 8, 2010 – 8 pm – Broadway Theatre (I’ll be drowning my sorrows in a hot apple mandarin toddy Wednesday to mask the jealousy of missing this)
• La Ronge – Fri. Dec. 10, 2010 – 7 pm – Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre
• Calgary – Mon. Dec. 13, 2010 – 7 pm – EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts
• Edmonton – Tues. Dec. 14, 2010 – 7 pm – TransAlta Arts Barns – Westbury Theatre

And to make me even more jealous, it looks like Andrea is going to be joined by that fine Irish beast, Stephen Maguire along with Robert Walsh.  Anyone know what the cost of a flight to Saskatoon is this Wednesday?

Now, you got a taste of Andrea’s folkie tunes above, so I thought it only fair if you get a bit of a taste for her jazz too.  Besides which, this fan video fits nicely with the mo (not too late for a Movember donation) and pantie themes I’ve been enjoying this past little while.  Ladies – I think you’ll enjoy this!

mmm …  I think I may need a cold shower.

Kisses,

Emme xoxo

My Gal Randy, as captured by Richard Gustin

Was never really a football fan growing up.  Didn’t really get the men in tights, slapping each others asses. That’s been changed, at least as far as the Saskatchewan Roughriders are concerned.  You see I think those sneaky little Prairie boys and girls have been somehow brainwashing me amoungst my many adventures through their fields of golden wheat.  I can’t proof anything, but …

How can little green men be anything, but infectious!?!

No, in all seriousness, their love of the game is infectious.  And I’m not alone.  After a summer in Regina, it seems to have got a hold of my buddy Richard Yearwood too. For me it’s a combination of meeting a local football star (albeit one playing for Edmonton), Graeme Bell, serving drinks at a local Saskatoon watering hole (Winston’s Pub – he’s no longer there), seeing him treat my 70+ year old friend as the most beautiful woman and most important person in the bar, and the intoxicating infectious pride Saskatchewanites have for their team the Roughriders.  Quite surprised that nobody has called a Provincial Holiday yet to celebrate them in the Grey Cup or to celebrate Rider Nation receiving the CFL Commissioners’ Award.  An award that my friend, Randy accepted on behalf of Roughrider fans with her son and granchildren – all Riders fans.  Way to go Randy!

GO RIDERS GO!

Only one remedy for some hot, smokey weekend summer time blues.  Yep, you guessed it – a weekend all about ME with plenty of indulgence.  Let’s just call it my belated birthday bash(es) with the Burnaby Blues and Roots TODAY and The Lilac Tree Has Been Hacked to the Ground Film Festival.

Now take it away Little Miss Higgins …

Blues and Roots Checklist

• Water – check
• Hat – check
• Blanket – check
• Tickets – check
• Crazy Old Coot from Saskatchewan – check
• Stopping the Crazy Old Coot from letting The Great Garbonzo know where we are off to – X

Oh Hell, just give me some GIN.

Photographer: Tim Matheson

The Opera itself is Madama Butterfly, which promises to be a tear jerker. A tale of a broken heart and unrequainted love. Sort of sounds a little like my past week at the Yorkton Film Festival.  Although, maybe that’s more of one of star crossed lovers, kept apart by circumstance, or in my case geography. Rather hoping its the later, and not simply that in Yorkton I am just a love of convenience (or am I the young naval officer, from Madama Butterfly, that leaves, as I was the one that left after all?). Really all very circumspect and silly as NOTHING happened in Yorkton (aside from spending quality time with a number of folks whom I love and admire).

As for tonight’s Opera, here are a few Opening Night Reviews:

… and the voice of the absolutely scrumptious male lead:

More after the show. For now, packing my kleenex and off to grab my cheap parking spot before they are all gone.

And don’t worry, if you miss tonight’s ticket deal, you can still catch Madama Butterfly at the Vancouver Opera and Queen Elizabeth Theatre June 5th, 8th and 10th.

In honour of the festival kicking off today and one of my favorite film festival goers and gin lover, Richard Gustin, I am raising a rather delectable glass of Sapphire Barcelona. A very lavish and luxurious tasting gin drink, made for kicking off film festivals in exotic locals, like Yorkton, Saskatchewan. So that you too can toast the launch of the film festival, here is Merlin Griffiths and Vancouver darling, Lorraine Murphy, concocting this delectable bevie:

It’s not too late to join me.  Early Bird Rate is still on for one more day!

Thanks Andrea!  And thank you Saskatchewan Pavilion for the Saskatchewan hospitality.  The only thing that would have made the visit better would have been an actual Saskatchewan beer in my hand.

Don’t miss Andrea!

• Tonight at the  Saskatchewan Pavilion from 5:30 – 7 pm
• Friday for the Athletes at the Whistler Athletes Village