| Press+1 About Us |
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| Tuesday, 18 October 2011 21:18 | |
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What it’s all about…
Press+1 has one mandate - Entertainment Canadians want to know about! Want to know what is going on in your neighbourhood? Want to know about the great concerts heading to your city? How about the last Cirque du Soleil tour? How about interviews with big Canadian talent like The Midway State or Simple Plan? Or on site coverage of the Junos, Genies, Toronto International Film Festival, Folk Fests, Film Fests, Music Fests? You name it, we are covering it for you! We kinda love Canadian Music, Films, TV, Theatre, Fan Expos, etc and want to talk about them. A LOT! Of course we think things from other countries are kinda cool too, so, that is why you’ll find interviews with the likes of Franz Ferdinand when they played the Calgary Stampede, or a concert review of the last Prince concert that came to Canada, or TIFF interviews with Hollywood’s hottest talent. We've talked to Bradley Cooper when he stopped in Toronto to talk about The Hangover Part II, and we were at one of Kevin Smith's few press conferences for Red State. We also have a rocking Canadian Film section that let’s Canadians discover how great Canadian films got in the last few years and what you’ll want to head to the theatres to see next. We started up in 2007 and have quickly become Canada's largest independent online all entertainment magazine. We cover more events across Canada then any other indie magazine. We have journalists from coast to coast who do interviews, reviews, articles and cover some of the most important events that Canada has to offer in entertainment. We have expanded to our own You Tube Channel packed with over 100 video interviews and the Canadian Film Review Web-show. So check out the magazine, send us some feedback and let us know what entertainment you want to know about in Canada!
Kindah Mardam Bey has achieved business success at just over 30 years old. Kindah is a Publisher, Producer, Public Speaker, and a Journalist. After her degree in Communications, Kindah started in the entertainment industry as an Assistant Buyer at the Festival du Cannes and 'worked her way up' the ladder. Kindah became inspired by the creative outlet of multi-platform communications and media, which was the foundation for Press+1. Recently, Kindah has been working closely with the Canadian film industry on multiple projects connecting Canadian audiences to their homegrown films. Favourites: Capra films, The Lake House, and too many filmmakers to mention, Keane, Prince, Coldplay, Bruno Mars, books about sociology, and has an unhealthy affinity for Buffy The Vampire Slayer...because we have a serious vampire problem these days folks. Read more about Kindah Mardam Bey.
Adam A. Donaldson is a writer, journalist, filmmaker and promoter based in Guelph, ON. He cut his journalism chops at the University of Guelph, as a writer at the student newspaper The Ontarion where he served as Arts & Culture Editor and later Editor-in-Chief. Additionally, Adam has served as Managing Editor of Lucid Media and has been a contributor to the Guelph Mercury, the Guelph Tribune, thecannon.ca, Echo Weekly, Women’s Post, New Theatre Review and End Type. Adam has also made several short films including “Spooky Kids”, “Environmental Science”, “Zombie Apocalypse” and “Ready/S.E.T./Dunk”, and works with Synn Studios, a multimedia production company in Guelph, as a writer and publicist.
Tessa Perkins (Vancouver)
Bio: Tessa has just completed a bachelor’s degree in English and French literature with a minor in publishing at Simon Fraser University. With a love of all things to do with the arts, she enjoys writing about music, books, film, theatre, and dance. She has been doing ballet since she was five, is a Liverpool Football Club supporter, and is also very interested in environmental issues. Tessa is from Surrey, BC. In the future she would love to have a career that allows her to travel and write about the arts. Favourites: bands are Metric and The Doors; favourite films are Crash and Revolutionary Road; and her favourite books include Catcher in the Rye and the Bourne series.
Alex Hutt (Vancouver)
Alex has recently completed a Bachelors of Communications at Simon Fraser University and has been writing for Press+1 for two and half years. His main focus is music interviews and reviews but also covers film, TV and books along with other parts of the entertainment world. A shameless music geek who has way too much music on his computer and iPod, Alex also has an healthy obsession with NHL hockey.
Jenny started writing for Press+1 in spring 2008 after she had interned for Indiewire at the Cannes Film Festival. Experiencing the madness/wonderfulness of the festival sparked a passion in her to pursue her love for film, the arts and writing. That was a whirlwind year - she covered TIFF, Toronto Fashion Week (Spring/Summer 2008) and Canada's Walk of Fame. After a year of writing for the magazine, she stepped up to a position as Editor for Press+1. Once graduating from the University of Toronto in 2009, she moved to Montreal for an MA of Film Studies at Concordia University. While there, Jenny covered the Just for Laughs Festival in 2011, which included an interview with stars from the CBS sitcom "The Big Bang Theory." Now, back in Toronto, Jenny is pursuing a second graduate degree at Ryerson University, honing her reporting skills and learning the ins-and-outs of the industry. She continues to edit and contribute to Press+1 because it allows her to return to her love of the arts.
Nadine Bachan is a graduate of the Professional Writing program at York University. Since receiving her BA in 2007, Nadine has worked as a freelance writer and editor. You can find her writing in Lucid Forge, Side St. Review, and (of course) Press+1. At present, she works in the core of downtown Toronto at a small company where she specializes in editing, proofreading, photo research, and literary permissions. While she loves her work, she sees a return to higher education in her near future. Nadine had devoted herself to writing and will always encourage others to do the same. When she's not at her desk spotting typos or mulling over a new story, Nadine indulges in her identities as a film buff, a music fiend, and a go-to source for useless knowledge of all kinds.
Alana Marchetto (Calgary) Alana is the “Girl Friday” for Press+1. A role she has had plenty of experience in at her job as a full time mom to a very busy little girl. Alana graduated with distinction from the U of C with a degree in Socio-Cultural Anthropology which sparked a on going love affair with foreign film. In her spare time Alana is also an accomplished and award winning fibre artist and can usually be found watching movies or professional sports while knitting away on her latest project.
Robin Pierson (UK) Robin Pierson is the TV critic at thetvcritic.org. He writes critical reviews of US TV shows and analyse what makes them good, bad, irritating and enlightening. He fell in love with American comedy and drama shows in the mid-90s and began writing an episode guide about “Friends” in 2005, determined to study why a shows quality declines over time. By 2008 thetvcritic.org was up and running and since then he has covered dozens of shows and recorded over a hundred podcasts sharing his passion for picking apart what makes TV shows succeed and fail creatively. Robin lives in London in the UK and has appeared on BBC News 24 and BBC Radio Five Live. e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Sarah Rix (Toronto)
Sarah Rix completed her bachelor's degree at the University of Toronto, studying cinema, history, and music history and culture. Her fascination with popular culture was one fostered from a young age. Although Sarah enjoys film and television, her main interest is music. Sarah has a great ear for up and coming music talent and along with pursuing a degree in Journalism, she does concert coverage and video interviews for the Press+1 YouTube channel with artists like Panic! At The Disco, Simple Plan, The Joy Formidable, Midway State, Shad, and Justin Nozuka. Favourites: Franz Ferdinand, Metric, The Beatles and she favours British rock and Canadian indie talent. When not writing about and listening to music, Sarah spends a lot of time watching The Colbert Report and The Daily Show. She is also an avid George Clooney and Anderson Cooper fan.
James Karas (Toronto)
James Karas reviews opera and theatre and writes about cultural matters. He has been published in various publications including The National Herald, Press+1, METOXOS Magazine and The Greek Press.He lectured at Ryerson Polytechnic University for a number of years and has been involved extensively in community and other not-for-profit and charitable organizations. He is a lawyer and holds a BA in English Literature and an LLB, both from the University of Toronto. Favourites: authors are Shakespeare and Homer. He has seen some of Shakespeare's plays as many as thirty times and consider that just a beginning. As for opera, Mozart and Wagner are at the top of his. Give him Don Giovanni and the complete Ring of the Nibelungs any day of the week, or any week of the month…..
Aaron Bala (Toronto) Aaron Bala currently writes for the TV section of Press+1. He is completing a degree in criminology, sociology and history, has run a 10k, hopes to one day enter a marathon and can speak Latin.Aaron’s dream job would be to decide what shows networks choose to make and when they should be scheduled....so basically the head honcho of NBC, ABC, or CTV... Favourites: shows are 24, Modern Family, Spartacus, Lost, Community, Parks & Recreation, Friday Night Lights, and The Soup. If he could bring back one show from the dead it would be NBC’s Kings. Some of his favourite movies include Wedding Crashers, Inception and Serenity. His favourite books include Animal Farm, The Prince, and Runaway Jury. Favourite musical artists are Paramore, Kanye West, Lifehouse and Jimmy Eat World.
Amanda Bertucci (Toronto) Amanda is completing a Bachelor of Arts at the UofT with a specialization in English Literature and a double-minor in French and Italian. She is an avid reader and a bit of a music junkie. Amanda is classically trained on the piano and has been playing since she was a young child. Not surprisingly, music is an integral part of her life and she spends a lot of her time going to concerts, listening to albums, and trying to keep up to date with the exciting and ever-changing music industry. She loves to write about music and particularly enjoys getting the opportunity to interview bands and musicians from around the world. Favourites: Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Wild Beasts, Kasabian, Joy Division, Muse, The Killers, Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party, The Doors and Bruce Springsteen… to name a few.
Christine Bode (Ontario)
Christine Bode is a Jill of all Trades and an ever evolving work in progress. She has two college diplomas, worked for over 25 years as an administrative assistant in a variety of industries and has been a writer since she was 14. A passionate Arts lover, she has published a book of poetry, worked as a proofreader & editor, and has spent many years promoting actors, authors and musicians that she believes in. She is a self-professed music lover, movie freak, voracious reader and a keen photographer who loves to travel (particularly to Ireland) and meet new people. She enjoys listening to a wide range of music, including Alternative, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Celtic, Pop, Folk, and Goth; her rock’n’roll Trinity consisting of Bono, Bob Geldof and Jim Morrison. Christine has been writing Arts reviews for various online publications since 2005 and has been contributing to Jill Crossland’s TimeFinders Magazine since April 2009 and Press+1 since later that year. Since March 2008, Christine has worked as a social media manager and internet promoter for authors & musicians through her business, Scully Love Promo (inspired by her gorgeous Goldendoodle, Scully).
Felicia Chow (Calgary)
Felicia Chow is a graduate of the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and a Minor in Museum & Heritage Studies. Her mosaic of interests and passion for art, culture, and entertainment covers a broad range of areas which are both classic and contemporary in nature. She enjoys all forms and mediums of art because each offers a different outlet of expression and communication. Felicia has been with Press+1 since 2009 where her primary focus, with the magazine, has been on reviews and interviews for films, DVDs, and the stage. But to keep things interesting for readers and herself she has branched out to other areas such as books, concerts, and comics. Favourites: Felicia has a particular soft spot for movie musicals, especially, An American in Paris, Singin' in the Rain, and Chicago.
Rhys Dowbiggin (Calgary)
Rhys Dowbiggin was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario prior to relocating to Calgary, Alberta in 1999. He has been writing for Press+1 for over a year. By day, Rhys is the Coordinator, Media and Community Relations for the Calgary Stampeders Football Club, where he has worked for two years. By night, he is working towards a Bachelors of Applied Business and Entrepreneurship/Sport and Recreation Management Degree from Mount Royal University. Rhys is a passionate lover of the arts — film in particular. He has an ongoing Top 100 films list, which count 1999 and 2004 as his favorite years for film. When he is not enjoying the arts, Rhys loves sports; football in particular. He is an avid Chicago Bears fan. Favorites: Blade Runner, 12 Angry Men, Glengarry Glen Ross, Cinema Paradiso, and L.A. Confidential.
After graduating with a degree in Mass Communications from York University, Sonja spent several years working at Tribute Entertainment where her love for all things entertainment was solidified. The Toronto native began contributing to Press+1 in 2011 and especially enjoys writing about movies and music. She also occassionally contributes to tribute.ca's entertainment news. Favourites: Drama: The Shawshank Redemption, Sci-Fi: The Matrix, Musical: Chicago, Action-Thriller: The Bourne Identity (all 3 films in the franchise)
Richard Lam (Calgary)
Richard Lam is a writer from Calgary, Alberta. He has a Bachelors of Commerce degree from the University of Calgary with a minor in Communications. He covers (and is an avid consumer of) music, film, books and theatre, and enjoys most anything of genuine merit and quality. To list them would be too long of an undertaking. Richard works within the local arts community doing Marketing and Communications.
Lindsay Marshall (Toronto)
Lindsay Marshall reviews mainly films, but will write just about anything if it involves pop culture! She was born and raised in Ottawa, before moving to London, and attending the University of Western Ontario, earning a BA in English Literature, with a Minor in Creative Writing. She moved to Toronto to attend Ryerson University, and earned a Certificate in Publishing. Lindsay is an avid reader, and aspires to write full time. *Favourites:* Books: Harry Potter, anything Roald Dahl, The Glass Castle - Jeannette Walls; Films: Casablanca, The Departed, Kill Bill, Monty Python & the Holy Grail, Se7en, The Shawshank Redemption; Music: Kate Havnevik, Muse, Nine Inch Nails, Pink, Robyn, Justin Timberlake; Television: Fraser, Friends, How I Met Your Mother, The Simpsons.
Kate Nestibo (Calgary)
Kate has a Communications Degree from the University of Calgary. Kate loves anything to do with fashion and devours a stack of glossy magazines each month. Kate is an admitted reality TV junkie whose fave shows include The Hills, The City, Keeping Up With The Kardashians, The Real Housewives and Kendra. The Chelsea Lately Show is another must-watch. She loves to read and her bookshelves overflow, mostly with biographies and works of non-fiction. Her literary interests range from historical tales to Chelsea Handler's comedic memoirs. Kate appreciates all genres of music, especially if it includes lyrics she can sing along to (she has been known to do karaoke from time to time). Kate has attended a number of concerts throughout Canada, including 3 performances by Michael Buble. One of her favorite movies is Ghost Town, thanks to the dry humor of Ricky Gervais. Her dream is to write and work for a fashion publication.
Ben Tsui is a graduate of the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Drama & Stage Designs, with a Minor in Art & Film Studies. He also holds an Applied Arts Degree in Television (Writer/Producer) from SAIT Polytechnic. Ben has worked professionally on and off camera in the Canadian film, television, news, fashion and live theatre industries since the early 1980's. He is also one of the founding Board members of the Calgary International Film Festival, as well as the Calgary Asian Film Festival, and the Singapore Vancouver Film Festival. Ben is currently writing a world cinema survey guide, to be published in 2012. *Favorites:*When time permits, Ben volunteers with many local multicultural arts & culture community events. He is also an avid movie lover of foreign language films, spaghetti westerns, silent cinema and Bollywood musicals.
Amanda Wenek (Toronto) Amanda Wenek has been passionate about music and pop culture, so she always assumed she would end up working in the entertainment industry, she just didn't know in what capacity. When Amanda took on the role of Editor-in-Chief for her university newspaper, she realized a way into the world she has forever been fascinated by. Amanda graduated summa cum laude from Saint Mary's University with a BA in Honours Philosophy and English, and during her time in Halifax she threw herself into the thriving local music scene doing everything from promoting to reviewing the plethora of shows and festivals that came through the tiny metropolis. From there, Amanda enrolled in the Post-Graduate Diploma Program in Journalism at Concordia University and started writing for Press+1. After a summer with MTV Canada, Amanda's career ambitions were solidified. Most recently, Amanda has worked in marketing and PR and an editorial intern at ELLE Canada.
Past & Present Press+1 Contributors: Aaron Binder Beverley Ann Evan Dowbiggin The British Chef Max Specht Miriam Cross Amanda Waschuk Benjamin Hayden Ben Tsui Carolynn Nguyen Dan Blacklock Daria Belseck Jared Hunt Jenson Quon Jessica Fralick Kathy Nguyen Kristiana Barber Lauren Konrad Meghan Coslovich Melissa De Leon Meghan Masterson Nicky Renault Tiffany Sostar Xanthe Couture Ashleigh Rajala Emily Wall Monica Wierzbicki Robert Waldman Taryn Hubbard Deborah Ground Buckner Lauren Eldridge Melanie Shim Alan Jones Gabor Pertic Keith Wilen Christine Lee Peggy Karas Peter Hemminger Sarah Miller Ian Gregg Sean Marchetto Sophia Ladovrechis
Daryl Baratta Baratta Design
Logo Design by: Seth Rowanwood - Inklight http://www.sethjrowanwood.com/
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Adam A. Donaldson (Ontario)
Jenny Sung (Toronto)
Nadine Bachan (Toronto)
Ben Tsui (Calgary)
