My sister-in-law, the pornographer*

*Not really.

But Bonnie Robinson, with whom I have been proud to have been related by marriage for almost 24 years, did take the prize for Best Local Film in the Odessa Filmworks' fourth annual erotic film festival, "Painted Lips and Lolly Licks".  Bonnie was writer and producer of YOW! Productions' and Coffee From Hell Productions' entry, "Room 218", directed and co-produced by Andrew Alexander.

What's really cool about this short winning is that it's not sexy at all. In fact, it shows the awkwardness and even pain that goes into preparing for a casual dating sexual encounter that leaves both parties fairly unfulfilled. We see ordinary people craving love, giving in to lust, and ending with nothing. Actors Jodi Morden and Nicolas Di Gaetano do a great job of looking like they're going through the motions, whether it's plucking hairs or knocking boots.


Room 218 from YOW Productions on Vimeo.


I'd love to know exactly what celebrity film fest judge Kimberly Kane thought when she saw the film. Was she refreshed to see sex shown as something mundane and unembellished? Did she empathize with the woman looking in the mirror as she stoically prepared her body for presentation to a lover?

I have no idea. But I am a proud brother-in-law.

The Shat does O Canada

Do you know how I know we're living in the future?

My 69-year-old Mom, who has an iPhone and texts, Skypes and Facetimes me regularly as she travels the world, shared this cool NFB video with me via Facebook message:



(If you can't see it, click here)

Here's the official explanation:

When William Shatner gets a Lifetime Achievement Award from Canada's Governor General, he shows appreciation as only Shatner can. In this short film, the most famous space cadet in showbiz takes helm of our heritage and treats us to a memorable rendition of Canada's national anthem.

Produced by the National Film Board of Canada in co-operation with the National Arts Centre and the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Foundation on the occasion of the 2011 Governor General's Performing Arts Awards.

I would also like to mention that my Mom has gone from small town '50s good girl and '60s housewife to feminist handywoman, straight gay rights activist, and most recently as the United Church of Canada's equivalent to an elected Bishop.

Thanks, Mom. William Shatner is awesome. But you, you are even awesomer.

Kids today... they're so freaking AWESOME!

Here's one of my Nieces, Tess Megginson, covering a great Wilco song in duet:



Tess and her sister Emma constantly blow my mind with their creative output online. When I was a teen, we had nothing like these opportunities to just create, perform, document, and share.

I'm really excited to think of what this level of sharing will bring the world in the next 20 years. It's going to be awesome.

Generation DIY on the 2011 Canadian Federal Election

After reading a Globe and Mail article, "How Parliament would look if only youth voted", I was saddened by the statement that only 37% of eligible voters 18 - 24 voted in the 2008 federal election.

Young people are supposed to be our idealists, who shame us out of our democratic complacency. But it seems that they are as cynical and disengaged as the rest of Canada.

Looking for insights, I turned to someone who is facing her first federal election: my 18-year-old niece Emma.

You may remember Emma as the high school grad who arranged, with her friends, to rent an OC Transpo bus as their "Limo" for Grad. Now off at U of T, she now regularly vlogs to keep in touch with her sister, Tess, and friends at home.

Election ads of the future: "I kind of want to fuck shit up..."

So when I asked Emma how to get her generation more engaged, I wasn't surprised to get a YouTube link. After all, her mom (my sister-in-law) is the owner of YOW Productions, and the writer, producer and director of the web series Sweet Tarts Take-Away.

Emma prefaced this with the explanation, "I didn't come up with a solution to your question about getting youth to vote, but I do try to explain why I AM voting."

Check it out:



Of course it's "random" and "awkward", that's the intent. If gotten used to the Gen-Y (or should I say, "Gen-DIY") style when they create their own media. I especially love the little Elizabeth May animation!

"Uh.... let's plant some trees..."

Although I have to admit I was taken aback hearing that dear, sweet girl swearing like a sailor. But I shouldn't have been surprised. A certain crass creativity runs in the family. :)

The National Post's Matt Gurney recently wrote an editorial called "Strong leaders don't hide from young voters".

So you tell 'em, Em!