Edmonton Journal from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada • 24

C2 EDMONTON JOURNAL ENTERTAINMENT TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2001 Money optional action mandatory 7 A City music teacher shoots his flick on taut shoestring MARC MORTON Journal Movie Writer 'EDMONTON On a really big movie set with really big stars, lunch is a groaning table of gourmet foods, washed down with a fine Chardonnay or icy bottled water from some crystalline Alpine stream. Lunch onthesetofTheFinalAct of Charily, a movie being filmed "ih Edmonton on a knotted shoestring of a budget, is a Subway "sandwich. Beverages are, maybe, a Coke. Tap water is fine. The prop truck? A matte-black 1980 Toyota truck with a hood scoop and monster tires.

It was once a four-wheel drive but is now getting by on two. The truck is also an actual prop itself. There are no self-important people tustlingaboutwimdipboardson Jhis movie shoot There is neither the time nor the inclination for 1 elf-importance. This is home- grown, home-made moviemak- ong at its most down-and-dirty. -Leigh Pennington, screenwriter, jiroducer, director, actor and -Ik about production deadlines a school teacher at L.Y.

Cairns School, is hard at work this week on his second production, his first being a 10-minute short which is downloadable from the Inter-. net structured," and is a very dark comedy. "At the end it all comes down to a bag of money and who gets it" He says, however, that there is adifferencewimthisactionfilm. Tve always leaned toward the action genre, but this isn't the typical scenario where you have a hero. Instead we have a woman who is a bodyguard who is doing a great job and at the peakbut her VIP gets killed, and it's all about her sliding down to the bottom of humanity.

"I tried to put a few levels into times and maybe get something out of it" Ultimately, Pennington says, he's trying to recreate the same energy that powered Robert Ro-diigaez'sBMariachi, alow-bud-geter which caught the imagination of movie goers and launched his career. As for action stars and directors he admires, Pennington says Schwarzenegger is one of the best, and few directors can match James Cameron. He also like directors like John Woo who brought the sensibilities of Hong Kong film-rnaking to Hollywood. "But there really are some great ones out there," he says. Now, however, he's got to go.

He's got to put some shims under the dolly track so that the mounted camera will smoothly recording the upcoming fight between a hitwoman and a bodyguard. On some sets, everyone does everything. RICK MacWILLIAM, THE JOURNAL Lauren DeBruin, left, and Tanis Parenteau stage a screen fight They have the car and they've got the explosives. All they need is approval from the fire department in Lloydminster, where they plan to make it go boom. "Normally, I wouldn't tell anyone the budget because they could just go 'oh, yeah, and dismiss us.

But Fm just so impressed with the footage we've shot so far that I'm proud of it" lake a Prozzak and call Bif Naked in the Quireboys and Robin Black also coming up on concert calendar What does Prozzak taste like "Normally, I wouldn't tell anyone the budget because they could just go oh, yeah, and dismiss us. But I'm just so impressed with the footage we've shot so far that I'm proud of it" Leigh Pennington, producer It's possible that bigger things await The Final Act of Charity, a 95-minute action film about bodyguards, dead bodies and martial arts. Not only has Pennington cobbled together necessary equipment of make his movie a couple of digital cameras, and some good rental rates as a result of his membership in the film co-operative Film and Video Artists of Alberta buthe'sworkingonadi-rect-to-video distribution deal with Lion's Gate Films. Not bad for a movie that's likely to cost a little more than $8,000. "And that includes blowing up Sandra Sperounes Rock Notes Rev on Thursday, Sept 6.

Ticketareattheclub $12be-fore 10:30 p.m., $15 afterwards. Prepare to be blown away. One of the country's cockiest bands, Robin Black The In-tergalactic Rock Stars rear their egos and feather boas at the Urban Lounge on Wednesday, Sept 12. "Robin Black is the glam rock savoiur (sic) who will one day rule the universe," reads the band's press release. Spelling, it seems, is not a part of a saviour's job requirements.

The Toronto group is currently working on a full-length disc, Planet: Fame, produced by St Albert ex-pat Moe Berg and GGGarth Richardson. Bif Naked is slated to purge her soul at Red's on Saturday, Sept 29. Her new rock album, Purge, is in stores today. Naked will be joined by Econo-line Crush and, yes, the chicks from LiveOnRelease. It will be the teen group's fourth visit to the Edmonton-area since May.

With any luck, singer Colette Trudeau will have come up with new ways to introduce the band's songs. JEAN FRASER, THE JOURNAL, FILE Elisabeth Whitlock Edmonton Open aGM leaving Orchestras Canada appoints Whitlock as executive director D.T. BAKER Special to The Journal EDMONTON Edmonton Opera's general manager of the last four seasons is leaving me company to become executive director of Orchestras Canada. Word of Elisabeth Whitlockls departure comes less than three" months after the opera's artistic director, Michael Cavanagh, announced his three-year tenure, with the company was also at an end. "This is a realty tough move for me-if the hardest decision of my professional career, no doubt," Whitlock said Monday.

"I fell in love with the city. I fell in love particularly with the people in the arts community, and it was the arts community that kept me so interested in the city for; so many years. But whenyou get a chance like this one, to hope-fully make a difference as part of a team at a national level it's just too good to pass up." Whitlock, an administrator of non-profit groups in Edmonton for marryyears afW arriving from Toronto in the early 70s, takes lup her new position Oct 15. Her time with Edmonton Opera has been marked by much success. "During Elisabeth's four years subscriptions have increased steadily, corporate sponsorship has doubled and the huge accumulated deficit of the past is vii tualfy gone," EO board president Bob Binnendyk said in a state ment Monday.

"We have accepted Elisabeth' resignation with great regret" Orchestras Canada is a service organization based in Toronto and Whitlock sees her new posu tion as a chance to try to make difference on a larger scale. I "As you know, orchestras are: in tough across this country," sher said. "I think there needs to be a lot of increased dialogue amongst all the players pardon the pun with the musicians, with man agement, with boards, with gov ernments, with hinders to see what it is that's making things sc tough for orchestras right now; and to see howwe can shift that Whitlock realizes herdepartur? so closely on the heels of Ca; vanagh's exit puts Edmonton Opera in a difficult position. "Certainly, I thought long and hard about that," she admits' "But over the past four years, we have really, I believe, put the conu parry back on track." Find out on Wednesday when ianaua uu louii pop sun ivwu and Simon, perform at a Pepsi- sponsored show at Cowboy's (10102 180th St). The all-ages gig is free I hut you must win tickets to get morning CANADIAN PRESS.

FILE of weird David Bowie used to be. CANADIAN PRESS, FILE Prozzak. i rtl t-CTt V- I Robin Black, left, and the Intergalactic Rock Stars are way weird, the kind Luckily, The Journal has four aouDie passes ro give away. Towin, name the real-life duo hehind Prozzak and e-mail your answers to: sandrasthejour- nal.southam.ca Gigs on the go Whoa! Another hair-and-scarf-metal band from the early '90s has reformed and is heading to Red's. London Quireboys are slated to give fans a bit of what -The group is promoting a new supposedly pretty darn good.

Go figure. The band's first disc, A Bit Of Pennington, a music teacher at L.Y. Cairns School during the year, may have to wait until next spring in order to get the necessary wrap-up shots. The production is a combo of union and nonunion actors, and everyone has deferred being paid until the film is released and starts making some money. As for the plot, he says it's "very Job Fair Kaitire Kelly Services Laura Laura Canada Laura Petites Livebridge London Drugs Manpower Services Mark's Work Weaihouse Martech College Melanie Lyne (a division of Laura Canada) Nait Northlands Park Norquest College PSDN Puroiator Courier Nieman Marcus Direct) Red Arrow Red Room Restaurants Rertmans 7-Eleven Canada Sears Portrait Studio Totem Building Supplies Value Drug Mart Wendy's West Edmonton MaN Winners Zeflers more to What You Fancy, was released 11 years ago.

The Quireboys released a sec-v ond album, Bitter Sweet TWist-J ed, in 93, broke up, and went on Jo separate projects before real-i izing fans only cared about the Puireboys. 2 Tickets are available at the club. Techno god Richie Hawtin jvon't be playing at Parliament as previously reported. instead, hell be performing a 3rve electronic and DJ set at The GREG SOUTHAM. EDMONTON JOURNAL.

FILE Bif Naked will purge her soul at Red's on Sept. 29. The studly Milo of WHAT'S ON Mi Edmonton's Premier 7 Hiring Participating Companies: EDMOITOI JOtRIAL I ROVINaAl MUSEUM Bdiibit AFA Collects: Portraits. An overview oj the portrait collection of the Alberta foundation for the Arts since its inception, Jbe exhibition's 22 works includes paintings, -cTawings, printmaking, photography and iollage. JUihen: Until Friday.

4oun: Monday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 2 hefe: 12845 102nd Ave. Admission: $8, $6.50 senior, $4 youth (seven 0 17), family $20. Children six and under ree. Tuesdays are half-price admission.

453-9100 or www.pma.edmorrtorLab.ca. FATHER LACOMBE CHAPEL Kid's Days will soke up your day with games, crafts and fascinating facts about St Albert's history. Where Today, 10 a.m.-noon are for six to eight-year-olds; Wednesday, 10 a.m.Mon are for ages nine to 12. Where: Father lacombe Chapel. St.

Vital Avenue, St Albert Gcnfral Help (t Trades: Millwrights, Ironworkers, Electricians, Wbrid Waterpark Slide Patrollers, Galax) land Ride and Game Operatois, Journeyman Wilders, Pressure Welders, Apprentice Welders, Apprentice Boilermakers, Journeyman Boilermakers, Steel Fabricators, Apprentice Steel Fabricators, General sales service, Tech. Specialist-Cameras, Photo Finishing, 1 hr. operator, Pan-Tune Warehouse Sorters, Truck Drivers, Sales Staff, Cashiers, Yardmen, Stock People, logistics, engineering. Car AudioSecurity Installers, Warehouse Staff, Assembly Line Workers, Warehouse Personnel, Admission Cashiers, Marine Life Interpreters, Merchandise Movement Associates, Security, Drivers, 4th Class Power Engineers, ShipperReceivers, Miflwrightsriuchinists i fmfrKmjlAdniiii ft Sales: Customer Service Reps, Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Sales Supervisors, Asst. Manager-Photo Electronics, Asst Manager-Computers, Financial Security Advisors, Occupational Health Nurse, Rehabilitation, Nursing.

Dietitians, Diagnostic Imaging, Secretarial, Clerical, Managers, Sales Staff, CD Dept. Staff, Cashiers, Accounting Staff, AccountingFinance, Human Resources, StcreunaLCk-ncal, Industrial (general bbourers), EnecuinWAdministralrvT Assistants, CaD CentreCustomer Service, ReceptionistsData Entry. District Sales Manager, Store Manager, Assistant Manager, Management Trainee, Senx Sales Associate, Sales Associate, Sales Supervisors, Horticulture Technicians, Chemical Technologist, Telephone Representatives, Computerized Accounting, Microcomputer Business Applications, Executive Secretary, PC Suppon Specialist, MS OFFICE, Medical Office Procedures, e-leammg, Vue Testing Services, GraphicsWeb Design UULM, Adecco Academy of teaming Alberta Human Resources Employment Anderson Career Training Institute Bootlegger Canadian Forces Recruiting Cantre- Edmonton Capital Health Authority Canada Safeway Limited Casino ABS CDI College Chili's Texas Grtt Convergys Customer Management Canada Inc. Domo Drake International Edmonton Police Service The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Finds (a division of Laura Canada) Freedom 55 Financial Future Shop The Good Samaritan Society Greyhound Canada Igloo EJuddmg Supplies International Stereo Ml Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Local 146 Ipsos Reid Direct Wednesday, Sept 5 KorthJands, Agricom Hall A Wan-Spa use yicnua per oay. un 4v-tbj to dook.

PROFILES PUBLIC ART GALLERY StArt An mteractive program for children aged two to five and their caregivers. Explores facets of art as a means of stimulating learning and skin development. This week: Ooblek and other things that fall from the sky! Come and learn about the real things that fafl from the sky, then make and play in our home-made Ooblek. Cost Pre-registration required. Call 460-4310.

When: Today. 130-230 pm Where 19 Perron St, SL Albert 1 This is a selection ol events. For complete fstkconsuk Friday's WhM's On section. twnmH Htytpjiatiry: Dishwashers, Line Cooks, Prep Cooks, Bussers, Hostesses, Servers, Assistant Coaches, Assistant Kitchen Coaches, Kachen Managers. Food Beverage Servers, Room Attendants, Laundry Attendants.

Cooks, Deb Clerks, Guest Services Representatives, Concession Staff Carter DcwJopft Legal Assistant Program Call Cenrjr Agpn Progrm, Busmess Management. Marketing Management, Sales, htemet Solution Developer, Network Internet Suppon Specialist, Busmess Computer SpedahsL Academic L'pgradsig (s Ernployment Piepaijuon, English Language Training. Health Careers. Busmess Careers. Trade Service Careers, Human Service Careers, Student Support Services, Aboriginal Fiugiauis 6c Services.

Training Services far Busmess Industry, Einployment Gmecuces Services, Skills far Success Program, Enhancing Opporturaties Program, Integrated Computer Training careercIickom.