I struck up a conversation with Filmmaker Michael Mew and, well, after a few short exchanges we knew we had an interviewer on our hands. And, without further ado, here goes.

Every grey cloud has a sequin lining. While he waits for his membership card into the Hollywood's gay mafia, Michael strives to write comedies that are not totally devoid of meaning. Actually, if you think of it, even shallow has some depth to it -- so he says.

> (1) What is your next feature all about? Where did you snag the Title?

"Going West" is based on short film I did 6 years ago. It's a typical story of a small town boy who moves to the big city who gets caught up in a militant gay organization, the Gay Liberation Army, that is determined to set the standard for a new generation of queers. I call the genre "Queer Orwellian: a gay distopian story."

The title was inspired by the historical notion that you can find a better life if you went west. This of course was the belief during the depression and Village People eras.

Click for more...

Ever hear of Dance Battles? The first two individuals to respond (via comment) with (1) a brilliant definition of "dance battle" and (2) some historical background on where these first originated, will be the lucky ticket winners to a spectacular dance event Saturday night (oh, Tonight!).

You must have heard of those civil dance-offs that peacefully and eloquently settle street conflict through the pure exposee of dance skill. I'm so impressed with these as they culminate so much technique it is simply an overload of dance class, talent, gymnastics, speed and flexibility so rare in many a dancer I've met. It is simply inspiring. Here's what I'm talking about, click for more...

I was just about getting over my Film withdrawal (courtesy of the VIFF) when I met a young bloke who told me about a project he was working on. I grunted, and last week's dirty habit metamorphosed, and I listened. And he continued. It's called "FILM 1181: Short Film Night." It's being held the third Sunday of every month with it's official launch this Sunday, October 21, 8:30 - 10:30pm. So, you ask, what are the details?

FILM 1181 will showcase short films made right in Vancouver's back yard. After each set of short films, filmmakers will partake in a short question and answer period. Come join them and have a cocktail, mingle, network and of course enjoy some fantastic short films by local filmmakers. Vancouver filmmaker Michael Mew is proud to host FILM 1181 at the ultra modern lounge 1181 in the heart of the West End, on Davie.

I'm pleased to share this with ya'll because, sadly, none of the mainstream media has seemed to care about grassroots activism of this nature. This article and this event is pivotal for Vancouver as it puts us on the map among the Queer (see our Queeruption article) and Drag community, as well as every other hyphenated group in this city. I look forward to the lectures and performances this year, and am taking pride in my snazzy (impossible to snag) press-pass -- last time I went to a drag king show, I was the only bloke0 there, and I saw the best rendition of James Blunt's "Goodbye my Lover," that simply tore my heart in two.

The 9th Annual International Drag King Community Extravaganza is ready to take over Vancouver from Thursday, October 19th - Sunday, October 21st! Witness Drag Kings from around the world taking the stage, teaching workshops, selling their wares, putting on live performances, and just causing a general gender ruckus.

Events & Dates Include:

Thursday
Meet 'n Greet - 7pm - 1181 (1181 Davie Street)
Friday
Dragdom - 9pm - Penthouse Nightclub (1019 Seymour Street)
Art & Film Festival - Daytime - Scotiabank Dance Centre (677 Davie Street) and Vancouver International Film Centre (1181 Seymour St)
Drag Strip + Science Fair - All Day - International Film Centre (1181 Seymour St)
Academic Conferences + Workshops + Panels - All Day - Scotiabank Dance Centre (677 Davie Street) and Vancouver International Film Centre (1181 Seymour St), BCPWA (1107 Seymour St)

To see what's happening on the weekend click below...

I was walking around town the other day with an old busker friend of mine and we started talking how few buskers there were. It was a beautiful sunny day out, it was Sunday, and there was nobody playing, singing, strumming, or dancing. We started asking around and we heard about the "busking police". That's where this article was born. And this is something you should know.

First, even though busking permits could not be bought (until yesterday), ticketing for not having a permit was still in full force. Get this, in the city's uber-obnoxiousness most of the busking centres have been hit by such strict permit-penalties that, even though the city has been on strike for the last 80+ days, the community policing representatives are still ticketing buskers upwards of $2000. Last but not least, here's a link to a busker in New York who will surprise you. Also, and this is another kicker, note that on most of the popular spots for busking (say in Granville Island, Robson St., or Granville), an effort has been made to remove the buskers. They are presumed to be disturbing the peace, they are presumed to be causing a ruckus, and causing the interruption of business for those bars who rely and count on a steady flow of business coming in to get wasted. Do you feel anything about this? Do you have anything to add? Have you ever played for people before and been fine or fined?

This is a pilot feature of our Diggin It column. For the most part because nobody's doin' it. And, well, we see that it just might lure more readership to BR. So what's this thing all about? Well, you know that most of us here are budding little readers. Alot of what we read has been dugg, and that's not just by us. This little column features what we find is particularly interesting on digg. So, without further ado.

Over 1800 people seemed to think these curiosities were super cool, in the last twenty-four hours. Now, from a local standpoint, why haven't we heard about all the devastation in Stanely Park -- which has always been a question in the back of my mind? Maybe I missed these discussions, but maybe I didn't. In light of the Global Climate Change debate out there, despite its ridiculousness, and also in lieu of our increasing awareness of the environment, the talk of anomalies, extinction, survival and sustainability are pretty hot topics -- as they should very well be. I think it's apropos to look at a nature post to do tribute to this difficult era or ours.

So, check out the link above, and tell me what's the rumpus with these trees? Questions? Comments? Tidbits? More after the jump...