BC's storied film and TV production industry was down - way down - during the 'silent spring' of 2010. Word is some film workers couldn't make the rent and that many were looking for new careers; and some industry suppliers (equipment rentals and so on) were considering closing down. Many believed the change would be permanent, and that BC's new look, 'leaner and meaner' biz would be lucky to stay at 60% of its former size going forward (movie production generated $1.3 billion in expenditures in BC year last).

Then along came July 1, the day the new HST came into effect. "It was like a starting pistol sounded" according to Don Madsen, who owns the city's largest period prop house, Mount Pleasant Furniture. "From dead slow, we suddenly had productions lining up to rent our furniture".

With so many issues on peoples' minds during this holiday weekend, we often get sidetracked into forgetting what is really important to people. Things like last week's G20, the HST, or even the unstoppable gusher of oil at the bottom of the sea, surely carry some merit and are worthy of discussion; but we should never forget that Twilight: Eclipse, the third installment of the popular film series -- based on the young-adult vampire romance novels of the same name, is finally out in theaters. And OMG! I'm so happy, I'm going to scream in my pillow!! So yeah... Let's talk about it.

When Pixar animation studios made Vancouver its new home earlier this year, it gave the city two gifts: a free, completely kick-ass tourism promo video (check out 0:46-1:31 to see some of the studio's most beloved characters settle into our city and give us heaps of praise: "is there a place more beautiful than Vancouver?"); and, more importantly, it legitimized our city's place as a new media capital. As Chief Creative Officer of Pixar says in the video, "some of the finest animation filmmakers and animators are Canadian". It's probably safe to assume that a good chunk of that talent resides here in Vancouver.

To help celebrate and bring attention to these filmmakers -- whether they are students, emerging or firmly-established professionals -- the Vancouver Short Film Festival is hoping to draw a significant amount of animated entries for its fifth annual event.

As an officially registered, certified cheapass (ie, someone who blatantly refuses to pay over $12 for anything) I get easily excited about things plastered with the word "free". However, I'll be the first to admit that some free things suck (cough, I'm looking at you, free 'Stride' gum sample people). Luckily, Vancouver's yearly outdoor movie series is a free activity that kicks ass. Here's why.

It's a good weekend for members of two of science fiction's most dedicated groups of fans in Vancouver. From Friday to Saturday the Sheraton Wall Centre plays host to a major Star Trek Convention and the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre is the site for a gathering of Browncoats for this year's Can't Stop the Serenity charity fundraiser on Saturday, June 26th.

Over the last few years, Vancouver's become a bit of a hotbed for science fiction on television. As home for series as diverse in quality as Battlestar Galactica and Fringe (excellent) to V (less excellent) to the Bionic Woman (don't even get me started) a number of Vancouver landmarks have become quite famous. The main branch of the Vancouver Library, the Arthur Erickson designed Waterfall Building and the Orpheum on Granvile Street have all served as major locations.

I watched this year's Oscars with my mom. We were having a good time playing armchair fashion critics -- making over-confident statements about what cuts and colours were red-carpet appropriate --- when Sophia Loren walked onto the stage.

She sashayed with the tempered confidence of a woman from a different time and she held her dress in check by clipping it onto a ring on her hand. No tripping over ruffles and sequins for this lady; she looked positively stately. She was also a reminder that class, like taste and intelligence, is indefinable. You know it when you see it. Problem is, in our mixed-up, app-driven, gossip-soaked, modern lives, we are seeing less and less of it. Perhaps that is why we are still drawn to classics, whether they be novels, fashions, or films, for the sense of distinguished existence that they can convey.

Hoping to cast some of the glow of a classic's halo its way, Pacific Cinematheque will be holding a free screening (just because it merits repeating: free screening) of what might be deemed a classic classic: Casablanca. The screening will be part of the art house's Open House held this Saturday, June 12, from 12-2pm (screening starts at 2pm) which will include some truly cool activities that even the snobbiest of film buffs would approve of. The afternoon will include: tours of the theatre library, archive and projection booth; a green-screen filmmaking activity; live music; and a poster auction. And if you're the type that only comes for the food, there will also be free popcorn on service!