Local Rising Star Michael Strickland Brings Hollywood Training to Winnipeg

Mar 14, 2023 | Business

Winnipeg-born actor, Michael Strickland, has recently opened a brand-new acting studio to help prepare local actors for the ever-growing film industry in Winnipeg.

“Having booked the most roles of my career in the last three years, I would say that Winnipeg is making massive headway toward becoming a true hub for filmmaking in Canada.”

Strickland’s most recent starring role is opposite Keshia Knight Pulliam as her husband, Terrence, in The Hillsdale Adoption Scam.

Indeed, Winnipeg’s film industry is booming, with new productions and studios popping up all over the city. As an ever-growing and vibrant sector of the city’s economy, Winnipeg is home to several production companies and studios, as well as a growing number of independent filmmakers. The city is also home to several world-class film festivals, which showcase the best of Canadian and international cinema.

Another draw to film in Winnipeg is the Manitoba Film and Video Production Tax Credit, which provides a rebate of up to 40% of eligible production expenses. The doubling of this tax credit for filmmakers was put in place in 2019 (from $16 million to now $31.5 million). This, coupled with airlines now offering direct flights to and from Los Angeles, has made Winnipeg a hot spot for the film industry in Canada.

In addition to The Hillsdale Adoption Scam, other recent hits filmed locally in Winnipeg include Violent Night (David Harbour), Blood (Michelle Monaghan), Nobody (Bob Odenkirk), and Champions (Woody Harrelson), as well as the hit TV series The Spencer Sisters (Lea Thompson). Strickland appeared in Blood and The Spencer Sisters. It’s this recent boom in business that has Strickland excited about helping grow the future of Winnipeg’s film industry.

“It has been an unforgettable experience to work with such high-caliber professionals. As a fan of a lot of their work, like anyone, I just want to chat their ear off and get to know them – but as a professional, I want to be open and offer as much as I can to them while staying true to the scene. Everyone I’ve had the pleasure of sharing the screen with to this date has been very open to “playing” in the moment.”

This “playing” is exactly what drew Strickland to the career choice of acting in the first place:

“Long story short, when I was a kid, I played a comedic character in a dance performance, and it made all of the parents laugh. When I heard their laughter, I knew at that moment that I wanted to do this forever.”

In addition to being an actor, a husband, and a dad, Strickland is also an entrepreneur.

“I’ve always wanted to open a studio in Winnipeg, but I wanted to be able to bring something to the city that we typically don’t see. If someone were to ask you: where is the best place in Canada for the film industry, both for training and opportunities? Most people would say Vancouver or Toronto. When I was younger, I saw that Winnipeg was this gem hidden in the shadows, and it drove me crazy. It STILL drives me crazy. I knew that Winnipeg has both actors and film crew that were just as good as theirs, but with acting, one of the biggest things I felt we were missing was certain training.”

Strickland saw this as an opportunity to not only gain some knowledge for himself, but also to share it with his hometown.

“The reality is there are lots of training opportunities outside of Winnipeg that many local actors may never get to experience. At the time, I had the opportunity to make the move out to Vancouver and travel to Los Angeles to get as much knowledge as I could, and bring it back home for everyone. I want nothing more than for Winnipeg to be viewed as a top-tier city for the industry because we have extremely passionate and talented actors and filmmakers. The industry has never been busier or more vibrant in Winnipeg, and there is so much more to come.”

At this current time, The Winnipeg Actors Academy is running filmmaking classes for kids and teens, along with Scene Study class for adults. Topics tend to change each term depending on demand. Strickland also offers private coaching and self-tape services.

When asked about his humble beginnings, Strickland said he’ll never forget booking his first role. “It was actually voice-over for a cartoon series called Lanfeust Quest where I got to play three different characters. I still do voice-over work to this day, and I’m usually cast as a villain. I absolutely love it. DaCapo Productions and the team here in Winnipeg have become my home away from home.”

For aspiring actors, Strickland encourages a persistent attitude. “If you audition and you don’t book it, keep going. There are many reasons as to why you didn’t book it – many of which are things you wouldn’t think of, and most of which are completely out of your control. If you audition and you do book it, keep calm. Stay humble, stay grounded. Don’t get too big for your britches and never forget where you came from.”

Catch Michael Strickland in The Hillsdale Adoption Scam, airing March 18th on Lifetime at 8/7 CST.

Links & Resources

IMDB:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5482340/

STUDIO WEBSITE:
https://www.thewinnipegactorsacademy.com/

Contact:

Representative

info@thewinnipegactorsacademy.com

204-995-5835

About The Winnipeg Actors Academy

The Winnipeg Actors Academy is an ideal Acting School for students to prepare for a career in the industry.

“Comedy never travels…” “What about German Comedy?”

Mar 14, 2023 | Books, Business

BERLIN – March 13, 2023 – PRLog — We’ve all heard the saying, “comedy never travels”. If that’s true, we can only imagine what’s said about German comedy. Faraway, however, appears to be the exception – with the language of love and travel that seems to have breached all others. Under Vanessa Jopp’s direction, Faraway – a Netflix Original multilingual Rom-Com – is Netflix’s #2 film worldwide: A remarkable feat for a German-rooted comedy that shouldn’t really “travel”.

That said, there is a vibrant and unique comedic landscape in Germany which deserves to be celebrated. No joke. Last year saw Germany make an impactful entry into the 94th Academy Awards with the comedy, Ich bin dein Mensch (I’m Your Man). And then there was 2016’s Toni Erdmann being met with widespread critical acclaim for its wit and social commentary (which Jack Nicholson once circled to star in its remake).

For many, watching characters navigate places of paradise means living vicariously through them – experiencing escapism without departing the sofa. Maybe that’s it – after years in a pandemic, ongoing geopolitical and natural earthquakes — audiences just want to feel good. And escape. If you allow yourself to be whisked away to Croatia and forget about the world’s problems – could that work? “Without a shadow of a doubt, the reason that people tune into rom-coms more during periods of crisis and stress is because of the distraction that these genres offer,” Emma Kenny, a UK-based TV psychologist, says.

Eat, Pray, Love is the Rom-Com travel classic – chronicling Julia Roberts as Liz Gilbert as she embarks on a journey to find balance in her life following a difficult divorce. Robert’s more recent release, Ticket to Paradise, is also a romanticised ode to travel, grossing more than $172.1MM – making it the biggest Rom-Com to feature two over-50 leads since 2009’s It’s Complicated. Which begs the question whether an escapist experience as Faraway would have been better served in a cinema setting?

We’re now also in a world where older actresses are becoming unafraid of exploring their onscreen sexuality – exemplified by Emma Thompson in Good Luck to you, Leo Grande, and Kate Winslet in Mare of Easttown (who took a stand to ensure her ‘visible belly’ during a sex scene was not edited out). Now we find Faraway’s Zeynap (Naomi Krauss) fearlessly embracing her age, which, in a very honest portrayal, might also serve as an ingredient in a sexy-secret-sauce to revitalise a well-trodden Rom-Com formula.

A wager fulfilled by Netflix dubbing Faraway for global audiences, Rom-Coms never fail to engage audiences – despite their language. And when combined with the romantic lure of travel, they become even more captivating. Love is, after all, a universal language, and there is just something spellbinding about a romance that unfolds in a destination faraway.

Who knows, maybe we’ll be seeing a remake with Roberts in the future.

ISO/IEC 27017:2015 Documentation Kit with Editable Format has been Introduced by Global Manager Group

Mar 14, 2023 | Business

The ISO 27017 documentation kit of the IT- Security Techniques for Cloud Services management system (ITCS) includes several documents, such as the ISO 27017 manual, policies, ISO 27017 procedures, SOP, blank Formats/templates, filled formats/Templates, ISO 27017 audit checklist, Job description, sample MRM, sample gap assessment report, filled sample risk Sheet, and ISO/IEC 27017:2015 document matrix. The documents required for ISO 27017 certification were developed using Microsoft Word 7 and are compatible with Windows 1997 and higher versions. The full set of documents also helps in defining the base system that complies with ISO/IEC 27017:2015 security controls for cloud technology. All ISO 27017:2015 documents are created with the assistance of knowledgeable consultants. All of the documents in this kit have been created by the most recent ISO 27017:2015 management system requirements for IT- Security Techniques for Cloud Services (ITCS). reduces the amount of work that needs to be done excessively while creating ISO 27017 documents. Also, this kit gives consumers in-depth information on how to apply the finest security measures for cloud technology in their company.

The ISO/IEC 27017 documentation kit offers every section and subsection that is required to improve security controls for cloud technology. The documentation for effective system deployment and certification can be created by company employees or ISO 27017 consultants by customizing pre-made templates to meet their operational system. Anyone can create documents fast and affordably by using the ISO 27017 documentation kit. The payback period is brief, and customers get value for their money. When using ready-to-use templates in.docx format, the ISO 27017 documentation procedure will be accurate.

For a better understanding of the documentation kit and to support in making a purchasing decision, Global Manager Group offers a Free Demo of the ISO 27017 documentation as well as sample documents. The example demo documents give an in-depth understanding of the content and types of papers included in this digital product. All editing and reusable rights are included with the documents, which are written in plain English. To know more about the documentation kit, visit here: https://www.globalmanagergroup.com/Products/iso-27017-manual-procedures-documents.htm

About Global Manager Group
Global Manager Group offers a wide range of consulting services like Quality management, environment management system, food safety system, information security system as well as occupational health and safety management system. With specialization in Consultancy for ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001, ISO 22000, HACCP Codex Document, etc. Global Manager Group becomes a leading name among the ISO consultants of the world. Global Manager Group is one of the preferred Management and ISO certificate consultants, having more than 1800 clients across India. The company has a popular web portal which is selling readymade documents and training presentations for various international systems and management certifications.

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Hong Kong – Cross-Agency Steering Group and CDP co-organise joint seminar on sustainability reporting (with photos)

Mar 14, 2023 | International

Cross-Agency Steering Group and CDP co-organise joint seminar on sustainability reporting (with photos)

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The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Green and Sustainable Finance Cross-Agency Steering Group (Steering Group) and CDP co-organised a joint seminar on sustainability reporting today (March 13). With the support of the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong (CMA), the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and other industry associations, the seminar brought together around 500 on-site and online participants from the corporate, banking, insurance, asset management, professional services and fintech sectors.

     The seminar discussed the importance and benefits of sustainability reporting, and in particular, how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can use the Steering Group’s Questionnaire (Note) to communicate their sustainability efforts to stakeholders, and how financial institutions can collect climate data from their clients while supporting their clients’ low-carbon transition. The seminar was opened by Deputy Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) Mr Darryl Chan, followed by two keynote speeches by the Managing Director of Asia Pacific of CDP, Mr Donald Chan, and the President of the CMA, Dr Allen Shi, respectively. Experts from diverse backgrounds also shared their insights and experiences on sustainability reporting and the use of the Steering Group’s Questionnaire at the panel discussion and case sharing sessions.

     Mr Darryl Chan said, “SME is an important segment of our economy; their participation is crucial for Hong Kong to achieve our carbon neutrality target. But SMEs may not all have the necessary tools and resources to undertake sustainability reporting and to make and implement plan to reduce their carbon footprints. The SME Questionnaire that the Steering Group launched last December in partnership with CDP, as well as today’s seminar, are all part of our effort to support SMEs to participate in this transition journey. We encourage more of them to join.” 

     Mr Donald Chan said, “CDP recognises the importance of facilitating high-quality, environmental disclosure by SMEs, which represent a significant proportion of the global economy and will play a key role in the transition to a net-zero world. We are proud to partner with the CASG to develop the SME climate disclosure template. We believe this represents a valuable starting point on the journey toward full Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)- and International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB)-aligned environmental disclosure.”

     Dr Shi said, “Helping SMEs overcome the barriers to green transition will be critical not only to us achieving broad-based and sustainable economic growth, but also to SMEs’ survival and their ability to capture substantial opportunities. The CMA endeavors to support its members to integrate ESG (environmental, social and governance) into their practices. We welcome the launch of the SME Questionnaire as it can enhance disclosure standards among SMEs and improve supply chain transparency.”

Note: The SME Questionnaire was developed by the Steering Group and CDP to aid SMEs’ sustainability reporting processes, and raise their sustainability visibility to lenders, investors and supply chain clients so to better access sustainability financing. It will also facilitate financial institutions’ collection and assessment of company-level data for risk assessment and relevant business decisions. It is the first cross-sector reporting template designed for first-time reporting corporates in Hong Kong, especially SMEs, and is aligned with the TCFD framework. The template comes in three versions (Annexes 1 to 3) with different level of granularity, to cater for variation in the reporting corporates’ size and sophistication. The Steering Group and CDP also developed comprehensive guidance (Annex 4) and learning materials (Annex 5) for the use of the template. The Steering Group will continue to review and update the questions, in line with global standards, periodically with CDP’s assistance. 
 
About the Steering Group
 
     Established in May 2020, the Steering Group is co-chaired by the HKMA and the Securities and Futures Commission. Members include the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, the Insurance Authority and the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority. The Steering Group aims to co-ordinate the management of climate and environmental risks to the financial sector, accelerate the growth of green and sustainable finance in Hong Kong and support the Government’s climate strategies.
 
About CDP
 
     CDP is a global non-profit organisation that runs the world’s environmental disclosure system for companies, cities, states and regions. Founded in 2000 and working with more than 680 financial institutions with over US$130 trillion in assets, CDP pioneered using capital markets and corporate procurement to motivate companies to disclose their environmental impacts, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, safeguard water resources and protect forests. Nearly 20,000 organisations around the world disclosed data through CDP in 2022, including more than 18,700 companies worth half of global market capitalisation, and over 1,100 cities, states and regions. Fully TCFD aligned, CDP holds the largest environmental database in the world, and CDP scores are widely used to drive investment and procurement decisions towards a zero carbon, sustainable and resilient economy. CDP is a founding member of the Science Based Targets initiative, We Mean Business Coalition, the Investor Agenda and the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative. 

Dr. Paul F. MacVittie Shares a Powerful Message of a Father’s Love Through His Book “Learn, Labor, Love, Laugh – Live”

Mar 14, 2023 | Business

An inspiring book that tells the unconditional love and bond between a father and son.

San Diego California, USA – WEBWIRE –

What an awesome inspiring read. If you want a book that keeps you so inspired that you cant put it down, this book is for you. Paul has clearly described the loving role as father of which many would inspire to be. Amazon Review

Dr. Paul F. MacVitties Learn, Labor, Love, Laugh Live: A Fathers Daily Thoughts To His Son was exhibited by self-publishing and book marketing company ReadersMagnet at the 2023 LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience. The said event was held last January 27-30, 2023, at New Orleans N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Learn, Labor, Love, Laugh Live: A Fathers Daily Thoughts To His Son is a memoir that recounts the authors experiences and challenges from childhood to profound fatherhood.

Paul never got to experience parental nurturing or direction after he was kidnapped from his mother when he was eight months old. He was only reunited with her when he was 19 years old. That is why when he became a father, he vowed to become the best father who constantly guides and shows his love to his son. And this is all shown throughout the book.

The author has never failed to constantly encourage and show unconditional love to his son, Mac, despite being far from him. He gave Mac some insightful tips about courtship, marriage, and becoming a father himself. The book contains a series of emails sent by Paul, starting from Macs four years as a Cadet at the US Air Force Academy until he became an Air Officer Commanding one of the 40 squadrons at the Air Force Academy.

Inspired to read Dr. Paul F. MacVitties Learn, Labor, Love, Laugh Live: A Fathers Daily Thoughts To His Son? Get a copy of the book today on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and ReadersMagnet bookstore.

Learn, Labor, Love, Laugh Live: A Fathers Daily Thoughts To His Son
Author | Dr. Paul F. MacVittie
Published date | 10/12/22
Publisher | ReadersMagnet
Genre | Memoir, Self Help

Author Bio

Paul MacVittie was born in Buffalo, NY in 1937. In 1938, he was kidnapped from his mother and, after a couple of years, was dropped off at a nunnery in Detroit, MI. Eventually, he was returned to his paternal grandparents home in Buffalo. After his father remarried, Paul went to live with him in Bridgeport, CT, but found his father figures and family through athletic activities in the neighborhood and high school. He was offered an athletic scholarship to a Prep School in Milford, CT. From there he went to Gordon College, Gordon-Conwell grad school in Massachusetts, Fuller Grad School in Pasadena, CA and St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute in St. Louis, MO. His career spanned various professional disciplines, ranging from a college coach, inspirational speaker, and teacher, business personnel executive to a psycho-dynamic psychotherapist – a life coach. Paul and his wife of 41 years, Robbin, live in rural New Hampshire where he loves to read, observe wildlife, and tend the flower gardens and fields around their home.