Paul Quarrington Life in Music Documentary

PAUL QUARRINGTON: LIFE IN MUSIC

A Feature Documentary Film

Produced by Judith Keenan, BookShorts Inc., Director Bert Kish

BRAVO! TV Broadcast Dates

Saturday, May 29 at 7pm EDT and Sunday, May 30 at 6pm EDT

DVD Available June 2010

National Screening Tour September – October 2010

DOWNLOAD COMPLETE PDF PRESS KIT

PHOTOGRAPHY AVAILABLE AT >> http://www.bookshorts.com/pq_life_in_music/

Synopsis

Paul Quarrington is an award winning, well respected and much loved author, filmmaker, musician and teacher. Though a very public figure in the field of Canadian arts, and an artist who made himself easily accessible to fans, he was also a complex person.  So much so that few in his public or private sphere say they really knew him. With the sudden diagnosis of terminal illness, he is compelled to address this in the best way he knows how – he chooses to make art – to squeeze the juice from life and pour his passion into making this film, into re-writing his about-to-be-published memoir to include his “new thematic material,” and into writing songs, lots of songs, all made more poignant for the absolute deadline at hand.

Through this film, Paul gives us a rare and insightful glimpse into the inner workings of an artist in the act of creating. As he writes, records and performs, you see the heart and soul of a man able to express in music deeply personal issues. We witness the artist, and the man, reach for a resolution to the question that we will all face when our time comes, “what would you do?”

What unfolds is a laugh-out-loud funny, compelling, warm and enlightening story – a journey woven around music, bearing witness to the power of song to elevate, encapsulate and explain the emotions that poured into this artist’s creative endeavors. His story will inspire every viewer to look at life a bit differently – to engage and to be present as if life were to end tomorrow. It is a story of friendship and community – of immersing oneself in the redemptive powers of an audience to find solace and validation.

As a teacher, Paul would always tell students to write about what makes them uncomfortable – to be unafraid of the subject matter. With much of the music in this film written and recorded post-diagnosis, the process of coming to terms plays itself out musically. “All the Stars” – a hauntingly beautiful ballad, tells of one left behind, while “Are You Ready,” written expressly for the film, pulls all that has transpired into a deceptively simple lyric whose impact is made clear in the powerful and surprising denouement.

On screen conversations with some of the most important people in Quarrington’s life amplify the inspiring message, including longtime friend and bandmate Martin Worthy, Roddy Doyle, Dave Bidini, Wayson Choy, brothers Joel Quarrington and Tony Quarrington, daughters Carson and Flannery and their mother Dorothy Bennie. Comments by Nick Jennings and Martin Levin provide context and threaded throughout are live performances by Paul, his band Porkbelly Futures, Dan Hill, Joe Hall, Roberto Occhipinti and many more musical guests.

Producer Judith Keenan, Director Bert Kish and Editor Caroline Christie have done a masterful job of drawing the viewer into the life and work of this Renaissance artist, a gift from the man we finally get to know – the author, musician, teacher, father and friend – Paul Quarrington.

Paul Quarrington was a musician, acclaimed non-fiction writer and novelist, an award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker, and an educator. His novel The Ravine (2008) was long-listed for the Scotiabank Giller Prize; his previous novel Galveston (2004) was short-listed for the Giller. Quarrington won the Stephen Leacock Award for King Leary, a title that also won the 2008 Canada Reads competition. Whale Music won the Governor General’s Award for Fiction. His non-fiction writing includes books on some of his favourite pastimes such as fishing, hockey and music; his memoir Cigar Box Banjo: Notes on Music and Life, will be published by Greystone Books May 29, 2010.

His screenplays and story editing won many awards, including the CFPTA Indie Award for Comedy for the series Moose TV. Paul’s filmmaking talents as writer / director are also evident in his BookShorts film, Pavane (2008), which he adapted from his novel The Ravine, and won several festivals awards prior to its national television broadcasts on Bravo!FACT and CBC..

As a musician, he played in the band Porkbelly Futures for more than ten years; releasing 3 recordings – Way Past Midnight, a self-titled second CD and a third release that will be available in 2010. From 2008, Paul increasingly returned to the performance circuit as a solo vocalist on guitar; his first solo CD “Paul Quarrington: The Songs” will be available June 15th, 2010 from Cordova Bay.

Paul taught creative writing at Humber College for more than 20 years; he also taught at the University of Toronto. He sat on the Board of Directors for the Fringe Theatre Festival, and was a mentor to BookShorts Inc. from 2005 through to the company’s production of Paul’s biographical feature documentary film Paul Quarrington: Life in Music (Dir. Bert Kish, for CTV Bravo). Quarrington enjoyed his ranking as an (extremely) amateur magician and would-be mariner.  Born July 22, 1953, Paul died January 21, 2010 at the age of 56. He is survived by his two children Carson Lara and Flannery. More info at www.paulquarrington.org

Bravo! is an oasis in the television landscape where viewers make a regular appointment with the arts.  Whether it’s a classic opera, an art documentary, a performance in the Concert Hall, or a cutting-edge film,  Bravo! gives viewers an opportunity for enriching and thought-provoking experiences.  Bravo! is owned by CTV Limited, a division of CTVglobemedia, Canada’s premiere multi-media company. More info at http://www.bravo.ca

BookShorts Inc produces screen-based media, specializing in content inspired by authors, books and publishing. The media is distributed via television broadcast, Internet, live events, film festivals and other multi-platform promotions. www.bookshorts.com

With the assistance of Canada Media Fund; Ontario Tax Credits (OMDC); Canadian Tax Credits; BookShorts Literacy Program; Humber College.

PROFILES

Bert Kish is a Gemini Award winning director and editor whose credits extend from feature films to MOW’s and series television. He made his move to the director’s chair after a career as an award-winning editor. He cut such notable shows as “La Femme Nikita”, “Power Play” and won the Gemini for his work on John Woo’s “Once a Thief”. His feature credits include “Top of the Food Chain” and “Cypher” starring Lucy Liu and Jeremy Northam. His first directorial assignment was an episode of “Power Play”, which was nominated for a Gemini for Best Director. After directing Vivica Fox in the Lifetime Network’s hit show “Missing”, Bert directed the raw and unscripted “Single Girl Diaries” for the W Network. He directed three movies of the week for the Lifetime Network, and a short docu-drama piece for Random House Publishing promoting Andrew Davidson’s best selling novel, “The Gargoyle”.Bert was also a long time friend and colleague of Paul’s.

Director Of Photography: John Mihn Tran is an acclaimed cinematographer who brings a true film aesthetic to all the work he does. Recent feature documentary credits include: Kevin McMahon’s “Waterlife” (Primitive) and Astra Taylor’s “Examined Life” (Sphinx). He received a CSC and Yorkton Golden Sheaf nomination for Larry Weinstein’s Mozartballs! (Rhombus) and a Gemini nomination for Eric Geringas’s “Cheating Death” (NFB). Other feature documentaries include Kevin McMahon’s “Stolen Spirits of Haida Gwaii” (Primitive), and he is also credited on Trisha Fish’s feature, “Dragonwheel” (IMX), the Gemini award winning puppet series “Nanalan” (CBC) as well as the award winning short film “A Man’s Life”. Additional scenes were shot by Adam Swica, and Tony Coleman.

Music Editor: Martin Worthy (Porkbelly Futures)  is a singer/songwriter who has played drums for over 30 years and met up with Paul Quarrington in the late 70’s. Martin and Paul’s music provided a rare combination of animation and subtlety, humour and insight. They recorded their own album which contained the #1 charted song “Baby and the Blues”. In the 80’s Martin worked as a drummer for the celebrated group Joe Hall and the Continental Drift. In recent years Martin has worked as a piano technician, a radio producer (The Dini Petty Radio Show) and a composer for small film and video productions. In 1993 he was awarded an Ontario Arts Council and Toronto Arts Council Grant to compose a series of songs inspired by Canadian novels. Martin is a member of Porkbelly Futures and was a long time friend/confidant of Paul’s.

Music Producer: David Gray has produced two, and soon to be three Porkbelly Future’s CD’s. He was well known as a member of the Parachute Club and has produced artists such as Paul Butterfield in addition to dozens of other recording artists of note.

Writer/Executive Producer: William Laurin is one of Canada’s most prolific television producers. Together with his business partner Glenn Davis, he has written and produced more than two hundred episodes of television, as well as creating and selling some thirty-network pilots. Like Paul Quarrington, he is also a musician with a long history on the road. A partial list of his credits as an executive producer would include “The Listener” (NBC, 2008), Missing (Lifetime, 2003-06), “Power Play”, (CTV, UPN 1998-2000) and John Woo’s” Once A Thief” (Fox 1996-97). He has also written and produced series at CBS, NBC and the USA Network for Dick Wolf, Stephen J. Cannell, and Robert Delaurentis.

Producer: Judith Keenan/BookShorts Inc produces screen-based media, specializing in content inspired by authors, books and publishing. The media is distributed via television broadcast, Internet, live events, film festivals and other multi-platform promotions. BookShorts’ Judith Keenan is the Producer of the documentary film Paul Quarrington: Life in Music, a cinematic essay featuring this prolific artist as he comes to terms with his life and death through the power of music. Her 20-year career, spent equally in the U.S. and Canada, has been focused on business development in the culture and entertainment industries, spanning roles in executive, strategic marketing and executive production. Judith has produced 20 original short films, an 8 episode national television series and established a national touring film festival to showcase the company’s work. Other projects include “In the Wake of the Flood”, (Director Ron Mann) featuring Margaret Atwood. Judith was a personal friend of Paul’s and is the Executive Director of Quarrington Arts Society.  More information at www.bookshorts.com

FULL CREDITS

BOOKSHORTS INC.
presents
______________________

PAUL QUARRINGTON LIFE IN MUSIC

______________________

in association with
BRAVO! , a division of CTV Limited
______________________

produced by
JUDITH KEENAN
______________________

directed by
BERT KISH
______________________

executive producers
WILLIAM LAURIN
JUDITH KEENAN
______________________

director of photography
JOHN M TRAN
______________________

editor
CAROLINE CHRISTIE
______________________

music editor
MARTIN WORTHY
______________________

narration
COLIN LINDEN
______________________

written by
WILLIAM LAURIN
______________________

Production Executive for Bravo!
CHARLOTTE ENGEL
______________________

appearances by

PAUL QUARRINGTON

DOROTHY BENNIE
DAVE BIDINI
MICHAEL BURKE
REBECCA CAMPBELL
RODDY DOYLE
CHAS ELLIOTT
DAVID GRAY
JOE HALL
DAN HILL
NICHOLAS JENNINGS
STUART LAUGHTON
MARTIN LEVIN
JAKE MACDONALD
ROBERTO OCCHIPINTI
CARSON QUARRINGTON
FLANNERY QUARRINGTON
MARTIN WORTHY

performances by

RICH BROWN
GARY CRAIG
AARON DAVIS
DEREK DOWNHAM
EARL AND THE PEARLS
DAVID GRAY
STEVE HENRY
DAN HILL
NICOLAS JENNINGS
JOE HALL AND THE CONTINENTAL DRIFT
TEDDY LEONARD
COLIN LINDEN
ANNE LINDSAY
ROBERTO OCCHIPINTI
PORKBELLY FUTURES
QUARRINGTON/WORTHY
JOEL QUARRINGTON
TONY QUARRINGTON
SHARON RILEY & FAITH CHORALE
MARTIN WORTHY

music producer
DAVID GRAY

live music engineers
DAVID GRAY
ROBIN EASTON

sound recordists
MIKE FILIPPOV
JASON HOPFNER

audio technicians
SONJA ANITC
CHRIS BUTCHART
MALCOLM HARRIS
SCOTT KEENAN
IAN TERRY
ELIJAH WALSH

Stage managers
LINDA ELLIS
SEAN PENNYLEGION

production managers
SCOTT MACKAY
KIM TROLLOPE

film research
JUDITH KEENAN
NATALIE KERTES
KAREN MARREN

additional camera
ADAM SWICA
SHANE ALLENDER
KERRY BISKUPSKI
TONY COLEMAN
IRENE DUMA
JUDITH KEENAN
BERT KISH
IAN MacLAREN
MATTHEW MANUGE
MARGARET MEAGHER
PAUL QUARRINGTON
JOEL QUARRINGTON
PETER ROWE
ROSS TURNBULL

1st assistant camera
PIERRE BRANCONNIER

2nd assistant camera
ADAM TARINI

digital media technicians
BRANDY DEAN
ROB KEENAN

gaffer
ROBERT BARTON TAYLOR

grips
MICHAEL O’NEIL
MICHAEL PREUSS

production assistants
ALLIE ARCE
IRMA GAGNON
JENNIFER HAZEL
MATTHEW MANUGE
ERIC MORTON
ALEX PAULS
TIM WATERMEYER

transcripts
FLYING FINGERS

title design
KAREN MARREN DESIGN

additional editing
BERT KISH

assistant editors
ALVARO GIRON
JOSEPH MURNAGHAN
ERIC WHEATLEY

senior colourist
DAVID HEDLEY

online facility
OPTIX DIGITAL PICTURES  &  SOUND

unit publicity
PALMER PUBLICITY INK, LTD.

unit photography
RAY BOUDREAU
CARLOS CORREA
IRENE DUMA
JUDITH KEENAN
BERT KISH
MARC LAPPANO
PAUL ROZARIO
MARK TEARLE

legal
KARA RUSSELL LAW

insurance
MAINWAY HUNTER CREIGTON
MAGDA TURIFF
CATHY McCANN

good advice
RON MANN
SARAH COOPER
JILL WORTHY

additional dialogue
BERT KISH

adr recording
MARTIN WORTHY

post sound
BIG WORLD SOUND
BRIGHTER FRESHER SOUND
MARTIN WORTHY

sound mix
MIKE FILIPPOV

MUSIC

Porkbelly Futures performances recorded live at
STANFEST STAN ROGERS FOLK FESTIVAL

Porkbelly Futures performances recorded live at
DORA KEOGH Toronto

Words and Music and Forest Brass performance recorded live at
HALIBURTON FOREST FESTIVAL

Porkbelly Futures recording sessions shot live at
HUMBER COLLEGE RECORDING STUDIO
Denny Christiansen, Music Director

Paul Quarrington Celebration performance recorded live at
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF AUTHORS, HARBOURFRONT CENTRE

Paul Quarrington & Guests performance recorded live at
HUGH’S ROOM

Songbird North performance recorded live at
ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC

Sharon Riley & Faith Chorale recorded live at
BATHURST STREET THEATRE

Paul Quarrington and Hello, Jim recording sessions shot live at
BIG WORLD STUDIOS

additional original music composed and performed by
MARTIN WORTHY

GLADSTONE HOTEL
(Paul Quarrington)
courtesy of Porkbelly Music
performance by Porkbelly Futures
courtesy of BookShorts Inc.

NOTHING COSTS A NICKEL
(Paul Quarrington)
courtesy of Cordova Bay Music Publishing, Porkbelly Music Publishing
performance by Porkbelly Futures
courtesy of BookShorts Inc.

CAN’T FIND MY WAY BACK TO YOU
(Paul Quarrington)
courtesy of Cordova Bay Music Publishing
performance by Porkbelly Futures
courtesy of BookShorts Inc.

BLAME IT ON MY YOUTH
(Oscar Levant, Edward Heyman)
courtesy of Universal Music Publishing Group a division of Universal Music Canada Ltd.
performance by Tony Quarrington, Joel Quarrington, Paul Quarrington
courtesy of BookShorts Inc.

TRYIN’ LIKE THE DEVIL
(Paul Quarrington, Martin Worthy)
courtesy of Quarrington Worthy Music, Tomato Tunes, Hungry Bear Music
performance by Quarrington/Worthy
courtesy of Posterity  Records

FINE LINE
(Paul Quarrington, Martin Worthy)
courtesy of Quarrington Worthy Music
performance by Quarrington/Worthy
courtesy of Posterity  Records

THE LUMSDEN STREET BEANERY
(Tony Quarrington)
courtesy of Quarrington Worthy Music, Sidewalk Sailor,
Sonorra Mountain Music, Tomato Tunes
performance by Joe Hall and the Continental Drift
courtesy of TVOntario

POUR MORE POISON IN
(Joe Hall)
courtesy of eyeball wine music
performance by Joe Hall and the Continental Drift
courtesy of TV Ontario

RIVER STREET
(Paul Quarrington)
courtesy of Cordova Bay Music Publishing; Porkbelly Music Publishing
performance by Porkbelly Futures
courtesy of BookShorts Inc.

LAKE EFFECT SNOW
(Paul Quarrington)
courtesy of Quarrington Worthy Music
performance by Porkbelly Futures
courtesy of BookShorts Inc.

BIG OL’ BASS
(Paul Quarrington, David Gray)
courtesy of Quarrington Worthy Music; Big World Songs
performance by Earl and the Pearls
Paul Quarrington, Joel Quarrington, Martin Worthy,
Nicholas Jennings, Colin Linden, David Gray
courtesy of Cordova Bay Records

HEY, HOLLYWOOD
(Paul Quarrington)
courtesy of Quarrington Worthy Music
performance by Paul Quarrington
courtesy of Cordova Bay Records

ALL THE STARS
(Paul Quarrington)
courtesy of Quarrington Worthy Music
performance by Porkbelly Futures
performance by Porkbelly Futures with David Gray
performance by Porkbelly Futures with Anne Lindsay
performance by Porkbelly Futures with Teddy Leonard
all courtesy of BookShorts Inc.

WHEREVER YOU GO
(Paul Quarrington)
courtesy of Quarrington Worthy Music
performance by Paul Quarrington and Dan Hill
courtesy of BookShorts Inc.

HELLO, JIM
(Paul Quarrington)
courtesy of Quarrington Worthy Music
performance by Paul Quarrington; Joel Quarrington; David Gray,
Nicholas Jennings, Martin Worthy
courtesy of big world songs

ARE YOU READY
(Paul Quarrington, Martin Worthy, Dan Hill)
courtesy of Quarrington Worthy Music; If Dreams Had Wings Music.
performance by Paul Quarrington with Dan Hill, Martin Worthy, Roberto Occhipinti
courtesy of BookShorts Inc.

performance by Sharon Riley and Faith Chorale
with Colin Linden, Aaron Davis, Rich Brown, Steve Henry, Gary Craig
music produced and arranged by David Gray
courtesy of BookShorts Inc.

“PAUL QUARRINGTON The Songs”
CD available from Cordova Bay Records
www.cordovabay.com

photographs courtesy of

ALISON BENNIE
DOROTHY BENNIE
REBECCA CAMPBELL
MARY QUARRINGTON
PAUL QUARRINGTON
CHRISTINE QUARRINGTON
JOEL QUARRINGTON
JUDITH KEENAN
BERT KISH
DOUGLAS KNIGHT
STUART LAUGHTON
JAKE MACDONALD
TOM SANDLER
JILL & MARTIN WORTHY

footage courtesy of

BOOKSHORTS INC.
BOOKSHORTS LITERACY PROGRAM
JOE HALL
PAUL QUARRINGTON
BERT KISH
TV ONTARIO

All artwork and photographs are copyright
of their respective owners

special thanks to

FRED ADDIS
LORI ALTER
BEVERLY BETTENS
DAVE BISHOP
SHAUNESSY BISHOP STALL
CORINA EBERLE
KIM FEDDERSON
BILL IMPERIAL
JOCELYN GREENWOOD
LEA HARPER
MAGGIE HUCULAK
JOANNE INGRASSIA
SUE KENNEY
JOSEPH KERTES
JOHN KRIZANC
MICHELLE LATIMER
LLOYD LAWRENCE
JOHN L’ECUYER
RON MANN
MATTHEW McCAULEY
BEN McNALLY
FRED MOLLINS
EMI MORIKO
JOHN MONTESANO
JAY NASTER
BLAIR PACKHAM
NINO RICCI
ROB SANDERS
ANTANAS SILEIKA
KONRAD SKRETA
JOANNE SMALE
GEOFFREY TAYLOR
JEN TINDALL
ALFIE WILLIAMS

special thanks to

STEPHEN LEACOCK MUSEUM
In Orillia, Ontario, Canada

HUMBER COLLEGE
Humber School of Creative and Performing Arts

CORDOVA BAY ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
Cordova Bay Records

GREYSTONE BOOKS
An Imprint of D&M Publishers

with the participation of

BRAVO!
a division of CTV Limited Inc.

CANADA MEDIA FUND
administered by Telefilm Canada

and with the assistance of

CANADA FILM OR VIDEO TAX CREDIT
ONTARIO FILM AND TELEVISION TAX CREDIT

and

ASSOCIATED FEDERATION OF MUSICIANS
BOOKSHORTS LITERACY PROGRAM
CANADIAN HERITAGE CANADA BOOK FUND

visit us on the web

http://www.bookshorts.com/pq_life_in_music/

This motion picture is protected under international and pan-American
copyright conventions. No part of this film may be reproduced or transmitted
in any form or by any means without written permission.

BOOKSHORTS INC. © 2010
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED