Paul Gross says he's donating the $25,000 from his 2009 Governor General's Performing Arts Award to the Remix
Project, a group that fosters young artists in Toronto. Read more here. Thanks, Claudine!
5th December
Dee has compiled a list of the top advertisers for the first 8 episodes of Eastwick. Please write to them and thank them for sponsoring the show.
Direct pressure on the advertisers may have more impact than pleas to ABC to keep Eastwick on the air, although we recommend you email ABC too. See the list here
.
30th November
Passchendaele will be released on Region 2 DVD on 25th January. It can be pre-ordered from our amazon.co.uk store for only £8.48. Thanks, Catherine!
Video: Paul Gross at Rideau Hall, talking about winning the 2009 Pierre Berton award. Sadly, the sound quality is poor. Thanks, Felicity!
22nd November
Watch a short video of Paul talking about Eastwick here. It's a hard life.
Reminder: Eastwick starts on the UK Hallmark channel (Sky 130, +1 150; Virgin 162, +1 163; Tiscali 8) on 24th November at 9 pm.
18th November
A rumour is circulating that the Lifetime Television network has
expressed an interest in continuing Eastwick. If you'd like to express your enthusiasm for this project, send postcards only to:
Lifetime Television
309 W. 49th St.
New York, NY 10019
USA
They will only consider postcards, so don't waste your time with a letter. Thanks, Dee!
Paul Gross is the recipient of the 2009 Pierre Berton award which he will receive on Friday 20th November from Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle
Jean, Governor General of Canada, at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. Congratulations, Paul!
Has news of Eastwick's cancellation left you wanting to saw the president of ABC in half? You’re not alone. “I’m pretty furious, too,” vents executive producer Maggie Friedman. “We have such an amazing group of writers and actors — best people I’ve ever worked with. None of us can believe this is really happening.” ... read more. Thanks, Diane!
If you're a fan of Eastwick and you'd like to provide some feedback about the cancellation to ABC you can write via snail mail to:
Re: Eastwick
Mr. Stephen McPherson, Chairman
ABC, Inc
500 S. Buena Vista St
Burbank, CA 91521-4551
USA
Eastwick has been nominated for a People's Choice Award in the Favourite New
TV Drama category.
You can vote for it (as many times as you like!) as a guest or member here. Update: Eastwick has been removed from the poll - we don't know why.
11th November
It is with great regret that we report the cancellation of Paul's current American TV drama, Eastwick. According to TVbythenumbers.com- which cites James Hibberd's live feed- ABC has declined to order additional episodes of the series.
The item does indicate that ABC plans to show all 13 Eastwick episodes, though they are not yet sure exactly when they will air. Thanks to Lee for the news.
A petition has been set up to
stop the cancellation of Eastwick. Check it out and pass it on! Thanks, Lisa!
The due South convention for next year now has a name! RCW139:Dueser's Day Off will be held from 13-15 August 2010 at the Toronto Marriott Bloor Yorkville hotel. Registration for the convention will start in November. Rooms at the hotel are now opening for booking and will be available three days before and three days after the convention for anyone interested in doing some sightseeing around Toronto. Thanks, Sonia!
At the Directors Guild of Canada
Awards, Passchendaele won best film ('Team Feature Film') and Carol Spier won for Production Design but Paul missed out on the Best Director award. Thanks, Felicity!
Eastwick starts on the UK Hallmark channel on 24th November at 9 pm. Thanks, Felicity!
For those fans of Paul Gross who are also fans of classical music, you may
want to check out the Toronto Symphony Orchestra on 23rd and 24th January 2010
to hear "Mozart: Beyond the Score" narrated by Paul Gross. Thanks, Dee!
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Corus Entertainment has ordered a comedy pilot for "The Yard" from Whizbang Films for its Movie Central pay TV service. The Sopranos-style mockumentary portrays three brothers, ages 12, nine and six, who have wrestled schoolyard power from their rivals, the Guarducci brothers, who plot their own return to the top.
Paul Gross and Frank Siracusa are producing, with Dave Eddie and Michael Mabbot penning the pilot script. Thanks, Dee!
The ET Canada trailer of Gunless can be seen on YouTube. Thanks, Dee!
15th October
The first two episodes of Slings & Arrows (1st season) are going to be
aired on the Swiss Channel SF1 on 20th November, 4.10 am to 5.40 am. With
SF1, one can generally choose between the original language and the
dubbed version. However, it seems that this time the series is not
aired in the two-lingual mode but in English with German subtitles. Thanks, Corinna!
Passchendaele has been showing in Scotland at the Glasgow Film Theatre since Friday and will continue until tomorrow, showing at 1.15pm and 6.15pm. Thanks, Felicity!
Eastwick has an offical website and if you live in the US you can download episodes to watch again.
Eastwick pictures here and here. Thanks, Dee and Diane!
CBC has ordered a sitcom pilot from E1 Television and
Serendipity Point Films based on Paul Gross's Canadian curling movie Men
With Brooms ... read more. Thanks, Felicity! And according to The Star, Paul may make occasional appearances. Thanks, Dee!
Here's a great December 2008 interview with Paul Gross on the making of Passchendaele:
19th September
RCW 139: 2010 will take place from 13-15 August 2010 at the Toronto Marriott Bloor Yorkville hotel in Toronto, the site of the last four RCW 139 conventions. More details at the RCW 139 website.
Due South is finally (almost) out on DVD with a German soundtrack!
Ein Mountie in Chicago - Staffel 1.1 ~ Paul Gross, David Marciano,
Catherine Bruhier, und Beau Starr. Dieser Artikel wird am 3. Dezember 2009 erscheinen. Amazon.de. Danke, Petra!
Dee has found some great Eastwick cast photos from the ABC Summer Press Tour event last Sunday. And ... Zydeco? Go here to find out what that means! Thanks, Dee!
There's an Eastwick picture gallery at TVguide.com. Look out for Paul in #15, 16 and 20. Thanks, Jean!
There are lots of pics of Paul at the 2008 TIFF here. Thanks, Diane!
Passchendaele has picked up Directors Guild of Canada award nominations for Team Feature Film, Direction, Production, Picture Editing and Sound Editing - details here.
Answers to a recent Q & A with Paul are here. Thanks, Felicity!
The U.S. Television Critics Association is starting the annual "up front" press tour, where the cast and producers of new shows promote their products. Go to TV Guide's website to post a question for the Eastwick cast. Their day at the press tour is Saturday 8th August. Thanks, Diane!
26th July
On the new Gunless website Paul appears in some of the embedded videos. Thanks, Wendy!
It has been confirmed that Paul will be attending Comic Con as planned.
15th July
It appears that a shooting schedule may interfere with Paul's plans to attend Comic Con on Saturday 25th July. A slight change in wording on the Comic Con website could be interpreted as meaning that only Maggie Friedman and David Nutter are actually confirmed as members of the Eastwick panel. Thanks, Felicity!
14th July
In Eastwick, a new TV series based on the 1987 film The Witches of Eastwick and on the novel of the same title by John Updike, Paul plays the role of Daryl van Horne. In this review he is described as having "just the right balance of charm and sleaze to pull it off. There's a bit of Nicholson in his performance, but thankfully Gross doesn't try to imitate ol' Jack. His devil is a mix of Clooney, Shatner and fluffy-haired '80s hunk (think Lorenzo Llamas). It might sound odd, but it works, and it helps establish Eastwick as fun and quirky ...".
Eastwick is set to air on ABC in the US on Wednesday nights at 10 pm ET and on 'A' Channel in Canada. Thanks, Margaret!
At the 2009 Banff TV Festival, Paul Gross, Mark McKinney and Victor Garber were honoured with this year's top awards. A short video is here. Thanks, Dee!
ET Canada visited the set of Gunless to interview Paul - the YouTube video is here. Thanks, Sam!
Lots of lovely pics from Gunlesshere, including some of Paul! Thanks, Dee!
According to Variety, Swiss distributor Ascot Elite has picked up Passchendaele for German-speaking territories. Thanks, Felicity!
Paul Gross's appearance on the O'Regan Files on Canada's Bravo is available online here. Thanks, Dee!
Paul will be taking part in a panel at Comic Con on 25th July. More here. Thanks, Margaret!
And finally, apologies if you have recently been trying to access our Amazon stores without success. They have now been revamped and you can browse through them here! (All purchases earn a small commission for PaulGross.org which goes towards hosting costs.)
21st May
Eastwick teaser trailers and photos are here!
Auf Serienjunkies : "Die Serie „Eastwick“ ist eine Adaption des Buches von John Updike, auf dem auch schon ein bekannter Film von 1987 beasierte. Darin entdecken drei Frauen an sich magische Kräfte, kurz nachdem ein mysteriöser Fremder in die kleine Stadt Eastwick kommt." Danke, Tanja!
Paul's fifth interview of the National Screen Institute series, this time on 'First Time Directors', is now on YouTube.
The Spring edition of the University of Alberta's Work Of Arts magazine contains photos and an interview with Paul. Thanks to Felicity for both these stories!
8th May
The Canadian Press reports that Paul is in Ottawa at the moment. He was on
Parliament Hill on Thursday as part of a series of events marking the
Governor General's Awards for the Performing Arts. He's receiving his special National Arts Centre award for outstanding
contribution to the arts over the previous year at a ceremony tonight, the
8th, and will be feted again at a gala on Saturday. Thanks to Felicity for the news!
For anyone who may have missed it before, CBC Radio has reposted a terrific radio interview with Paul Gross and Peter Gzowski from 1996. This interview was
reposted as part of a tribute for the 2009 Governor General's Award
Winners, so it may not be up too much longer. It contains an early version
of "Ride Forever" referencing North Dakota instead of Alberta. Thanks, Dee!
Passchendaele has picked up four awards and been named Alberta's best movie of the year at the 2009 Rosies, also known as the 35th annual Alberta Film and Television Awards.
A short video roundup clip from etalk:"After celebrating on a family vacation in Japan - Paul Gross turns the big
5-0! etalk honours this milestone with a look back at his incredible
career." Thanks, Felicity!
30th April
Happy 50th Birthday, Paul!
(and Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada!)
29th April
Ray Bradbury Theatre - Paul's episode is on in the UK on Friday 1st May at 5.25am on Zone Horror. Thanks, Catherine!
For any London (UK) folks curious about Observe The Sons Of Ulster Marching Towards The Somme (Paul played the part of the young Kenneth Pyper back in 1988 - paulgross.org/stage.htm),
it's being staged at the Hampstead Theatre from 18th June to 18th July. Details are here. Thanks, Angela!
Bravo! presents a new original series that uncovers the full stories behind the artists. In THE O'REGAN FILES,
premiering Wednesday 13th May at 8.30 pm ET/5.30 pm PT, journalist Seamus O'Regan conducts in-depth one-on-one conversations with arts luminaries and other prominent figures. Paul's will be aired on 10th June. Full story. Thanks, Margaret!
The scenic Kettle Valley Steam Railway will be the backdrop for part of a Canadian movie scheduled for filming later this spring. Jo Ann Reynolds, marketing manager with the steam railway, said the cast and crew of Gunless will spend three days in June filming scenes along the railway bed. Full story. Thanks, ktu!
Paul Gross joins more than 40 other celebrities who have designed/signed plates to be auctioned on eBay in support of the Parkinson Society’s efforts to fund research, support services and education. Other celebrities include Johnny Depp, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Malcolm Gladwell, Robert Downey Jr., Peter Facinelli, Nickelback, Hilary Duff and many more! Paul’s plate will be auctioned worldwide on eBay beginning 30th April 2009. Please visit http://stores.ebay.ca/parkinsonsociety to bid or www.parkinsonmaritimes.ca to view his plate and more!
7th April
Paul will be speaking at the Banff Festival on 8th June. Schedule of events. Thanks to Wendy for this.
The 2009 Genies were announced last night and while Paul missed out on an acting award for his performance in Passchendaele, the movie won every other award for which it was nominated - including Best Motion Picture. As a producer on the film, that gives Paul his first Genie ever. (In a bit of Due South solidarity, former co-star Callum Keith Rennie took home the Best Supporting Actor award - his second - for his role in Normal.) Thanks to Lee for the news!
Thanks to Felicity for telling us about this article in Playback:
Paul Gross stops short of calling Toronto's filmmaking community a bunch of snobs. He says unabashedly, however, that Toronto's artistic "intelligentsia" has "made trouble in making our artistic output relevant to the population that pays for it."
In this one-on-one with Playback, Gross later turns down the critical volume and adds that he likes "cerebral" and festival films, "and watches them."
Of course, in his mini-diatribe Gross is ultimately empathizing with ordinary Canadian taxpayers who are indirectly the largest financier of movies in this country. And he says his background in the overtly populist medium of television - and its obvious reach to mass audiences - is the largest single deciding factor in why he is the only Canadian director to ever make a homegrown film to take in over $4.4 million at the English-Canadian box office. [... read more at playbackonline.ca]
Front Lines - The Trenches. Claude Guilmain, 2008, 9'45".
This short documentary, narrated by Paul Gross and made in 2008, looks at life in the trenches in the First World War. Front Lines features veterans' letters to their families and images from the NFB archives, the Canadian War Museum and Library, and Archives Canada.
"Variety reported today that Rebecca Romijn is joining the cast of "Eastwick"
that is based on the John Updike novel, which also served as the source
material for the Eighties flick The Witches of Eastwick. [...] For this TV update, Romijn joins the already assembled cast of Lindsay
Price, Jamie Ray Newman, and Paul Gross."
We have received confirmation that this news is true. We also understand from Wendy that Paul has been cast in the role of Daryl Van Horne. Thank you to both our informants!
3rd March
Many thanks to the web team at The Hour for sending links to the recent interview with Paul and a funny skit they did with him the same day.
Paul Gross is this year's recipient of the National Arts Centre Award presented for exceptional achievement over the past performance year. Known foremost as an actor, Mr. Gross is also an award-winning writer, producer, director and singer, and a tireless promoter of Canadian culture. Mr. Gross - whose outstanding work in theatre, television and film has garnered international acclaim - is being recognized for Passchendaele, a sweeping World War I epic inspired by his grandfather's wartime experiences in Canada and Belgium. The $21-million production, the most ambitious Canadian war movie ever made, opened the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival and set records for English Canadian film, grossing almost $5 million in Canada and abroad. In addition to a commemorative medallion struck by the Royal Canadian Mint and a cash award of $25,000, Mr. Gross will receive an original piece of artwork designed by Québec-based artist Paula Murray. CONGRATULATIONS PAUL!
27th February
The screenplay for Passchendaele has been nominated for The Writers Guild of Canada Screenwriting Award. Thanks to Dee and Felicity for letting us know!
At flickr.com there are some excellent pictures of Paul from his recent "The Hour" interview.
10th February
Passchendaele has been nominated for six Genies: Best Motion Picture (Niv Fichman, Francis Damberger, Paul Gross, Frank Siracusa); Achievement in Art Direction/Production Design (Carol Spier, Janice Blackie-Goodine);
Achievement in Costume Design (Wendy Partridge); Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Paul Gross); Achievement in Overall Sound (Lou Solakofski, Garrell Clark, Steve Foster); and Achievement in Sound Editing (
Jane Tattersall, Kevin Banks, Barry Gilmore, Andy Malcolm, Dave Rose).
In addition, Paul Gross and
producer Niv Fichman of Rhombus Films will be honoured with the 2008 Golden
Reel Award offered by the Academy of Film and Television for the
highest-grossing Canadian film, and the ShowCanada's prestigious Hector
G Ross Award rewarding box-office success. Passchendaele was the number-one Canadian production in
2008, ending the year with a total take of almost CA$5 million. Thanks to Felicity and Dee for this news!
8th February
The DVD of Passchendaele is now available from amazon.ca in regular and Blu-ray format. (Using our link earns PaulGross.org a small commission to help with web hosting.)
6th February
The Passchendaele DVD is now available from third-party sellers on amazon.com.
Paul Gross will receive the NBC Universal Canada Award of Distinction at the
30th edition of the Banff World Television Festival, which takes place at
the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Canada, June 7-10, 2009. Thanks, Felicity, and MANY CONGRATULATIONS TO PAUL!
23rd January
Paul Gross will be on The Hour on Tuesday 27th January at 11pm, on CBC.
Passchendaele will be screened at the Brandon Film Festival, Manitoba from 30th January to 1st February. There will be a special screening on Friday 30th January when Museum Director Marc George will speak about his experience as Artillery Technical Advisor on the movie. Also on 30th, there will be three draws for copies of the Passchendaele DVD and movie posters signed by Paul Gross.
Look out for the premiere of ZOS: Zone Of Separation on TMN and Movie Central on Monday 19th January from 10 pm-11 pm. It's an eight part Whizbang Films series, co-executive produced by Paul Gross, about UN peacekeepers trying to enforce a ceasefire in the fictional, Sarajevo-like town of Jadac.