The Arts Beat
By KateLynn Savidan
Let’s do a Canadian entertainment quiz! Question No. 1: Who are Sarah McLachlan, Atom Egoyan, Neve Campbell and Jason Priestly?
Question No. 2: Who are Callum Keith Renny, Connie Kaldor and Pierre Falardeau? Don’t be surprised if you have never heard of the last three — they aren’t famous in the United States.
Our filmmakers, actors, singers and musicians are among the very best in the world.Why must Americans accept our entertainers in order for us to embrace them as sources of pride? Would we be so eager to have Beverly Hills 90210’s Jason Priestley hosting the Junos this March if he actually starred in the Canadian series Breaker High?
American awards ceremonies are a good example. How many people care that Atom Egoyan won eight Genies for his film The Sweet Hereafter? A Canadian director winning a Canadian award for a Canadian film doesn’t excite many people, but what about the idea of a Canadian director winning an Academy Award for a Canadian film?
Egoyan is now the talk of the country, along with double-Grammy winner Sarah McLachlan, who has replaced Alanis Morrissette as the new American darling. After organizing last summer’s successful all-women concert “Lilith Fair,” McLachlan has skyrocketed into the American music industry and Canada is loving it.
McLachlan’s new album Surfacing and hit single Building a Mystery have been nominated for five Junos between them and the odds are good that she will win in most of her categories.
But this seems to have little effect on Canada. The Junos aren’t big news. What seems to have the most effect on her popularity here is that she has won two Grammys, signifying her success in the United States.
Although it is an honor being nominated for the Oscars and the Grammys, why can’t we hold as much respect for the Junos, Geminis and the Genies? Let’s learn to support performers like Callum Keith Renny, who turned down a recurring role on the X-Files to film Canadian Bruce McDonald’s Hard Core Logo.
I say cheers to all entertainers who have succeeded in the U.S. but let’s not lose sight of one fact: We still have a lot of great talent here at home. Let’s make our own decisions and support Canadian entertainers in Canada and all their Genies, Geminis and Junos!