{"id":2388,"date":"2018-05-14T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-05-14T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.porticomagazine.ca\/2018\/05\/stars-of-the-screen-stage\/"},"modified":"2020-10-28T14:40:20","modified_gmt":"2020-10-28T18:40:20","slug":"stars-of-the-screen-stage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/porticomagazine.ca\/2018\/05\/stars-of-the-screen-stage\/","title":{"rendered":"Stars of the Screen & Stage"},"content":{"rendered":"

From Gryphon to Klingon<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Actor Kenneth Mitchell, BLA \u201998, speaks fluent Klingon. He utters a few throaty, unnerving words of the alien language during a telephone conversation from his home in Los Angeles, as a pair of loud kittens vie for attention in the background.<\/p>\n

Mitchell plays the fierce and temperamental Klingon commander Kol in the new, highly successful Star Trek: Discovery television series. His job depends on a good command of the language and a certain blood-curdling delivery.<\/p>\n

\"Star<\/a>As soon as he is fitted with the somewhat reptilian mask with the prominent cranial features, the actor is all Klingon. The \u201cguttural and aggressive\u201d language is spoken exclusively in Klingon scenes.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s three and a half hours of prosthetics and makeup,\u201d he says, speaking of the process of getting into costume. \u201cOnce the teeth and contacts are in, I\u2019m head-to-toe unrecognizable. I love it. It\u2019s like hiding behind a mask and really embracing a completely different being.\u201d<\/p>\n

Going big, with over-the-top emotion, was the key to bringing the proud and powerful Kol to life, Mitchell said. He describes the character as an alien creature who is dedicated to the preservation of Klingon culture and wary of humans.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s not me at all. I\u2019m a sweet, good-hearted Canadian,\u201d he says. \u201cBut I just love embracing these new characters and finding them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Originally from Toronto, Mitchell graduated from the University of Guelph\u2019s landscape architecture program in the late \u201990s. He worked briefly in the field before diving full-time into acting. He\u2019s been steadily employed as an actor for about 17 years.<\/p>\n

Mitchell starred in the 2017 critically acclaimed, made-in-Ontario feature film Blood Honey, and had recurring roles in the television series The Astronaut Wives Club and Frequency.<\/p>\n

The six-foot-two-inch Mitchell \u2013 who gains more than two inches as Kol \u2013 was a striker for the Gryphon soccer team.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact that I was a part of the Star Trek phenomenon really hit home for me at my first Star Trek convention, which was in Las Vegas,\u201d he says. \u201cBeing greeted by the nearly 10,000 fans, seeing and feeling their passion, I saw what a big deal this is. It was completely infectious.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mitchell lives in the Studio City neighbourhood of LA with his actress wife Susan May Pratt and their two children, Kallum and Lilah. The kittens are Chai and Curry, rescued by the family from an animal shelter.<\/p>\n

Canadian actor Ryan Gosling lives in the same neighbourhood, as does the original Captain Kirk himself: Canadian actor William Shatner.<\/p>\n

Theatrical Agitation<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As the curtain was flung back and the spotlight cast on sexual harassment and assault in the entertainment industry in 2017, Toronto\u2019s stalwart Nightwood Theatre was there to help the public grapple with the shocking news.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>Run by University of Guelph English and drama graduate Kelly Thornton, BA \u201990, the long-standing feminist theatre company established in 1979 crafts stage productions that advocate for women\u2019s rights while confronting gender inequality.<\/p>\n

\u201cArtists in general are agitators,\u201d Thornton says. \u201cI have always felt that I want to entertain, but I also want to provoke, to change people\u2019s perspectives.\u201d<\/p>\n

She says her U of G training gave her the foundation she needed for success in theatre. The department focused on making theatre politically and socially relevant. \u201cIt equipped me with a well-rounded, 360-degree experience of theatre. I worked on the technical side, in costumes, acted and directed, and did a little bit of playwriting. I came out with the ability to get the show on stage.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the current climate, Nightwood\u2019s productions have grown in popularity and timeliness, with sell-out audiences for 2017 shows like Asking for It and Unholy.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt Nightwood, we\u2019ve been fighting the good fight for a very long time,\u201d says Thornton, the company\u2019s artistic director since 2001. \u201cJust to put a woman\u2019s story on stage is an act of political will.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Shock waves from the revelations of sexual harassment in Hollywood and in Canada\u2019s theatre world have reverberated around the globe, she says. Sexual harassment allegations against Soulpepper Theatre\u2019s Albert Schultz, a prominent figure in Canada\u2019s theatre world, rocked the country\u2019s theatre scene.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s shocking for everyone to see a company that\u2019s had such success suddenly be turned on its head,\u201d she says. \u201cEveryone across Canada is looking at their workplace safety policies and sexual harassment procedures, and how artists can be better protected.\u201d<\/p>\n

Theatre is a life-affirming art, and a cathartic experience for audiences, she says. But there is a \u201ctoxic cloud\u201d hanging over it, with sexual harassment happening behind the scenes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the reason this happens is because the power imbalance is systemic. People working in a toxic environment who do not hold the reins of power are very concerned about their immediate livelihood and employment, as well as their professional career and reputation. So they are afraid to tip the balance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Much has come out from behind the shadows in recent months, she says, but change will come only as more women and people of colour become an integral part of the industry.<\/p>\n

Thornton says recent events have fuelled resistance and resilience.<\/p>\n

\u201cSadly, I think that this abuse of power is going on everywhere, and it\u2019s rampant. But we are in a moment of time where we are redressing the power imbalance. I believe ultimately that we have to share power so that every voice and the needs of all are represented in our theatres.\u201d<\/p>\n

DIY Filmmaking, With Love<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For her art, Rebeccah Love, MFA \u201917, has baked dozens of cookies (not for eating but as props), has gone on urban expeditions for antique typewriters, fake moustaches, vintage aprons and floral summer dresses, and has taken over the porch of an abandoned house.<\/p>\n

\"Rebeccah<\/a>\u201cAll the while trying to figure out what it means to be human, what it means to love, what it means to be alive,\u201d says Love, a U of G MFA graduate in creative writing who is making a name for herself as an independent filmmaker.<\/p>\n

Millennials are a do-it-yourself generation, and Love is totally all right with being called a DIY filmmaker. Hovering between stylized theatrical narratives and bare-bones realism, she says, her films are about creative problem solving, with underlying themes of beauty and love.
\nLove says we need films about the world\u2019s problems, \u201cabout how broken everything is, about the darkness of modern times.\u201d But we also desperately need films about the beauty of lush green spaces and \u201cthe delight of being loved.\u201d<\/p>\n

She can\u2019t explain why she is compelled to make short films.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a big mystery to me why we all turn out the way we do,\u201d she says. \u201cThere is something about the way the world has been presented to me by my family that has produced within me a great appreciation for the beauty of things, for optimism and an understanding of the preciousness of moments.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Her film work, she says, is an opportunity to wonder and daydream, and she considers that a gift. And working independently, with a small crew, is the most fun, exciting and meaningful thing she has ever done.<\/p>\n

\u201cI definitely consider myself to be a DIY filmmaker. I see it as a style of filmmaking where you are not following the rules. You\u2019re not submitting your script to a production company and waiting for them to hire you. You\u2019re taking matters into your own hands, often with limited resources.\u201d<\/p>\n

That can mean holding auditions in her kitchen and enlisting the help of her mother to feed the cast and crew.<\/p>\n

\u201cOr doing something like sneaking onto the porch of an abandoned house to film a scene without any permits,\u201d she says. \u201cThat\u2019s all part of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

With DIY filmmaking, hiring a crew is through word of mouth, raising the money is through crowdfunding sites and marketing is mostly through social media.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about creative problem solving, identifying resources at your disposal and making the most of them. The best part of filmmaking is engaging with all kinds of people. Our shared experiences on-set furnish friendships with memories of great beauty, laughter and weight.\u201d<\/p>\n

During creative writing class at U of G, where Love specialized in screenwriting, she mingled with novelists, poets and playwrights, and gained confidence and practical skills.<\/p>\n

\u201cI began my academic career at the University of Guelph as a timid person unsure of my future. As a University of Guelph graduate, I feel confident in my abilities, confident in my network and confident in what lies ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Mathematics of Laughter<\/h3>\n

There are two things Paloma Nu\u00f1ez, BA \u201902,has always been especially good at \u2013 making people laugh and doing complex math.
\nShe studied both drama and mathematics at the University of Guelph but says she soon reached the limit of her potential as a mathematician. Her potential as an actor and comedian appears limitless.<\/p>\n

\"Mathmatics<\/a>Nu\u00f1ez has put together a varied career in acting and comedy. She says she can\u2019t get enough of improvisation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not a gifted mathematician, but math is a fun thing to learn, and it\u2019s a nice balance to what an art degree can provide,\u201d says Nu\u00f1ez, who is landing roles in television series like In Contempt, Killjoys, Baroness von Sketch and The Girlfriend Experience.<\/p>\n

Nu\u00f1ez says there are a growing number of opportunities for women, including women of colour, in Toronto theatre and film.<\/p>\n

Things have been going well since her small but memorable role as a prickly legal assistant in the 2015 Academy Award-winning film Spotlight. The mother of a young son, Nu\u00f1ez is also the voice of Sparky, the front-end loader in the kids\u2019 show Terrific Trucks.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just always wanted to be an actor,\u201d she says. \u201cWhen I got the chance to do some theatre at U of G, I realized this is what I wanted to do with my life.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Nu\u00f1ez says she\u2019s at her best performing improv. She\u2019s worked hard to excel at the spur-of-the-moment-style of theatre. Post-university, she studied improvisation at Second City and Bad Dog Theatre in Toronto, followed by intensive training in Chicago.<\/p>\n

Learning improvisation, whether on a theatrical stage or in the theatre of life, has benefits in different areas of life. She teaches others to shed their fears and let their true character shine through improv.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all have to learn to get through the many barriers we put up just to survive being a human in this world,\u201d she says. \u201cThe people I teach often get caught up in doing things a certain way. Improvisation is about breaking down walls, trusting and being OK with failing \u2013 a lot.\u201d
\nShe works with lawyers, teachers, IT experts and business people who want to be more spontaneous and creative.<\/p>\n

\u201cImprov truly gives you the gift of being able to be who you are. You get these little rushes as you face your fears. And it\u2019s a lot of fun. I\u2019ve been at this for 15 years. It\u2019s starting to come together.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From guiding the theatrical productions to playing a Klingon warrior, U of G alumni have made names for themselves in the world of film, television and stage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":2394,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"From guiding the theatrical productions of Canada\u2019s longest-running professional women\u2019s theatre to playing a fierce warrior from the planet Qo\u2019noS, University of Guelph alumni have made names for themselves in the world of film, television and stage. They\u2019re crafting beautiful independent films, directing timely plays, mastering the art of improvisation and keeping the Klingon language alive.","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":null,"_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":null},"categories":[2],"tags":[330,329,328],"yoast_head":"\nStars of the Screen & Stage -<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/porticomagazine.ca\/2018\/05\/stars-of-the-screen-stage\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Stars of the Screen & Stage -\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"From guiding the theatrical productions to playing a Klingon warrior, U of G alumni have made names for themselves in the world of film, television and stage.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" 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