More than thrilled to announce that my first novel was just released.
Ready for sale immediately.
Each book is $20.
Thank you for everyone’s support throughout the years. Truly honored!
I will be delivering the books myself so just let me know the best way to deliver them if interested.
A stranger observes the home of David and Janine from across the street. Bathed in darkness, the man makes no movements…he simply watches.
Beset by a dark secret long kept dormant, David and Janine’s seemingly happy marriage will be tested by this stranger.
But by confronting their past, this enigmatic watcher may be the least of their concerns.
“We cherish the traditions of brewing history, while being creatively innovative about the future of it.”
Kevin Somerville
Brewmaster/Partner
BEER. A word that is simplistic in its pronunciation, but yet a word that elicits copious amounts of stereotypical connotations when spoken.
For most, it is a cheap and inexpensive alcoholic treat that appeals to university students and blue collar/working-class aficionados infatuated by the notion of sporting events, video games and social events devoid of any sort of hors d’oeuvres.
You can blame the marketing agenda of beer advertisements for this sort of hazy-eyed perspective.
In reality, beer is rarely discussed in conversation as a beverage that can compare with the alluring seductiveness of wine or spirits.
Beer is, to put it simply, a beverage marketed to mass amounts of people rather than to a specific demographic. This general understanding of what a beer is typically supposed to represent (anti-elitist) only helps to undermine the vastness of what it is actually capable of.
Niagara Oast House Brewers is looking to alter this perception of what a beer has incorrectly been defined as.
Having just recently opened their doors in November of 2012, the diminutive microbrewery (located in a beautifully renovated, century-old red barn on 2017 Niagara Stone Road in Niagara-On-The-Lake) is investing a great amount of time and effort into the composition of flavourful craft beers that are produced in innovative and quality-driven ways.
Typically, a craft beer is formulated by a brewer that is small, independent and traditional. In other words, it has no affiliations with any major chain of brewery.
Niagara Oast House Brewers ownership consists of three partners, Mike Berlis (Manager of Finance), Cian MacNeill (Marketing Manager) and Kevin Somerville (Brewmaster).
All three men have extensive knowledge and experience within the wine and beer industries. Mike and Cian are highly-educated/certified sommeliers (Cian is also a winemaker) while Kevin was trained for brewing in Germany and Chicago, and also helped found and write the curriculum for Niagara College’s Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program. He continues to teach for it, as well.
With this amount of educated intelligence circulating amongst the three of them, it’s easy to understand why the company takes great strides to incorporate quality-driven methods of production.
According to Somerville, “Our goal as a company is to create top of the line craft beers that simultaneously push the limits. Craft beer culture is exploding throughout North America at the present moment, and we wish to bring that sensibility here to Niagara. We brew in small batches, and use ingredients locally sourced by Niagara Farmers who work with us to produce the freshest ingredients possible. We’re attempting to embrace and to be highly representative of the Niagara region’s famous motto of ‘farm to table.”
Adds MacNeill, “We want to do everything the Niagara way. Our desire is to respect the roots of the region.”
The microbrewery initially launched with two beers in November. A Belgian-style Saison, which is the first in the Farmhouse Ale collection of bottle-conditioned beers (historically, Farmhouse Ales were produced during the cooler months so that they could be released during the summer work season on the farm), and a Barnraiser Country Ale, a hoppy and very citrusy beer that is aromatically strong.
In April, the group has plans to release the Biere de Garde. A member of the Farmhouse Ale family, it is darker than the Saison with more malt character stepping forward.
Niagara Oast House Brewers is dedicated to maintaining an aura of fresh and contemporary, and promises to consistently have something new and innovative lurking on the horizon. Thus the beer options will constantly be in a state of transition in an attempt to offer certain types of beer during particular points of the season.
With that being said, though, it still seems that opening any sort of business within the heart of wine country would be a stressful endeavour. But the company appears to be at ease with their positioning deep within the historical heart of wine country.
The fundamental reason being that the group believes they’re not in direct competition with the wineries, but rather are there to help compliment and exhibit how multifarious (in regards to agriculture) the Niagara Region truly is.
According to Somerville, “We are aiming to add further dimension to the Niagara-On-The-Lake community, and to provide the traveller lodging in the area with another option to experience. As well, we also wish to create a more diverse food and beverage industry in the region.”
At the present moment, the microbrewery currently offers tours, tastings, retail sales and event space for social outings.
In regards to the notion of culinary, Niagara Oast House Brewers will soon incorporate the use of local chefs to help prepare and pair food with particular beers.
Though the company is influenced by the winery model, they feel they provide an alternative experience.
“We may base our existing structure on that of the winery,” says MacNeill, “but we feel that we articulate a different sort of vibe. Our initiative is to provide an experience for our visitors that is both fun and upbeat. We wish to create an energetic environment for them to be a part of.”
As noted prior, they have also just recently formed a partnership with local farmers to supply the brewery with hops for their use (though, they do wish that more hops were grown since they believe the Niagara Region is a perfect climate for it), and for sourcing other key ingredients from nearby suppliers.
The importance of engaging with the local agriculture is of utmost importance to the microbrewery because it provides for them a label of genuine authenticity. To utilize elements from the surrounding area also helps to promote the perception that the region is brimming with unbridled possibilities in regards to cultivation.
Somerville notes, “The Niagara region is blessed with such a bountiful amount of components to play with that it would be a shame not to take advantage of what’s in our very own backyard.”
To note that the company is driven by a passionate thirst for success would be an understatement.
Says MacNeill, “Niagara Oast House Breweries will elevate the status of craft beer in Ontario through creating consistent top-quality artisan beers. We’ll be good environmental stewards and support our local communities through the creations of strategic partnerships.”
A company in its infancy, free to explore all the possibilities this area has to offer is a key ingredient in the invigorating pleasure of discovering something new.
Total Recall (1990)
Directed by Paul Verhoeven
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone and Michael Ironside
Synopsis:
Doug Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a construction worker constantly haunted by dreams and memories of Mars. Against the best wishes of his wife, Quaid goes to Rekall, a company that implants artificial memories, so he can “remember” visiting the red planet. However, things do not go as planned, and Quaid is soon forced to fight for his life.
Analysis:
I have watched Total Recall many times over the years and still, to this day, struggle with whether or not the story is real or merely a fabrication of the mind. There are many hints and clues scattered throughout that seem to provide discernible answers but as soon as one believes they have it figured out, their sleuthing prowess is undermined by the narrative (and they are forced to rethink their decision).
In actuality, there is no definitive answer provided which, in all likelihood, is the entire point of the film. The lack of discerning of whether or not this is real or, in fact, merely a dream is simply a commentary about society and their inability to exist within the mindset of a fractured reality.
Total Recall is a film that has come to represent the notion of Postmodernism. Along with films such as Blade Runner (1982) and The Matrix (1999), these films strive to represent the nature of a fragmented identity. In addition, a Postmodern film grapples with issues such as reality, the image, media saturation and the loss of the natural.
In a basic sense, Postmodernism reflects the idea that meaning is no longer contained/explained within the confines of a single text. There are now many separate and conflicting ideas that may account for answers. Postmodernism is not about structure but rather about a confetti of thought. In terms of Total Recall, the film cannot easily be interpreted as it is an attempt to reflect an ever-changing existence.
Total Recall is based on a short story by Phillip K. Dick entitled “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale’. In typical Postmodern fashion, Dick’s stories typically focus on the fragile nature of what is “real” and its relation to identity. His stories often become surreal fantasies as his main characters slowly discover that their everyday world is actually a constructed illusion.
For instance, in Blade Runner (a film based on a Philip K. Dick story), Harrison Ford begins to doubt whether or not he is an actual human or, in fact, a replicant. In Total Recall, Arnold begins to wonder whether or not he is Doug Quaid (a construction worker) or Houser (a secret agent).
Conflicting duality is a key component of Dick’s stories, and his themes have helped to pave the way for postmodern theorists such as Jean Baudrillard and Frederic Jameson in their attempts to comprehend and dictate the vastness of this theory.
Though, for as much as the film strives to instruct, it is still an impressive piece of action entertainment. The film is relentless in its depiction of violence and gore, and outraged many censors in 1990 (it seems fairly tame, nowadays). It is fun-filled entertainment that is directed with flair from famed Dutch director Paul Verhoeven (who also directed 1987’s Robocop- a film very concerned with the nature of reality, technology and the deconstruction of the body). In a sense, this film is sort of a companion piece to Robocop. Both deal with many similar themes which may be why Verhoeven decided to helm this production.
In many ways, Total Recall is a structured analysis concerned with society’s inability to cope with the present-day reality of an ever-changing identity. We are but wandering souls who exist in a fractured culture of fear and paranoia. What is real? Who am I? These are but some of the questions that the world struggles with on a day to day basis, and which are greatly realized in this action extravaganza. This film is a rare example of a thinking man’s movie existing within mainstream culture.
When does intuitive creativity trespass into the realm of self-indulgent pretentiousness? A very thin line separates these two ideas, so how is anyone ever able to fully discern between the nature of the two?
In other words, how is one to discern whether a piece of art decrees for it to be defined as progressive/genius rather than ‘obtuse for obtuse sakes’?
Musical creativity has always been a subject I’ve been intrigued with (I’ve been writing about music for a few years now), and I always look forward to some sort of progression in how music is understood and digested.
Change is healthy for music. Stagnation is one of music’s greatest detractors, and it needs to Remain fresh in order to Remain understood as a relevant source of art.
I’ve been a fan of Radiohead for many years now, and their sonic transformation undertaken in between their debut album (the grunge-inspired) Pablo Honey (1993) and their latest EP (the experimental/electronic rock release) The King of Limbs (2011) is simply astounding.
Anyone who has been an avid listener of the group over the years understands their importance in groundbreaking/influential sonic evolution.
Many bands do undertake similar transitional periods in their musical endeavours, but none with the clout and mainstream presence of a band such as Radiohead. A band that alternates at will, introducing many outside musical influences into their realm of musical creativity.
Every album released is an exploration into an enigma that I fear has no set conclusion. The experimental use of beats, lyrics and overall musical structure has become a template for the band, and 9 times out of ten they are lauded for their progressive style.
But I always tend to ask myself the same question over and over again after listening to the band. Is their sound truly devoid of any sense of irony? Or, as Noel Gallagher of Oasis once said, simply a ‘gimmick’?
Because let’s face it…the band has achieved a notoriety for alternating the style of their sound constantly over the past twenty years. And it seems that whatever they release, it’s always deemed as “genius” or “transformative” or “revolutionary”.
Radiohead is one of the few bands in musical history to have ever consciously steered their sound away from the “mainstream way of things”, and still be regarded as influential groundbreakers in the mainstream market.
It just seems that Radiohead can do no wrong. They can create and release any particular style of music to the general public, and will rarely receive any sort of callous backlash as a result.
Now, I am in no way attempting to assassinate the good name of the band (they are one of my favourite acts), but I’m just curious as to whether or not Radiohead is still configuring their ever-changing identity around honest intentions.
I mean, with the mindset that they can commit no foul, are they still releasing music that is fuelled by some sort of innate desire to progress both creatively and passionately as a band? Or is the band at the point where they can be as self-indulgent as they want to be, because no matter what, their music will be accepted with countless praise and worship?
I guess whatever the truth may be, it lies within the hearts of the five members…
Album: Witchrock (EP)
Label: eOne Music Canada
Rating: 4/5
It’s one thing to be influenced by the likes of Joan Jett or Shirley Manson, but it’s another to actually capture (sonically) what made those women so strong in the first place…passionate expressiveness.
Magneta Lane’s (a female 3-piece from Toronto) latest release, a 4-track EP entitled Witchrock, is a volatile exploration into the realms of the human heart. Fuelled by dark, emotive instrumentation, and by angry, fervently realized vocalizations (by lead singer/guitarist/principal songwriter Lexi Valentine), Witchrock stings with the coldest of calculations.
But to guilelessly classify this album as emotionally rigid would be to undermine the many other sonic structures that populate throughout.
Yes, a melancholic tone does permeate throughout the duration of the EP, but it’s partially offset by vivid, electrifying hooks that help to identify an ongoing struggle between the light and dark of human emotion.
Burn, the opening track, bristles with unbridled angst that is propelled by driving, therapeutic lyricism. Whereas, Leave the Light On is haunting/tragic in structure and tone but yet never dares to trespass into the realm of the melodramatic.
Not perfect, but an album that brims with an intelligence that is sorely missing in today’s music scene.
“We love to tell stories, and are driven by that desire to do it for a living.”
Jason Lupish
Creative Director
Open Concept Films
…As the sweat rolls down my brow with relentless fury, I eye the surrounding locale with paranoid trepidation. With my vision shifting from left to right across the vastness of this foreign land, I become aware of one thing; I am not alone out here.
Something stirs in the distance. 200 metres to my immediate right, a movement drifts towards me. The wind, feverishly increasing in velocity, rips dust across the windows of my Audi R8 with a torrid intensity. My eyes squint with ambitious hope, but the images are jagged mirages of the mind.
I insert the key into the ignition and turn. But with the sound of cliché echoing amongst the hissing rattle of desert sand pelting away outside, the engine does not turn over…
The preceding story was written as mere entertainment, but was altered to incorporate one small, seemingly unimportant fact: The endorsement of an Audi R8.
A story can exist for many different reasons. In this regard, however, it comes to exemplify a growing trend in 21st century marketing; the notion of brand marketing.
The idea is a fairly linear one: the fusion of creative storytelling with inconspicuous product placement–A concept that the St. Catharines-based Open Concept Films (OCF) has embraced since their inception in 2010.
Comprising of Jason Lupish, Adam Stephenson (co-Creative Director) and Ralph DeGroot (OCF Producer and Project Manager), the group firmly believes that the days of traditional commercial marketing are on the brink of extinction.
Says Lupish, “For all intensive purposes, corporate video, in its most traditional form, is dead. People want to be entertained. They don’t simply want to be provided with an answer, but rather desire to decipher it on their own.”
Adds Stephenson, “People identify with stories, and they identify with characters and situations. So, in essence, what we we’re doing is telling stories that have interesting and relatable characters. And then we attach a brand to these stories therefore allowing the brand to benefit from the exposure of the film. In essence, we are blending the creative with the commercial”.
Ultimately, this reads as a sincere renouncement of anything associated with the traditional modes of commercial production. Consequently, the company has become fully intent on focusing their energy and passion into the construction of 2-3 minute short films that aspire to advertise a particular product in a very nonchalant sort of way.
“The industry is still in its early stages. In fact, probably more in utero than anything,” says Lupish. “But we’re at the forefront—we’re literally writing the DNA for a new brand of what used to be called corporate video.”
Though seemingly still in a state of infancy, the company has already crafted brand films for such corporations as Halls XS and Brock University. In addition to this, they’ve also donated their time to community projects such as OneWorld Schoolhouse Foundation and the Niagara Catholic School Board.
But an important question does arise. If they’ve encountered such a vast amount of achievement over such a short period of time, why not expand to a major market along the lines of Toronto or Montreal?
The answer is a rather simple one.
“The Niagara Region is my home,” says Stephenson. “When I surround myself with the people that matter to me, I’m able to draw inspiration and feel better about the work I’m producing. I’ve spent years with this group of people and they are all as creative as I am. I don’t want to abandon that.”
Lupish readily concurs, “I’m from St. Catharines, and most of my family is situated here. “It’s not the best excuse but it’s a logical one…And realistically, what with technology being the way it currently is, I can do my job from anywhere in the world.”
It’s a telling statement about how the current technological climate of our society is influencing our methods of choice. With advancement progressing at such a staggering rate over the past 10-15 years, companies no longer fear the need to traverse to the larger cities for further employment. With potential jobs a mere click away, companies are now thriving in smaller markets.
Though the company has been profiting from their branded films (they also offer event coverage, web content production and produce/direct music videos for local artists), it’s interesting to note that the original idea behind the formation of Open Concept Films had to do with Lupish’s and Stephenson’s other passion; feature films.
In 2010, they had just started work on a film entitled A Kind of Wonderful Thing, but needed a company name to place it under. Thus OCF was (un)officially born. Since then, the film has gone on to garner high acclaim, and in August 2012 had an official red carpet premiere at Brock University.
In October 2012, Open Concept Films continued their ascension as a relevant Niagara-based media group as they packed up and moved their headquarters to 1 St. Paul St. E.—becoming the newest tenant at nGen’s Generator at One Studio.
“This is a huge step for OCF,” says Ralph DeGroot. “All of a sudden, we have moved into the global market with projects for a Brazilian marketing firm, Espalhe, and Kraft Foods. Places like nGen are starting to help facilitate growth of the entertainment industry right here in Niagara, and we’re quite proud to be a part of that.”
But the notion of complacency has never found residency within the mindset of the creative team. Their aspirations are for continual growth, and to create content that is consumed by the masses. Whether that content be through traditional media sources (television, theatre, radio) or new media (Internet), the desire and drive continues to burn.
“We are driven by an innate creativity. Our professional drive has always stemmed from our fascination with the exploration of discovering/creating something new,” says Lupish. “Open Concept Films is, in its most basic sense, filmmakers and storytellers who are dedicated to bringing an artistic sensibility to our work.”
Openconceptfilms.com
“The mind is an amazing playground…if you just let it go, and believe it can happen”.
Danny Zzzz
A helicopter hovers fourteen stories above the earth-its propeller whirling ceaselessly, blocking out all surrounding sound. Attached to the copter by a cord, an inverted man dangles precariously in the sky, constricted in his movements by a strait jacket.
Contrary to initial belief, this is not a man being transported to the local asylum. This is entertainer Danny Zzzz, and this is his own idea-an act of courageous fortitude that is all in the name of charity.
The mission is simple: hanging upside down, Danny Zzzz’s goal is to escape the constraints of the strait jacket before succumbing to a fate guaranteed to be much worse.
Even with over twenty years experience in the field, it’s difficult not to fear for Danny Zzzz’s safety as he attempts this Houdini-esque helicopter stunt. As he teeters above the perilous landscape below, Dan has to be terrified, or so the onlookers assume. Instead, Dan focuses his concentration and, within moments of ascent, magically relieves himself of that pesky and constrictive jacket. Dumfounded and awestruck, the spectators breathe a sigh of relief as Dan (with a grin as large as a child’s) is lowered back onto the ground without a sense of concern.
In reality, this is simply just another day in the life of Danny Zzzz, a hypnotist, mentalist, illusionist, magician and entertainer.
A former musician and producer/daytime host at 97.7 htz FM (1995-2001), Dan has always been a man who, more often than not, has succeeded in taking chances (in every regard). Gifted with remarkable business savvy, Dan credits a great deal of his success to serendipity: “I have tended to take career chances at the correct time, but I’ve been very lucky. No matter how astute you are business-wise, there is always a great amount of luck involved.”
Billing himself as the ‘premier choice for quality live entertainment’, Danny Zzzz performs all over North America with his Vegas-inspired show (the Danny Zzzz LIVE! Show). Mixing elements of humor, magical mentalism and comedy stage hypnosis, Dan performs two shows a day, seven days a week. In a normal year, he and his technical crew will conduct over 400 performances (He has amassed over seventeen hundred shows in nine years of existence).
In fact, in one forty-two hour span, Dan and his crew traversed across two provinces (Thorold, Ontario and Calgary, Alberta) and two states (Buffalo, New York and Orlando, Florida) to perform their widely-acclaimed show.
Based here in the Niagara Region, Danny prides himself on producing shows that are suitable for audiences of all ages, which ultimately dictates that there is no offensive language or conduct of any kind. In a medium where pushing the limits relishes being the norm, it’s refreshing to witness an act such as Dan’s refrain from that sort of material and continue to remain a relevant and engrossing spectacle.
This respect for his audience has not been lost on others, either. He has garnered wide acclaim from many of his peers in the industry.
In 2007, NBC premiered a program entitled ‘Phenomenon’, a competition show that featured ten contestants competing to become the next great mentalist. Contending against over forty-four thousand applicants, Danny Zzzz secured his spot during an awe-inspiring video-phone interview with producer Marla Brodsky (he performed a Mentalism effect that occurred in two countries at once!). But unfortunately, his role as the lone Canadian representative on the show was not meant to be. A problem in securing a working visa upended his chances of appearing on the program, and consequently another performer was substituted in Dan’s spot.
But this unforeseen obstacle did not deter Dan’s ambitious aspirations. In 2009, he appeared on CBC’s Dragon’s Den, and won over all five demanding judges with his fully-loaded arsenal of magical intrigue (he melted stainless steel cutlery between his fingers). In fact, Judge Brett Wilson was so enamored with Dan’s performance that he continues to hire him to perform and entertain his clients at conferences and parties around North America.
Through these amazing opportunities, one would assume that Danny Zzzz would eventually pack up and vacate the Niagara Region for greener pastures. But though he has had opportunities to relocate his show to Las Vegas or Atlantic City, Dan has adamantly refused the tempting allure of the bright lights and big city: “This is my home. My family is here and my roots are here. Don’t get me wrong, the financial opportunities are there, and it would be easy to flee but I won’t. Home is home, and I love it here. The Niagara Region has a great sense of community, and it has personally provided me with a sea of memories”.
It’s truly galvanizing to encounter a personality quite like Dan’s: Extremely confident in his abilities, but yet ultimately humble in demeanor. Driven by his love for this truly laborious craft, Dan is seemingly unmotivated by financial means in any inherent way. Instead, he simply wants to entertain, and is always insistent on giving back to the region in some measure.
Involved with more charities than thought possible (Niagara Peninsula Centre, hospital fundraisers, diabetes foundations, Big Brothers and Sisters), the man is as assiduous as one can be, but yet a happiness continues to permeate across his face. It’s not about the almighty dollar but rather the smiles of those he affects with his work.
However, his passionate connection to the community has not been simply relegated to his show or stunts. Just recently, Danny released a book entitled ‘Life in a Jar’; a self-help guide that deals with numerous issues such as addictions and communication barriers within social relationships. Dan, who is a well-trained and registered hypno-therapist, has penned this book in an attempt to aid people in their struggle with life’s everyday issues.
Put simply, the element of time clearly does not factor into the hectic world of Danny Zzzz.
Even with the tourism season being unfortunately slow this year, Dan continues to work hard at his trade night in and night out. Running his show out of the Crowne Plaza and Sheraton ballroom in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Dan continues to do what he does best: entertain audiences from around the world with his wide array of dazzling and death-defying trickery.
Asked if he is crazy to perform some of his stunts, he simply replies: “We will always continue to do crazy things…things that will set the bar really high. The hardest part is coming up with new and unique ideas to perform. In a sense, what is next?”
What IS next is exactly what everyone is truly anticipating.