Greetings from London - I’ve not even been here a week and so much, so much. My first day I kicked off the jetlag & Katya Virshilas and I caught Wicked the Musical and cocktails after with some of the cast. A shopping day, and then time to kick into action.
The BBC did the big reveal - to announce all the pros and celebs on Strictly Come Dancing (UK version of Dancing with the Stars). Finally code names and secrecy toned down (a bit). Katya’s pro partner is Bad Boy of Ballroom - Brendan Cole, and her celeb partner is the very cheeky, charmer: Phil Tufnell ex-cricketer. Team Tuffer the fans are calling them!
After the press conference Phil, Katya, joined two of their castmates to do the BBC The One Show. The best part was hanging in the green room (where these shots are from). Far right in the group shot is Alan Cummings (love him, and lots to chat about) - he was at the Obakki fashion show across from me, and both he and Katya were in the movie Reefer Madness (hearing them sing the bizarre songs they remembered fromt the move - was funny!). And after John Sargeant (host of the show) joined us for lots of wine and told his tales of Strictly last season when he was on it.
We’ve got so much Canadian pride for one of our clients - Katya Virshilas. She’s the first Canadian to be cast as on of pro dancers on the BBC’s hit reality dance show: Strictly Come Dancing (the UK version of Dancing with the Stars).
Only hours before jumping on her flight to London we had her on CitytvBreakfast TV for an interview and taught the BT Hosts how to T-A-N-G-O. And right after that it was a photoshoot for an upcoming issue of the UK’s Heat Magazine - ‘Strictly Stars Without Make Up.‘ Yup, that meant Katya all natural – no makeup.
In a few weeks I’m joining Katya in London, while the Mediatonic team holds down the fort in Vancouver. I’m hyped!
Who cares about a little heat wave! We had a photoshoot to squish in for Katya Virshilas before she headed off to London. We had two days to pull it all together - lights, camera, action. Jesselyne (Mediatonic) was our stylist, and Budia our photographer.
The studio we sorted lost it’s A.C. so we quickly switched to Scotia Dance Centre (a better view during breaks anyway!).
From the VIP/media launch party with Gemini Events…to the set up with the great crew behind brand.Live. And let’s not forget the champagne debrief with champagne afterwards. There were SO many people behind making this project a great experience, and something to be proud of.
If you missed the CBC Weekend Scene edition - check out this clip. Carla Catherwood gives the low down on her nuvo-Burleque - which is at the heart of the Burlesque Beauties. And some fun footage of the Pinup Saints & Nico Archambault (STYTCD winner). Love his response to the R-rated question.
Carla and the Burleque Beauties recently opened for the Pinups, and also for Russel Peters at his recent GM Place show.
Even though the Vancouver show isn’t until July 25 (Plaza of Nations), RBC desiFEST, Canada’s South Asian music festival, is honouring Asian Heritage Month with an awesome contest. Now until May 31 you can enter to win:
Follow this link to enter to win: www.rbcdesifest.com/rangolipromo RBC desiFEST celebrates Canada’s emerging South Asian artists and features the best in South Asian music and dance with contemporary indo-jazz fusion, global beats and cutting edge DJs. Apache Indian is headlining Vancouver. More details: www.rbcdesifest.com
Here’s a bit of our set up for the North Shore News photoshoot for their Look Magazine special summer issue (June 17) that will include a “summer outdoor party.” This will feature three of Mediatonic’s clients: Atlas Pots, Aloe Designs, and Staging Etc
It was so cold! We were freezing trying to make it look like summer on a chillier day. Props to Layne Christensen and crew who made it less painful than it could have been.
We recreated a picnic area, the most amazing table setting, the perfect BBQ, and a cocktail area. All with the magic of the designer eye, some amazing contemporary pots, and the right foliage. Here’s a bit of the behind the scenes at a gorgeous West Van mansion that was our setting for the day. For more of the story check out the Staging Girls blog.
Lesson of the day – next time we’re NOT using faux mojitos or warm beer! What were we thinking.
Doing a little bit of recon for our upcoming Urban Rush to feature the ‘staging girl’s Lindsay & Alice from Staging Etc - - they’ll be on the show June 11. Lindsay N and I gave the girls a little walk thru of the stage.
This episode is going to include a ‘challenge’ so we actually had to do a stage visit to do a bit of planning. Tune in!
We had alot of fun with Tres-Femme to promote their couture tampon holder, the Girly Tube. Here’s the viral contest that we launched asking women to dish on their dilemmas of when a Girly Tube would have come to the rescue.
Nira Arora and Kid Carson talked about it on the Beat 94.5FM, and then it was featured on Nira’s “Hot List” on Urban Rush (check out how Nira and Fiona made Jay a bit uncomfortable talking about tampons).
Then we blogged about it, Twittered about it, and Kris Krug even had some fun on Facebook with it.
A star in the making – Caitlin from Aloe Designs has been on the TV circuit talking about Garden Design on CBC, Urban Rush and Breakfast Television.
Caitlin got to appreciate that for CBC and Breakfast TV that means early o clock tapings. And convo on Urban Rush would have to linger on a product Caitlin was describing, aptly called “Worm Poo.”
Fiona Forbes: It is what it is. It’s worm poo people. Stop calling it ‘compost tea’. I couldn’t have said it better myself, Fiona.
Greetings from London - I’ve not even been here a week and so much, so much. My first day I kicked off the jetlag & Katya Virshilas and I caught Wicked the Musical and cocktails after with some of the cast. A shopping day, and then time to kick into action.
