Published February 2015.
Please report any broken or expired links to .
All content copyright © 2015.
It’s the 20th of the month, and time for another Ferreira Fest, the monthly celebration of the acting career of Louis Ferreira (Justin Louis) and the projects and charitable works of his friends! And it’s not just an ordinary 20th – it’s Louis’ birthday today! So along with our usual pineapple cocktails we also have a fantastic birthday cake for everyone to enjoy. Come on in – the fireplace is going and it’s cozy inside!
CHARITIES
The Children’s Aid Foundation
The January newsletter of The Children’s Aid Foundation is now online here at The Buzz. Check it out for all the latest news, activities and stories of children who have benefited from your donations.
What A Sensational Year! Here is the newest video of their 2014 programs and accomplishments!
February’s Suitcase Party was a big success. Over $50,000 was raised for the children!
Need a taxi? Ride with Uber and they’ll donate $5 to CAF!
Are you on Twitter? If so, please follow CAF!
If you didn’t get around to sending a birthday card to Louis, here’s another chance to participate: make a donation of any amount, however small, and help children in need. We will send birthday wishes to Louis on your behalf. Simply click on the logo below and follow the instructions.
The Good Neighbours’ Club
The Good Neighbours’ Club has some exciting news:
We are privileged to announce that The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, OC, OOnt – 29th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, has granted The Good Neighbours’ Club her vice regal Honorary Patronage.
The Lieutenant Governor plays a key role in promoting and supporting Canadian values, diversity, inclusion, culture, and heritage. In doing so, the Lieutenant Governor may from time to time grant vice regal patronage and serve as Honorary Patron of community, charitable, military, and cultural associations, as well as public service organizations, lending them vital support and recognition for their outstanding contributions to our province.
Visit the official Lieutenant Governor’s website http://www.lgontario.ca/en/pages/default.aspx
The GNC’s Annual General Meeting will be held at Oakham House on March 12th at 4pm. Registration begins at 3pm.
GNC member Charley Rankin was interviewed for an article on homelessness in Toronto. Read the interview here.
GNC member Peter Amory Jr has launched a Kickstarter campaign to secure funding for a short film he plans to make. Watch his pitch video here. The Friends of Louis Ferreira are supporters of this project!
Learn more about the members of GNC here and here. And please follow GNC on Twitter!
This winter season has been hard on the staff and members at The Good Neighbours’ Club. With construction delays and equipment breakdowns it has been difficult to keep things going. But no matter how often the heat goes out – the club is always a place of warm welcome for older homeless men in downtown Toronto.
Please help support the life-saving work of GNC in these trying days.
Every donation made will help GNC in their vital mission. Just click on the banner below and give what you can afford. Every penny helps!
BIRTHDAY SPECIAL: MR MUGS
Ever since Louis read the very first edition of the Mr. Mugs books people have been asking for other children’s books’ readings.
Listen to the sound clip here (recorded in February 2014):
FF – This is actually from a mom, because her kid’s too young. Her name is Theresa, and she’s from Frankfurt, Germany. And she says, “Tobias, my five year-old, absolutely loves your Mr Mugs recording. He watches it almost every night before bed. Have you narrated other children’s books or would you consider doing so?”
LF – No, and that’s just so awesome to hear. We’re doing this here on Ferreira Fest as just a sort of thing, I don’t know how it came up, how we decided to do it, but… yeah, I’ve not narrated children’s books. I’ve just sort of… we’ve just had fun, when you tell me to read it. (laughs) But I haven’t really thought about it.
But, I will say, I have a little animated film called Goola City coming out. And that sounds like your age range exactly, for a five year-old type of thing, so… I did my first cartoon voice, and that should be coming out… I just did ADR on it two days ago.
FF – Oh, really!
LF – Yeah, so that’ll be out soon. I learned a lot. And I learned that there’s a whole talent in it. And I really think I can do well, because I do a lot of voices, but in this particular thing, I didn’t really… it was weird, it was a little strange for me, to be completely honest.
I was like, what? Yeah, yeah, but, so we’ll see.
FF – Well, you gotta start somewhere, you know.
LF – Well, that’s exactly right.
FF – There’s definitely people, I mean like Peter Kelamis does a lot of that kind of voice overs with animation, so yeah, there’s a whole career.
LF – Oh, Peter, he’s very, very good though, Peter is like, I mean, that’s one of his jobs, he loves it, he loves it, loves it, loves it.
Good news for Theresa and her son, and all the other Mr. Mugs fans out there! Louis has recorded another Mr. Mugs reader. This one is for very young children. It is simply titled “Mr. Mugs”. Like all the Mr. Mugs books it has been out of print for a long time, but occasionally you can still find copies on eBay, Amazon Marketplace and various antique book dealers.
According to Wikipedia, Mr. Mugs is the title character in a series of children’s books written by Martha Kambeitz and Carol Roth and published by Ginn and Company (now part of Prentice Hall). Mr. Mugs was an Old English Sheepdog who lived with two children, Pat and Cathy. These readers were used in Canadian elementary schools in the 1970s and early 1980s to teach reading. There were 3 different series (with seven levels within each series) of “Mr. Mugs” books: “Ginn Integrated Language Program“; “Light and Life Reading Series“; and “Sharing Points in Language Arts“. While two titles were published in hardcover, the rest of the “Mr. Mugs” titles were published in softcover.
“Mr. Mugs” is the first book in the Sharing Points in Language Arts series.
ISBN 0-7702-0206-3 Level 1 – Book 1 C-52300 (1976)
And without much further ado, here is “Mr. Mugs” – a dramatic reading by Louis Ferreira. Enjoy!
If you would like to read the book with your young friends you can download a scanned version of the entire volume here. The pictures lend themselves beautifully to storytelling for children.
And while you’re at it, here is a link to the very first Mr. Mugs book reading that Louis did.
Be sure to bookmark the Reading Series Page for all the children (young and old!) in your life and visit often! The charming adventures of the Old English Sheepdog and his friends are always worth another look and listen!
Would you like Louis to read a favorite childhood book of yours? Drop us a line so we can work it out together!
ASK LOUIS
Got a question for Louis? Please send us an email! We especially welcome questions from our younger readers, so kids, write in and ask Louis!
Today it’s Jeremy’s turn:
FF – I have a kid’s question, actually. He’s seventeen, so not exactly a kid anymore. But his name is Jeremy, from Toronto. And he says, “Hey Louis, I live in the same neighborhood you grew up in. I think it’s so cool that you help with the charities. Thanks for keeping in touch with your hometown. And do you still come to visit sometimes?”
LF – I’m assuming he’s talking about the Jane and Finch Corridor?
FF – Yes.
LF – Yes. I haven’t been back in a while, but it’s a place that I carry with me wherever I go. It’s part of like my, it’s just like, Jane and Finch to me, just reminds me of how free I was and how it was there that I grew, began my dreams. Where I sort of manifested the idea that I wanted to get out of there but at the same time loved being in that community, as it allowed you to… I just was like… so many people have this negative connotation with that neighborhood.
For me it’s nothing but positives, going around and after-school programs and hanging with friends and… It was kind of wild in a lot of ways but I loved it and miss that time of my life very much.
It’s very much with me wherever I go. I think it’s such an important thing, what it is, it’s like, if there’s one thing I’ve learned more than anything is that money does not buy you happiness. And so that’s just the thing, like I was never, I mean, I grew up on welfare, but I have no association of wanting for anything. Because what truly made me happy was the things that money can’t buy.
FF – Yeah.
LF – And it’s just an important thing to encourage people in that neighborhood because sometimes you feel like you’re not doing well, and that’s the furthest thing from true.
I don’t think I’ve ever felt richer than when I was in that neighborhood. I was happy too because of all the other stuff.
FF – Yeah. Yeah, and it’s usually the things that money can’t buy that make you feel rich.
LF – Absolutely. People always think, oh, I’m in a shitty neighborhood like; having money, having a bigger house, is not going to get you the things you necessarily want.
FF – Yeah, no, I totally agree.
Thanks for your great question, Jeremy!
MOTIVE
MOTIVE Season 3 starts on March 8th in Canada! Set those DVRs now! And get ready for a flurry of press releases and reviews as Season 3 hits the Canadian screens. We’ll have a ice collection for you in Ferreira Fest 63.
Here’s an excerpt from an article at stockhouse.com:
Set and shot in Vancouver, Season 3 of MOTIVE begins with Detective Angie Flynn returning to the Homicide team after a six-month, self-imposed absence. A lot has changed for the team – Detectives Oscar Vega and Brian Lucas, Sergeant Mark Cross and Dr. Betty Rogers – since then, and now Angie will have to find a way to fit in. In the six months since she left, Detective Lucas has begun giving orders, and is now the primary on key cases; Detective Oscar Vega has made a genuine effort to fill in the gaps Angie left behind; and he and Sergeant Mark Cross are getting along. But this season Vega will have more to focus on than just his work, facing a crisis that threatens not only his career, but his personal life as well. And viewers will see a new side of the always confident and charming Dr. Betty Rogers, when she comes up against a dangerous and threatening adversary. As Angie adjusts to the changes, she finds herself fixated on her first case back, and on one intriguing character in particular who will draw the team – and viewers — in from the very first episode of the season.
Bell Media ran an ad during this year’s Superbowl, featuring original Canadian productions and MOTIVE.
MOTIVE was a Golden Screen Awards finalist in the TV Comedy/ Drama category!
MOTIVE also received 8 nominations in the 2015 Canadian Screen Awards.
Here is the MOTIVE page on TV,eh? – appropriately titled “Everything about Motive, eh?“
Yesterday, Lauren Holly took a group selfie with her MOTIVE boys Louis Ferreira, Warren Christie and Brendan Penny. Thanks for posting, Lauren!
And Lauren Holly also posted a lovely shot of last week’s night shoot. Thanks, Lauren!
THROUGH THE PANE
Through The Pane won a $3,000 equipment rental grant from William F. White for winning the Best Short Film at the 2014 Vancouver Short Film Festival. Equipment rental is a major cost factor in independent film making, so this will help Pauline Egan with her next endeavor, which is already in the works.
Congratulations to everyone on the Through The Pane production team!
Louis played the character Lewis in Pauline’s short film, which has been racking up a large number of awards on the festival circuit.
Pauline did a lovely interview with VIWIFF2015 just a few days ago. It is interspersed with scenes from the movie, and shows some lovely moments of Louis as the mysterious painter Lewis.
Congratulations, Pauline!
PHOTOS
Click on the photos to see the original posts.
Louis shares a hug with Lisa Durupt, who had a guest starring role on MOTIVE.
Photographer Nigel Horsley recently caught up with Louis during a shoot for MOTIVE. Nigel has kindly given us permission to re-post his photos here. Thanks, Nigel!
Photos by Nigel Horsley; used with special permission.
AUDIO
During our last conversation the topic of show tunes came up, specifically the Cole Porter musical “Anything Goes“.
Loyal Ferreira Fest readers will recall that Louis played the male lead Billy Crocker in the show in High School, which was directed by his mentor Greg Allen.
Here’s Louis in High School, playing Billy Crocker in “Anything Goes“.
Thanks to Greg Allen for the photo!
Some 30 years later, here’s Louis reminiscing about Anything Goes:
LF: (sings) At words poetic, I’m so pathetic
That I always have found it best,
Instead of getting ’em off my chest,
To let ’em rest, unexpressed.
I hate parading my serenading
As I’ll probably miss a bar
But if this ditty is not so pretty
At least it’ll tell you how great you are.
You’re the top!
You’re the Colosseum…
I remember it!
FF: Oh, what a great show!
LF: But my favorite song was definitely:
(sings) When your instinct tells you that disaster
Is approaching you faster and faster
Then be like the Blue Bird and sing
“Tweet tweet, tra-la-la-la-la-la.”
That was my favorite!
VIDEO
Lauren Holly, Louis’ colleague on MOTIVE, has discovered movie making software and posted a short MOTIVE behind-the-scenes movie.
Of course Louis makes an appearance.
Click on the screen cap to watch it.
Enjoy!
IT CAME FROM THE INSTA-TWITTERVERSE
THE READING SERIES: ARE YOU AS HAPPY AS YOUR DOG?
Every month Louis reads a chapter from one of his favorite books, Are You as Happy as Your Dog? by Alan Cohen. Mr. Cohen has kindly granted his permission for us to post Louis’ book reading clips here. Please join me in thanking him and be sure to visit his website at alancohen.com.
Click on the thumbnail of the book cover to purchase a copy of the book.
Here is this month’s chapter. Listen to the sound clip here:
Chapter 24: Get over it
Munchie doesn’t hold grudges. When you live in the present moment, what do you have to remember?
Sometimes I accidentally step on his toe. He yelps for a moment and backs away. A few seconds later he is back.
After observing children psychologists tell us that a healthy amount of time to feel an emotion is five to eight minutes. If it lingers past that we are holding onto something.
Munchie could have told them that.
SCREEN CAPS
Louis has been re-watching his comedy series Hidden Hills, and some of the episodes he saw for the first time!
LF – I watched Hidden Hills and I was like, there are episodes I’ve never seen. You don’t understand.
FF – Oh really?
LF – Yeah, I watched episodes, you know, I was like, no, I’ve never seen these shows! I mean there was… I feel like I saw four or five, but you had thirteen, I was like, oh my God, I was like, I couldn’t even remember being there! Then I saw the one with Aidan in the background, I was like, oh yeah, Aidan is doing extra work!
It’s just crazy. I do want to do more comedy, when I was with Hidden Hills, I was like, I can get another, I was like, I’d love to get another role like that. I just don’t think they make them like that anymore. But we’ll see.
And so to honor his Blast From The Past, we have almost 1000 screencaps from the Pilot Episode of Hidden Hills. Enjoy the funny side of Louis!
Here is a direct link to the album: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fTuOoMjRpUYcMr2pibXv78upMNtt_UT8?usp=sharing
FRIENDS NEWS
Bradley Stryker
You can see Bradley live on stage in ReGroup Theatre’s “Lu Ann Hampton Laverty Oberlander” February 18th – March 1st in New York.
The Lizzie Borden Chronicles will premiere April 5th at 10pm ET on Lifetime. Bradley plays the character of Skipjack in the series.
And here’s Bradley, being a dye-in-the-wool Seahawks fan. Sadly the team never saw this photo. or else they wouldn’t have lost the Superbowl!
Peter Kelamis
As we reported in last month’s Ferreira Fest Peter had a part in the hit movie “Big Eyes”.
Of course Peter couldn’t leave it at that, so he got a Big Eyes selfie version of himself.
Enjoy!
Jennifer Spence
Jen is currently working on the sci-fi short “The Adept” with Adam Greydon Reid (incidentally also Kristin Lehman’s husband). Visit the official website of the movie!
Here are some photos of Jen on the set of The Adept. Click on the images to go to the original posts.
Jen’s feature film Down River screened at the Available Light Film Festival in Whitehorse, Yukon in February.
Down River can now also be watched on Movie Central in Canada.
Still haven’t been able to watch Down River? Here’s your chance to listen to some of the music from the movie, with three songs performed by Kevin House. Beautiful stuff!
And lastly, for our friends in the UK: Season 3 of Continuum is now playing on Syfy UK!
Many thanks to Alma for all the diligent updates and link verifications!
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
News from Hungary
Our friends in Hungary are excited to finally be able to watch MOTIVE!
You may remember that TV2 has shown the series since January. It seems that starting in November Viasat will also show it – most likely with different dubbing.
Ildi reports: I’ve found a blog that has links to the Motive episodes that have already aired in Hungary. You just have to click on LETÖLTÉS and it should take you to the video. As far as I could tell, only the first episode has Haás Vander Péter as Vega’s voice, the rest has the other guy, Welker Gábor, so you can see for yourself which is the better choice.
It looks like Stargate Universe is no longer on any channel in Hungary. Motive is only on TV2 now, there’s a new episode on every Thursday around 23:30. Viasat has already broadcast all of season 1 rather quickly. I’ll keep my eyes open for season 2 episodes.
Saw IV will be on Hungarian TV again, this time on the fairly new AMC channel on the 25th February at 22:50, and on the 26th at 3:20.
Thanks for all the news, Ildi!
ODDS AND ENDS
Breaking Bad
In preparation for the new Breaking Bad spinoff series “Better Call Saul” AMC aired the entire original series again, including Louis’ three episodes where he portrayed Declan, Buyout, Say My Name and Buried. The first time Louis’ credit appears on screen in Buyout his name is superimposed over Todd Alquist‘s chest. Coincidence? I think not!
SPOILER ALERT!
Todd orders Declan’s execution to please his heartthrob Lydia and to gain possession of the remaining methylamine and lab equipment in the episode Buried.
We should have seen that one coming!
Military Leaders Lost in Space
Agi reports: I have found a paper that might be interesting to read. It’s a (semi-)academic piece about science fiction and leadership that devotes a few pages to SGU and our colonel!
Before everyone gets high blood pressure here are a few caveats:
– It was intended as an academic piece (I call it semi-academic cause it is not a very good academic piece–the author constantly forgets to define/explain the leadership terminology…)
– She also gets some of her facts wrong (The Destiny as a Seed Ship?)
– And I strongly disagree with her on the interpretation of Young as a leader but hey, that’s my issue.
Anyhow, it is worth reading.
You can download the paper here. Enjoy!
Flag Counter
As of press time we have had visitors from 92 countries and 472 different cities and regions. Welcome to all our new friends! Please stop by often, drop us a line and tell us about your Louis experiences! We have had a good number of visits from folks in China and South Africa lately, and visits from Portugal and Brazil have increased substantially. We’re always looking for correspondents from other countries. Are you interested? Let us know!
And last but not least… Louis says THANK YOU for all the wonderful cards, notes and letters you sent! The package will be waiting for him in Los Angeles!
And that, dear Friends, is about it for this month! Thanks for visiting often! Be sure to follow us on “X” / Twitter for all the Louis news you can handle and TV reminders!
If you have comments, questions or suggestions, there are many ways to make your voice heard:
Visit the Forum and start a discussion or participate in an existing one. Signing up is easy and hassle-free but not required for visits, and nobody there will send you spam or unwanted emails.
Leave a note in the Guestbook. Guestbook notes will get a response via email if available.
Contact or any other staff member. Everyone is listed on the Contact Page. If you have any questions that you need answered, email is the way to go!
We are always looking for volunteers who want to contribute, and there are perks associated with being a correspondent or staff member!
Please remember: all content of Ferreira Fest and indeed this entire website is copyright protected. That’s what the note on the bottom of each page says. It means that you should never re-post anything you find here elsewhere. If you absolutely must do so please contact first so we can work things out. We all work for free here, and we all work very hard, and it’s just not fair if you steal stuff and claim it as your own. Your mom/ dad/ parental unit/ teacher already told you as much. Please play by the rules.
We hope to see you all next month!
