K:Magazine May / June 2018

MAY/JUNE 2018 Shut Up and Say Something Playing By Their Own Rules Last fall, the Minister of basic of information, such as the Canadian Heritage unveiled a number of Canadian subscribers long-awaited, and ultimately and revenues. disappointing, cultural industries In order to be granted a policy titled Creative Canada. It license by the CRTC, broadcasters fell far short of expectations that are obligated to fulfil mandatory taxes would finally be imposed conditions including: committing on the Silicon Valley digital media a minimum percentage of their giants to level the playing field with prime time schedule to Editor/Writer Valerie Stillwell Canada’s regulated broadcasting Canadian content; spending a Layout Felice Bisby industry. Inexplicably, the federal portion of their revenue on Listings Christopher Poon government has decided to adopt Canadian programs; providing the previous government’s policy closed-captioning and described For enquiries about allowing Netflix to set its own rules, video; ensuring diversity; and your donations, contribute little to our cultural filing annual reports. making a legacy gift, or programs: ecosystem and pay no taxes. These rules and regulations, In lieu of being regulated and combined with levies on cable Telephone: taxed like all other Canadian and satellite subscribers and horse already inside the gates 604.431.3222 or services, Netflix pledged to spend funding from government, have – a precedent that could sub- toll-free 1.877.456.6988 $500 million in Canada over the helped build a vibrant Canadian- stantially diminish Canadian next five years. Some filmmakers owned television industry. The Mail: control of our cultural industry were excited by the prospect Canada Media Fund distributes Knowledge Network in the not-too-distant future. even though it wasn’t clear what about $360 million annually to 4355 Mathissi Place Fortunately, other jurisdictions it actually meant. Would these independent producers, guided Burnaby, BC V5G 4S8 are leading the way. The funds be spent on Canadian by broad government policy European Union recently unveiled Fax: productions or on American objectives to ensure linguistic and plans to make digital service 604.431.3387 shows filmed in Canada? Would regional diversity, and the cre- providers, such as Facebook and Netflix control the copyright or ation of programs in the national Google, pay tax in the countries Email: would Canadian producers own interest such as children’s, where they do business. In [email protected] the intellectual property? Per haps documentary and drama. It has March, Quebec’s government Online: the $500 million is the amount helped fund several Knowledge announced that it would start Netflix saved in Can adian Knowledge.ca Network commissions from collecting sales tax on digital sales taxes? BC independent producers such services, including Netflix. There bcknowledgenetwork The lack of information is no as the Emergency Room: Life + is hope after all. kpassiton surprise as Netflix is notoriously Death at VGH series, the Kate & secretive about its business. When Mim-Mim children’s series, and K: is distributed to Knowledge the company appeared before Vera Partners who donate $35 or the documentary feature Shut more annually. the Canadian Radio-television Up and Say Something. New season begins June 8 ©2018, Knowledge Network and Telecommunications Com- Canada’s cultural policy Corporation mission (CRTC) at the Let’s Talk should not be dictated by the Fridays at 9 pm Rudy Buttignol, C.M. TV hearings in 2014, Netflix Internet giants of Silicon Valley. President & CEO refused to provide the most The Netflix deal is the Trojan Knowledge Network Postage Paid under Publications Make Your Pledge! Mail Agreement #41406512 May 25 to June 10 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Donate to Knowledge during our Spring 2018 Audience Relations pledge campaign, and you can receive one Knowledge Network 4355 Mathissi Place of our exclusive special offers. Available for Burnaby, BC V5G 4S8 a limited time only, so don’t miss out! ISSN: 1181-0618X Details on page 47. Islands of Australia THURSDAYS AT 8 PM, BEGINS MAY 31 Repeats Saturdays at 5 pm It would take a lifetime to visit the more than 8,000 islands that ring the continent of Australia, so Martin Clunes, the star of Doc Martin, instead takes us to 16 of the best. On his island-hopping adventure he’ll visit pristine palm-fringed paradises, stride along kelp-strewn beaches and dive into turquoise waters, coming face-to-face with sea turtles, whale sharks and other colourful creatures. Travelling to islands near and far from Australia’s coast, he’ll experience ancient Aboriginal customs that are still very much alive, and discover a confluence of cultural influences that give each of the islands its unique vibe. He’ll hear stories of mutineers, shipwrecks and the early convicts whose arrival changed the face of Australia forever. And he’ll meet all sorts of inhabitants – from pearl divers and a modern-day Robinson Crusoe to tiger snakes and Tasmanian devils – while learning about the diversity and challenges of island life. 4 MAY/JUNE 2018 K: MAGAZINE 5 Oak Tree Nature’s Greatest Survivor TUESDAYS AT 8 PM, BEGINS MAY 29 If entomologist George McGavin is right, you’ll never look at an oak tree the same again. Filmed over a year, this two-part series uncovers the transformations that a 400-year-old oak tree goes through to meet the challenges that each season brings. McGavin gets right in there, digging around the tree’s roots to see how it extracts resources from the soil, shooting lasers at it to count the number of leaves (700,000) and even sleeping in its branches – just because it’s something he’s always wanted to do. McGavin also travels farther afield to explore how the super-strong wood from this iconic species is used, from its historic role in shipbuilding and architecture, to the flavours it imparts to oak-aged whisky. Photo: LiDAR laser scan. Arctic Secrets TUESDAYS AT 7 PM, BEGINS MAY 8 Repeats Wednesdays at 6 pm, 11 pm and Sundays at 1 pm Take a journey to Canada’s far north: a land of remote, mostly uninhabited wilderness, including the world’s largest island to have a population of zero. Narrated by broadcaster Shelagh Rogers, this five-part series shows us icebergs calving and the vast frozen tundra, but there are also less familiar scenes, like a carpet of flowers blooming during the brief Arctic summer. Travelling through the seasons, we’ll discover Inuit traditions and encounter animals such as musk oxen, caribou, bowhead whales and the iconic polar bear. 6 MAY/JUNE 2018 K: MAGAZINE 7 “You should know that every word I ever wrote has been a rehearsal for the now that is finally upon us.” Shut Up and Say Something TUESDAY, MAY 29 AT 9 PM Repeats at midnight Few spoken word poets gain widespread fame. Shane Koyczan is one of the few, awing the world with his breathtaking performance at the Vancouver 2010 Opening Ceremony, bringing audiences to their feet at TED Talks and on tour, and going viral with his powerful anti- bullying poem “To This Day”. His poetry is visceral and honest; rhythmic high-speed verse that mines the dark matter found deep in the soul and lays bare a tender humanity. Yet as exposed as he is on the stage, Shane finds it hard to truly connect with other people – the outcome of a troubled family life, severe bullying and depression: experiences that he draws upon again and again in his work. Shut Up and Say Something follows the BC-based artist on a personal journey as he attempts to forge a relationship with the father who abandoned him long ago. The experience is both painful and cathartic, and Shane deals with the difficult emotions in the only way he knows – with his words. K: MAGAZINE 9 The Only Son TUESDAY, MAY 8 AT 9 PM Repeats at midnight Pema’s parents want him to marry a girl from home and carry on the trad- itional Tibetan ways. But Pema, who along with all but one of his sisters was sent to a Kathmandu orphanage when his parents couldn’t care for them, wants to study abroad and live a modern life. The pressure is enormous. Pema enlists the help of his siblings, and together they make the trek through the magnificent peaks of the Himalayas to their native village. The local bride is waiting, but will Pema obey his parents? The 50 Year Argument TUESDAY, MAY 15 AT 9 PM Repeats at midnight Confrontation and intelligent argument are in the DNA of The New York Review of Books, the venerable literary publication that has been at the forefront of political and cultural debate for more than 50 years, publishing pieces by such leading thinkers as Norman Mailer, Gore Vidal, Susan Sontag and Joan Didion. Co-directed by Martin Scorsese, this paean to the magazine and its esteemed co-founding editor, Robert B. Silvers, who passed away in 2017 after the film was made, features archival footage, interviews and writers reading from their Review essays. The Apology TUESDAY, MAY 1 AT 9 PM Repeats at midnight If an apology comes too late, does it have any meaning? This harrowing, moving documentary follows the Tim’s Vermeer personal journeys of three elderly survivors who were TUESDAY, MAY 22 AT 9 PM snatched from their homes and forced into being Repeats at midnight “comfort women” – a euphemism for sexual slaves – by It’s not often that you hear “I could paint that” when it comes to the magnifi- the Japanese army during WWII. Time may be running cent works of the Dutch Masters.

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