Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Toronto, ON – On June 25, 26, and 27, Toronto’s streets become an open-air, interactive film studio for audiences worldwide with My One Demand, a film about unrequited love shot live with a Torontonian cast. Marking its world premiere at Luminato Festival (June 19 to 28), it unspools at dusk and is streamed globally at myonedemand.co.uk and screened at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto (259 Richmond St. W.) for three nights at 8 p.m..
Filmed in a single continuous shot and live streamed, My One Demand is an interactive film that follows seven people as they embark on a journey across Toronto. Created by internationally renowned UK-based artist group Blast Theory, and featuring Faisal Butt, Sascha Cole, Clare Coulter, Gia Nahmens, Julian Richings, Brielle Robillard, Max Sebastián, Jeremiah Sparks, and Maggie Huculack as the narrator, audiences watch and interact with the cinematic journey as the film unfolds in real-time from mobile devices inside the movie theatre or from their tablets or computers at home.
“Blast Theory is a group of artists who are truly one of the world’s pre-eminent commentators on how our lives intersect with technology,” said Jorn Wiesbrodt, Artistic Director, Luminato Festival. “The work they do is seriously adventurous - they are pushing the absolute limits of art, technology, and interactivity. My One Demand brings the audience right into the film and is accessible to audiences around the world. And if you love Toronto, you will love My One Demand - while it is about unrequited love, it is also a love letter to this city”.
Starting with a baby in the arms of a woman walking out of Toronto General Hospital, the camera follows one person at a time as they move through the city as the sun sets. Each of the people followed is older than the person before and each person is very different from the next, reflecting the cultural diversity of the city. The seven people walk across intersections and down sidewalks, finding unexpected short cuts and vantage points. They might drop into a dingy bar for a shot of whisky or wriggle through a hole in the fence to huddle on a wasteland. And when each of them meets the next person, we see their encounter unfold live.
As these people walk on, a narrator tells the audience her own story of unrequited love, a story that hovers between the past, the future, and the present. All the while audiences watching the stream live online interact with the action happening on screen, taking the form of ghostly presences in the story.
While a camera crew follows each performer on their journey, the Blast Theory team will be in a control room in Toronto, overseeing all technical aspects of the production and receiving information from 1,000 online viewers who have subscribed to receive an interactivity access code.
“The live component of My One Demand makes this project one of the riskiest and most demanding productions we have ever undertaken,” said Blast Theory member Matt Adams. “Any number of things could happen to throw a wrench in the system, the least of which is how people on the street may react to our cast and crew. But this is the thrill of live performance. We believe that we cannot truly be innovative as artists without taking major risks, and we’re excited about how the city will weave itself into our story, how audience interactions will be incorporated, and to discover how those watching will respond to this particular hybrid of technology, live performance, and cinema.”
My One Demand is part of Live Transmission, a collaboration project between The Patching Zone (NL), Blast Theory (UK), Translocal (FI) and Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCAD U), (CA) with the support of the Culture Programme of the European Union.
The world premiere of My One Demand as part of the Luminato Festival is presented by Redken and in collaboration with Front Row Centre Events by Cineplex Entertainment.
To buy tickets and register online
There are many ways to watch and interact with My One Demand: in-theatre or online.
Tickets for the in-theatre experience at the Scotiabank Theatre Toronto, June 25 to 27 at 8 p.m., are $15 and can be purchased at www.luminatofestival.com. Moviegoers are encouraged to bring their tablet or smartphone to interact with the film.
Additionally, three moderated neighbourhood screenings, free and open to the public, will take place on June 26 at 7:30 pm in East End/Scarborough at Children’s Peace Theatre, 50 Dawes Road; in North York at Art Starts, Yorkdale Community Arts Centre in Yorkdale Shopping Centre; and in Etobicoke at Arts Etobicoke Storefront Studio at 4893A Dundas Street W. Pre-registration at www.luminatofestival.com is required to participate in the community screenings. Presented in partnership with Toronto’s Local Arts Service Organizations.
My One Demand can also be screened online at no cost. Pre-registration at luminatofestival.com is required to secure a virtual seat in the experience. For moviegoers participating online, a unique code will be emailed prior to the event to enter the experience.
The 10 day Luminato Festival (June 19 to 28) features a number of free and ticketed events. Tickets can be purchased 24/7 at luminatofestival.com or by calling the Luminato Festival Box Office at 416-368-4849 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, or in person The Festival Hub Box Office at David Pecaut Square (55 John St.) from June 19 to 28, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Ticket savings are available for youth (18 and under)/students, arts workers and groups (10+), or by bundling four or more events in a ticket package. For full ticketing details, dates, times and prices, please visit luminatofestival.com.
Luminato Festival programming details can be found at http://www.luminatofestival.com.
Luminato Festival presents
My One Demand
June 25, 26, 27 8:00pm-9:30pm
$15, free online
Pre-registration is required to interact with the film – register or buy tickets online at
luminatofestival.com or by calling 416-368-4849
For more information visit luminatofestival.com
Twitter: @Luminato, @BlastTheory
Facebook: Luminato Festival
Instagram: @LuminatoFestival
Hashtag: #Luminato; #MyOneDemand
2015-05-22
Toronto: Luminato presents the world premiere of "My One Demand" June 25-27