Coffee with Chris Interview
Coffee with Chris
Chelsey is interviewed by Chris Power.
Two married couples’ friendship unravels in hilarious fashion in Norm Foster’s ‘The Long Weekend’
Peterborough Theatre Guild production starring David Adams, Siobhán MacQuarrie, Chelsey Mark, and Jennifer Hilborn runs for 10 performances from July 5 to 15.
The Peterborough Theatre Guild's production of Norm Foster's comedy of manners "The Long Weekend", running for 10 performances from July 5 to 15, 2023, is directed by Jason Shulha (back left) with assistant director David Geene (back right) and stars (front left to right) Chelsey Mark as Roger Nash, Jennifer Hilborn as Abby Nash, David Adams as Max Trueman, and Siobhán MacQuarrie as Wynn Trueman. (Photo: Chelsey Mark)
For the final production of its 2022-23 season, the Peterborough Theatre Guild is staging the popular comedy The Long Weekend by renowned Canadian playwright Norm Foster for 10 performances in July.
Premiering in 1994 at Festival Antigonish in Nova Scotia, The Long Weekend is a full-length two-act comedy of manners about two married couples who consider themselves best friends, until a long weekend visit reveals how they truly feel about each other.
Running from July 5 to 15, the Peterborough Theatre Guild production is directed by Jason Shulha with assistant director David Geene, produced by Margaret Pieper, and stage managed by Hayley Griffin-Montgomery. It stars David Adams and Siobhán MacQuarrie and Chelsey Mark and Jennifer Hilborn as the two married couples.
Max Trueman (David Adams) is a successful lawyer and his wife Wynn (Siobhán MacQuarrie) is a relationship therapist writing a self-help book. After buying a beautiful new summer home in the country, the Truemans invite their best friends Roger and Abby Nash — Roger (Chelsey Mark) is a former math teacher turned aspiring writer and Abby (Jennifer Hilborn) is a shop owner and fashion designer — for what is meant to be a relaxing holiday weekend.
In the first act, we quickly learn pretentious Max looks down on Roger’s laid-back lifestyle while Roger feels threatened by Max’s financial success, and Wynn and Abby each secretly dread the other’s criticism of their lifestyle and tastes. The fast-paced repartee between the couples, rife with innuendo and double entendre, takes on an entirely new level when a secret is revealed.
The equally unpredictable and hilarious second act revisits the two couples at another long weekend at the Trueman’s summer home years later.
“Norm Foster scores a bull’s-eye with this tickling romp about mismatched spouses,” reads a review in the Los Angeles Times, with the Los Angeles Examiner calling it “delightfully entertaining” and the Hamilton Spectator proclaiming the play has “just enough sex, just enough smart talk, just enough preposterous plot twists to keep you titillated.”
Performances of The Long Weekend take place at the Guild Hall at 364 Rogers Street in Peterborough’s East City at 7:30 p.m. from July 5 to 8, July 12 to 14, and July 15, with 2 p.m. matinee performances on July 9 and 15.
Tickets are $25 for adults, $22 for seniors, and $15 for students and are available online at peterboroughtheatreguild.com or by calling 705-745-4211.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a media sponsor of the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s 2022-23 season.
ACTRA Award Outstanding Performance in a Feature
https://www.actramanitoba.ca/award-galas/2022/10/6th-actra-manitoba-award-recipients/
OMG!!!!! I won an ACTRA Manitoba award for Outstanding Performance in a Feature for First Person Shooter
Below is the acceptance speech I wrote and even though I wasn't there to accept the award (Thanks again to Alan Wong for accepting it at the ceremony for me) I was watching online from Banff and made a video to thank everyone for all their support and love. This award is cheers to you for all your unconditional love in my artist journey! Thank you!
“Attitude of Gratitude.”
My first thanks go to the cast and crew of First Person Shooter, as it was the best experience I have ever had on a film set.
My second thanks goes to the two people who never gave up on me. Sorry mom and dad, you come later in the speech. Thank you to the best casting directors in Canada, Carmen and Jim for giving me the opportunity to develop my craft.
My third thanks goes to the Winnipeg community which has supported me since returning to Canada in 2018. Friends, family, my wife Mel, acting coaches, my agent, artists and Alan, (who is reading this right now), I thank you for your love as I promise to continue to make you all proud.
Finally I want to thank ACTRA Manitoba, the nominees, the jury who voted for me and last but not least, my mom and dad. I know it wasn't easy and best summed up in one quote, “It takes a village to raise a man, but it takes a metropolis to raise a
Chelsey!”
I love you ALL!!!!!!!!!
Chelsey Mark
Fascinasian Film Festival Interview
Fascinasian Film Festival
Chelsey is interviewed by Mauro Ferritto from Film Training Manitoba
The 2021 Netflix-BANFF Diversity of Voices Initiative
https://banffmediafestival.playbackonline.ca/2021/banffdov/
Chelsey Mark was choosen to the t Netflix-BANFF Diversity of Voices Initiative which will jumpstart and accelerate the careers of up to 100 participants by providing full registration access to the festival, a bespoke professional development curriculum plus access to networking opportunities with key industry buyers, with a dedicated mandate to offer a portion of fellowships to francophone and women professionals.
21 for 2021 Reel Film Series: Chelsey Mark
https://www.filmtraining.mb.ca/2020/12/chelsey
Chelsey Mark is a Canadian actor, writer, and filmmaker. He has booked roles on Amazon Prime’s Tales from the Loop, CBC’s Burden of Truth, APTN’s Tribal and feature film The First Encounter. Chelsey won a spot in the Whistler Indigenous Fellowship at the Whistler Film Festival and was a finalist in the Gimli Film Festivals RBC Pitch Competition for his short, The Callback. Chelsey has received funding to write the 1st draft of his feature film Skate like a Girl. His short Vengeance, Won Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best actor in the Winnipeg Film Groups 48-hour film competition.
When and how did you start in the media production industry?
As a filmmaker I would have to say it started back in 1997 when my Much Music VJ competition video got aired nationally. After that I have earned my 10,000 hours on stage from 2000-2018 in China as a singer TV host and actor. Some of my personal highlights was being the host for the official TV program of the NBA Made in China and hosting Taylor Swifts concert fan meet and greet.
What area of the film industry do you work in now and why?
I am an actor and filmmaker. I’m an actor because I’m a performer at heart. Being a filmmaker fills my love to be create and bring stories to life. I love how media brings one vision to life. Ultimately being a filmmaker is also a huge tool in moulding my acting craft. Understanding story structure and every part of film production is essential to booking roles and giving great performances.
What has been a substantial change in the industry since you started? It would have to be social media. Social media popularity and presence can be both good and bad. The Good: If you are popular it can bring more opportunities, people see you aren’t cray cray and allows you to form your brand. The Bad: People can form opinions about you before they even meet you, they can see how you are cray cray and it’s a lot of work to upkeep.
If you could give yourself advice today to yourself in the past, what would it be?
Friends and family are the most important! Take care of our friends and family is #1 priority. Career doesn’t matter, money doesn’t matter and nothing matters other than friends and family because in the end these are the people who are on this ride till the end.
How did taking FTM training affect your career?
Each time I take an FTM course it reminds me there are actual great courses out there. In the last couple of years I have tried to take every film related courses here in Winnipeg. FTM courses are always a cut above. Some of my favorite courses over the years have been Auditioning with Peter Skagen, Cinematography with Benjamin Loeb and Advanced On-camera with Aaron Craven. The acting courses have directly affected my career in booking roles.
What is advice you would give to someone starting off in the media production industry?
Take every course and workshop you possibly can. This is where you will learn what to do and what not to do. Here is where you will network in a great learning environment. The more you know about every aspect of the media industry the better.
What are some of the films, TV series or even books that have inspired you? How about anything new you’ve been into?
I saw Lalaland in the theater in Los Angeles and it made me feel it was possible to live my artistic dreams of being an actor. Lalaland made me believe.
My first year in China in 2001 I was alone and wanted to go traveling but didn’t’ have the courage, The Beach gave me the courage to go traveling by myself in China.
Empire of Dreams documentary revealed how even the most amazing movie of all time Star Wars wasn’t even supposed to be completed. It inspired me that each production is going to be difficult and the proper attitude is there are no problems, only solutions.
Last but not least my favorite movie of all time: Major League. It inspires me to make a movie that can live forever and be entertaining each replay.
As for the new things I’ve watched which are definitely worth a watch: The Mandalorian, The Last Dance, Tiger King, Eighth Grade, The playbook: A Coaches rules for life, Trial 4, and of course Burden of Truth, Tribal and Tales from the loop. (These are all shot in Manitoba and ones I booked roles in…thanks for the support! )
Is there something about you or an interesting past experience that you’d like to share with your colleagues?
Each time I meet fellow artists I’m always excited to learn of all the projects they are working on and happy for everyone’s success in their field. I recently learnt an interesting word from the Doc Rivers episode of The Playbook. Ubuntu- I am, because you are. I can’t be all I can be unless you can be all you can be. I feel there is a lot of unnecessary competition between industry people but the reality is I can’t be better unless you and we all get better. So let’s go do this together! (I hope you understand what I’m trying to say…)
Is there a film technician or filmmaker that you would really like to work with and why?
Actor wise I’m really just focused on booking on all of the locally directed films and series. I really feel that the more familiar we become the better the quality of the projects become.
If I had to pick a globally famous person to work with it would have to be Keanu Reeves. I feel Keanu would be willing to share all of his industry secrets and genuinely be the awesome human being we have all heard him to be.
Where do you see yourself in ten years from now?
Ten years from now I see myself as an established director making solid feature films and tv series. I also see myself regularly booking leads as one of the most sought after actor’s from Canada. I will also be an integral part of the film community giving back by having workshops, classes and mentees. There’s also a saying you should never tell anyone your goals, just go and do them…so forget what I just said. Ask me in ten years!
2019 Whistler Film Festival Power Pitch, Doc Lab and Indigenous Filmmaker Fellowship
WFF Talent Programs: Participants Announced
WFF is pleased to announce the 20 Canadian finalists selected to participate in three of our talent programs including the Power Pitch, Doc Lab and Indigenous Filmmaker Fellowship.
The six filmmakers selected to participate in the Indigenous Filmmaker Fellowship, which focuses on strengthening and advancing short script projects, include:
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Chelsey Mark (MB) — THE CALLBACK
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Maxime Beauchamp (BC) — RIE UN PEU
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Sarah Kelley (BC) — GOOD GRIEF
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Tahmoh Penikett (BC) — 22 MILES TO HOME
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Stefany Mathias (BC) — ENTERING HOPE
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Jonathan Lawrence (MB) — LITTLE WHITE LIE