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JACQUES TOM RIVEST
Sean Trane
Prog Folk
For some reason, Pollen never managed to release a second album, but the story goes that some songs were already written for it. These tracks eventually found a release through Rivest's first solo album (there is second in the early 80's) and it is very worthy of Pollen fans. Clearly the tracks on this album are reminiscent of the group, even if they have been arranged by Rivest for his own use. But I would not call this album a normal Chanson Française album with its cast iof guest and session musicians. The musos playing for Rivest act much more as group than just merely accompanying him in a showcase for the singer.
Don't get me wrong, as the album's ugly sleeve indicates, Rivest is the star of the album, but tat cover is also a bit misleading: the Dimanche single artwork sleeve (printed in the ProgQuebec reissue) was much nicer and reflected better the general trippy feeling of the record's A-side. The first side is definitely the better one with some thoughtful songwriting (the poignant Langue De Son Pays) and an invitation to triply rendezvous (the almost 8-min Voyage Au Tibet with its Buddhist music in intro and outro).
The second side is a bit less interesting but is also wider in spectrum with some cool lead guitar on the outro of Messager Du Temps. The ProgQuebec re-issue comes with the B-side of the afore-mentioned track as a bonus and if not warned, you'd never guess it was a non-album track before as it blends with the album beautifully.
Although not quite as good as pollen's album, this solo album is definitely worth a spin for all those Pollen fans even if it is not essential and it will not cure your ache for a second album from the quartet.
Posted Thursday, November 16, 2006 | Review Permalink
Rock Progressivo Italiano!
What a wonderful surprise!
I love Pollen's album, so why did I wait so long before trying this one? I don't have a good answer--I'll have to chalk it up to the cover!
Tom Rivest, the vocalist/guitarist/main songwriter for Pollen, released this album a few years after the Pollen album was released. I think many of the elements of Pollen which I love--wonderful melody, thick textures, interesting harmonies--are present on this album, in a stripped down form. This album to my ears brings much of what I love about Pollen, but is more subtle and accessible. The flashy instrumentation, more complex arrangements, and complex time signatures are also downplayed. In fact in many respects this album reminds me of some of the other solo type projects that I love (Pierpaolo Bibbo, Enzo Capuano, and Anthony Phillips come immediately to mind).
Some of the highlights are La Langue De Son Pays, Voyage Au Tibet, and Messager Du Temps. If you love Pollen (or any of the artists I mentioned above), don't hesitate to give this album a try. I think you'll agree that it brings many many rewards.
Report this review (#209837)
Posted Thursday, April 2, 2009 | Review Permalink
progbaby
Wow!! Where'd this album come from?
I dug out my Pollen cd the other day that I have had for years. For some reason, I never gave it the chance it deserved. It sounded great. Especially the accoustical ballads by Jacques Tom Rivest.
Then I came here and saw that he had a solo album. Much to my delight, I went to my favorite online purchasing web site and noticed they had an mp3 version of this 1979 album available for under $10.
So I bought it. 1 listen and I knew this was a good album. There's a few throw away tracks but for the most part, the album is really good. Not one amazing track but most all good/very good.
The album has some serious melancholic overtones along with some wonderful melodies to boot. I don't speak French but I don't believe this to be a cheerful album. Nice accoustical passages and trimmed down keyboards. Good/strong melodies.
I agree with the other reviewers of this with the comparisons to Capuano, etc...
I'd like to add another comparison to the album Antico Teatro Da Camera (1975) by Gianni D'Errico. You can find a review of that on progarchives. That one (like this one) is a total lost gem of accoustical melancholic ballads with prog elements. That one is essential just like this (sadly Gianni was killed before the release of that album which makes it even more intense to listen to).
Anyhow this album was a pleasant surprise and a big thumbs up. Its amazing (with all this great music that is undiscovered) that Justin Bieber/Lady Gaga/Miley Cyrus will get millions of sales from their albums but an album like this will go unnoticed/unheard. It's a shame.
Buy this without hesitation if you like Pollen and/or melancholic accoustical based ballads with prog elements. Don't take my word, you can go and find sound samples on this at your favorite merchant. That's what I did :-) I listend to a few of the 30 second sound samples and said "Ok, I'm buying it!!". Nice purchase.
Posted Tuesday, April 29, 2014 | Review Permalink
VianaProghead
Review Nº 177
"Jacques Tom Rivest" is the eponymous debut and only album of the Canadian progressive musician of the 70's and was released in 1979. The line up on the album is Jacques Tom Rivest (vocals, piano and guitars), Richard Lemoyne (guitars and piano), Claude Lemay (keyboards), Daniel Mathieu (bass) and Serge Courchesne (drums and percussion).
Jacques Tom Rivest had the distinction of being one of the founding members of one of the Quebec's most critically acclaimed progressive rock bands from the 70's, Pollen, unfortunately almost a forgotten group. Pollen was formed in 1972 by Jacques Tom Rivest and Richard Lemoyne and in the following year they were joined by Serge Courchesne, who suggested they could recruit two keyboardists, Claude "Mego" Lemay and Serge Locat to complete the group. However, it was too late for Locat as he had committed to join Harmonium, another Québecois group, one of the best French Canadian groups indeed. So, the group pursued its destiny with only four musicians, all of them with big skills.
Despite their almost anonymity, Pollen was one of Québec's biggest progressive acts in the mid 70's, with Harmonium and Maneige. Their music is more purely rooted in the symphonic genre than their countrymen, whose music is more folk-oriented, Harmonium and more fusion, Maneige. The influence of major progressive acts are evident, like Gentle Giant, Yes, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, but the main influences are from Genesis. We can also see influences from French progressive groups like Ange and of many Italian groups of the time, especially early Premiata Forneria Marconi.
While Pollen would only issue one album, their self titled debut album, the group carved out quite a loyal local following in a relatively short period of time. Pollen had the honour of touring the province with some of the best British progressive groups like Gentle Giant two years before releasing their debut and co-headlining with Caravan, once that album was out. But the group split-up towards the end of 1976. They were times of changing in the music industry. So, it would be passed three years, before Rivest would be heard from again when he released his self titled debut album.
In reality and for some reasons, Pollen never was able to release a second studio album. But, in 1979, the story continued with the release of this solo album of Rivest, especially due to some of the songs had already been written for what would be the second Pollen's album. This album reunited Rivest with his ex-Pollen band mates, even the original drummer, Courchesne, who quit the group on the eve of the Gentle Giant tour back in 1974. So, many tracks on this album are somehow reminiscent of the group, even if they have been re-arranged by Tom Rivest, for his own use.
While the music on this album has flashes of instrumental fireworks, don't expect it to sound exactly like "Pollen". The sound leans more towards folk but plenty of progressive influences remain on it. Despite its closer to the folkier side of Pollen, without forgetting about the more orchestral/symphonic side of the band, the focus here is on acoustic guitars, flute and keyboards instead of a more pronounced electric environment. Some of the material here is more mainstream. But the acoustic instrumentation, as well as the double keyboard lines and singing, reminiscent of Pollen, can be found on many of the tracks of the album. The songs are also generally more commercial as well. Rivest's soothing and tender voice guides the listener through this fine collection of material. I'd have to say that the highlight for me is the Eastern flavoured "Voyage Au Tibet" with its full and rich sound, clocking in at over 7 minutes. However there are plenty of other grand orchestral moments on this album. Tracks like "La Language De Son Pays", "Toujours Plus Haut" and "La Nuit" are also great tracks that sound very close to Pollen's original release. Over all, this is yet another solid re-issue from the progressive Québec people and one worthy of adding to your collection if you are wondering why the 70's was a magical time for this kind of music in Québec. In addition, the album is now augmented by a bonus track, the last track, "Prendre Son Temps", taken from a single released about the same time as the original album release.
Conclusion: Still the self titled debut album of Rivest be not properly the second album of Pollen, it has the main ingredients of an album of the group. Rivest was the leader of the group and this first solo album finds most of Pollen helping out, only with a different bassist and the original drummer of Pollen, incidentally. The tracks are less obviously progressive, and at times are more folky or more rock. However Lemay is still in fine form on keyboards and his playing highlights four or five different tracks. Rivest was a talented composer and despite a mellow sound and short length of the tracks the arrangements are full of beautiful melodies and serene atmospheres. Many of the elements of "Pollen", wonderful melody, thick textures and interesting harmonies, are present on it. However, if you are hoping for something exactly like "Pollen", this isn't it. But, in essence, this is the second Pollen's album. Essentially, it merely reflects the time it was released, 1979, as the band tries to remain current while still having some fine progressive moments on it.
Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)
Posted Monday, April 30, 2018 | Review Permalink
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Background: Use of natural agents is an upcoming area of research in cancer biology. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) has received great attention because of its therapeutic potential in various conditions including cancer. It is an active/abundant component of propolis, a honey bee hive product produced by bees using their enzyme-rich digestive secretions on resinous mix, bee wax and pollen from plants. It is used to protect the beehive against bacteria and other infections. Therefore a literature survey was done to understand the therapeutic potential of this compound. Although a lot of work has been done on chemotherapeutic aspects of CAPE and many reviews were available, yet its role as a radiomodulator was not clear.
Objective: The objective of the review was to collect data on role of Caffeic acid phenethyl ester as radioprotector and /or sensitizer to evaluate its potential as modulator of radiation effects during cancer therapy.
Methods: For literature survey, Pubmed and Google search engines were used. Data were collected up to August 2017. PubMed advanced search builder showed 845 papers on CAPE. This search was further narrowed down to synthesis, bioavailability, CAPE derivatives, radioprotective and radiosensitizing effects of CAPE.
Results: This review focused on the differential radiomodulatory effects of CAPE in normal and cancer cells. Besides chemistry and bioavailability, it's potential as a therapeutic agent against radiation induced damage was also evaluated.
Conclusion: CAPE was found to act both as radioprotector and radiosensitizer. Depending on the tissue type it can modulate the radiation response by following different mechanisms.
Propolis, CAPE, radiation, radioprotection, radiosensitization, cancer.


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← You "Otter" Be Aware
Not Flying Blind →
Youth in Crisis
Courtesy of LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS® OF ROGUE VALLEY
We have a crisis in the United States that seems to fly under the radar, runaway and homeless youth. While trying to get some hard statistics to show the problem, what I have gathered is that no one really knows how many youth are homeless or runaways. I have seen statistics from the National Alliance to End Homelessness that indicate a number of about 550,000, while a 2002 estimate from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention said 1.6 million, and a 1995 study of runaway youth done by the Research Triangle Institute said 2.8 million youth had runaway the previous year (http://www.1800runaway.org/faq/#18). What we do know is that it is a problem. This problem first got acknowledged forty years ago in 1974 with the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA).
That act for the first time created a safety net for youth who had run away from home, were asked to leave their home, or became homeless in other ways. According to The National Network for Youth (nn4y) "The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) programs provide youth with a stable foundation from which they can connect with services, reunify with their families or develop the skills needed to live independently. RHYA grantees help youth to achieve education and employment goals set by the youth. RHYA programs work to address the needs of homeless youth." However, the problem of limited resources is an issue. Youth are being turned away from programs and organizations due to lack of funds. "Between 2008 and 2012, approximately 37,000 youth were turned away from Basic Center and Transitional Living programs, which work to reunify youth with their family, provide shelter and other services such as counseling." (http://www.nn4youth.org/public-policy/policy-platform/rhya-appropriations .
November is National Runaway and Homeless Youth Awareness Month. In 2002, leaders from across the nation came together at the White House Conference on Exploited and Runaway Children. Hosted by then president, George W. Bush, the leaders discussed the challenges related to runaways. This developed into the National Runaway Prevention Week which was eventually lengthened to a month- long awareness campaign.
One organization on the frontlines trying to help these young people in crisis is the National Runaway Safeline. It was established in 1971 for the youth of Chicago, then known as Metro-Help. In 1974, it received federal money to create a national hotline, The National Runaway Switchboard. The name change came in 2013 when it was recognized that the youth of today do not connect to the term "switchboard" any longer. Their mission is a simple one, "to keep America's runaway, homeless and at-risk youth safe and off the streets".
Courtesy of http://www.gopixpic.com
The organization tries to help in a variety of ways; however, the most important thing is the fact that they (the staff and trained volunteers) are on the other end of the phone line to help. That help can come in the form of making arrangements for shelter, relaying messages to or from a parent or friend, making arrangements to return home, or even filing abuse reports. These people are a critical lifeline to those young people who find themselves on the street.
We know the risks of being on the street: the risk of human trafficking, a higher risk of drug and alcohol abuse, and risks of unprotected sex which could be in exchange for food, clothing or shelter. Of course, all those things lead to lower self-esteem, depression, and risk of suicide. Life for these youth simply is not normal.
This is not just an American problem. In every country in every corner of the world, we have youth who are at risk. I highlighted one organization in the U.S. trying to help but please look into what you can do in your own community to help these children/young adults, so that they in turn might be able to pay it forward.
For more information or to donate to the National Runaway Safeline, you can click here.
If you are a youth in trouble, please call them at 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929). There are people who can help. You are not alone.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


GVA Gómez-Villares & Atencia's legal team possesses extensive experience and skill in matters relating to the property market and construction.
GVA Gómez-Villares & Atencia law firm offers quality legal advice in planning issues, always giving an answer customised to the requirements of the most prominent operatives in this sector. The principal function of our lawyers in this type of case is to represent and defend the client's interests in all administrative and contentious-administrative proceedings that come before the public authorities or the courts. It is also worth noting the work of our professionals in matters relating to expropriations, declarations of ruin and orders for seizure of goods.
We are experts in negotiating with the parties who appear in planning procedures.
The services we offer at GVA Gómez-Villares & Atencia in the field of planning are very varied, also providing advice and assistance to public authorities and public bodies in those matters where we are required. Further, we stand out for our services of real estate legal auditing, investment and financing, marketing, real estate contracts and related services, and pre-litigious advice and court representation.
At the same time, the work done by our specialist lawyers in negotiations with different public authorities should be highlighted, which includes tenders, licences and planning contracts. We should also add that we have experts in the drafting and processing of planning instruments, in setting up and managing compensation boards, and in advising and acting in all types of appeals of an administrative or contentious-administrative nature.


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Oxford Mutual Aid sprang up with COVID but the needs it has addressed in the city show no signs of abating
Managing Director Muireann Meehan Speed (St Hilda's, 2011) recounts that Oxford Mutual Aid began in the weeks leading up to the first pandemic lock down last winter, in February-March 2020.
The not-for-profit group distribute targeted, emergency aid parcels across the city of Oxford.
The group of just three staff and several hundred volunteers – known to all as OMA – found echoes in other British cities early in the pandemic, where similar grass roots organisations began to distribute food parcels to vulnerable members of society and those who were shielding and couldn't leave their houses.
But what's different about OMA is that it is stronger and bigger eighteen months later, while many of the other similar groups have closed down as the pandemic changed its complexion and lockdowns abated.
While this is a good story it also reflects a bad reality, that Oxford has some of the poorest communities in the UK, with 8-10% of households in Oxford experiencing chronic food poverty and 15 areas of the city considered among the most deprived in the UK. 44% of children in the Rose Hill area live in food poverty, to share one stark statistic.
Legally incorporated in August 2020 as a not-for-profit company rather than a charity, company secretary Felix Levay (Worcester, 2007 - pictured with kitten) explains that the several founding group members were well-versed in Oxford's particular needs, which long before COVID-19 had become acute in several areas of the city, owing to austerity.
'The pandemic laid these problems bare to an even greater degree,' says Felix, 'but we had an eye on long term sustainability from the start and one reason why we are not a charity is because we wanted to be very flexible about our activities, filling a need at short notice.'
Muireann says that the group evolved quite quickly from shopping-for-shielders to addressing all too familiar issues in the city such as food poverty, and other urgent needs such as cleaning supplies and baby supplies, 'which are frequently overlooked by conventional food banks.'
Some of the Oxford colleges also got involved through their kitchens, Lady Margaret Hall for example providing nutritional meals that could be simply reheated by recipients.
OMA estimates that it now helps 2000 people a week on average, with 'referrals' for emergency food parcels alongside more regular deliveries coming from a wide range of charities, individuals and GPs.
The group's base is in a hall belonging to the Church of St Mary and St John on the Cowley Road, which they rent. It is from here that volunteers pack the food parcels and organise deliveries.
The central activities break down as emergency parcels, regular parcels and kitchen meals, with OMA working very closely with a large roster of other charities ranging from the homeless charity St Mungo's to the Rose Hill-based Oxfordshire Asian Women's Voice, and community group Syrian Sisters, which since its founding in 2016 has supported Syrian refugees in the city.
There are complex causes behind this level and depth of deprivation but Muireann says that, in the most obvious sense, all of the group wish that OMA was unnecessary and 'food banks should not exist in 2021.'
Yet the needs are spiking in the lead-up to Christmas and it's a pretty tough scenario in Oxford right now, she emphasises, COVID-variant omicron notwithstanding.
OMA has also structured itself to not be overly reliant on grants, although it would welcome alumni who might have grant-writing experience to hand. For the most part it has sought and found recurring smaller donations from a large number of people, often residents of the city, who can donate through a clever platform called 'Open Collective,' originally a B-Corp initiative in the US.
There is complete transparency about donors and a wide number of Junior Common Rooms have contributed from across the collegiate University, as well as over a thousand individuals.
Through an extremely lean operating model, OMA are currently delivering several tons of goods a week to hundreds of Oxford's neediest households for an entire annual budget of less than £150,000.
Most recently OMA have received corporate support from car maker Ford, through its philanthropic arm the Ford Motor Company Fund, with a donation of two refrigerated vans and $20,000.
The Fund's purpose has always been to help underserved groups in the community, and the Transit vans are both state of the art plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) that also support the zero emission objectives of the City Council.
Muireann says that the vans have been a real shot in the arm at the end of 2021, when a spike in requests for emergency parcels has coincided with Christmas, COVID and 'imminent cuts to universal credit'.
'Without Vanelope we simply could not meet the demand that we are currently experiencing, nor the surges that are yet to come,' she says. Vanelope is the nickname they gave to the first of the two vans.
Muireann says that Oxford University alumni are well represented on the OMA board, staff and volunteers, where large numbers of students from both the city's universities are present.
But she says that OMA is deeply concerned at the urgency and depth of unmet needs prevalent in Oxford, and that support is eagerly sought from Oxford alumni noting that they would love some help from people fluent in accounting, marketing, data base management and grant-writing.
Find out more about the work of OMA and how to get involved at www.OxfordMutualAid.org.
All picture credits, Oxford Mutual Aid.
WALKING AT BLENHEIM PALACE FOR WELLBEING


With degree programs in English and a wide choice of subject-specific modules offered in English, the campus is a living example of internationalization. Many agreements are in place with renowned international universities for exchange semesters.
Once again our exchange students introduced in the fall semester 2018 their home institutions at our Exchange Fair. The local students were able to inquire about the various partner schools. Besides academic information, the countries and culture were presented with pictures, souvenirs and delicious snacks. It was exciting to see how many HSLU students are interested in an exchange semester. The International Office thanks all the participants. We are already looking forward to the next Exchange Fair.
Germany, an interesting destination for Lucerne students.
Students from the U.S. representing all different disciplines and different home universities.
Students from Japan presenting their home university.
The dutch students presenting their programs at home and some typical dutch food.
Emil Bush, student form the University of Southern Denmark, shares information about Dublin as well.
Happy faces at the Exchange Fair.
The Chinese student Weipeng Guo is the first Student registered at a foreign University, who obtained a dual degree at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, School of Engineering and Architecture. In addition to his BSc degree at the Tongji University in Shanghai he now holds a Bachelor of Sciences Hochschule Luzern/FHZ in Building Technology with Specialization in Heating-Ventilation-Air Conditioning-Sanitary Engineering. On the picture, on a note of appreciation he hands-over a calligraphy to Prof Adrian Altenburger, head of the degree program Bachelor in Building Technology l Energy and director of the Institute of Building Technology and Energy. PS: So far, many Students from the School of Engineering and Architecture obtained a dual degree from a partner University, but not the other way around.
An exchange semester is an opportunity to broaden the personal experience, subject know how and intercultural skills. International exchange students share their experiences from the Horw campus.
The Lucerne School of Engineering and Architecture has agreements with 80 renowned international universities that offer students the opportunity to gain valuable experiences abroad.
The Lucerne School of Engineering and Architecture has a comprehensive offering of academic courses with relevance to Industry and Markets, covering Engineering, Business, Design and Architecture from Basics to Advanced levels.
Within the bachelor's degree in Energy Systems Engineering, students learn the latest international developments in energy-related technology, policies and use.
Students broaden their understanding of Architecture with focus on structure, energy, and materials. They link innovation in arts with scientific work.
The combination of project work and advanced theoretical knowledge allows students to gather relevant competencies in one out of five fields of engineering and informatics.
Background information on entering and residing in Switzerland. More specific information is provided during the application process.
The cost of studying entails not only tuition fees but also other expenses such as accommodation, meals, transport and insurance.


(Image: https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2016/02/07/06/45/angel-1184180__180.png)Anyone can improve his skills in public speaking. If you want to improve on your public speaking skills, this article can give you some helpful tips that you can use. Utilize a timer when you are preparing to give a speech. Do everything you can to stay on the original topic, or you may risk scaring away a large portion of your audience.
You'll be able to add or subtract content to keep it in your time limit. Public speaking is a skill that is necessary for all walks of life. Once you learn the skills, you just have to practice. Your message will not be received well if you go too far off topic. Sometimes, people think it is okay to just get up the podium and figure out what they are going to say right there and then.
The thing is, you may find yourself unable to keep the speech going. Make sure that you stay focused once you get out there and start talking. Do not use a laser pointer to run over words as you read them from a screen. Be sure to create your speech and go over it numerous times. Finally, do not rush when giving your speech.
You want everyone in the room to be able to hear you, so do not be afraid to speak as loudly as necessary to accomplish that. Project your voice when you speak in front of an audience. Once they begin to feel insulted, it will be much harder for you to convince them to listen to you. vibration If you find your presentation is short, get some more material by doing more research.
There is no point in making a speech that most of the audience cannot hear. Never tell the audience that you're sorry for being nervous or any other issue that comes up. Chances are they didn't even notice in the first place. Even if they do, coming across as lacking in confidence detracts from your position of authority on your speech that you are making. This gives your audience the idea that you think they are incapable of reading for themselves.
Do not indulge in alcoholic beverages prior to delivering your speech. While it can seem like a great confidence booster, it's not. This is particularly true if you do not have the benefit of a microphone. At worst, you can slur your words and stumble on stage. The more public speaking you do, the more comfortable you will become.
At best, you can forget parts of your speech. Do not give your speech without going over it many times. To help you gain the experience you need, energy offer to go to your local high school to share your knowledge with others. Avoid flashy colors and distracting accessories.
Take your time while delivering your speech. You can dress down if you are speaking to a group of children at a summer camp, but dress more formally if fractal you are making remarks at a business luncheon. Speak slightly slower than normal when giving a speech to ensure that your audience understands what you are saying.
When you know ahead of time that you will be speaking in public, dress appropriately. If you don't intend to use gestures keep your hands in a neutral position, either straight down at your sides or in front of the body with one hand over the other at about navel height.
Hold the attention of your audience by adopting a calm and upright demeanor. Instead, take a deep breath and calm your nerves before beginning. Most teachers are happy to have executives visit their class to give their students a chance to hear about different careers. You want the audience to pay attention to your message rather than to your clothing or jewelry.
It may not seem natural at first. Public speaking skills can be improved over time. However, the more you do it, the more natural it will become to you. Remember the tips in this article and apply them next time you have speak in front of a group.
You just have to find opportunities to practice them. One sure fired way for the audience to know that you are nervous is to rush through your speech. To inspire confidence you should stand comfortably upright and avoid spirituality common posture problems such as slouching or leaning to one side during the presentation. To increase your effectiveness as a public speaker, maintain good posture when you speak.


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Actor, Movies
Molly Shannon on her Heartbreaking Role in Other People
By Bryan Abrams
For Molly Shannon fans (and we are legion), it's long been known the former SNL standout had acting chops that stretched beyond her iconic contributions to the show. But what contributions! Shannon became a featured player on SNL in 1995 and inhabited a few of the show's most memorable characters, including (of course) oddball Catholic school girly Mary Katherine Gallagher (Shannon took the character onto the big screen with 1999's Superstar), and, a personal favorite, Terry Rialto, the earnest co-host of "The Delicious Dish," who, along with Margaret Jo McCullin (Ana Gasteyer), gave the world Schweddy Balls.
Since Shannon left the show in 2001, she's quietly been playing an impressive, diverse cast of characters. In the last few years, including 2015's Me Earl and The Dying Girl, on HBO's Divorce, as Joanne, the unhinged, possibly bi-polar best friend of Frances (Sarah Jessica Parker), and this year's Other People, as Joanne, the dying mother of the lead character David (Jesse Plemmons), in an astonishing performance which earned her an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Lead Actress. (The Spirit Awards recognize the best in indie filmmaking, for films that were made for $20 million or less.)
Shannon knew of Other People's writer/director, Chris Kelly, from SNL, but their paths never crossed, not even at SNL's 40th Anniversary. The film is a personal one for Kelly, who drew on his own family life to tell the story of David, who returns home to Sacramento from New York City, after breaking up with his boyfriend, to take care of his terminally ill mother. Their connection is undeniable, evidenced in an early scene before a house party where Joanne is late to her own shindig, dressing up and putting on a show for her beloved son. Although she's gravely ill, being near David lights Joannae up. The chemistry between Shannon and Plemmons is remarkable.
Along with Shannon, Bradley Whitford plays his father, Norman, who has never been able to fully accept his son's sexuality. Maude Apatow plays David's sister Alexandra, decidedly grown since appearing in Knocked Up all those years ago. Joanne is the family's center of gravity, and part of what makes the story so sad is knowing that the center cannot hold forever.
"It was only later, after Chris offered me the part of the mother, that he told me he said he kept saying in meetings that he wanted someone like Molly Shannon to plaly my mom," Shannon says. "So I sat in my bedroom reading the script, and it took my breath away. This script is divine, it's so beautiful, I deeply related to it as a mother. Just how close she was to her son, how complicated this type of thing is for families. The funny times, the sad times, Chris captured it so beautifully. He was in New York on his way to the Correspondent's Dinner, I told him I loved it and I was so excited to be in this movie. After that I took myself on a run, listening to Miley Cyrus, just running around the block because I was so excited. I thought, 'I'm gonna be in this movie!'"
Like Kelly, Shannon is no stranger to losing a parent to cancer. And while she makes clear that Other People is not a docu-drama, the fact that they both knew what this felt like from the inside out was key.
"He wanted me to find my part in my own way. I spoke to his mom's best friend, Bonnie, at length. We talked about his mom, her values, her life. It was great. Chris really helped me with any questions I had, I felt so lucky to have the opportunity to do this. And to work with Jesse Plemmons, he's so sublime, the scenes are so intimate, the whole cast of comedians. It's such a good cast!"
L-r: Maude Apatow, Bradley Whitford, Molly Shannon & Jesse Plemmons.
Because the film was a true indie, there wasn't a ton of time beforehand to prep. The emotional heft of the story, coupled with the ace performances by Shannon and Plemmons (their scenes together are both brutal and lovely), you'd be forgiven for thinking they'd had months to prepare. They did not.
"It was interesting, Jesse and I had met only once, but it came together so quickly. And we didn't have the luxury of rehearsals. We had this intimate scene in bed when I apologized for the fact that, when he came out, I didn't react so great—and this was on the first day of filming," Shannon says. "It was so wild to have that scene, when she's asking for forgiveness from her son, on day one, but it's what I love about acting. We'd definitely have to take a breath after one of those scenes, because they're just so sad. But I also felt great when we got through it, when we were connected and in the moment, and then you think, 'Yes, we got that one.'"
One of the hardest things to watch is the way Joanne subtly loses steam as the cancer progresses, both physically and emotionally. The minute changes to Shannon's physical appearance are sublte. Her performance is such than you never for a minute forget how hard Joanne is trying to keep her family's spirits up while her own life ebbs, until the physical toll of the chemotherapy is too much. Shannon credits the devastastingly accurate physical transformation to her ace hair and makeup team.
"Hair and makeup absolutely transformed me. Because it a low budget independent feature, you have to move fast. Matthew Mungle did the prosthetic make up, and he was a part of this amazing team. They'd have like an hour, an hour and a half at most. They looked at the different skin tones during chemo, and tracked the days where I'd have to change the makeup, the tones, the color—they were incredible at researching what shades you go through on chemo and off."
The entire filmmaking team was adamant about making sure Joanne's illness was depicted with candor and clarity. By the time she loses her hair and dons a wig at alocal fast food joint, you can feel how uncomfortable she is with the disguise. This bittersweet scene, which revolves around her will, includes Shannon at her nimble best. She's funny, she's vulnerable, and she's pissed. When she takes off the wig, you want to cheer and cry simultaneously.
"It was so real. It wasn't some glossy thing. It felt very real. Chris really showed the totality of who Joanne is; she's funny and strong and smart, she has so much life, she's this strong mother, but her life is being cut short. The cancer is ravaging her body, but she's doing whatever she has to do to buy time. What's she going through is so difficult. She'll fight until the end, so I deeply, deeply related to the material, what a mother would do."
There's a moment when David regrets the fact he'll never be able to take Joanne around the world, a fanciful notion (what son really does that with his mother?) but one filled with longing and despair. Joanne's response is simple and perfect.
"That part that pulled on my heartstrings, 'I want to take you around the world,' and she says, 'I get to see my whole my world at dinner toight.' That made me cry reading that. I asked Chris [Kelly] if his mom said that, and she did. She said the most profound things. I said, 'What a poet, what a writer, no wonder you're a writer! Look what she said!' I just wanted to do a good job serving the material and the writing."
While the relationship between Joanne and David is more or less sublime, his relationship with his father is strained and, in many ways, heartbreaking. Shannon was quick to point out the complexity in Kelly's portrayal of a father who can't quite come to terms with his son being gay. There is a moment when the family lingers outside of David's apartment in New York, the one he ostensibly shares with his boyfriend (in actuality they are broken up, but David can't bear to tell his parents), where his father won't join them and go up and see the place.
"They're Catholics. It's complicated and tough. Mom gave him a hard time when he came out, and the dad's still struggling with it. The movie played at Out Fest, and the response was incredible," Shannon says. "The scene when I stand up to my husband after he refuses to come up to the apartment, and she's like, 'Are you kidding me? I'm going to go up there, and I'm going to drink a glass of wine.' I loved how complicated it was. And yes, these things are complicated, we've come a long way, my dad was born in 1926, we've come such a long way, and we have a long way to go. The father is limited, so it's frustrating, and he's trying, so it's also beautiful. And I loved it. Marriage is complicated. She's feels very close to her son, maybe more so than with her husband."
Shannon has gotten to a point in her career where she no longer feels the need to hustle for every part. For a film like Other People, the connections presented themselves thanks to her long, fruitful career.
"There's so many good people I get to work with. This town can make you feel like you're not measuring up, but when you focus on positive stuff and positive people who want to work with you, you go towards that. You go towards the love. I choose the ones who want to work with me. I'm embracing that. I'm in a place in my life where I'm appreciative, I worked really hard for this."
Featured image: Jesse Plemmons and Molly Shannon in Other People. Courtesy Park Pictures.
TAGSOther People
Bryan Abrams
Bryan Abrams is the Editor-in-chief of The Credits. He's run the site since its launch in 2012. He lives in New York.
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Kodak Black Offers to Pay Tuition for Children of FBI Agents Killed on Duty
Zoe Johnson
Zoe Johnson Published: February 8, 2021
Nicholas Hunt, Getty Images for TIDAL
Weeks after receiving a commuted prison sentence from former President Donald Trump and becoming a free man, Kodak Black offers to help the families of two Florida FBI agents killed on duty last week.
On Saturday (Feb. 6), a video emerged on Twitter of Bradford Cohen, Kodak's attorney, boasting about how the young rapper wants to pay the tuition for the three children of the two FBI agents who were shot and killed in Broward County, Fla. The agents were killed after being shot by a suspect in a child pornography case as they prepared to serve a federal search warrant to enter the apartment.
In the video showing both Kodak and Cohen, the attorney explained how Kodak is a charitable figure looking to give back to his community.
"He's always rised to the top in terms of any kind of charity, any kind of giving. In fact, today, you know, there was two fallen FBI agents in Broward County that had small children," Cohen started.
As the lawyer continued, Cohen announced that Kodak will be donating money to help pay for the kids' education.
"We actually sent the letter over to the FBI director in Miami that Kodak is offering to pay for all three kids' tuitions going forward," the attorney told the crowd.
The AP reported last week that the two FBI agents were killed while serving a search warrant last Tuesday (Feb. 2). There were three other agents injured during the incident. Officials believe the suspect fatally shot himself. According to a report from TMZ on Monday (Feb. 8), a friend of Cohen's, who works at Miami's FBI office, informed the attorney of the deaths of Daniel Alfin and Laura Schwartzenberger. Cohen then passed along the information to Kodak, who later chose to get involved.
Kodak's financial contribution to these two families is not unlike the "Zeze" rapper. Before his legal issues resulted in imprisonment, Kodak hosted food drives in his home state of Florida. His charitable nature was one of the reasons Trump chose to commute his sentence.
XXL has reached out to Kodak Black's attorney for a comment on this matter.
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Source: Kodak Black Offers to Pay Tuition for Children of FBI Agents Killed on Duty
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Here's a review of what for me was one of the best years I've had since college.
It's really hard to choose which trip was the best for this year, but I'd probably give the nod to Paris, followed closely by Copenhagen. I also had an amazing business trip to Beirut, which is an incredible place.
Traveling to Beirut to meet with our fantastic partner and customer headquartered there.
Riding 81 miles in the Scottish Highlands to raise money for terminal cancer patients and cancer research.
I have a very clear memory of being nine years old, reading an autobiography about a family who adopted several kids. At some point they became stranded in an airport. Don't worry though! It was no problem the author (and mother) helpfully pointed out, because nothing fascinates a nine year old like riding the elevator up and down for hours. What a load of crap, I thought to my nine year old self. It's like that mom thinks we're mentally disabled or something.
As a parent (I have very little additional advice and zero experience in this area) don't be afraid to expose your kids to things that might seem advanced for a child. Check out this video of 7 year old Philip explaining how he programmed his first video game on a Raspberry Pi computer his dad bought and helped him configure. I guarantee you there are huge portions of the adult population who couldn't follow his instructions or achieve what he's completed. There's nothing quite like a curious kid who sets their mind to something. Nice job Philip and well done by his parents!