On Screen Manitoba

The following article was expertly written by the National Screen Institute - Canada's Chris Vajcner about the local premiere of Goon, which was locally produced by OSM members Inferno Pictures (Brendon Sawatzky and Ian Dimerman).

You’ve probably heard that Winnipeg is a little excited about the return of the Jets and NHL hockey.

Yesterday the hockey lovin’ was kicked up a notch with the premiere of Goon directed by NSI Drama Prize grad Michael Dowse (Fubar, It’s All Gone Pete Tong). See some pics I took on my iPhone at the end of this post.

The day started with a great conversation between the Winnipeg Free Press’ Randall King and Dowse at the Winnipeg Free Press Café.

Then it was showtime.

A full house of cast, crew, family, friends, the mayor and special guests filled the theatre. There were greetings and thank yous, acknowledgements and love, particularly from Dowse towards his cast and crew, Winnipeg and Manitoba – and then the theatre darkened, and crunch, opera, smack, Littlest Hobo theme song, “yes sir”, gush, hilarity, penalty, teamwork, and finally...nah, I won’t spoil it for you.

Then it was off to the after-party and time to celebrate and congratulate everyone on a job well done.

Goon marks the 100th film for producer Don Carmody (Resident Evil: Afterlife, Lucky Number Slevin, Porkys). It was great to see Goon producers and NSI’s former colleagues Ian Dimerman and Brendon Sawatzky (and NSI Features First grad) and their company Inferno Pictures, CEO & Film Commissioner, Manitoba Film & Music – and NSI board member Carole Vivier, Curt Keilback – the former voice of the Jets in his first acting role, and of course, director Dowse. It was a pumped crowd.

Visit here to read the rest of the article and to see the pictures. 

And see Goon in theatres everywhere on February 24.