The loonie things people do Strutting of stuff commences on Canada’s Got Talent north of the border to our great nation. Auditions have already been held in Winnipeg, Edmonton, Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto, but those who wish to have one last shot at winning the inaugural season can still fly out to Halifax (October 11-12 at the World Trade and Convention Fator, winner of Season 2 of America’s Got Talent in 2007, went on to sign a reported $100 million five-year performing contract with The Mirage in Las Vegas, with an option for another five years at the same rate. Good money for a ventriloquist. As excited as I am for the premiere “The Vancouver auditions for Canada’s Got Talent concluded on Tuesday, September 20, with an estimated 3,000 hopefuls showing up. Everything from Bollywood acts to skip-rope teams to musical groups decked out in fuzzy costumes clogged the Westin Bayshore while they anxiously awaited their opportunity.” By Eric Wilkins re you an amazing singer? Can you dance? Do you have a disturbing hobby in which you pierce your ears with hooks and hang bowling balls from them? If so, an amazing opportunity may have just passed you by! The Vancouver auditions for Canada’s Got Talent concluded on Tuesday, September ied 20, with an estimated 3,000 hopefuls showing up. Everything from Bollywood acts to skip-rope teams to musical groups decked out in fuzzy costumes clogged the Westin Bayshore while they anxiously awaited their opportunity. The popular brainchild of Simon Cowell has seen several successful seasons in the U.S., (along with a host of other countries) and is finally making the trip Centre). One of the foremost questions in anyone’s mind in any contest is “what is the prize?” John Brunton, Executive Producer of Canada’s Got Talent , did not disclose the specifics, but let slip on the Canada’s Got Talent website that, “the prize is going to be epic and it’s going to change somebody’s life forever.” Curiosity piqued. The monetary value aside, instant fame and outstanding opportunities are also a byproduct of the competition—if America’s Got Talent is any example to go by. Terry of this program, I must also admit that it slightly irks me that Canadian television has once again failed to come up with an original idea. Canadian Idol, So You Think You Can Dance Canada, and now Canada’s Got Talent are merely offshoots of our American neighbours’ programming. Don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy these programs, but I wish that Canadian reality television would be just that: Canadian. Returning from my digression, the show will begin airing in March of 2012 on Citytv, and I, for one, can’t wait. The curious case of Cary Fukunaga’s Jane Eyre Latest Jane Eyre movie removes the novel’s best scenes By Sarah Khan he most recent film adaptation of | Jane Eyre takes an odd approach to the classic Charlotte Bronté novel. First of all, in the 2011 movie by director Cary Fukunaga, the audience no longer has access to Jane’s thoughts. Also, instead of following the novel’s chronological storyline, everything that happens to Jane (Mia Wasikowska) before she arrives at St. John’s (Jamie Bell) house is a flashback. Some aspects of Fukunaga’s approach work. The flashbacks— which show what Jane suffered through her years at boarding school and with her aunt—help explain the reasons for Jane’s docile and reserved attitude. The most memorable scene for me is when St. John asks Jane about her education and her memory flashes back to the time when she watched as her friend was caned by a teacher. I never fully realized just how much the childhood trauma impacted Jane; in that sense, the movie’s storytelling method does a good job of illustrating her character. However, the latest adaptation misses the mark on showing the gradual intimacy between Jane and Edward Rochester (Michael Fassbender), as most of the dialogue between the couple was taken out completely, several great scenes were cut, and Rochester is toned down to make him more amiable to the audience. Also, the movie does a poor job of showing Jane 6 during her process of emotional healing; she looks delusional. Overall, the film removes many scenes from the original book, making it difficult for people who haven’t read the novel to fully appreciate the timelessness of the story. Mo MAWOQO, less problems The Mobilization Against War and Occupation hosts ‘Hip Hop 4 Peace’ By Julia Siedlanowska, Arts Reviewer ast Saturday and Sunday, MAWO [msi Against War and Occupation) held their 7" annual Hip Hop 4 Peace Festival. On the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery, a crowd gathered to listen to MCs and DJs, watch breakdancers, and take in graffiti art. Sunday featured a series of workshops on breakdancing, MC-ing, and Hip Hop 4 Peace at the Bonsor Recreation Complex in Burnaby. According to the Hip Hop 4 Peace website (hiphopforpeace.blogspot.com), the festival was created “in an effort to bring people together both locally and internationally to explore hip-hop as an important tool in the movement for peace.” The event certainly drew attention, as the tents with volunteers were paired with MCs rapping, petitions and pins were laid out on tables near the performers, and passersby could make a pit stop to sign letters petitioning NATO’s position in Libya, amongst other things. If you are interested in learning more about MAWO and its aims, check out their website (www.mawovancouver.org) for information on upcoming events.