Movie studio owner baring body for film

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This article was published 16/11/2011 (5324 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WANT TO BE A STAR? — Troy Daniel Smith, casting director for television shows Shake it Up and Hannah Montana, is coming to the ‘Peg the last two weekends of November to do his workshop: “How to Audition the L.A. Way” — hot tips for big-time film projects. It all happens at Onalee Ames Film Studio on Corydon Avenue (943-6832 or oamesfilmstudio@yahoo.ca). There could be a little secret scouting going on because a representative from Peter Gruber’s Mandalay Entertainment (Rain Man is one of their big films) is coming to watch actors, as he’s curious about Winnipeg talent.

Studio owner Onalee Ames has been acting herself the last few weeks in the locally lensed movie My Awkward Sexual Experience. In Sean Garrity’s film, Ames plays a stripper named Gypsy. “I’m not getting naked but definitely baring my body. I’ve been exercising like crazy for two months,” she laughs.

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EMPTY BOWLS DINNER — At the Winnipeg Harvest Empty Bowls dinner Thursday, supporters paid a pretty penny for two gourmet bowls of soup for dinner, plus pieces of bread and a plain cake for dessert — but no one was upset. Organizers were making a point. Besides, earlier appetizers (all donated by the hosting Delta Winnipeg) helped fill people up so no one was really hungry. Delta staff worked for free, centrepieces consisted of a soup tin with a candle on it, and master of ceremonies Doug Harvey emphasized almost everything was donated for the dinner. “We made over $300,000,” said Chris Albi, Harvest’s community co-ordinator. The entertainment? Winnipegger Maria Aragon sang John Lennon’s Imagine, confessing, “I’m not old enough to know it, but I know you guys do.” Singer/songwriter Sheena Grobb touched the big group when she sang Empty Bowls Winter Song, which she wrote herself. On another note, auctioneer Jon Ljungberg seemed shocked when a Keith Urban poster went for $600, but not one woman blinked.

Spotted at the event: Helen Halliday, general manager of the Delta and her staff; Free Press columnist Doug Speirs and deputy editor Julie Carl; organizers Jan Chute and Marnie Strath; Doug Stephen of WOW Hospitality; and former Winnipeg Blue Bomber Kenny Ploen.

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TWO DAYS TO REMEMBER — Think you’re busy? Lawyer Leilani Kagan married Tom Blumberg of Monopoly Realty on Nov. 11 at Terrace 55 in the stunning glass pavilion in Assiniboine Park. It was an exquisite wedding, with decor from Events by Emma — lit with shimmering turquoise and the band housed in a glass alcove. You’d think that’d be enough excitement for one bride. But the maid of honour, sister Lisa Stiver, said to the band, “We’re going to be seeing you tomorrow night.” And sure enough, when Danny Kramer’s Event Band set up Saturday night, the bride turned out to be the chairwoman of the Winnipeg Humane Society’s Bow Wow Ball, a huge annual event that entertained 500 people at The Fairmont that night.

Leilani’s little nightmare? Tiffany gift boxes, which arrived unassembled. “They came in flat pieces of paper like origami and we had to assemble them and stuff them with two Morden’s chocolates.” After dinner, the new bride finally got to relax — and dance. Kramer’s dedication? “These two just got married last night and this was the first song at their wedding — I Got a Feeling!” The Bow Wow crowd howled its approval.

 

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