(*We're not sure if the episode with Don's guest appearance (#31 - "Alan's Ex") will air during these dates. But watch the show in any case. :)

| 10.01.01 |

TORONTO LIFE PORTRAIT ISSUE
The November 2001 issue of Toronto Life magazine features a portrait portfolio of 50 stage and screen actors from and around the Toronto area (reminiscent of the special photo issues produced by Vanity Fair). Don is featured on the cover, and also has a similar two-page spread as well. Here's the blurb accompanying his portrait:

"HOME BOY: DON MCKELLAR -- Ten years ago, Canadian film took a sharp turn with Highway 61. Written by and starring a goofy, unassuming guy-next-door type named Don McKellar, the rocked-out road trip had a wry Gen X humour and manic energy to spare. McKellar played Pokey Jones, a trumpet-toting small-town barber who's swept off his feet by an impatient punk siren. It's no surprise that the unlikely pair, while delivering a corpse and a bundle of cocaine to New Orleans, fall in love. That's what happens in movies. The surprise came in the wake of the film's debut: perhaps for the first time, it was clear that a funny Canadian movie didn't need to be as crass as Porky's or be made by Lorne Michaels. Pokey Jones was tongue tied and just a little dim. But like deadpan Patrick in Last Night and snide, agoraphobic Curtis in Twitch City, he's genuine. McKellar's brand of satire is sly and barbed, but his characters, however typically Canadian in their self-deprication, are drawn with affection. They're guys we know and can't help but like.

Selected credits: acted in more than a dozen films, including Waydowntown, eXistenZ, Exotica; has written five features and one TV series and co-written a musical play; directed Last Night"

WAYDOWNTOWN US RELEASE
Due to the recent events in the States, the scheduled Oct. 5 New York release of Waydowntown has been pushed back to Jan. 25.

TRUDEAU MINI-SERIES
"Some of the biggest stars of television and film take on major roles as cabinet ministers and political staffers in TRUDEAU, a four-hour dramatic mini-series for CBC Television. Colm Feore stars as Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau; Polly Shannon plays Margaret Sinclair Trudeau. The mini-series is being directed by Jerry Ciccoritti.

Actor/writer/director Don McKellar will be seen as "Greenbaum," a fictional communications consultant who reads polls and shapes images. McKellar is a one of this country's most versatile artists."

The mini-series will air on the CBC in the spring of 2002. (Read the entire press release, courtesy of the CBC.)

DEGRASSI AIR DATE
The Bruce McDonald directed premiere of Degrassi: The Next Generation will air October 14 on CTV. As reported earlier, Don is slated to make a guest appearance on the premiere episode.

MORE RUBBING & TUGGING
According to Playback, the film is intended to make its world premiere at the New Directors/ New Film Series out of New York's Museum of Modern Art, a screening series for first-time directors. It has also been pre-sold to TMN -The Movie Network and Superchannel. (For the full article, follow this link.)

Oh, and check out this recent article courtesy of the Globe & Mail, describing how the film makers cajoled Don into being in their film...

DON GETS ANIMATED
According to the Globe & Mail, Don has a new project in the works: The Seen, a six-episode animated comedy, will debut next spring with McKellar's character landing a new job - from mortician's assistant to hamster-wrangler - in each episode. The show will air on The Comedy Network.

SWITCH OFF FRIENDS AND CATCH SOME VERDI
Don will be be hosting an episode (or two) of the CBC's performing arts showcase Opening Night this season. The show airs Thursday nights at 8pm ET. (Keep an eye on the official site for prior notice.)

SCRIPT FOR NSI MOVIE CAMP
Don's script for a short film called "Where I'm From" was produced earlier this summer at the National Screen Institute's Movie Camp 1.5 in both Winnipeg and Toronto. We'll try to get more info about the production in the future... (Thanks to John for the update!)

THE LAST SHOT
A brief snippet from Playback about Canadian director Michael Robison:

"...[Robison] has also been moving more into developing his own projects over the last two years. In development are features The Last Shot, a romantic comedy by Kim Barker, and The Cleaners, a mob story by Michael Giampa, as well as a one-hour TV series. The Last Shot has the support of Telefilm Canada and B.C. Film. Don McKellar is on board as script consultant, Raymond Massey as producer and Coreen Mayrs for casting. Cast attachments are in negotiations in L.A. "

VCR ALERTS