Collective Productions

A late winter roundup.

tristan — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 06:03:51 +0000

As you may or may not have noticed, Jim Dupree is back not only on this Internet, but also on the television. We’re quickly approaching 50 episodes which is pretty ridiculous, when you think about it.

What’s next for Collective Productions, you ask? Probably not much more than this, to be honest, but now that we’ve purchased a new HD camera, you can count on Dan appearing clearer than ever. I’ve given the camera a quick test drive by making a video of Hilary making Jiffy Pop, and I must say that it looks a thousand times better than this one.

As a final link of interest, Dan recently posted the YouTubed archive of the short-lived (and rightfully so) Jim Dupree side project, Canadian Heritage Vignettes. Head on over to DanMisener.com to check out the iTunes featured podcast that garnered such reviews as the following one, from iTunes Music Store user Jonwinagan:

This is one of the most embarrassing pieces of crap I’ve ever seen. You’re a disgrace to all Canadians and you’re making us all look like fools. Get up off the couch and turn off the camera. Any more of this crap and the Americans are sure to attack. Please stop!

It’s true!

Jim Dupree returns… again!

tristan — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:55:04 +0000

It’s been a while since we’ve said something, but it’s been a while since we’ve had something to say.

Yes, after yet another break, Jim Dupree has been lured from his hibernation by the promise of cash. And it will be happening on television. More to be found here.

While you wait for the next fresh serving of Dupree and his many antics, why not head over to danmisener.com, where Dan has posted a fake radio ad for Popeye’s Chicken & Seafood, which he produced with Tristan back in their Ryerson days. The post was in honour of the brand new Popeye’s location in his neighbourhood, and it (the post, not the chicken) can be found here.

How to make a radio show?

tristan — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:04:43 +0000

As this is a blog primarily about Tristan, and written entirely by Tristan, he has decided to stop referring to himself in the third person. All other people will continue to be referred to in this manner.

This past weekend I had the pleasure of shooting and editing a short web video for the CBC Radio program Spark. It’s called How To Make a Radio Show and it has just been posted to the Spark blog. It’s also embedded below.

It’s very informative and alarmingly true. Thanks to everybody at Spark for the opportunity to help educate the masses.

Twitter vs. opera retirees.

tristan — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 22:27:40 +0000

Tristan and Dan’s time at PodCamp was quick, but fulfilling. I think it’s safe to say that we now know everything we’ll ever need to know about social media in a disaster.

Although not at all a part of the festivities in Toronto a couple of weeks back, Shane and Tom from Shane and Tom’s Squeezebox share a pretty funny story about Tristan and Dan, the opera, and PodCamp in their latest episode. The part they leave out, however, is that after being told by the man best known as Scarborough Dude that their podcast was great and that they were “legends,” Tristan and Dan were asked which of them was Shane and which was Tom.

Tristan and Dan at PodCamp Toronto.

tristan — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 02:05:46 +0000

There are many things happening around the world this weekend, and one of them is the 2008 installment of PodCamp Toronto, held once again this year at Ryerson University’s lovely Rogers Communication Centre. Both Tristan and Dan will be in attendance, so if you plan on attending, why not come by, say hello, and grab one of Tristan’s impractically thick business cards.

In other news, Dan will be making one of his frequent appearances on CBC’s GO! on Saturday morning. Not sure what he’ll be doing there, but the show is about Facebook, so odds are he’ll probably be talking about how he doesn’t want to use it.

Also, From the House of the Dead, the opera that features Tristan as an extra, has been getting so many ridiculously wonderful reviews and will be playing for the last time on Friday night. What will be next for Tristan? Broadway, perhaps? Only time will tell.

Notes for Groundhog Day.

tristan — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 18:42:41 +0000

Well, Groundhog Day 2008 is finally upon us, and there are some things that you should probably know:

The fourth season of the Jim Dupree: Enthusiast podcast series has started, and you can check it out right now.
From the House of the Dead, the opera that Tristan is a part of, opens tonight at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Tickets are on sale right now.
Wiarton Willie did not see his shadow, so spring is here right now.
You can download the classic Bill Murray film Groundhog Day for $4.99 right now.

Tristan’s first opera.

tristan — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:10:32 +0000

Yes, this post title can be taken literally. Tristan will be playing a prisoner in the Canadian Opera Company’s production of Leoš Janáček’s From the House of the Dead this February at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in downtown Toronto. He will not be singing, of course. He will not be speaking either, for that matter. He’s an extra (or, in operaspeak, a super).

Not familar with the works of Janáček? Here’s what the COC website has to say about FtHotD:

Stripped of their dignity, inmates in a Siberian prison camp cling to the stories of past lives, relating their histories and creating diversions to take their minds off their dreadful conditions.

Sounds like a fun hour-and-a-half, no?

Performances are on February 2, 5, 7, 13, 19 and 22 at 7:30 PM, February 16 at 4:30 PM, and on February 10 at 2 PM. Tickets can be purchased online, by calling 416-363-8231, or in person at the Four Seasons Centre Box Office (145 Queen St. W., Toronto). Ticket prices for all performances range from $60 to $275, but if you’re under 30, you can score $20 tickets starting January 19. You may also be able to get rush tickets on the day of each performance at this same discounted rate, regardless of age.

All these links not enough for you? Here’s one more. Still not convinced? The cast includes a live eagle.

See you at the opera.

Dan and Tristan on GO!.

tristan — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 15:13:19 +0000

Torontonians in the know are well aware of Dan Misener’s Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids reading series. Not in Toronto? Or simply not in the know? Not to worry! This Saturday, the world at large will be able to experience a taste of GRTTWaK on CBC’s GO!, as Dan and a few of his fellow grownups, including Tristan, will be talking about the series, and reading things they wrote as kids.

Live in Canada? It airs on CBC Radio One this Saturday, January 12 at 10 AM in all time zones with the exception of Newfoundland, where it airs at 10:30 AM. Find your frequency. Live somewhere else? Tune in online at 10 AM ET.

If this doesn’t hook you, we don’t know what will.

tristan — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 00:13:22 +0000

What could we possibly be talking about?

Tristan on Canadian Podcast Buffet.

tristan — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 00:33:46 +0000

Tristan makes an appearance on the latest episode of Canadian Podcast Buffet, as part of a round table discussion on video podcasting. Listen to his thoughts on buying/returning video equipment and YouTube videos about cats right now!