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Interviews

Behind The Books: Anne T. Donahue

Name: Anne T. Donahue (@annetdonahue)

Best Known For: Nobody Cares (2018)

Favourite Twitter account: An impossible question! I’m obsessed with all 2000+ accounts I follow.

Entertainment

It’s no secret how much you love Leonardo DiCaprio and many other stars from pop culture. Do you identify as a fangirl? I think “fangirl” is such an unnecessary pejorative. What does gender have to do with loving something, you know? And why do we dismiss loving something as a feeling or act reserved for youth? Fans fuel industry. They’re important. But while I’ll always be a fan of Leo, my love and affinity has cooled a bit. I mean, I think it had to! You can’t keep Titanic momentum up for over 20 years. At some point, you have to remember that he was in Woody Allen’s Celebrity.

You’ve watched Titanic over and over again, so what was it like to see Kate Winslet in person? Oh man, I’m surprised you remember that! Probably unsurprisingly, it was very . . . normal? Ordinary? TIFF is strange because you see people you’ve watched in film and TV for years, and they all-of-a-sudden are right there and look like anyone you’d see in a restaurant. But it was obviously cool to see Kate Winslet, albeit very briefly!

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October 25, 2018 by

Behind The Scenes: Mighty Cruise Ships

Mighty Cruise Ships on Discovery

Mighty Cruise Ships returns to the Discovery Channel tonight for its second season and I had a chance to chat with Executive Producer Karen McCairley. Find out more about the production process below and see which celebrity she wants to travel with in this special Q&A.

How does your show attract and engage with viewers (like myself) who have never been on a cruise?

Mighty Cruise Ships is the only show of its kind in the whole world. We take all the preconceived notions viewers like you may have about cruise ships and set the story straight!

It’s not all big buffets and cheesy lounge singers – we focus on what it takes for the hard working staff aboard each vessel to pull these trips off time and again. We pull back the curtain and focus on the big technology and navigational skill it takes to dock these ships in very interesting and oftentimes difficult ports. We spend time in the engine rooms, bridge, galleys and behind the scenes of the huge mainstage productions that happen aboard these ships.

Put it this way, even the people who work for the cruise lines are oftentimes blown away when they eventually see our shows.

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February 12, 2017 by

Behind The Brand: Town Shoes

Crissi Town Shoes

Name: Crissi Giamos

Position: Director of Public Relations

Professional role model:

Mary Symons, luxury publicist and president of Mary Symons Communications. Everything this lady touches in PR is done with perfection. She oozes elegance and class. My nickname for Mary is “VVVIP”.

In 140 characters or less, what is your favourite part of your job?

The fast paced environment and how each day differs. The best part? Shoe shopping of course—one pair for the photo shoot, two pairs for me.

What are your daily responsibilities?

Fuelling the business of the Town Shoes Limited banners by consistently garnering meaningful targeted media impressions and driving sales, of course. This is ongoing daily, working with media, influencers, stylists, television stations, fashion shows, events, photographers, shopping centres and the country’s tastemakers.

Which tools or software do you use at work?

Microsoft Office 365, Cision, Meltwater, MRP Data

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July 11, 2016 by

Behind The Brand: Canadian Football League (CFL)

Brodie Lawson

Name: Brodie Lawson

Position: Video Content Coordinator and Host

Education: Media, Information and Technoculture (MIT), Western University

Professional role models:

I have so many—too many to list! I love Katie Nolan who is hugely inspiring and represents where this industry is going—she is amazing. If you haven’t checked her out on Garbage Time on YouTube (on FOX in the USA), you should! Her stuff should be required viewing for women looking to get into sports broadcasting. For more traditional broadcasting, I look up to Sam Ponder who works on College Gameday. Her job (from an outsider) consists of working live on set with tons of fan engagement, doing in-depth interviews and sideline reporting. It’s a cool job and she kills it! She also speaks and writes candidly about working in sports, which I deeply appreciate.

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June 16, 2016 by

Behind The Brand: Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG)

Michelle Dias

Name: Michelle Dias

Position: Marketing Manager, Public Relations & Communications

Education: Media, Information and Technoculture (MIT), Minor in Philosophy & Writing Certificate, Western University; Corporate Communications, Sheridan College

Professional role model: Sheryl Sandberg. She is the Chief Operating Officer at Facebook, an author and the “Lean In” activist. In learning about Sheryl, I see many parallels in her bold personality and ambition with myself. Her drive, work ethic and message of advocating for one’s self are traits that I have adopted in my own career.

In 140 characters or less, what is your favourite part of your job? 

Working with passionate hoteliers from across Canada to promote IHG’s brands. The hospitality industry is always open; it’s very exciting.

What are your daily responsibilities? 

My goal at the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is to promote our Canadian properties through creative marketing, public relations and social media campaigns. I work with a very talented corporate team across the globe and various agencies to tell the IHG story of: outstanding hospitality, marquee brands and Great Hotels Guests Love.

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March 22, 2016 by