I interviewed artists at The Artist Project

In March, my friend took me to The Artist Project in Toronto, a show featuring original works by over 200 artists. While there, I figured I'd try to learn something about art. Here's my investigation.

I wrote Cinnamon Pops commercials that will pop your head

Kellogg's needed to let the world know about their new Cinnamon Pops cereal. They wanted to highlight the crunchiness, the cinnamon, the deliciousness. And of course it all had be entertaining. Right after the briefing meeting, my art director and I cracked the problem in 5 minutes while eating hors d'oeuvres at an agency party. Inspiration may or may not have come from a segment on my Rogers Community Cable show 20 years ago where I would draw a face on an egg and then crush it. See that segment below and decide for yourself.

There are more commercials to come. Currently online are the spots "Spelling Bee" and "Ghost." And on TV and in movie theatres is the spot "Opera."

Oh, and I'm also the voice of the announcer in all the spots and of the sleeping man in the Ghost spot. If you could tell that already, well, you're probably my mom.





And here are those clips from my old cable show. The egg crushing segment starts at 3:22.

A teaser for a top secret webseries

Sometimes projects take a long time to work their way through the production process. But I hate to leave you loyal blog readers starving for news. So I'm treating you to images from a webseries I've been shooting for the past couple of months. After shooting an episode, the director wanted to grab a few quick photos of us. I can't tell you much about the show until we officially launch it. But if you know anything about my lovely co-host, you might come up with some clues. Vanessa Farquharson is a well-known author/journalist/speaker with a particular interest in helping the environment. In fact, I first became aware of her when I saw her eco column in the National Post and I emailed her to say hi.
She wound up including me in a story about green dating, we later mulled over doing some kind of green show together, and, well, years later... Ok, if I say any more I'll be killed. Just enjoy the pictures.

I took Debra Toffan's animation voice class!

Yes, you've heard my voice as a Scotsman in the animated show Time Warp Trio and as a chameleon in the commercial for Hubba Bubba Max. But I'd like to do even more voices for animation. And I always enjoy taking classes to learn new skills in any discipline. So when I heard that Debra Toffan was offering a class for animation voice, I jumped at the chance to take the April 7th one. She's casted tons of animated shows and has voice-directed superstars like Matt Damon, Joan Rivers, and Holly Hunter. I was afraid that she would confuse me for Matt Damon, since he and I look so much alike. But fortunately, my vocal gifts made me stand out. Or maybe it's just that I'm a bit more muscular than Matt. ANYway, I had a lot of fun in the class, and I recommend it to any voice actors who get a chance to take it.

I review my script while other members of the class take their turn doing voices in the booth.

Debra listens to the actors in the booth and offers her sage advice.

I wrote this Eggo commercial that's music to your mouth

Got a song about Eggo waffles stuck in your head these days? That might be the fault of me and my Art Director, George Longley. George and I are a creative team at Leo Burnett (Canada's most award-winning ad agency this year) and we were asked to make a commercial communicating that Eggos can inspire kids to be creative. The result is a TV spot we call "Eggo Tunes" below. Take a bite. I mean, a listen.

I'm acting in the Tim Hortons latte radio ad!

Wondering why you know that Tim Hortons lattes are just a dollar? Maybe it's because of my great acting in the radio ad that's currently getting lots of air play. Or maybe it's because a dollar is a great price for a latte. But I'm going to pretend it's the former. Because to my self-esteem, that's worth a... Well, you know. To hear the ad, click here.

 

I made one of the Top political YouTube videos of 2011!

This week I was thinking back on 2011 and wondered if my Love Song for Elizabeth May really just happened this year. Seems so long ago. But then tonight, on the last night of the year, I got a nice reminder that, yep, it happened in 2011: According to Yahoo! News, it was one of the Top political YouTube videos of 2011. Check out the article by clicking here. Glad I could be a part of a big Green step forward for Canada. Here's to more steps in 2012!

I'm on the Green Party of Ontario's Shadow Cabinet!

When Green Party of Ontario leader Mike Schreiner called me personally to ask if I would join his Shadow Cabinet, I turned Green with pride. The Shadow Cabinet will be staying on top of the Liberal government to advise them on how to make Ontario as healthy and sustainable as possible. And my folio is Consumer Services. Who better to keep tabs on that than an Advertising Copywriter, right? You can see the press release by clicking here or reading below:

Ontario Green Party’s New Shadow Cabinet will hold the old Parties at Queen’s Park Accountable

 
 

Submitted by Becky Smit on Mon, 2011-11-21 08:50

Toronto - “Why is a gas plant being built in Mississauga after the McGuinty Liberals promised to halt it during the election campaign?” asks Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Green Party of Ontario.  “Does the same fate await promises on the Melancthon mega quarry?”

“It took less than two months for election promises to be put on the back-burner and for a return to business-as-usual at Queen’s Park” says Schreiner.  "No wonder less than 50% of Ontarians voted in the provincial election."

The Green Party today announced an expanded Shadow Cabinet of passionate and dedicated citizens committed to long term solutions that put Ontario communities first. 

“Our team is committed to working with people of all political backgrounds on long term solutions to tackle the big challenges of our time.  We are not afraid of straight talk to address tough issues like rising energy prices,” says Schreiner.  “We can’t continue to subsidize energy prices and punt this challenge down the road to our kids and future generations.”

The Green Party’s Shadow Cabinet will focus on offering alternate policies to the status quo at Queen’s Park, with the goal of building a financially, socially and environmentally sustainable Ontario.

The Green Party’s Shadow Cabinet:

Aboriginal Affairs  - Jo Jo Holiday  (Kenora--Rainy River)

Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs  - Meade Helman  (York--Simcoe)

Attorney General  - Bassam Lazar  (London--Fanshawe)

Children and Youth Services  - Jennifer Mooradian  (St. Catharines)

Citizenship and Immigration  - Pauline Thornham  (Bramalea--Gore--Malton)

Community and Social Services  - Mark Daye  (Toronto Centre)

Community Safety and Correctional Services  - Jason Matyi  (Essex)

Consumer Services  - Josh Rachlis  (Eglinton--Lawrence)

Economic Development and Innovation - Dave Bagler  (Ottawa--Vanier)

Education  - Matt Richter  (Parry Sound --Muskoka)

Energy  - Steve Dyck  (Guelph)

Environment  - Stephanie-Lynn Russell  (Nickel Belt)

Finance  - Kevin O'Donnell  (Ottawa Centre)

Government Services  - Pauline Thompson  (Scarborough--Agincourt)

Health and Long-Term Care  - Judy Smith-Torrie  (Northumberland--Quinte West)

Infrastructure and Women's Directorate - Judith Van Veldhuysen  (St. Paul's)

Intergovernmental Affairs  - Angela Salewsky  (Etobicoke--Lakeshore)

Labour  - Kevin Labonte  (London North Centre)

Municipal Affairs and Housing  -  Stacey Leadbetter (Whitby-Oshawa)

Natural Resources  - Rob Strang  (Dufferin--Caledon)

Northern Development and Mines  - Pat Rogerson  (Sudbury)

Francophone Affairs - Nancy Matte  (Lanark--Frontenac--Lennox and Addington)

Seniors Secretariat - Gurleen Gill  (Etobicoke North)

Tourism and Culture  - Meredith Cross  (Niagara West--Glanbrook)

Training, Colleges and Universities  - Alex Hill  (Ottawa West--Nepean)

Transportation   - Tim Grant  (Trinity--Spadina) 

For more information on the Green Party of Ontario’s Shadow Cabinet please visit:

www.gpo.ca/about/organization/shadow-cabinet

-30-

Contact

Becky Smit

416-977-7476http://www.gpo.ca/media-release/ontario-green-party%E2%80%99s-new-shadow-cabinet-will-hold-old-parties-queen%E2%80%99s-park-accountabl

I turn down a bath with a swimsuit model to save water

A test pilot for the series My Life Is Garbage (formerly called Ecosexual) that educates about eco issues by harnessing the clean, green power of my pathetic life. Thanks to actresses Camila Mendes and Katie Uhlmann for offsetting my unattractiveness.


SYNOPSIS: Josh's passion for the environment can get him into hot water. Or not, as we see in this episode, where his sexy, Brazilian swimsuit model date takes him home and wants to have a bath with him.

I'm a Green Hero!

My mother always said I was "unique," and now I have proof. On April 22, 2011 at Toronto's Green Living Show, I was awarded the Unique Hero award by the Green Heroes TV show for how I help the environment with my green actions and my eco-comedy. And this was slightly BEFORE I released my Love Song For Elizabeth May that went viral and helped elect Canada's first Green MP. So imagine how unique of a Green Hero I must be now! Right, mom? (Yes, I'm posting about this award 4 months late. But hey, I've been busy saving the world. Uniquely.) Check out the award presentation by clicking here or viewing below.

I explain to the National Post what greens care about

In response to a National Post column claiming that environmentalism is about trying to control people's lives, I wrote a letter to the editor explaining that I care about the environment for quite different reasons. They were kind enough to print it as one of the few letters that day. Perhaps that means they'd like to take me on as their environmental columnist? (Hint hint)

Elizabeth May loves me back!

When I posted my Love Song For Elizabeth May on Monday night, I dreamed of her adding me to Facebook. Tuesday afternoon, my dream came true. But never did I dare to dream that she would love me back. And if that can happen, anything is possible. Like her winning a seat in Parliament! Looks like I'm going to be the First Lady of Canada, just like Michelle Obama! Or something like that. In any case, I better go pick out my organic hemp inauguration dress!

Success!

Last night I uploaded a song for Elizabeth May to YouTube. At the end of the song I asked her to add me to Facebook. And tada! She may be the leader of a national political party, but she's still a woman. And women like it when you write songs about them.

A love song for the leader of the Green Party, Elizabeth May

There's a federal election on in Canada, and Elizabeth May, the leader of the Green Party, was shut out of the televised leaders debate. I, however, will debate her any time and have written a song to express this to her. On the party's website they talk about Strong Economy and Strong Communities, so that's why I sing about those things. If you can't see the video above, you can view the song by clicking here. And here are the lyrics so you can sing along:

Hey, hey, Elizabeth May

I’m an eco-guy who thinks about you every day

So when I heard the TV station wouldn’t let you come and play

I hopped on public transit and I came here to say

I’ll debate you in the morning

Over organic tea

I’ll debate you in the afternoon

As we plant a tree

I’ll debate you in the evening

As we compost scraps of food

But there’s no debating I love you

Hey, hey, Elizabeth May

I’d love to talk to you about the Green Part-ay

If the other leaders won’t then they must be afraid

But don’t worry about them because I’m super-brave

I’ll debate you in the morning

About strong economies

I’ll debate you in the afternoon

About strong communities

I’ll debate you in the evening

About whatever else you’re into

But there’s no debating I love you

I won’t debate Stephen because questions make him mad

I won’t debate Jack ‘cause I’m allergic to his stache

Gilles won’t like my accent so I better save my breath

But I owe it to the planet to debate Elizabeth

Oh, I forgot Iggy. But, well, doesn’t everyone?

I’ll debate you in the morning

As we recycle all our jars

I’ll debate you in the afternoon

As we drive electric cars

I’ll debate you in the evening

Until my green face turns to blue

But there’s no debating I love you

Pop-culture site Crushable labels me the Worst Trend Ever

You may have thought Nazism was the worst trend ever. Or maybe even the Macarena. But you'd be wrong. At least according to pop-culture/celebrity gossip site Crushable. Because in this past Saturday's article, author Lilit Marcus writes that eco-comedy (or "eco-medy" as she calls it but which I refuse to call it because even though it's catchy it reminds me of email) is the "Worst Trend Ever." Now, she's basing this solely on the recent Mother Nature Network article about eco-comedians. And you'll notice that there's already a nice comment under the Crushable article saying that my bald joke is actually quite funny. Oh, after that MNN article was published I got an email was published from a guy starting a stand-up comedy site who wants a clip of that bald joke. But whether something is funny or not is obviously in the funny bone of the beholder. The other question is whether the work is indeed "green washing," as the article suggests. I can only speak for my own work, but I can say that I'm careful to insert accurate, important environmental information in my stand-up comedy and short films. Now, I know the article was written tongue-in-cheek, but I'd still like to defend what little honour I have. And so I'm happy to report that Crushable liked my Facebook fan page posting about the article and has contacted me with an invitation to convince them that they're wrong about eco-comedy. I'm up for the challenge. Though to be honest, I'm actually happy to be known as the poster boy for the Worst Trend Ever. Takes some focus off my other role as poster boy for the Worst Date Ever.

I'm a GreenHeroes category winner! Come to the Green Living Show to see if I win the Grand Prize!!

GreenHeroes is an eco web channel and television series that will be announcing the Grand Prize Winner of their GreenHero contest at the Green Living Show this Sunday. The lucky winner, selected from nominations to www.greenheroes.tv (to see my nomination, click here) will be featured in an upcoming episode of GreenHeroes. Why am I telling you this? Because I just got an email saying I'm a category winner! Which apparently means that at the very least, I'll be getting a T-shirt. Which is very exciting for me, because it means I can delay doing laundry for another day. Oh, and I'm also now in the running for the Grand Prize. To see the Green Living Show's Main Stage schedule click here, and be at the Green Living Show on Sunday at 1:30 PM to congratulate me. Or to console me. Either way, I will let you touch my T-shirt.


Oh, and for the skeptics who need proof, here's the email:


Congratulations Josh! I am pleased to let you know that you are a category winner in the GreenHeroes contest!

With this distinction, you are also a finalist for the Grand Prize winner. The winner will be announced this coming Sunday, April  17^th at 1:30 p.m..

We will be making a short presentation on-stage to all the finalists and then will be announcing the grand prize winner.  It would be great if you could join us to celebrate.

As a finalist you will receive a green heroes t-shirt, so please let us know your size, and if you will be able to attend on Sunday. We have a complimentary ticket for you and a guest. We also hope to host a little celebration afterward at our booth #337.

  

Thanks for participating and I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

Sincerely,

Joan Prowse

Producer

www.GreenHeroes.tv

Watch these bits from Night For Nature 2010 and come to this year's tomorrow!

To help you get in the mood for tomorrow's Night For Nature show, which I'll be MC'ing for the 2nd year in a row, here are some eco-riffic bits from last year's show. And this year promises to be even more exciting, with dancing, music, and even a presentation by HGTV host Carson Arthur. Plus, the silent auction and raffle prizes are worth the trip alone. So come! It will be the most environmentally-friendly thing you do tomorrow night. Unless you were planning to build a solar farm between 6 and 9 PM. In which case, I guess go do that instead. But otherwise, get the ticket information by clicking here.

The WMEAC Blog asks if my eco-comedy is effective

Click here to read a nice piece about my eco-comedy in the WMEAC Blog (oh please, stop pretending you don't know WMEAC stands for West Michigan Environmental Action Council). The article ends by asking the reader to decide if eco-comedy is an effective tactic. Well, I sure hope it's effective, 'cause otherwise hosting Night For Nature in two days will be a waste of my Friday night. Oh, who am I kidding... I'd just be spending Friday night crying into my pillow as usual. So at least I'm getting out of the house. If you, too, need an excuse to pry yourself from your tear-salted bedding this Friday, get ticket info at the Facebook event listing by clicking here. I'm not saying you'll see a live performance of my new love song for Green Party leader Elizabeth May, but, well, ok, yes, I'm saying that.

America's Comedy reports on MY comedy!

If any U.S. customs agents are reading this, I want you to know that having a video featured on the site America's Comedy grants me permission to work in America. After all, did you hear that Conan O'Brien got his start by having a video featured on America's Comedy? He didn't, but I was wondering if you'd heard that. Ok, ok, fine, ouch - Enough with the cavity search. Just check out the article by clicking here.

My eco-comedy is profiled in The Ottawa Citizen!

The Ottawa Citizen. Leading newspaper in our Nation's Capital. Keeping us informed about the most important issues in our country since 1845. And today, I am one of those issues. Well, ok, maybe the environment is the real issue in this story. But still, it's me getting the word out. I don't see any trees winning eco-comedy film awards. Trees are so lazy. I'm just kidding, I love trees. I mean, not THAT way. I'm into women. Although, come to think of it, I'd probably have more success with trees. Anyway, what was I happy about a second ago? Oh, right. The article. Check it out by clicking here.