Shania: A Life in Eight Albums
Encyclopedia
Shania: A Life in Eight Albums is a Canadian
television movie
, which aired on CBC Television
on 8pm on November 7, 2005. It is a biopic of Canadian country
star Shania Twain
, that was originally scheduled to air in October, but was delayed by the CBC labour dispute. The film was divided into eight chapters, each defined by its own colour code, style and symbolic album cover title.
, and Meredith Henderson
who plays Twain as an adult. They worked out shared mannerism to improve continuity and all did their own singing. The film also stars Megan Follows
and Eric Schweig
as Twain's parents, and Gordon Tootoosis as her grandfather.
The film was directed by Jerry Ciccoritti
and produced by Barna-Alper Productions
.
Filming started on September 20, 2004 and mainly occurred in Sudbury. Additional filming was done in Capreol
Huntsville
, Timmins
and Toronto
. The film contained only brief footage of Timmins even though Twain grew up there. In 2004, Timmins mayor Vic Power
publicly criticized the filmmakers in 2004 for not producing the film in Timmins calling it a "horrible miscarriage of justice". Nevertheless, the director was successful in recruiting cousins of Twain as extras and more importantly he secure High Park house where Twain lived with John Kim Bell as a filming location. In a random case of good fortune, the current owner of the house provided the crew with a guitar Shania had left behind. Meredith Henderson played it in the film.
The film was not authorized by Twain and made without her participation. The film ends with a disclaimer stating so. Because of Twain's lack of participation, the producers were not allowed to use any of her songs, and thus relied on early bootlegs of Twain singing public domain songs.
The film was released on DVD on April 24, 2007.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
television movie
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
, which aired on CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
on 8pm on November 7, 2005. It is a biopic of Canadian country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
star Shania Twain
Shania Twain
Shania Twain, OC is a Canadian country pop singer-songwriter. Her album The Woman in Me , brought her fame and her 1997 album Come On Over, became the best-selling album of all time by a female musician in any genre, and the best-selling country album of all time. It has sold over 40 million...
, that was originally scheduled to air in October, but was delayed by the CBC labour dispute. The film was divided into eight chapters, each defined by its own colour code, style and symbolic album cover title.
Production and release
The role of Shania was shared between eight-year-old Reva Timbers, teen Shenae GrimesShenae Grimes
Shenae Grimes is a Canadian actress. She currently portrays the role of Annie Wilson on 90210, a spinoff of Beverly Hills, 90210. Prior to that she played Darcy Edwards on Degrassi: The Next Generation...
, and Meredith Henderson
Meredith Henderson
Meredith Henderson is a Canadian actress best known for playing the title role in The Adventures of Shirley Holmes....
who plays Twain as an adult. They worked out shared mannerism to improve continuity and all did their own singing. The film also stars Megan Follows
Megan Follows
Megan Elizabeth Laura Diana Follows is a Canadian/American actress. She is most known to international audiences for her role as Anne Shirley in the acclaimed 1985 Canadian television miniseries Anne of Green Gables and its two sequels.-Biography:Follows was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as the...
and Eric Schweig
Eric Schweig
Eric Schweig is a First Nations actor best known for his role as Chingachgook's son Uncas in The Last of the Mohicans .-Early life:...
as Twain's parents, and Gordon Tootoosis as her grandfather.
The film was directed by Jerry Ciccoritti
Jerry Ciccoritti
Jerry Ciccoritti is a Canadian film, television and theatre director. His ability to work in a number of genres and for many mediums has made him one of the most successful directors in the country.- Biography :...
and produced by Barna-Alper Productions
Barna-Alper Productions
E1 Television is a Canadian television production company, based in Toronto, Ontario.-History:E1 Television was founded in 1980 as Barna-Alper Productions Inc. The company was headed by President and Chief Executive Officer Laszlo Barna and Laura Alper, Barna's wife. E1 also distributed through...
.
Filming started on September 20, 2004 and mainly occurred in Sudbury. Additional filming was done in Capreol
Capreol, Ontario
Capreol is a community in the Ontario city of Greater Sudbury. From 1918 to 2000, Capreol existed as an independent town, situated on the Vermilion River....
Huntsville
Huntsville, Ontario
Huntsville is a town in the Muskoka Region of Ontario, Canada. It is located north of Toronto and south of North Bay....
, Timmins
Timmins
Timmins is a city in northeastern Ontario, Canada on the Mattagami River. At the time of the Canada 2006 Census, Timmins' population was 42,997...
and Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. The film contained only brief footage of Timmins even though Twain grew up there. In 2004, Timmins mayor Vic Power
Victor M. Power
Victor M. Power is a Canadian politician who served as Timmins, Ontario's longest-serving mayor.Power attended the University of Windsor and the University of Toronto. He later worked as a teacher and guidance counsellor at Timmins High and Vocational School before entering municipal politics. ...
publicly criticized the filmmakers in 2004 for not producing the film in Timmins calling it a "horrible miscarriage of justice". Nevertheless, the director was successful in recruiting cousins of Twain as extras and more importantly he secure High Park house where Twain lived with John Kim Bell as a filming location. In a random case of good fortune, the current owner of the house provided the crew with a guitar Shania had left behind. Meredith Henderson played it in the film.
The film was not authorized by Twain and made without her participation. The film ends with a disclaimer stating so. Because of Twain's lack of participation, the producers were not allowed to use any of her songs, and thus relied on early bootlegs of Twain singing public domain songs.
The film was released on DVD on April 24, 2007.
Cast
- Meredith HendersonMeredith HendersonMeredith Henderson is a Canadian actress best known for playing the title role in The Adventures of Shirley Holmes....
... Eilleen Shania Twain - Shenae GrimesShenae GrimesShenae Grimes is a Canadian actress. She currently portrays the role of Annie Wilson on 90210, a spinoff of Beverly Hills, 90210. Prior to that she played Darcy Edwards on Degrassi: The Next Generation...
... Eilleen 13-16 yrs. - Reva Timbers ... Eilleen 8-11 yrs.
- Megan FollowsMegan FollowsMegan Elizabeth Laura Diana Follows is a Canadian/American actress. She is most known to international audiences for her role as Anne Shirley in the acclaimed 1985 Canadian television miniseries Anne of Green Gables and its two sequels.-Biography:Follows was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as the...
... Sharon Twain - Eric SchweigEric SchweigEric Schweig is a First Nations actor best known for his role as Chingachgook's son Uncas in The Last of the Mohicans .-Early life:...
... Jerry Twain - Lynne Cormack ... Mary Baily
- Darrell DennisDarrell DennisDarrell Dennis is a native Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter and radio personality.He has appeared in various Canadian television series including Northwood and The Rez...
... John Kim Bell - Gordon Tootoosis ... Greey Twain
- Katie BolandKatie BolandKatherine Lenora Boland is a Canadian actress.-Career:In her youth, Katie became well known for her roles in the Canadian children's television shows Noddy and The Zack Files...
... Jill, 13-24 yrs. - Caroline Sura ... Carrie Anne 10-13 yrs.
- Courtenay Betts ... Carrie Anne, 16-21 yrs.
- Adam Cabral ... Mark, 5-8 yrs.
- Devon BostickDevon BostickDevon Bostick is a Canadian actor, best known for playing the lead role in the Atom Egoyan-directed film Adoration and Rodrick Heffley in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movies.- Life and career :Bostick was born in Toronto, Ontario...
... Mark, 14 yrs. - Aydan James Taylor ... Darryl, 5-7 yrs
- Chevez EzanehChevez EzanehChevez Ezaneh is a young Dene actor who has played characters who are Native Americans, including the young Charles Eastman in the HBO TV film Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. Ezaneh won a Young Artist Award in 2008 for the "Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special - Leading Young...
... Darryl, 8-13 yrs. - Tracey Toulouse ... Audrey
- Diego KlattenhoffDiego KlattenhoffDiego Klattenhoff is a Canadian actor best known for playing Derek in Whistler and Ivan in Men in Trees.-Career:Diego Klattenhoff studied with some of Canada's most respected acting coaches, including David Rotenberg, Bruce Clayton and Rae Ellen Bodie, and eventually his dedication and persistence...
... Paul - Christopher RalphChristopher RalphChristopher Ralph is a Canadian actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as Tobias in the 1998 TV series Animorphs.-Acting Roles:* Animorphs - Tobias * Gossip - Bill...
... Mike - Grant Aldridge ... David
- Michael Carabine ... Rick
- David Dymond ... Mike
Awards
The film was nominated for two Gemini Awards in 2006. Megan Follows was nominated in the category "Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series". The film was also nominated in the category "Best Sound in a Dramatic Program". It also win the DGC Craft Award for "Outstanding Sound Editing - Television Movie/Mini-Series" that same year.External links
- http://www.shaniasplace.com/GreatestHits_Gallery/PicturesVidCaps/ScanPages/051107_CBC_ShaniaALifeInEightAlbums.htm