The Firecracker Department

Our guest this week is Chinese-Canadian actor, writer - RONG FU!

Rong was born in Qin-an, China and was raised in Toronto, Canada. She knew at a young age that she wanted to be an actor and started her classical training in theatre at Earl Haig, an arts high school in Toronto and then went on to graduate from York University’s Acting Conservatory in 2012.

Rong’s theatrical debut was in the critically acclaimed production of THE CRUCIBLE at Soulpepper in Toronto. She has since performed on stages across Canada in amazing productions including the Shaw Festival’s STAGE KISS and THE ORCHARD AFTER CHEKHOV in Niagara-on-the Lake, Vertigo Theatre’s SHERLOCK HOLMES and THE RAVEN’S CURSE in Calgary, Toronto Tarragon Theatre’s THE MILLENNIAL MALCONTENT, and Roseneath Theatre’s Dora Nominated THE MONEY TREE in Toronto.

You may recognize Rong on the small screen in shows such as: CBC and NBC’s PRETTY HARD CASES, CBC and Netflix’s WORKIN’ MOMS, CBS’s AMERICAN GOTHIC, ABC’s ROOKIE BLUE, CTV’s CARTER, and The CW’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Most recently, on Paramount+’s STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS, and Lionsgate and BuzzFeed Studios’ MY FAKE BOYFRIEND.

Rong plays the romantic lead Avery in CBC Gem’s original HELLO (AGAIN), a k-drama inspired rom-com created by Simu Liu and Nathalie Younglai, that recently won BEST DRAMA PILOT in the DIGITAL SHORTS SERIES in SeriesFest in Denver, Colorado.

MAY FLOWERS, ASIANS IN THE SIXTH is a short film that Rong wrote and it premiered on CBC: CANADA REFLECTIONS in 2020. She is a founding member of a community collective of Asian artists in film and television called ASIANS IN THE SIXTH as a Facebook group. In 2021, she curated a program of various free industry workshops to uplift and support fellow Asian artists, including workshops about The Business Side of Acting and another workshop on Authenticity and Wellbeing.

Twitter: @rongideas

Instagram: @rongideas

Website:

https://www.officialrongfu.com/

HELLO (AGAIN)

@watchhelloagain #watchhelloagain

@cbcgem

Watch: https://gem.cbc.ca/media/hello-again/s01

Podcast Team

Head Producer and Editor: Winnie Wong @wonder_wong

Editor: Shayne Stolz @shaynestolz

Graphic: Vicki Brier @brier2019

To listen to the podcast: https://linktr.ee/firecrackerdept

Subscribe to our newsletter at https://www.firecrackerdepartment.com and follow us @firecrackerdept!

Talking with Annie Murphy is like hanging out with an old highschool buddy. From a quiet life amongst the tulips of Ottawa to starring in "Schitt’s Creek" and married to a rock star we’re gonna talk about her journey. She chose acting, over being a lawyer, and I am so glad she did because she is a delight as Alexis Rose on "Schitt’s Creek". We had a really fun, honest conversation about the fear of auditioning, her dislike of too much sunshine, and how writing can get you through the tough times.

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Our guest on the pod this week is multi award winning Disabled writer, performer, and producer, OPHIRA CALOF! Ophira’s work weaves together music, comedy, and storytelling, centring disability and chronic illness experiences. Ophira’s journey is so unique and she is whip smart as well as hilarious. A Second-City-er, a trained opera singer, curator, workshop facilitator, consultant, and keynote speaker, Ophira is BUSY!

We talk about art in accessibility, who you grow up wanting to be in Beauty & the Beast, music, comedy, opera, chronic pain, body neutrality, Tallboyz, performance venue accesibility and more!

Their single, Still Standing, is available online including on Apple Music and Spotify! They co-created the Canadian Comedy Award Nominated sketch comedy revue Generally Hospital, and their solo show, Literally Titanium, was developed through the Buddies in Bad Times Emerging Creator’s Unit before premiering at the 2020 Next Stage Theatre Festival.

Twitter: @Ophira_C

Instagram: @ophira.c

Facebook Fan page/website: https://www.ophira.ca/

Head Producer: Winnie Wong @wonder_wong

Head of Post Production: Sydney Neilson @sydney_neilson

Editor: Jordyn Giddens @jordyn_giddens

Subscribe to our newsletter at https://www.firecrackerdepartment.com and follow us @firecrackerdept!

In November, we announced our partnership with Reel Women's Network, a new online streaming service that showcases films, series, documentaries, podcasts, and digital content created by women filmmakers and content creators. Our second Reel Women’s Network Spotlight guest is two-time Emmy Nominated Actor, Documentary Filmmaker, ANDREA EVANS! She has starred on four different soap operas on three different networks.

Andrea is the Executive Producer of the documentary “Rocking the Couch”. It’s hard hitting documentary revolving around the Hollywood “casting couch,” featuring emotional interviews and a true #metoo story. The documentary is streaming on Amazon Prime and, of course, Reel Women’s Network!

See Andrea now on Amazon Prime’s THE BAY!

Follow Andrea!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/andreaevansprod

Follow Reel Women’s Network!

Twitter: @ReelWomensNetw1

Instagram: reelwomensnetwork

FB: ReelWomensNetwork

Subscribe to our newsletter at https://www.firecrackerdepartment.com and follow us @firecrackerdept!

This week on the podcast, our guest is sound designer and composer Nainita Desai!

Nainita’s worked on documentaries, film, tv, commercials, musicals, video games... her credits are amazing and so is she! She’s the first composer we’ve had as a guest!

She has scored countless BAFTA, Oscar, Emmy acclaimed productions including 2020’s FOR SAMA. Her most recently released project is the Sundance Doc Audience Award winning THE REASON I JUMP, an immersive film exploring the experiences of non speaking autistic people from around the world. It just came out this past Friday, along with the first single and music video! You can follow the film @reasonIjumpfilm to hear the music and find out where you can watch.

Over 95 percent of composers are men, and we need more Nainitas!

Follow Nainita Desai on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nainitadesai

Follow Nainita Desai on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nainita_desai/

Watch The Reason I Jump: https://thereasonijumpfilm.com/

Support Action For Sama: https://www.instagram.com/actionforsama

Listen to Nainita on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/artist/6yyzlTFjuZqptozK4Q9wHO

Subscribe to our newsletter at https://www.firecrackerdepartment.com and follow us @firecrackerdept!