Waydowntown
Encyclopedia
waydowntown is a film
directed by Gary Burns, released in 2000
which explores office driven culture. The film takes place in Calgary
, Alberta
, where many downtown buildings are connected by a network of skywalk
s called Plus 15. As a result, the hustle and bustle of the main street has been replaced by recirculated air, food courts, and fluorescent lights. This is the setting for Burns' sardonic comedy about Canadian corporate culture.
to achieve its goals.
The cast includes Fab Filippo
, Don McKellar
, Marya Delver and Michelle Beaudoin
.
The film's title is derived from a particular form of suicide where one smashes the (non-openable) window of one's high-rise office and then jumps through. Many people go "downtown", but such folks go "waydowntown". In the movie, one of the characters has accumulated a 2-litre pop bottle full of marbles in the hopes of breaking his window.
. The company's offices are situated in the TD Canada Trust Tower
. The low-budget film was shot on digital and later transferred to 35 mm.
. Most critics praise the satirical elements, casting, and plot. Others find the film to be humorless, incomplete, and the plot to be too nonsensical and uninteresting.
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
directed by Gary Burns, released in 2000
2000 in film
The year 2000 in film involved some significant events.The top grosser worldwide was Mission: Impossible II. Domestically in North America, Gladiator won the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Actor ....
which explores office driven culture. The film takes place in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, where many downtown buildings are connected by a network of skywalk
Skyway
In an urban setting, a skyway, catwalk, sky bridge, or skywalk is a type of pedway consisting of an enclosed or covered bridge between two buildings. This protects pedestrians from the weather. These skyways are usually owned by businesses, and are therefore not public spaces...
s called Plus 15. As a result, the hustle and bustle of the main street has been replaced by recirculated air, food courts, and fluorescent lights. This is the setting for Burns' sardonic comedy about Canadian corporate culture.
Plot
The film centres on a group of colleagues in downtown Calgary, Alberta, who bet a month's salary on who can last the longest without going outside. The film takes place over one lunch hour during the course of the month long competition. The dark comedy often uses surrealismSurrealism
Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members....
to achieve its goals.
The cast includes Fab Filippo
Fab Filippo
-Personal life:Filippo, who also goes by the name of Fab Filippo, was born in Toronto, Canada. His parents are first generation Italian immigrants . He briefly attended York University's Film & Video Programme in 1993...
, Don McKellar
Don McKellar
-Personal life:McKellar was born in Toronto, Ontario to a lawyer father and teacher mother. He attended Glenview Senior Public School, Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute and later studied English at the University of Toronto's Victoria College...
, Marya Delver and Michelle Beaudoin
Michelle Beaudoin
Michelle Beaudoin is a Canadian actress best known for her role as Jenny Kelley in the ABC sitcom Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.-Early life:Beaudoin was born in Edmonton, Alberta, the daughter of Maurice and Lorraine Beaudoin....
.
The film's title is derived from a particular form of suicide where one smashes the (non-openable) window of one's high-rise office and then jumps through. Many people go "downtown", but such folks go "waydowntown". In the movie, one of the characters has accumulated a 2-litre pop bottle full of marbles in the hopes of breaking his window.
Cast
- Fab FilippoFab Filippo-Personal life:Filippo, who also goes by the name of Fab Filippo, was born in Toronto, Canada. His parents are first generation Italian immigrants . He briefly attended York University's Film & Video Programme in 1993...
as Tom - Don McKellarDon McKellar-Personal life:McKellar was born in Toronto, Ontario to a lawyer father and teacher mother. He attended Glenview Senior Public School, Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute and later studied English at the University of Toronto's Victoria College...
as Brad - Marya Delver as Sandra West
- Gordon CurrieGordon CurrieGordon Currie is a Canadian and American actor. He has also directed, written and produced several films. He works in both the U.S. and Canada in television and film roles. He is probably best known for his role as Nicolae Carpathia in Left Behind-Early life:Currie was born in Vancouver, British...
as Curt Schwin - Jennifer ClementJennifer ClementJennifer Clement studied English Literature and Anthropology at New York University and also studied French literature in Paris, France. She is currently the President of PEN Mexico....
as Vicki - Tammy Isbell as Kathy
- Tobias Godson as Randy
- James McBurney as Phil
Production
The majority of the film was shot in TD Square, the Calgary Eaton Centre, and Bankers HallBankers Hall
Bankers Hall is a building complex located in downtown Calgary, Alberta, which includes twin 52-storey office towers , designed by the architectural firm Cohos Evamy in postmodern architectural style....
. The company's offices are situated in the TD Canada Trust Tower
TD Canada Trust Tower, Calgary
TD Canada Trust Tower is an office tower in Calgary, Alberta. Located at 421 7th Avenue SW, it stands at or 41 stories tall, and sits above a four-level retail podium . It was designed by WZMH Architects in the postmodern style and was built by PCL Construction in 1991. It has a total area of and...
. The low-budget film was shot on digital and later transferred to 35 mm.
Reception
The film as of May 1, 2009 has a 70% freshness rating on Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
. Most critics praise the satirical elements, casting, and plot. Others find the film to be humorless, incomplete, and the plot to be too nonsensical and uninteresting.
Trivia
- The radio station CJAY 92CJAY-FMCJAY-FM is an active rock radio station in Calgary, Alberta that broadcasts on 92.1 FM. Owned by Astral Media, CJAY operates repeater transmitters located in Banff, Alberta and Invermere, British Columbia...
that plays "Start A Rumor Day" throughout the film is a real rock station in Calgary, with the station's actual DJs (the DJ "Bob", is Bob Steele, no longer with the station). The phone number that is mentioned is the station's phone number.