The Shadow Reports

A new mini-series airing on Montreal’s CBC News At Six

Starting Monday, November 20, 2006

Contrary to popular belief, young Canadians, often labeled apathetic, apolitical and self-absorbed, are concerned about the world around them. Not only are they passionate about social, political, and environmental issues, they are also the most media critical and technologically empowered generation. Among them are a new breed of techno-savvy, guerrilla video explorers – one-man band video-journalists (VJs) who do it all: film, record sound, edit, and most importantly, discover the story where and when it is taking place.

The Shadow Reports reflect this emerging generation of news journalists. Created by independent producers/VJs Paul Shore (Guerrilla News Network and Apathy Is Boring) and Amy Wong (CBC and Montreal Neurological Institute), The Shadow Reports are a novel type of in-depth newscast. Armed only with a digital camera and a microphone, Paul and Amy explore some of today’s most pressing social issues by shadowing the people whose stories are underreported or unreported in mainstream media.

The Series

The Shadow Reports go straight to the source and reveal the lives of people who are at the heart of the story. Join Amy and Paul as they follow five Montrealers:

“BEING IRAQI”

Yassin Alsalman is a Montreal hip hop artist born in Iraq. He travels frequently to the U.S. as part of his job and has been stopped or been turned back several times by border officials even though he has been a Canadian citizen for 17 years. Follow him as he crosses the border and discover his life post-9/11.

“PERMACULTURE”

Claude William Genest is an actor and TV show host turned “permaculturalist” and Green Party VP. He’s passionate about convincing people that a fully sustainable lifestyle is not only easy and good for our health, but can actually be achieved. Follow him to his country house to discover what permaculture is and how it has affected the way he thinks about the environment.

“STREET GANGS”

Kevin is a 15-year-old ex-street-gang member who lives in NDG. He was forced into the gangs at the age of 11 after moving to Montreal from the countryside. He is sick of the stereotypes that the media feeds us about street gangs and talks about what is really going on. Follow him into his room and through his neighbourhood and discover the frightening realities of youth violence on our streets.

“BIODIESEL”

John Hamilton is a film executive who makes biodiesel in his parents’ garage. He runs his Volkswagen GTI on it and wonders why the biodiesel trend has yet to hit Quebec. Follow him to his parents’ house to see how he makes it and then take a spin in his biodiesel-fuelled car through town.

“MODELS”

Korey Friesen is a successful 24-year-old model who is naturally thin. She has traveled to all the biggest fashion hubs of the world like Tokyo, Paris, Hamburg, and Milan. Korey is tired of the hype and stigma surrounding the fashion industry and claims that it is not as glamorous as it appears. Follow her to a television commercial casting and see what it is really like to be a model.

The Shadow Reports feature the music of The Narcicyst, Simahlak, and Chris Velan.

The Shadow Reports will air from the 20^th to the 24^th of November, 2006 on CBC News At Six in Montreal at 6pm.

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For more information, email shadowreports@gmail.com or contact Paul Shore at 514.910.9040.

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