ICE explores the hopeless posturing, isolation and angst of contemporary kids, grounding them in the explosive energy, fresh language and fast paced reality of high school life. compelling, multi-layed, a vivid kaleidoscope of music, movement and hard hitting drama, the film artistically captures an urban teen's struggle to fight the creeping unreality of her life and the increasing attraction of suicide.
'ICE: beyond cool' is an electrifying new drama created by award-winning film and television producer/director Tony Papa, president of the Vancouver-based production company Avanti Pictures Corporation.
Papa, drew heavily from his music background and performance expertise to forge a new style of filmmaking to create this one-hour special for CBC Television. 'ICE: beyond cool' merges drama, music and dance elements to tell a fictionalized account of stories surrounding teen suicide, gathered during a two year research process with real Canadian teens. It's a high-speed, multi-layered kaleidoscope of comedy and drama, music and movement that explores the real pressures faced by teens today, weaving the pragmatic world of school, home and friends that they inhabit, with the often Alice in Wonderland -like surreal world of their inner lives.
A young cast brings the story of a 16-year-old urban teen, her friends, and the conflicting pressures on her, vividly to life. Papa, who felt compelled to create the film when he heard the realities behind the grim statistics of teen depression and suicide, put months of research, careful consideration and creative risk-taking into the drama. Papa explains, "The show airs in February, the highest-risk month for depressed teens. I wanted to create a television show that would open a door of dialogue. The tone isn't pedantic or preachy and it is, I hope, different enough that the audience will take notice and start talking. I worked hard to not only make it realistic but relevant; and constructed in a contemporary style and language that reflects the vernacular of a young audience."
'ICE: beyond cool' is an Avanti Pictures Corporation production for national broadcast on CBC Television in February 2001. The show is made with the participation of the Shaw Television Broadcast Fund, the Canadian Television Fund License Fee Programme, Equity Investment Programme, Health Canada and CBC British Columbia.
'ICE: beyond cool' is a genuinely provocative entertainment, a rare, hybrid of music and drama that can and should be watched by teens with their parents, and by high school students with their teachers."
Credits
Director Tony Papa Writer John Lazarus Producer Tony Papa Cast Erin Mathews, as Sara Tonia Usher, as Chrissie Composer Graeme Coleman Cinematographer John Banovich Choreographer Judith Marcus Post Production Facilities: Avanti Pictures
ICE explores the hopeless posturing, isolation and angst of contemporary kids, grounding them in the explosive energy, fresh language and fast paced reality of high school life. compelling, multi-layed, a vivid kaleidoscope of music, movement and hard hitting drama, the film artistically captures an urban teen's struggle to fight the creeping unreality of her life and the increasing attraction of suicide.