TAXI TO L.A.

Fiction, Drama, 78:30 min, 1997, 35mm, colour, NTSC.

Synopsis

Grief-stricken after her fiancé called off their wedding, Sam (Alexandra Woodward), an impetuous Montréal socialite, impulsively hires Jack (Mark Houghton), a taxi driver with voyeuristic tendencies, to drive her from Montréal to L.A.

The trip is rougher than either would have anticipated. Sam is outraged that some truck stops don't serve cappuccino and offended by Jack's hygiene, or lack thereof, while Jack is exasperated by Sam's nagging and her ignorance of the real world. As the mismatched couple makes their way across America, both Sam and Jack's outlooks begin to change and the two develop a rapport.

The journey opens Sam's eyes to life beyond the country club and her exuberance helps crack Jack's cynical and defensive shell. As antagonism gives way to affection, a larger question begins to loom: can the relationship between this odd couple last beyond their eight-day taxi ride to L.A.?

Cast & Crew

STARRING: ALEXANDRA WOODWARD, MARK HOUGHTON, JAY FERGUSON, GEOFF DEADMAN, JULIE BOURNE, DONALD ROSENFELD JR., DONALD ROSENFELD SR.
PRODUCTION MANAGER: KARINE ZERBÉ
MAKE-UP, HAIR & COSTUME: CLÉLIA MARSADIÉ
CAMERA / DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: JAY FERGUSON
EDITOR: PHILIP JANDALY, ROSELLA TURSI
SOUND: ALAIN TREMBLAY
ORIGINAL MUSIC: JEAN-FRANÇOIS FABIANO
SCREENPLAY: BASHAR SHBIB, DIANE CARLSON
BASED ON AN ORIGINAL STORY BY: LIZ SHANNON
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: MICHEL ZGARKA
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: SAMI CHBIB, PIERRE LATOUR
PRODUCER/DIRECTOR: BASHAR SHBIB

THIS FILM IS PRODUCED WITH THE FINANCIAL PARTICIPATION OF:
TELEFILM CANADA
SOCIÉTÉ DE DÉVELOPPEMENT DES ENTREPRISES CULTURELLES (SODEC)
GOUVERNEMENT DU QUÉBEC (Programme du Crédit d'Impôt)
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA (Tax Credit Program)

All Rights Reserved © 1997 Oneira Pictures International

STRICTLY SPANKING

Fiction, Drama, 80:22 min, 1997, 35mm, colour, NTSC.

Synopsis

Kate Lloyd (Iona Brindle), a once-promising undergraduate, has dropped out to live with her boyfriend Liam (Patrick Garrow). Although Kate tells Liam that she has never been happier, there are moments in their physical relationship that reveal the existence of a few unresolved issues from her past.

Kate's blissful life is shattered one day when she gets a call from her mother. The police want to question her about a young friend of hers that was found dead from dehydration. Confronted with this news, Kate tells Liam her story. She recounts how, encouraged by a mysterious voice over a sex chat-line, she allowed herself to become involved in a sadomasochistic relationship with one of her professors (Alastair Hesketh-Jones). Once initiated into this world, she started practicing her S&M tricks on Alan (Sid Zanforlin), a reclusive computer repairman. What seemed like a game at first eventually turned uncontrollable as the activities progressed beyond strictly spanking and people began to get hurt.

Strictly Spanking is a gothic, suburban tale about the unforseen sexual awakening of a young woman.

Cast & Crew

STARRING: IONA BRINDLE, PATRICK GARROW, ALASTAIR HESKETH-JONES, VICTORIA ANN STIRLING, SID ZANFORLIN, LARISSA GIROUX, GABOR ZSIGOVICS
ART DIRECTOR: ANTHONY BRAITHWAITE
CAMERA/DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: KARINE ZERBÉ, ROSELLA TURSI, GEOFF DEADMAN
EDITOR: MARIE-HÉLÈNE PANISSET
SOUND: ALAIN TREMBLAY
ORIGINAL MUSIC: CHRISS LEE, TALAMASCA
SCREENPLAY: ANN CARLIER, BASHAR SHBIB
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER:  MICHEL ZGARKA
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: PIERRE LATOUR
PRODUCER & DIRECTORS: BASHAR SHBIB

THIS FILM IS PRODUCED WITH THE FINANCIAL PARTICIPATION OF:
TELEFILM CANADA
SOCIÉTÉ DE DÉVELOPPEMENT DES ENTREPRISES CULTURELLES (SODEC)
GOUVERNEMENT DU QUÉBEC (Programme du Crédit d'Impôt)
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA (Tax Credit Program)

All Rights Reserved © 1997 Oneira Pictures International

PANIC

Fiction, Drama, 84:00 min, 1997, 35mm, colour, NTSC.

Synopsis

Harry (Robin Andrew Wilcock), a shabby but dignified transvestite, writes radio dramas. One night, he goes into the studio to record his latest work, “Panic,” about a woman whose greatest dream is to write pulp fiction. Harry is assisted by Jack (Patrick Garrow), a macho and homophobic sound technician.

Harry's drama follows the adventures of Marion (Diane Carlson), a shy and dowdy writer who gets her first break when she is offered a contract to write a story in three days by a publisher (Dick Coward). Confronted with the opportunity and the deadline, she experiences writer's block. Borrowing a tape recorder from a friend, Marion begins seeking inspiration from the conversations of strangers, and weaves a tale about murder and intrigue in the art world. Gradually, she finds herself being sucked into a fictional world of two beautiful people (Alexandra Woodward, Domenic Carapella) with exotic circumstances, while the line between fantasy and reality becomes increasingly blurred.

As Jack watches Harry in the recording booth, his initial contempt turns to curiosity and then respect. A cautious friendship develops between the two men, revealing that they are not as different as it may have seemed at first.

Cast & Crew

STARRING : ALEXANDRA WOODWARD, ROBIN ANDREW WILCOCK, DIANE CARLSON, PATRICK GARROW, DICK COWARD, DOMENIC CARAPELLA
ART DIRECTOR : MARIE-HÉLÈNE PANISSET
CAMERA/DIRECTORS OF PRODUCTION : ALEX MARGINEANU, JAY FERGUSON
EDITING : MARIE-HÉLÈNE PANISSET
SOUND: ALAIN TREMBLAY
ORIGINAL MUSIC : CHRISS LEE, TALAMASCA, BASHAR SHBIB
SCREENPLAY : BASHAR SHBIB, HAROLD VON KURSK
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER : MICHEL ZGARKA
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER : PIERRE LATOUR
PRODUCER/DIRECTOR :  BASHAR SHBIB

THIS FILM IS PRODUCED WITH THE FINANCIAL PARTICIPATION OF:
TELEFILM CANADA
SOCIÉTÉ DE DÉVELOPPEMENT DES ENTREPRISES CULTURELLES (SODEC)
GOUVERNEMENT DU QUÉBEC (Programme du Crédit d'Impôt)
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA (Tax Credit Program)

All Rights Reserved © 1997 Oneira Pictures International

BONE

Fiction, Drama, 76:07 min, 1998, 35mm, colour, NTSC.

Synopsis

Bone tells the story of four friends who get caught up in a crooked venture to transport illegally-obtained genetic material across national borders.

Upon returning to her hometown, Hadley (Marisa Malone) finds herself in the company of her lover, Paul (Romano Orzari). Paul is an educated young man who – like many from his generation – is stuck working for minimum wage in a position well below his qualifications. For all these reasons, Paul wants to quit. Marty (David Andrew Barret) is a long-time friend who often has his hand in shady deals of all kinds. But this time, Marty has a tempting offer for Hadley and Paul for an easy, sure-fire scam that could net them all a handsome sum.

The idea is to use Hadley’s position as a flight attendant to transport a mysterious package on a simple round trip and voila! However sceptical, Hadley nonetheless agrees to meet Marty and his live-in girlfriend, Jamie (Eva Gaspar). Jaime is a troubled beauty who writes poetry in her spare time, otherwise working as a masseuse out of a converted room in her apartment. The two women immediately share a strong affinity for one another. The story takes a bad turn when their paranoia is worsened as they meet Frankie the mobster dealer (Mark Houghton), who has a unique vision concerning events as they unfold.

Cast & Crew

STARRING : ROMANO ORZARI, MARISA MALONE, DAVID ANDREW BARRETT, EVA GASPAR, MARK HOUGHTON, PATRICK GARROW, BRENT RADFORD, DAVID DI SALVIO, LARRY COHEN, EUGENE GARCIA
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER : PIERRE LATOUR
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY : JAY FERGUSON
ORIGINAL MUSIC : TITI REBO, TALAMASCA
SOUND: PIERRE MICHAUD, MICHEL GRZELAK, MICHEL LECOUFLE
ART DIRECTOR : ANTHONY BRAITHWAITE
EDITOR : SUZANNE TURGEON
SCREENPLAY : EUGENE GARCIA
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER : MARIE-HÉLÈNE PANISSET
PRODUCER : BASHAR SHBIB
WRITER, DIRECTOR : EUGENE GARCIA

THIS FILM IS PRODUCED WITH THE FINANCIAL PARTICIPATION OF:
SOCIÉTÉ DE DÉVELOPPEMENT DES ENTREPRISES CULTURELLES (SODEC)
GOUVERNEMENT DU QUÉBEC (Programme du Crédit d'Impôt)
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA (Tax Credit Program)

All Rights Reserved © 1998 Oneira Pictures International

THE KISS

Fiction, Drama, 77:17 min, 1999, 35mm, colour, NTSC.

Synopsis

Bill Gabriel Young (Bashar Shbib), a B-filmmaker with a past, discovers he has some kind of blood cancer. He sets out to do his final film as he spends his last days with his children Tanya, Laila and Amir (Maïa Nadon-Chbib, Camille Fortin-Chbib and Tadzeo Horner-Chbib). He finally tells his three children that, by intuitive feeling, he was going to soon die of this cancer. Before succumbing to death, he is determined to tell them his views on the state of the world, conflicts, people’s irreconcilable differences, and lastly about love. Through the voyage of a kiss, which is what ultimately brings them and life together.

Cast & Crew

STARRING : BASHAR SHBIB, MAÏA NADON-CHBIB, CAMILLE FORTIN-CHBIB, TAZEO HORNER-CHBIB, GABOR ZSIGOVICS, ROSS PARTRIDGE, BOBO VIAN, TONIA LYNN, ALEXANDRA WOODWARD, SUSAN EYTON JONES, MARK HOUGHTON, IONA BRIDLE
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER : PIERRE LATOUR
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER : ANDREW MAKAREWICZ
CAMERA/DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY/PHOTOGRAPHY : KARINE ZERBÉ
ASSISTANT CAMERA : GEOFF DEADMAN, STEPHEN DE OLIVEIRA
ART DIRECTOR : CLAUDINE REBBOH
SOUND: MICHEL LECOUFLE
MUSIC : TITI REBO, IVAN ZAVADA
COSTUMES : ZYX PRODUCTIONS
EDITOR : ROB SWARTZ, ROBERT YATES
SCREENPLAY : THÉRÈSE BRODEUR, BASHAR SHBIB
DIRECTOR: BASHAR SHBIB

THIS FILM IS PRODUCED WITH THE FINANCIAL PARTICIPATION OF:
SOCIÉTÉ DE DÉVELOPPEMENT DES ENTREPRISES CULTURELLES (SODEC)
GOUVERNEMENT DU QUÉBEC (Programme du Crédit d'Impôt)
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA (Tax Credit Program)

All Rights Reserved © 1999 Oneira Pictures International

Compilation of Webseries:
Broadcast daily over the Internet. Alien Dog: LIFE AS IT WAS

Fiction, 74:00 min, 2000, DV, colour, NTSC.

Synopsis

Ariel, a loser (ANDRE BENDAHAN), Deakin (JON DEITCHER), Charley (MASSIMO CANNISTRARO), a stand-up comic, and the delusional Trace (LEAH KOSATSKY) come together in the second compilation of the first ever web show broadcasted daily over the Internet. Alien Dog: Life as It Was follows the misadventures of these three as they seek pleasure and laughter while disturbing the peace and avoid any acts of kindness.

Cast & Crew

STARRING : ANDRE BENDAHAN, JON DEITCHER, MASSIMO CANNISTRARO, LEAH KOSATSKY
WEB SERIES PRODUCER: DOUG McCOLEMAN
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: MAÏA NADON-CHBIB
EDITORS : GEOFF KLEIN, PIERRE-OLIVIER CHIASSON
MUSIC: TITI REBBOH
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY : BASHAR SHBIB, ANDRE BENDAHAN, JON DEITCHER, MASSIMO CANNISTRARO
SERIES WRITER, PRODUCER: BASHAR SHBIB
DIRECTOR : BASHAR SHBIB, ANDRE BENDAHAN, JON DEITCHER, MASSIMO CANNISTRARO
CREATOR : BASHAR SHBIB

All Rights Reserved © 2000 Oneira Pictures International

Compilation of Webseries:
Broadcast daily over the Internet. Alien Dog: LIFE AS IT IS

Fiction, Drama, 79:14 min, 2000, DV, colour, NTSC.

Synopsis

Life as it is is a compilation of episodes from the first webshow broadcast daily on the internet in Canada. “ALIEN DOG – LIFE AS IT IS” deals with various aspects of contemporary youth culture. The main characters, Sean (Michael Jorden Colton), a drug dealer, Karen (Maïa Nadon-Chbib), a business student, and others, face a variety of issues ranging from love and drugs to unemployment, and the search for identity. In the end, they come to understand that life’s basic lessons are universal, no matter the culture or origin. The question is, to live or let live.

Cast & Crew

STARRING : MICHAEL JORDEN COLTON, MAÏA NADON-CHBIB, LEAH KOSATSKY, WALEED ALGUMER, HOWARD ROBBINS, TADZEO HORNER-CHBIB, BASHAR SHBIB, NOAH KOLE, SILVIA GUIMAREY, DAPHNE BRUNEAU, PIERRE LALIBERTÉ, ANDRÉ JADE, URIEL ISAAC,
PRODUCER : BASHAR SHBIB
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS : DOUG McCOLEMAN, ROBERT YATES
DIRECTORS : BASHAR SHBIB, ANDRÉ JADE, DJELA DJAMBA OKOKO, SIMON MADORE, LOUISE MIGNAULT, HOMBELINE DUMAS
SCREENPLAY : BASHAR SHBIB, HOMBELINE DUMAS, URIEL ISAAC, ANDRÉ JADE, LOUISE MIGNEAULT, DJELA D. OKOKO, NOAH WOHL
ORIGINAL MUSIC SCORE : MARWAN JUNO FARHOUD, TITI REBO
SOUND : BRUNO PUCELLA, MARWAN JUNO FARHOUD 
LINE PRODUCER : NADIA MORENCY
DIRECTORS OF PHOTOGRAPHY : HOMBELINE DUMAS, ANDRÉ JADE, ALEX CHARTRAND, BASHAR SHBIB, ALEX BUSSIÈRE, SIMON MADORE, OLIVIER SOMMELET
EDITORS : JON DEITCHER, GEOFF KLEIN
CREATOR : BASHAR SHBIB

All Rights Reserved © 2000 Oneira Pictures International

DRINKING GAMES

Fiction, Drama, 82 min, 2004, HDV, colour, NTSC.

Synopsis

It is only through personal challenges that we can learn what we are made of. But, how far are we willing to go before we give up? Man is the only obstacle standing between himself and his destiny. Are you ready? The dice have been cast.

According to the beautiful and mysterious Darcy (Anna Jaeger), fear is the only thing that can prevent us from creating better alternatives. In seeking to prove her point, she decides to organize a drinking game. To succeed, the only question is to what extent the player is prepared to approach death.

Attracted by Darcy’s charismatic personality, four young people accept the challenge: Vaughn (Jon Deitcher), a businessman possessed by a miserable death wish, Ethan (William Furtado), a seminarian questioning his beliefs, Damon (Michael Penning), an artist whose arrogance is only equaled by his success, and Ash (Jasmine Roberts), a young woman with HIV. The players push their limits further and further to where they each must discover of what they are truly capable. Before they are broken down, they must try to ignore the fact that they have been thrust in a world wherein the limits of human endurance will be radically tested. Through contests designed to bridge the distance between what they are and what they could be, the rules are simple and morbid: win or die trying.

While the intensity of the game escalates, the four are forced to confront a more daunting opponent: themselves. Drinking Games is a universal call to realize one’s own power and to dare to imagine that power as infinite.

Cast & Crew

STARRING  : ANNA JAEGER, MICHAEL PENNING, WILLIAM FURTADO, JON DEITCHER, JASMINE ROBERTS, STEVEN DONOHUE, NIKI PISLIS, SHAWN McALEAR, COLLIN HENRY, GEOFF KLEIN, TRISH BABINEAU, TONY VENAFRO, WILLIAM PENNING, JASON PYNN, DARYL ROBERTS, JAMIE MERKLE
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER : MAÏA NADON-CHBIB
ORIGINAL STORY : JON DEITCHER,  GEOFF KLEIN,  MICHAEL PENNING
WRITER : MICHAEL PENNING
ORIGINAL MUSIC : MICHAEL A. McCANN
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY : GEOFF KLEIN
EDITORS : JON DEITCHER, GEOFF KLEIN
CAMERA OPERATORS : GEOFF KLEIN, JON DEITCHER
SOUND RECORDIST : MICHAEL PENNING
SOUND EDITORS : MICHAEL McCANN, MICHAEL PENNING
DIRECTOR : JON DEITCHER
PRODUCER : BASHAR SHBIB

All Rights Reserved © 2004 Oneira Pictures International