North of Normal

With the passing of Canadian acting legend Donald Sutherland, Andrew Hunter Scholey and James Thornton decided to delay their previously planned episode. Instead they are discussing Sutherland's films produced in Canada and abroad. Then their discussion delves into one of Sutherland's most overlooked films: the medical drama, "Threshold" (1981).

Returning to NoN is Ryan Barnett, the host of the podcast "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood North". Ryan has also written a graphic novel about silent film star Buster Keaton. One of Keaton's final films was a project with the Canadian National Film Board called, "The Railrodder" (1965), so Ryan was the perfect guest to have on to discuss. In this episode, host of NoN Andrew...

So, NoN host Andrew Hunter Scholey decided to watch that new Toronto-based "Law & Order" show that just came out. When he came across the episode that was "ripped from the headlines" about the Canadian bread price-fixing scandal "Minnow and the Shark", something struck a nerve and decided he wanted to talk about it. NoN regular Colin Everett answered the call, and...

While the latest NoN wraps production, our friends at Knockabout Media have been producing a great show called "How I Wrote This". In this show, host Pamela Hensly interviews various authors of various media about what shapes their art. In their latest episode, Wiebke von Carolsfeld is interviewed. Wiebke has directed numerous Canadian feature films including "Marion Bridge" (2...

Well, NoN has made it to its hundredth episode. And to celebrate, James Thornton stopped by to have a very brief chat with Andrew Hunter Scholey about possibly the greatest episode of television ever.

James Thornton and Andrew Hunter Scholey sit down to discuss the beloved animated film "The Cat Came Back" (1988) as well as the career of animator/director Cordell Barker. Intro/Outro music for this episode is by Old Reverend Randell. Listen to his work here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6cbFhd3cMg3eq1dUdkjGJn Thanks Randy!

Turns out host Andrew Hunter Scholey and returning Cronenberg series co-host Skyler Greencorn have a lot to say about "eXistenZ" (1999).

This episode: two people who are not sports fans discuss a film about Hockey. It's host Andrew Hunter Scholey and James Thornton having the chat.

After gremlins caused a bunch of technical issues, host Andrew Hunter Scholey eventually sat down with Colin Everett to discuss the early Nicolas Cage-starring rowing epic, "The Boy In Blue" (1986)! Flustered and saltier than normal, they discuss Nic Cage (obviously), the film's subject-- rower Ned Hanlan-- and how hard it is to find any information on this film. Where do they land...

Host Andrew Hunter Scholey is fortunate to have a chat with screenwriter and playwright Douglas Bowie about his involvement with the 1986 biopic "The Boy In Blue".

This episode, North of Normal is delighted to sit down and have a chat with Ethan Eng. Ethan is the co-writer and director of the incredible film "Therapy Dogs" (2022), a film about creativity and high school. Check out Ethan's film and join Ethan and host Andrew Hunter Scholey as they go into the film's background, the process of making such a unique film, and what it's l...

This episode, North of Normal is thrilled to have Matthew Kieswetter returning to discuss "BlackBerry" (2023)! With host Andrew Hunter Scholey, they discuss their relationships with technology, what this film has to say about Matthew's hometown of Waterloo, and what is up with that whole Vampires thing?

It's New Years Day 2024. Andrew Hunter Scholey and Melissa Jean Miller are hanging about. They are up and motivated after the previous evening's festivities and are going to discuss Sarah Polley's amazing third feature, "Stories We Tell" (2012).

In this episode we have Ryan Barnett on to venture back into the world of Winnipeg director, Guy Maddin! Ryan is the host of his own podcast about Canadian media titled "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood North" that everyone should listen to. However, in this episode we delve into "The Saddest Music in the World" (2003)!

Melissa Jean Miller returns to help host Andrew Hunter Scholey tackle the most beloved Canadian film ever made. How does it hold up almost 40(!) years later? How does it compare to the many adaptations of the beloved novel (of which there are many)? What is Hunter's opinion of a children's book about an orphan girl that is over a century old after reading it for the first time? These que...

This one is a doozy. Tackling a giant of Canadian cinema, Andrew Hunter Scholey and James Thornton sit down to discuss Norman McLaren. Possibly the most influential filmmaker in Canadian history, there is a lot to unpack. To discuss Norman one has to discuss the history of the National Film Board of Canada and it's impact on Canadian film. His pioneering animation techniques and the state of...

Skyler Greencorn returns to discuss one of David Cronenberg's most controversial films, "Crash" (1996). With host Andrew Hunter Scholey, they discuss "the sex car crash film", the psychology of the car and driving as well as a couple of odd film comparisons for good measure. How does this film age, and is it still shocking over twenty years later? Gotta listen for all of t...

For a Halloween episode, Andrew Hunter Scholey and Colin Everett spun the big wheel of Canadian horror and it landed the 2017 Quebecois zombie film, "Ravenous". What are their opinions of a film neither had seen before? How does this film copy too closely and break the zombie formula at the same time? One way to find out.....

Regular co-host (and big Transformers fan) James Thornton has been after Andrew Hunter Scholey for years to talk about Beast Wars, as well as Vancouver animation studio Mainframe. So Hunter-- for the first time-- sat down and watched some Beast Wars episodes James had picked out. How did that go? How confused did Hunter get? How do copyright rules make things even more confusing? One has to listen...

In this episode, Melissa Jean Miller returns to discuss the second film of Sarah Polley's directorial carrier, "Take This Waltz" (2011).  Along with host Andrew Hunter Scholey, they discuss and work through their complicated feelings of the film as well as what the show tagline "our relationship with film" really means when being honest with film discussion. Oh, and did yo...

First time guest Glen Carabin joins host Andrew Hunter Scholey to discuss the 2018 Astron-6 short film, "Chowboys: An American Folk Tale" (2018)! They get around to doing a surprising deep dive into all things snowy cowboy cannibalism (and capitalism?). Before that, they talk about Glen's independent comic book Dart Mouth, Glen making short films in his youth and of course.... Zombi...

In this episode, James Thornton returns and wants to talk about a movie where Peter Weller fights a giant rat! Of course since it happens to be a Canadian film, host Andrew Hunter Scholey agreed. They also talk about the NFB documentary, "Ratopolis" (1973). Topics include.... Rats! But also discuss VHS box art, the crazy career of director George P. Cosmatos, and Peter Weller playing a y...

Once again Mellisa Miller joins Andrew Hunter Scholey to discuss this landmark of Canadian and Queer Cinema, "I've Heard the Mermaids Singing" (1987). Topics covered are the background and career of writer/director Patricia Rozema, what it means to be an artist, and what early exposure to Japanese food was like in the 80s.

Colin Everett returns with host Andrew Hunter Scholey to discuss "Siege" (1983): a hidden gem of a low budget film shot in the early days of the Halifax film scene. Topics include film preservation, the role police play in our society, and avoiding crowds on Canada day.

James Thornton is back to discuss the Toronto-set "Blood and Donuts" (1995) with host Andrew Hunter Scholey. They also discuss vampires and their evolution in media, as well as what David Cronenberg was up to as an actor in the early 90s.