Hot, safe and banned

Is an AIDS-testing campaign video by local organization ACCM too risqué for online video sharing site Meta¬café.com?

by ELISABETH FAURE

January 20, 2011

SAFETY FIRST, FELLAS: From “The Boys of ATOM-c”

Asteamy new ad by a local HIV/AIDS organization is proving too hot to handle for one online video site. The teaser for ACCM’s (AIDS Community Care Montreal) new campaign promot ing HIV/STI testing has been banned from Metacafé.com, for violating “community standards.”

The minute-and-a-half-long spot promotes ATOM-c, ACCM’s new campaign aimed at men having sex with men. The campaign encourages people to become “recruiters” (promoting regular testing among their friends) in exchange for points, which can be redeemed for prizes ranging from gift certificates to iPods. Launched late last summer, ATOM-c already has more than 20 active recruiters in the gay community. Organizers hope the program’s peer-based approach will help remove the stigma from regular STI testing.

“So often, those type of ads are this anti-sex kind of thing,” says ACCM communications coordinator Alex Wysocki-Najar. “We don’t want to be that way, it’s more like, ‘Go out and fuck—it’s good! But respect your sexual real estate.’”

So ACCM recruited a bunch of hot guys (mostly local porn stars and strip-club dancers), and shot a racy video at a local bathhouse. It features shirtless, homoerotic scenes aplenty (to view, visit atom-c.org/the-boys-of-atomc).

While loaded with innuendo—group and oral sex are implied—there’s no nudity or hardcore action in the ad. Video-sharing sites like YouTube have posted the video without issue, so Wysoc ki-Najar and ATOM-c program coordinator Rodrigo Diaz Llamas were surprised by Metacafé’s reaction.

“When I learned the video was banned, I went to Metacafé’s website and I searched for ‘gay sex.’ I found a lesbian-themed video with girls in their underwear. And I’m like, ‘Whoa, this is WAY harder than our video and it’s not even tagged over 18!’” A cursory search of the website turns up other racy vids.

So, why does Diaz-Llamas think Metacafé has a problem? “Well, the thing is that we haven’t got a response yet, but I’m thinking it’s the boy-on-boy action.”

Metacafé’s submission guidelines don’t appear to rule out the ATOM-c ad. They caution against nudity (see their guidelines here:metacafe.com/submission_rules/) and specifically advocate safe-sex content. Videos deemed suggestive may require an “18+” tag.

“I tried uploading it six times, if not seven, in both French and English,” recalls Wysocki-Najar. “I’d listed it as 18 and over, with whatever criteria was necessary so it met their regulations. Each time, it got rejected.”

The Mirror contacted Metacafé, and received an e-mail from vice-president of marketing Michelle Cox. Cox says that Metacafé’s videos are judged by member “review panels,” and ACCM’s video may have been deemed “inappropriate for our audience” or “inconsistent with our entertainment focus.”

Cox invited Wysocki-Najar to contact her directly, and offered to put the video online with an 18+ rating, but Wysocki-Najar says he hasn’t heard back—and wants answers regarding how Metacafé does business.

“What constitutes ‘community standards’ when you’re talking about the Internet, and it’s a global community? And what is a ‘review panel,’ when it was obvious that only one or two people had seen it [based on the number of visible online views]?” Metacafé has over 80,000 members worldwide.

Whether or not Metacafé reverses its ban, ACCM plans to keep making safe sex sexier with more hot video advertising. Says Wysocki-Najar: “People are tired of boring discussions about safe sex.” ■

Loft story

Evacuated last July, Mile End’s decrepit 5555 de Gaspé is accepting tenants once again

by ELISABETH FAURE

January 13, 2011

NO GOING BACK: Former residents Jennifer Hamilton and Guillaume Simoneau
Photo by WILL LEW

It’s business as usual at 5555 de Gaspé, following an emergency evacuation of the industrially zoned loft building last summer. Questions continue to surround the Mile End building, where a large sign outside is once again advertising lofts for rent—only six months after 70-plus residents were unceremoniously booted from their digs. “I showed up, and there were chains on the door and a Red Cross van outside,” Jennifer Hamilton recalls. Hamilton, a freelance photographer/musician/yoga instructor, was among those kicked to the curb. Most of the building’s inhabitants were young Plateau freelancers whose apartments doubled as their workplace. But the building was violating numerous parts of the fire safety code, from blocked exits to a faulty alarm system. The owner, Johnny Svetna, allegedly ignored prior warnings from the fire department to fix problems. Residents say they were blindsided. They soon learned they were caught in a legal grey zone due to the building’s zoning designation. Former tenant Guillaume Simoneau says the designation was a surprise to him and other tenants.

WHO NEEDS A LEASE?

Housing rights advocate Arnold Bennett says many loft-dwellers are unaware of the complexities of municipal zoning laws. “Anywhere where people are living in something that is zoned as industrial or commercial, then we have a problem,” he says.

Most loft buildings in Montreal (many located by highways or train tracks) are not zoned for residential use, and their tenants do not have the same rights as those living in residentially zoned buildings. Borough spokesperson Michel Tanguay says the fire department has cleared the building, but borough inspectors will check on whether 5555’s new tenants are violating zon ing regulations “now that the holidays are over.”

Compounding the problem was the fact that some previous tenants say they did not have valid leases. “Did we have a lease? The answer is, half yes, half no,” says Simoneau. “Yes, in the sense that, sure, I have an eight-and-a-half-by-11 piece of photocopied paper saying that I live there and I was paying my rent every month. It was a bit ghetto.”

Svetna refutes the allegations, saying he’s the “biggest victim” in all of this. He claims that pre-evacuation, 5555 had a new fire alarm system in place, waiting to be hooked up. But a Montreal legal reserve placed on the property—Svetna says City Hall wants to acquire 5555 as part of a re-development plan—discouraged him from finishing the job. “They’re negotiat ing to buy the building—what are we gonna hook it up for? So we can un-hook it after?” The reserve has since been lifted. Svetna insists that every 5555 resident has a commercial lease, and he’s never forced anyone to pay in cash. “They paid the way they wanted to pay.”

Sam, a current 5555 tenant who requested anonymity for fear of being evicted, claims not to have a lease and says, “Everyone here pays rent in cash. People have been moving in and out a lot lately.”

Hamilton lived at 5555 for three years. For much of that time, she had no lease and paid rent in cash. Eventually she signed a makeshift retroactive lease that covered the time she’d already lived there, and the future.

A GOOD MOVE

Simoneau says he’s disillusioned with the city and borough officials. “Sure, they sound sincere—they sounded sincere the whole time we were getting evicted,” he says. “When this happened, they said they would help us. And they did nothing.”

Alex Norris, the city councillor for Mile End, disputes that. “We did everything within our power to help,” he says. “We referred the people to emergency services, we asked the fire department for a report and we sent a letter to Claude Trudel [the executive committee member in charge of the fire department] asking that fire safety code infractions should be made public.” Norris also says the decision to close the building was made by the fire department and not the borough. “What the fire department told us is that if there had been a fire in that building, everybody would have died.”

Despite everything, some evictees say life is going well. “It was an enormous blessing that came in the form of an enormous disaster,” says Simoneau, who has since found a better place with his girlfriend.

“I’m very thankful for all of the support [I received],” says Hamilton. “I’m from a small town and it’s nice to have the same sense of community in Montreal.”

But for those currently living at 5555, the future isn’t so rosy. “No one here knows what’s going to happen next,” says Sam. ■

Kid for all seasons

Multi-talented whiz kid and 10 1/2 star Robert Naylor on his burgeoning acting¬composing-blogging-podcasting career

by ELISABETH FAURE

January 6, 2011

MULTITASKING MINOR: Naylor
Photo by MICHEAL BEAULIEU

Robert Naylor has just wrapped up a stellar year, riding a strong wave of buzz from a harrowing performance that’s landed him rave reviews. But the 14-year-old actor is adjust ing to the attention well, saying, “It’s been a dream year.”

His role as Tommy, a neglected, abused kid trapped in the youth protection system in Daniel Grou’s (aka Podz) 10 1/2 has got people talking. “The boy I play was raised in a really dif ficult environment with parents who didn’t pay attention to him—who were abusive, alcoholic,” says Naylor. The film contains graphic scenes of violence and sexuality, and centres on the efforts of one educator, played by Claude Legault, to help Tommy emerge from his shell.

The role’s emotional and physical toll was heavy. “You just never have a full tank,” says Naylor, who often skipped sleep during the gruelling 28-day shoot. “Every time I had a day off, I slept 14-hour nights.”

He’s busier than ever—even scheduling a phone interview for this article was tricky. Naylor gave up hockey this year (though he’s a part-time hockey blogger, and occasional panellist for Radio-Canada). “It’s a struggle, right now, because there’s so many things I want to do, and my time is limited. I have to make choices.”

Side projects include a bi-monthly radio podcast of electronic music (Overtone Sounds is available for free on iTunes), composing his own tracks, and 12-hour movie marathons with Grou. “We’re best buds now,” says Naylor, describing his relationship with the hot Quebec director.

So, when you’re on a first-name basis with Grou, do you call him Daniel, or Podz? “Nobody calls him Daniel,” says Naylor. “I just call him, ‘Hey, you!”

The two have teamed up again for the Radio-Canada crime drama 19–2, in which Naylor has a recurring role as the son of one of the main characters.

This winter, Naylor will be seen in the big-budget Hollywood flick Immortals. “You can make a Quebec movie for what they spend on sandwiches,” he observes.

He also plans to take a crack at directing. “I’m writing a lot of screenplays—short films.” Naylor hopes to shoot one for the festival circuit this year.

Despite the lure of showbiz, this Royal West 9th-grader is continuing his education. “I’m definitely going to CEGEP,” he says, and he plans to keep it creative: “I want to stay far away from math and science!” ★

Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Sports Centre greeted with enthusiasm

. The centre features two swimming pools, gymnasium, weight room, café, and a green roof.

Published on January 19th, 2011

Elisabeth Faure

If the amount of curious locals at this weekend’s Open House is any indicator, CDN/NDG’s new sports centre won’t have trouble attracting people. The Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Sports Centre, located in Benny Park (at 6445 Monkland Ave.), saw people turning up in big numbers to check out the brand-new $15 million facility. The centre features two swimming pools, gymnasium, weight room, café, and a green roof.

Topics :

NDG

“I’ve been living in NDG for twenty years, and it’s nice to finally have something within walking distance of the house,” said Dina Bennett. During the open house, her five-year-old daughter happily tore around the gymnasium, while her older brother, aged seven, looked on from the bleachers. Kids took over the gym for the afternoon, playing ball and tag. “We’re meeting all these other little kids ... just having fun,” Bennett said.

Visitors to the centre ran the gamut from families with newborn babies to students, and seniors. “There’s something for everyone here - including us in the over-50 crowd, said Jim Sullivan, relaxing with friends in the centre’s café area. Sullivan lives next door and said he’s looking forward to to using the two pools.

The facility will offer a variety of different 8-week fitness classes, including mini-tennis, tae kwon do, mommy-baby dancing and stroller workouts. CDN/NDG residents can register online from January 17th at www.inscriptionsndg.ca - non-residents must wait until the 18th. Prices range from $30 - $120 per session.

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Both the pool and the weight room will be open to the public for free at designated times (the weight room also offers one-to-twelve month memberships, starting from $40 for a month).

“Reaction has been 99.99 per cent positive,” said Loyola city councillor Susan Clarke. Clarke admitted some people were unhappy with the small size of the weight room (one young woman was overheard calling it, “ridiculous”). But she says with a budget of only $15 million, “we had to make choices.”

The biggest choice involved whether to have a larger weight room or add a second pool, heated to a higher temperature than the six-lane, 25-metre pool next to it. The centre chose the second pool. “Talking with most of the people here today, they agree with that choice,” said Clarke, noting the smaller pool will be excellent for children’s swim lessons and senior aqua-fit classes.

The centre’s development was not without controversy. Originally slated to open on vacant space in Benny Farm, the project was moved to the park next door.-

The centre’s development was not without controversy. Originally slated to open on vacant space in Benny Farm (a post-WWII social housing development), the project was moved to the park next door. The loss of park space angered some residents. “(Borough Mayor) Michael Applebaum took an awful lot of heat during the whole process of building this facility,” Clarke admits.

But bad feelings appeared to have eased at the weekends preview. Renata Jsek, a mother of two who lives 15 minutes from the centre was initially disappointed with the centre’s location. “For sure, we were not happy when we saw the park being reduced.” But seeing the finished building appears to have changed her mind. “I think it’s a nice place. I would love to come here.”