Official Blog of City Sonic Toronto

We’ve told you before that George Vale knows everyone and we weren’t kidding. Once again, we were able to pair the director with an old friend and conspirator. George’s greatest claim to Broken Social Scene-related fame revolves around being arrested in NYC (which you can read about in the new BSS book, This Book is Broken), but there’s more to his history with Brendan Canning than just that.

LL: Give us your “elevator ride” pitch: the concept for your film in three sentences or less.
GV: The film I made at the Drake is an emotionally compelling story because of Brendan’s long musical connection with place and the fact that the two had a peak at the same time. If his story was the film Stand By Me, the Drake would be the train tracks.

LL: What gave you the idea to put Brendan in a hotel robe?
GV: First of all very simply humour, secondly I thought it would be appropriate to suggest that after paying his dues in the basement he might be able to treat himself to some luxury.

LL: You’ve known Brendan for years. Did you learn anything new or surprising about him on this shoot?
GV: I was surprised to see he had a scrapbook of posters from old shows and that the clip I directed was as emotional as it was. My other City Sonic films had a different type of intensity that was directed towards other body parts, this one went straight to the heart.

LL: What is your best Broken Social Scene story you can tell that won’t get anyone in trouble?
GV: I think my story of meeting Brendan, moving in with him and watching it all go down. When I started directing I always wondered how the Bob Gruens and Anton Corbins of the world got in there and made music history. Now I know:  right place, right time, then be able to do the right thing.