More on Men With Brooms

[butterfly]

from the official MWB site

Re: Gross
Lantos believed that Gross was a perfect partner for this film. It wasn't just his popularity as an actor, nor his intelligent, unique humour in writing and performing, but because, he says, "we have a certain bond. Both of us have been invited to leave this country - to leave the pond and dive into the ocean (of Hollywood), so to speak, and I think somewhere deep down we share a conviction that this country deserves it's own voice. (We share the belief) that we can accomplish our dreams and our ambition and do it by staying in Canada. And maybe in the process, help add to that voice."

Gross re: female cast
"I'm astonished by the balance of all of the actresses in Men With Brooms. One of the great thrills for me was the exciting combination of women in the film. Each actress was so strong and vibrant and beautiful and, in the end, the balance of these compelling personalities is really extraordinary."

Re: being Canadian
"I think that there is something really fantastic about Canadian iconography. When you think about it, it's sort of bizarre - beaver, maple leaf. There is an oddball quality to it that is both noble, melancholy and laughable all at the same time, and I think there is something really wonderful in that." - Paul Gross.

"One thing about Canadians it that they have a wacky sense of humour - off the wall - and it's only that way because of an ability to see and know what's funny." - Leslie Nielsen.

"I think the real humour is who the characters are. I think essentially that's what's funny about Canadian humour - it's the ability to laugh at yourself." - Molly Parker.

"What's Canadian is that it refuses to take itself too seriously, which invites an audience in and, I feel, earns an audience's respect. It earned my respect that way." - James Allodi.

"Like in any type of successful comedic drama, dramatic moments are undercut by comedic ones. It's the same thing here except we undercut it with Canadian humour - which is very surreal and absurd and funny because it's abrupt." - Peter Outerbridge

re: Curling
"There is nothing quite as liberating as a well-balanced slide." - Paul Gross

"On television it may seem like shuffleboard with style, but it is a lot harder than it looks. There is a kind of poetry to curling. It's a very delicate, finesse style sport. It's also a non-professional sport, so people are really doing it for the love of the game - not for money or big business. Those two elements combined make a great metaphor for those true moments of poetry in our lives. Those moments which really exemplify our spirit - what we really want to leave behind are not the things we do for money but things we do for love." - Peter Outerbridge