… telling it like it is
we give the floor to people with something to say
who aren’t shy about saying it
a boxing match against inertia, laziness, indifference…
6 minutes to deliver the knockout blow
One soap box, ten people, six minutes each, two crazy musicians and Jacques Bertrand to crack
the whip. No right of reply. No second chance. Don’t miss it. (Unfortunately for us anglos, this
year in French only.)
Hosted by the great manitou of Macadam Tribus, Jacques Bertrand, and with house band Fred Fortin
and Olivier Langevin, whose job will be to cut off anyone who tries to go on and on and on…
This is an opportunity for those who want to quit complaining and take action. Do something. Get
moving. Be quick. Face the great challenge in an evening of intellectual danger. The FVA has
invited exceptional artists, great talkers, sincere and committed performers, who will speak
frankly from the gut, with wit, to say what they want to say about a subject that is near to their
heart. Each performer has six minutes. With clear and direct words. This isn’t a round table or a
debate. No right to reply. No second chance. It’s a boxing match against inertia, laziness,
meekness and indifference. And it’s just the first round!
In the ring will be poet Michel Garneau, independent producer and documentary maker Ève Lamont,
writer and feminist Hélène Pedneault, storyteller Michel Faubert, the versatile Stanley Péan (newly
elected president of UNEQ, congratulations and good luck!), the petulant Loco Locass, the lively
singer Ève Cournoyer, the powerhouse of Quebec theatre Pol Pelletier, the brilliant Zapartiste
François Patenaude and Pierre Allard and Annie Roy of the indispensable ATSA (Action terroriste
socialement acceptable).
With such strong personalities on the stage, we needed to bring in the great manitou of Macadam
Tribus, Jacques Bertrand, to host the evening’s mayhem. We have also invited the fabulous musicians
Olivier Langevin and Fred Fortin to cut off anyone who dares to go beyond their allotted six
minutes. Those with sensitive ears and temperaments are asked to tune out!
To give this magnificent event reach beyond the room, Radio-Canada’s nationally broadcast Porte
ouverte will be on hand and will prepare a special program on the Combat and the Festival for the
following Thursday, with host Raymond Cloutier (another great speaker famous for saying what he
thinks). Producer-coordinator: Christine Germain.
