Thom Ernst – författare

“An inspiring story of resilience, told with a vivid sense of character and humour.” —RICHARD CROUSE, CTV host and film criticFilm critic, writer, and broadcaster Thom Ernst chronicles his life growing up with an abusive father in rural Ontario.The residents of Waubamik know about the Wild Boy, a somewhat feral child, standing nearly naked in a rusty playground of weeds and discarded metal, clutching a headless doll. They know the boy has been plucked from poverty and resettled into a middle-class family. But they don’t know that something worse awaits him there.This is the story of a system that failed, a community that looked the other way, and a family that kept silent. It is also a record of the popular culture of the 1960s — a powerful set of myths that kept a boy comforted. But ultimately, The Wild Boy of Waubamik is a story of triumph, of a man who grew up to become a film critic and broadcaster despite his abusive childhood. It reminds us that life, even at its darkest, can surprise us with moments of joy and hope and dreams for the future.

101 lesser-known stories to delight Canadian cinema and television fans. Do you know who was in the first on-screen nude scene in a Canadian feature film? Or which David Cronenberg film was raided for obscenity? Why was Oliver Reed arrested while shooting The Brood ? Which iconic Canadian television series was syndicated in over fifty different countries? Which Canadian film critic wrote a full-page retraction after reconsidering a positive review he gave a film? And what role did Canada play in the creation of Dennis Hopper's Easy Rider?With an eye for the unique and the absurd, 101 Fascinating Canadian Film & TV Facts, from one of Canada s leading film critics, is a lively and humorous look at the best and the worst, the firsts and the lasts, and the groundbreaking truths behind Canada s film and television industry.

101 lesser-known stories to delight Canadian cinema and television fans. Do you know:Who was in the first on-screen nude scene in a Canadian feature film?Which David Cronenberg film was raided for obscenity?Why Oliver Reed was arrested while shooting The Brood?Which iconic Canadian television series was syndicated in over fifty different countries?Which Canadian film critic wrote a full-page retraction after reconsidering a positive review he gave a film?What role Canada played in the creation of Dennis Hopper's Easy Rider?With an eye for the unique and the absurd, 101 Fascinating Canadian Film & TV Facts, from one of Canada s leading film critics, is a lively and humorous look at the best and the worst, the firsts and the lasts, and the groundbreaking truths behind Canada s film and television industry.