The universe has decided we will not screen our Doc Challenge entry at Hot Docs. Or maybe it was really the judges decision. A very strong US showing in the programming and only 1 Canadian doc. The point of these competitions for me is more about initiating production, and that we did- so I count it a success.
I'm not sure of the future for this wee glimmer of documentary, but I'm sure a reason will appear for our non-selection sometime in the future.
Perhaps at the Pagan conference http://www.gaiagathering.ca/ happenning this year in Vancouver at UBC. (conveniently located next to my favorite beach) "I'm a Witch - So What?" has been invited to screen in a longer version that I have yet to create - the evening of May 18. It will take a good think to make this 7 minute film into 20 specifically because it is a Pagan audience and from what I can tell, they truly enjoy discourse.
Meanwhile, it is the fiscal year end here in BC's capitol city. It's that special time of year where any leftovers in the coffers are spent in a hurry, often on small video projects.
This year also coincides with a rather monumental announcement for our friends at http://www.moresbyconsulting.com/ who have been involved in negotiating a plan for the Great Bear Rainforest for well over 10 years now. It's one of my favorite corporates from what we've done. You can watch it at http://www.coastforestconservationinitiative.com/mini_site.html and I will post the revised one here in the next couple of weeks. It's amazing that this deal was reached between industry, environmental groups (almost all of them) and First Nations and everybody is happy.
The media blitz is currently underway at the Parliament Buildings. While the crew covers that I tinker away at a training program for Aboriginal Health Care = filmmaking in Victoria.
31.3.09
29.3.09
Edith Josie - Here Are the News
After many many years in production of Cathleen Smith's Here Are the News, it has been enjoying some success.
A few weeks ago Cathleen and I were interviewed on CBC radio's North by Northwest http://www.cbc.ca/nxnw/ after Paul Grant's Whitehorse neighbour gave him a DVD of the film. That broadcast has sent several people with fond memories to us looking for a copy, and resulted in an invitation to screen as part of the Doxa Documentary Festival in Vancouver this May 27th, 2009. http://www.doxafestival.ca/
I also submitted it to the Victoria Indepepndent Film Producer's Association http://www.vifpa.com/ for consideration for their "Take 2" series, where they screen member's works on a Saturday afternoon at the Capitol 6, Empire Theatre. We have just found out that Edith will screen in Victoria also in May. The date is still TBA.
Here are the News
1x48min documentary
Here are the News is a documentary celebrating the accomplishments of the famous Yukon journalist named Edith Josie.
Miss Josie captured the hearts and imaginations of thousands of people around the globe with her unique approach to writing. She became the correspondent for the Whitehorse Star in 1953, a job she held for almost 50 years. Here Are the News was syndicated in the Edmonton Journal, the Fairbanks News and the Indian News in Vancouver. Her work as a reporter for Old Crow brought her worldwide success when LIFE magazine did a feature on her. Over the years she has put the small town of Old Crow on the map, appearing numerous times on Peter Gzowski’s popular CBC Radio show and television shows such as Front Page Challenge.
Her passion for education, tradition and respect are obvious themes as this documentary explores more than just the journalistic side of this member of the prestigious Order of Canada. Her morals and outlook on life are constantly being demonstrated to others through her teachings as she shows people the value of language, story, education, and faith. She lives these lessons through her interactions with her community, the church, the public, and her family. Edith also shows us the unique way of life of the Gwit’chin people and how the threat of modern developments can impact their livelihood.
In the world of Edith Josie she just reported the news, but to the rest of the world she opened the doors to Old Crow, her views on language, education, and social responsibility, tradition, and Gwit’chin culture- leaving us with a lifetime of legacy and values.
“She doesn’t put it that way, she doesn’t say it, she lives it and that’s the way she lives everything she does in her life” - Cathleen Smith, Director
1x48min documentary
Here are the News is a documentary celebrating the accomplishments of the famous Yukon journalist named Edith Josie.
Miss Josie captured the hearts and imaginations of thousands of people around the globe with her unique approach to writing. She became the correspondent for the Whitehorse Star in 1953, a job she held for almost 50 years. Here Are the News was syndicated in the Edmonton Journal, the Fairbanks News and the Indian News in Vancouver. Her work as a reporter for Old Crow brought her worldwide success when LIFE magazine did a feature on her. Over the years she has put the small town of Old Crow on the map, appearing numerous times on Peter Gzowski’s popular CBC Radio show and television shows such as Front Page Challenge.
Her passion for education, tradition and respect are obvious themes as this documentary explores more than just the journalistic side of this member of the prestigious Order of Canada. Her morals and outlook on life are constantly being demonstrated to others through her teachings as she shows people the value of language, story, education, and faith. She lives these lessons through her interactions with her community, the church, the public, and her family. Edith also shows us the unique way of life of the Gwit’chin people and how the threat of modern developments can impact their livelihood.
In the world of Edith Josie she just reported the news, but to the rest of the world she opened the doors to Old Crow, her views on language, education, and social responsibility, tradition, and Gwit’chin culture- leaving us with a lifetime of legacy and values.
“She doesn’t put it that way, she doesn’t say it, she lives it and that’s the way she lives everything she does in her life” - Cathleen Smith, Director
26.3.09
Seaplane Training Video for Victoria Harbour
Last year we produced a training video for the floatplane pilots operating in and out of Victoria Harbour. This morning I awoke to our first review:
"On the subject of the video, last night was Kenmore’s recurrent training night and most of our pilots saw the video for the first time. The response was overwhelmingly positive. Arwen, I have seen that video numerous times now, but every time I look at it I continue to be impressed with how you managed to take a very dry subject and present it in such an entertaining and informative way. The finished product is just so much better than most of us ever thought it could be, and the credit for that goes to you and David and Mike and everyone else at Gamut who worked on it. It’s really a first class piece of work."
Dry subject? Are you kidding? We're talking about floatplanes here...
That project is right up there as one of my favorites. I'd post it for you here but I'm not sure Transport Canada would appreciate it. In a harbour with 2 ferry services, cruise ships, small harbour ferry boats crossing all day, kyackers, pleasure crafts, and hundreds of take-offs and landings daily, it is an impressive operation and just beautiful to watch and to edit.
24.3.09
Doc Challenge
A great success with our 7 minute entry for http://www.docchallenge.org/. 5 crazy days of filmmaking really paid off. I'm looking forward to screening our film 'I'm a Witch - So What" for the cast and crew tommorow night at http://www.islandfx.ca/
Many thanks to Simon and Brooke for the opportunity to use and promote their facilities.
Many thanks to Simon and Brooke for the opportunity to use and promote their facilities.
It will give me great pleasure to give the incredible Victoria crew a copy of the film and a beer in thanks for the spectacular work. Talents like these make one consider the potential for filmmaking in Victoria is almost endless.
I’m a Witch, So What?
Gamut Productions, Victoria BC
7mins HDTV
Today, the number of people practicing witchcraft is increasing more than any other non-immigrant based religion. Why Wicca? Why now?
I’m a Witch, So What? is a critical look at a religion generally considered to be without doctrine and spiritual over-authority. One of its only rules is that everyone is free to carry out their (own) personal exploration as long as they 'harm none.'
During a time of rising global awareness, the witch returns in a new form after years of being misunderstood, coming forth to share common goals with many other open religions as they seek a broader understanding of the direction of our planet. The witch remains a vital part of human progress, emerging in this documentary with a voice that challenges preconceived notions of the past.
My first blog post
Hi,
For some reason I've decided to create a blog.
Does anyone actually read these things?
For some reason I've decided to create a blog.
Does anyone actually read these things?
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