A mini film festival has become a prominent part of the Chemainus Theatre FestivalB次元官网网址檚 diversification since COVID.
Three Indigenous-based films were screened over two days last March, including director Harold C. JoeB次元官网网址檚 highly-acclaimed Tzouhalem. Two films are on the agenda for the follow-up festival on Saturday, Feb. 11.
Among them is a documentary film, A Cedar Is Life, directed by Cowichan TribesB次元官网网址� Joe that has its Canadian premiere at the Victoria Film Festival Feb. 6 before playing at the Chemainus Theatre Feb. 11 at 7 p.m.
A Cedar Is Life will be preceded at 4 p.m. by KwiB次元官网网址檃h: The Girl Who Heals. The 35-minute film follows snippets of Seasiders, a new web series created for children featuring regional elders, knowledge keepers and advocates.
A Cedar Is Life is another collaboration between director Joe and producer Leslie Bland of Victoria. The two creative artists are looking to spotlight Indigenous talent, stories and culture.
B次元官网网址淲e talked about it just after we got Tzouhalem out last year,B次元官网网址� said Joe.
The film essentially documents everything pertaining to cedar and B次元官网网址渨hat itB次元官网网址檚 meant to our people for thousands of years and looking at it from a spiritual realm as well,B次元官网网址� he added.
The tale of cedar is told through interviews with elders, mask carvers, medicinal harvesters, canoe makers, totem carvers, cedar bark weavers, those working with traditional food and cooking, and other hands-on practitioners all along the west coast from Vancouver Island to Haida Gwaii.
B次元官网网址淲e got some great artists in there and elders,B次元官网网址� noted Joe. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 some really, really unique artists up in Haida Gwaii and Prince Rupert.
B次元官网网址淚t helped talking with the artists and gave us some insight into talking to other artists as well.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚t was a great chance to visit Indigenous communities,B次元官网网址� added Bland, whoB次元官网网址檚 been a guest director and also performed on the Chemainus Theatre stage over the years. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e never been up to Haida Gwaii before.B次元官网网址�
The interviews and filming for that part of the production required a road trip with a crew of seven for a full two weeks. The rest of the shooting was done primarily with day trips to different parts of the Island.
B次元官网网址淎ll in all, we had 32 filming days we spent,B次元官网网址� said Bland.
B次元官网网址淚t took us about a year to finish it, polishing it and score the music that I was involved in,B次元官网网址� added Joe. B次元官网网址淚t was a long process.B次元官网网址�
But heB次元官网网址檚 extremely pleased how it turned out.
B次元官网网址淚 have to step out of the box,B次元官网网址� said Joe. B次元官网网址淒oes it tell the story I was looking for? Absolutely, for sure.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淕enerally, the film is what we sought,B次元官网网址� Bland observed. B次元官网网址淲hen you do a documentary, youB次元官网网址檒l start with a game plan and you have to adapt with what you get.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 quite pleased with it. I think itB次元官网网址檚 quite close to what we imagined when we started.B次元官网网址�
Joe and Bland are on the same page with their goals for these films.
B次元官网网址淲e have a whole history of working together,B次元官网网址� said Bland. B次元官网网址淲e do both documentaries and scripted feature films.B次元官网网址�
In addition to Tzouhalem, the Orca Cove Media production of Dust B次元官网网址楴B次元官网网址� Bones was included in the Chemainus Theatre mini film festival last year.
TheyB次元官网网址檙e also in post production on a comedy film, The Great Salish Heist, featuring Graham Greene and Tricia Helfer.
B次元官网网址淚 enjoy it, I really do,B次元官网网址� summed up Joe. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 leaving something for the kids. I got into filming because we were losing so many of the elders.B次元官网网址�
Joe will be turning 60 in April.
Bland likes the concept of the film festival for the Chemainus Theatre.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 great idea,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 wonderful for them to have a platform to fill in the gaps.B次元官网网址�
The trailer for A Cedar Is Life can be viewed .
To reserve seats for KwiB次元官网网址檃h: The Girl Who Heals or to buy tickets for A Cedar Is Life, click for the Chemainus TheatreB次元官网网址檚 website.
don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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