As Connor GastonB次元官网网址檚 classmates watched a sneak peek of his latest film, Bardo Light, the University of Victoria writing student kept his eyes glued on one friend who was visibly swept away during the 10-minute short.
B次元官网网址淚t seemed like he was actually invested in the story,B次元官网网址� said 23-year-old Gaston. B次元官网网址淎nd whenever itB次元官网网址檚 a sci-fi story, or something you might not actually believe, itB次元官网网址檚 nice to get that reaction B次元官网网址� even if itB次元官网网址檚 just for that moment.B次元官网网址�
This summer, the list of those invested in the drama inspired by the Tibetan Book of the Dead and Gaston having seen pug dogs watch television, expanded beyond GastonB次元官网网址檚 supporters at UVic to include the programmers at the Toronto International Film Festival. Bardo Light, a reference to the light we cannot resist and would rather watch than breathe, now makes its big screen premier this weekend alongside the worldB次元官网网址檚 top films at TIFF 2012.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a maturity to his voice as a film director thatB次元官网网址檚 quite startling, considering how long heB次元官网网址檚 been making films,B次元官网网址� said Maureen Bradley, filmmaker and professor of screenwriting at UVic. B次元官网网址淚 see these kind of heavy endings in ConnorB次元官网网址檚 work that quite frankly, kind of terrify people. (Bardo LightB次元官网网址檚 ending) is terrifying in one way if your relationship with mortality isnB次元官网网址檛 settled and if it is, itB次元官网网址檚 quite a beautiful, calming moment.B次元官网网址�
Once Bradley gave Gaston access to filmmaking resources available through UVicB次元官网网址檚 writing department, including the schoolB次元官网网址檚 RED digital camera, Gaston fully committed to the project.
B次元官网网址淭hat really inspired me, thinking that I have this camera that they use in Hollywood and if the storyB次元官网网址檚 half-decent, whatB次元官网网址檚 stopping me?B次元官网网址�
Gaston shot the film between Gabriola Island and Victoria, with a small volunteer crew and cast that includes local actors Chris Mackie, Donna Barnfield and Shaan Rahman with cameos from GastonB次元官网网址檚 family dog Sally and his father, fiction author Bill Gaston.
Bradley describes the film as chilling, almost horrifying and ultimately moving through its use of metaphor similar to GastonB次元官网网址檚 previous work. Gaston is reluctant to make any statements on the recurring theme of his films.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 for other people to decide. IB次元官网网址檓 just thinking about story. A good story: thatB次元官网网址檚 all I care about,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚f you want to make a movie, go do it. B次元官网网址� You can shoot a movie on your phone. It shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be about the production value at all. Start off with a good story, a good character, whatever it may be and go out and shoot. YouB次元官网网址檒l learn a lot and youB次元官网网址檝e got nothing to lose.B次元官网网址�
Though attending TIFF equipped with a feature film pitch and a freshly-printed set of business cards, Gaston plans to return to Victoria after the event and study screenwriting as a graduate student under BradleyB次元官网网址檚 guidance.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 really good for Victoria that heB次元官网网址檚 sticking close and I hope we donB次元官网网址檛 lose him to L.A.B次元官网网址� Bradley said. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 going to miss the first week of class, but I figured that was alright. IB次元官网网址檓 not going to dock him any marks for going to the Toronto International Film Festival. I figured it was a pretty good excuse.B次元官网网址�
Also on the TIFF program this year: Frost, a sci-fi adventure short, written and directed by Jeremy Ball and starring Emily Piggford, both fellow UVic alumni.
