Shoot Camp 2010

For four days and five nights the Palisades Centre in Jasper National Park was home to the first annual filmmakers camp for youth.  From Sunday nights fire side chat with Erin Karpluk of CBC’s Being Erica…to the Premiere showing of the new films on Thursday night it was ‘lights camera action’ for all.

Sean and Sam successfully finished their first draft of their short ‘Newton’s Cradle’ within minutes of the public screening.  Alex and Karl were perfecting their graphics and sound on ‘Fistful of Dragons’ as the classroom was transformed into a theatre complete with red carpet!

You see shoot camp is a play on the words ‘boot camp’.   The first two days we had the teams up and out to the bunkhouse for full breakfasts by 8am…to the cameras by 9.  Day three and four that schedule changed considerably once the footage was in the computers and ready for editing.  After the nightly guest speakers (Geo Takach for writing, John L’Hirondelle for music composition, and Signe Olynyk for page to screen details) students didn’t head to bed like they did on shooting days.  On editing days it was decided that editing could go on until the wee hours (just like the real world) and sleeping in was allowed.

Midday Thursday – the day for public screenings – found instructor David Baker running between edit suites checking on progress while setting up the theatre.  Long renders in the computers and sound tracks to be installed…incompatible technologies and tired bodies made the best of the final day of editing.

The doors opened promptly at 7pm.  ‘Fistful of Dragons’ graphic design will have to do.  The ‘Garage Theatre’ is a balmy 28+ degrees…the audience filed in.  Full house!  Popcorn popping…licorice shared.  Lights down.  Missing two students.  Down to the dining room to retrieve them…

These boys made us proud.  The Campus should be proud…two great short films.  Humour, character building, action without violence, use of the beautiful Palisades Centre in the imagery, good dialogue and great short storytelling skills.  These students came to the camp to have the time and assistance they needed to complete a film they wanted to make.  The camp was designed to assist young filmmakers in completing a project.

And thats what we did!

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Shoot Camp instructor David Baker is now listed with the Alberta Foundation for the Arts Education Roster.  Until they update their website you can see details about bringing a ‘Film Camp’ to your region/school at www.delphinus18.com.

And it gets better…between now and next spring all of Davids students are invited to forward their synopsis for a short film.  One successful fledgling filmmaker will win the opportunity to go to Los Angeles next June to pitch their story at the Great Pitchfest!  Start writing!!  Contact video@iotad.ca for more details.

Inspiration comes from collaboration!

Well, for those of you who have been to the Guild this year…the editing room where Filmmaking 101 takes place was a rather uninspiring concrete block space.  Thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Hinton and Jasper Creative Campus’s the room has been transformed into something wonderful!!

Joel Cooper is a Street Art artist who comes from the ART OF STREET studio in Jasper.  He spent the day taking the concrete blocks beyond recognition…hopefully giving the next class of filmmaking students something inspiring to look at.  Keep watching the Creative Campus calendar for the ‘Street Art’ classes that Joel will be teaching in Hinton this spring/summer.

Check out the imagery on this ‘phone video’ – looks like I might need to be one of the next students for Filmmaking 101!

Visual Storytelling

Applications are being taken now – a week at the Palisades Centre in Jasper National Park with guests from the industry…Geo Takach, Signe Olynyk…all meals and accommodations are covered.  Ask at the Guild 780.865.2200 or ask the instructor David Baker for more information 780.984.5252 or email betabake@hotmail.com

Building Community – what comes first?

As part of a Creative Campus desire to see more connections in West Yellowhead I asked the Adult Learning Centre here in Jasper to setup an Alberta Creative Engaged Community workshop.  One month later it came to life.  And as part of my daily attempt to do all things creative I managed to arrive only two hours late.

So – having just spent the day indoors with folks from all over the region – Grande Cache, Hinton, Edson and Jasper; employees of municipalities, non profit groups, government employees – from culture and recreation, literacy, arts, heritage…I offer a little reflection (Tracy and Robyne can add to this!).

We were given workbooks on how to work in community to get our stories and issues from concepts to successes.  Most of us had a success story, or are working in a successful process.  Most of us have also worked on a process that failed to get the results we had hoped for.  So much information…so many different opinions and passions and causes.

But the common thread that got all those bodies in one room (no it wasnt chocolate-although that did keep us entertained) was our desire to be part of a community that cares.  A place where opportunity and quality of life are maximized through thoughtful and desirable programming.  No – they are not the same thing.  What I may think my community wants isn’t necessarily what my community wants.  Programming driven by the power of one (or one group) is seldom what should be.  Success would apparently come from the inclusiveness of all facets of community, with input and feedback and evaluation and planning with constant change as society changes…

Yet when the question came at the end of the day,  ‘What will you stop doing now?”  I couldn’t think of a thing that I would stop doing in my advocacy for what I am passionate about.  Will my process change?  Perhaps (as many of my cultural co-workers can attest) – a good old fashioned alarm clock might be useful.

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I do know that the Adult Learning Council is very interested in knowing what professional expertise we have in our region for workshops.  Rather than send for guest speakers and instructors from across the province – we could probably make use of the speakers and instructors that live in our communities.  If we knew who they were.

Contact us to be included in this regional inventory of ‘people with expertise’.  Jasper Creative Campus 780.883.0282, or Adult Learning 780.852.4418.  If your expertise is arts and culture based – the Creative Campus Hinton would also like that information 780.865.2200.

email:    edson@yraf.com     or       jasper@yraf.com     or      grandecache@yraf.com      or       hinton@yraf.com

Marianne

From Scottish Poets to Olympic Hockey

Last year we took on working with YRAF through the Creative Campus.  If anyone had told me that I would be listening to bagpipes, watching Olympic Hockey, hanging art for a television crew, meeting Wendy Davis (author of Dal and Rice),  and listening to the Fiddle River Band all in one week I would have laughed.  Instead – I’m just smiling!

We have an amazing community.  Check back soon as we put the final touches on this years programs…from St Pattys Day’s Celtic Hour, YRAF’s Arts Festival (largest one in Rural Alberta!), July’s Shoot Camp (aka Filmmaking 101), August’s Horse Power Exhibition, September’s Bowls with Soul and Variety Show, Artists in the Pines and the annual Barb Brooks Exhibit in December…  Jasper is the place to be – whatever you want to be!

Or Hinton or Edson or Grande Cache…I’m just braggin’ about my home!  Maybe someone else can bring us up to date on the rest of the Creative Campus region!!

DID YOU KNOW!!!

I attended a YRAF festival meeting this week…to see what I could help with in my corner of the region.  I felt it important to know a bit of history of the festival.  WOW.

HISTORY

The Yellowhead Rotary Arts Festival is a multi-faceted festival featuring displays and adjudicated performances in 13 artistic categories:

Piano                          Speech                                     Drawing & Painting

Band                           Instrumental                              Sculpture

Voice                          Hand Bells                               Photography

Strings                        Fabric Arts                               Pottery

Creative Writing

It began in the year 2000, as a Millennium project, initiated by members of the Hinton Rotary Club, to build a multi-disciplinary arts festival on the platform of the fifteen year old piano festival, which annually involved 300 participants.   In the inaugural year, the new YRAF event attracted 800 participants in seven areas.  The festival is now supported by the Hinton, Edson and Jasper Rotary Clubs.

GROWTH

Since 2000, YRAF has expanded to include a variety of Visual Arts categories as well as Creative Writing.  This festival is unique in that it caters to both Visual and Performance Arts and is one of the largest combined Arts Festivals, for a rural region, in the province.  The festival formed a society in 2005, the Yellowhead Regional Arts Festival Society, to better manage both the festival and the workshops in arts related topics, which were and are growing out of the festival.

EVENTS

The festival takes place over a 10 day period in late April and early May in the towns of Hinton (5 venues) and Edson (2 venues), with hopes to host a venue in Jasper for 2009.  All entries in the festival receive a thoughtful evaluation from professional adjudicators qualified for each category.

A grand concert, featuring the most entertaining performances of the festival, is held in  early May.  Each year a visual art piece is chosen for the next year’s poster.

The festival averages 900 participants per year, with audiences of 2700 for all events.  On April 24, 2008, the Visual Arts Venue will transform the Hinton Centre into an art gallery featuring 250 pieces of fine art.   Supporters of arts and culture groups from all across the Yellowhead Region have been personally invited to a reception to view the artwork, enjoy the Opening Day celebration and share ideas about a regional coalition of arts groups.

SPONSORSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/AWARDS

YRAF is funded by sponsorship, fundraising and registration fees.  Fees are kept low to encourage community participation.  Each year more than $2500 are given back to the community in scholarships (under 18 years of age only) and 50-60 medals and plaques are awarded for excellence to adults and students alike.

MISSION

The Yellowhead Rotary Arts Festival provides the opportunity for participants of all ages and abilities to share their talents and receive adjudication in an encouraging atmosphere.

Bringing in the New Year…

Jasper brings in 2010 with three months of wonderful programs…Arts Jasper presents Classical Music in January, Ballet in February and Theatre in March.  All three shows only $55 – Youth 12 and under only $25!!  See you there…

CLASSICAL MUSIC in January…with Aaron Au and the BonnyDoon Trio.

January 16, Jasper United Church                 Adults $15, Youth 12 and under $5

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Cinderella, Feb 26 Jasper Activity Centre

Adults $20, Youth under 12 $10

This ballet by Bengt Jörgen is an innovative take on the classic fairy tale. Jörgen’s choreography takes us through the misfortunes and fortunes of Cinderella and her stepsisters. Cinderella is tormented by her sisters until her life is changed by the appearance of an old woman, a seed and magical fairies. When Cinderella wins the hand of her prince, her stepsisters find their world turned upside down. Framing the action are sets by Glenn Davidson that create a fantastical environment based on the idea of the natural world reclaiming man-made structures. Costume designs by Robert Doyle playfully echo each character’s personality.

PRESS QUOTES

“This is a honey of a production – one that brings magic back to the ballet stage.”
- Gary Smith, The Hamilton Spectator

“Destined to live happily ever after.”
- Paula Citron, The Globe and Mail

“A classic refreshed.”
- Michael Crabb, The National Post

“Ballet Jörgen makes Cinderella sparkle.”
- Sandra Coulson, The London Free Press

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March 20th, Jasper Activity Centre   Adults $20  Youth 12 and under $10

In the 1930s in a small tenement apartment in St. Louis, the Wingfield family awaits your visit. Come and see this touching and devastating play chronicling a moment in this family’s life. Filled with failed expectations, false hope and heartrending desolation, The Glass Menagerie glitters and reflects with a haunting delicateness that will fix your gaze and move you to tears.

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Trimming the tree…

Jasper’s Festival of Trees is in full swing.  Complete with a multicultural display of Christmas in various countries.  If you get to town it’s all in the Museum – the Korean childrens festive outfits are amazing.

And there is a tree for the Creative Campus…I put the call out to get some ideas and bits – I was sent a selection of tree ornaments simply made from googly eyes and pompoms and pipecleaners.  Seemed like a no brainer – I can do this!!  After one pipecleaner reindeer that looked like he had handlebars rather than antlers and one marshmallow object that I think was supposed to be a snowman – I decided to make a Neeju Tree.  I found a great box with dividers in it that holds all the bits, and hung the rest on wire throughout the tree…all the things you would need to make decorations if you have the imagination!  (I think there is a christmas story in there somewhere!)  All the project needs is you – thus the name – the Neeju tree.

And because of our cultural heritage here in the National Park – and the need to raise awareness for wilderness issues – we also made a Museum Tree. The garland is made of pasta in the shape of reindeer (caribou) and is part of our TuktuPrayers intiative.   We added the note: Learning from our pasta so it all made sense!

Recent Edson Events

Laurie Greenwood’s book talk at Mojo’s in Edson was informative and entertaining! Approximately 25 people came out and enjoyed the evening. I have posted photos, as well as photos of the “Dreaming of a Bright Christmas” swag which was in the Red Brick Festival of Trees. – Tracy

Journey into Christmas

Begin your Journey into Christmas on December 6 and 7 at the Gateway Community Church in Hinton.

The Journey into Christmas is a traditional community Christmas Concert featuring stories, songs, music and the joy of the Christmas Season.  It typically sells out, so be sure to get tickets well in advance.

Many people report that this concert is their favorite way to begin the Christmas season.

Bring something for the food bank too.