NEXT STAGE #17 April 22 2005

 

Pass the Popcorn
Film Night in Whitehorse

An interesting development in northern entertainment in Whitehorse is the collaboration between Triple J’s Music Café and BYTE to present a series of film nights. A venture designed to entice Yukon filmmakers to step up and have their work viewed.

“There are a lot of films and filmmakers around and we hope to provide a venue for these films to be screened,” explains McKenzie Grant, Conference Coordinator at BYTE.

Jordi Jones, owner of Triple J’s will be opening her store as a space to screen these films. Her 4th Avenue shop is well-known and centrally located.

There have been other attempts to create a film night at other locations, Jones explains,” We had a film night at Hellaby Hall and no one showed up”

“We want to see people come out to this event, we would like to make this a monthly event.”

Up for consideration this time are films of all genres. Several horror films, snow and skateboard videos, short dramas, and a few anime are in the offing, all of them modest or no budget, all made locally.

“At the BYTE office we literally have a bag of about 15 films sitting on the floor,” said Grant half joking.

With video cameras being as common as super 8mm film was years ago, and the availability of decent consumer grade video editing software showing up on even the most basic Windows XP system, it’s no wonder film has become an accessible artistic expression. Grant also mentioned that Skills Canada has equipment to rent on a daily basis.

Back at the store, logistics are still being worked out. “We’re going to clear the racks out of the middle of the store and set up a screen against the back wall,” said Jones as she walks me around her shop. “We have room for around 30 people, the audio will be hooked up to the store speakers”.

Jones told me about her own film she made with friends. The Amazing Misadventures of Dart Sugarpants and Nova Multimirror: The Dynamic Duo of Destruction, a self confessed epic in 12 minutes, took under five days to shoot, edit and score.” And it has a moral”, she says with a smile.

Although the films are amateur, even in a culture that is submerged in a sea of video rentals and 500 channels of television, most people know a good story when they see one. It’s hard to find a 10 year old that can’t give a compelling criticism of a shoddy Hollywood film. It’s part of our cultural language.

Independent film is a medium of candid, creative and unique expression. With your attendance and support we could create an on-going media exhibit this fall right here in Whitehorse.

The first film night is October 13th at 7pm.

For further information on times and how to get your film shown contact BYTE or Triple J’s.