Independent Film, Independent Music and a little bit of Politics!

It’s been a while since I contributed to my blog. I really didn’t have anything to say up till now. This off course isn’t true; I always have something to say. Not always relevant to anyone, but that has never stopped me before. I tend to be just a tad lazy.

Okay, so what is going on? Where do I start? Let’s start with Bill Bourne. On March 12th, I had my first screening of the film “For the Record Featuring Bill Bourne” at Fargos at Capilano. It was a huge success, a packed house, I loved it. Fargo’s is a great spot for a screening. It has 6 screens the food is great and you can get everyone drunk before the screening. Next up, For the Record was nominated for a best documentary over 30 minutes at this year’s Alberta Film and Television Awards. What else? Okay, For the Record is now available on Kerf Music, and I did an interview with Peter North of CKUA. I have to tell you, I have been a Peter North fan for a long time. I miss his column in the Journal very much. It was such a pleasure talking to someone who just knows so much about roots music and he liked the film so it was win, win. If you’re interested in listening to the interview you can tune to CKUA on Sunday from 3-4pm and again for the rebroadcast on Tuesday from 6-7pm. Finally on the For the Record front, I am sure you know that Bill has signed with True North Records, and I just started talks with True North about distributing the documentary.
What’s up with Hired Gun? Well there is a lot going on. I am busy with a bunch of corporate videos. I am looking at doing a few interesting shows. I am working with a Country Duo named Myrol. Mother and Daughter team (think Judds without the drama) they are a kick ass country band, and they are doing a concert in Lithuania in August. So we want to document this, but it will be tough with such a short time span to raise the budget...and I really want to go to Lithuania. I am also talking to Laura Vinson an aboriginal performer who has been doing some interesting stuff, about creating a surreal, concert film of aboriginal stories and folklore. This could be fun. Also, I am writing a script for a short film I am going to do this fall. It is go to explore the concept that people are saying NO to aging once they hit 50 and my feature film “Stella’s dead and in the Back of the Truck” is in development with the plan to go to picture in the spring/summer 2012.
So you are now kind of up-to-date.
I have talked of film, music and now the dreaded politics. We are less than a week away from the next federal election and frankly I am a bit worried. I do not hide my thoughts on this, my vote is based on what a party will do for the arts, specifically the film and television industry. I assume all parties will have a handle on healthcare, education, seniors need and all those important social issues. So the defining elements are film and television funds, how they feel about the CRTC and their policies on dealing with broadcasters. The film industry made just under 5 billon dollars last year and to say it isn’t a major industry in Canada is to be ignorant, so damn it you politicians start supporting it. The Conservatives truly suck in my opinion. The Liberals are better, but for me I am liking the NDP. Yup, the older I get the more socialistic I become. I want a party that will protect Canada and its unique identity, which is told through film and television. I want a party who is concerned about the economy and stimulating that economy, but mostly I want a party that does all that without forgetting about the people who live here. What makes Canada great is that we are a little bit rock and roll and a little bit country...we are capitalists who look after our own. So that is my two cents...get out and vote, vote for what you feel and let’s hope this election will move us toward building a better Canada.
I think on that note I am going to stop. I am going to start distributing a Hired Gun newsletter regularly, in the next while, so if you’re interested go to my website and subscribe to the newsletter.