“133 YEARS OF MUSIC IN SIX SOLOS”: one of the top 25 films in the 2010 International Doc Challenge
Team Tippius’ entry into the 2010 International Documentary Challenge. Our assignment: Write, produce, shoot and edit a 4-7 minute documentary film based on the genre of music and theme of dreams/nightmares in 5 days. 130 teams from 11 countries are competing for one of 12 finalist spots and a screening at Hot Docs, North America’s largest documentary film festival, April 29-May 9, 2010 in Toronto.
Yesterday we learned that our entry into the 2010 International Documentary Challenge was ranked one of the top 25 films out of 130 entries from around the world. That’s Part 1 of the good news. Part 2 of the good news is that it was also selected for a special pre-screening at the NFB Cinemathéque on April 9 in Toronto (see previous post). Part 3 of the good news, and possibly the best news, is that we are now free to show it to you!!!
So what’s the bad news you ask? Well, here goes… we weren’t one of the Top 12 films, which means that we are not a finalist in this year’s competition. That’s a big bummer, but we’re keeping our chins up, considering where we did place, and considering we came into this competition with no crew and no preparation – I literally hovered my mouse over the registration button off and on for an hour (“should I do it, should I not”), minutes before the deadline, the night before the 5-day competition began (only a couple of days earlier I had never heard of the competition). That, and it was a lot of fun running all over the city getting private performances and interviews from musicians in their homes, studios, and gigs, at all hours of the morning, evening, and wee hours… I had 6 hours of sleep in 3 days… okay so some parts were more fun than others.
Anyhow, hope you enjoy the vid. Please leave a comment and/or “Like” the video. Spread the word – share/send the link to your friends – we want the biggest audience we can get. Cheers!
BTW – Wondering where we got the name ‘Team Tippius’ from? Well with minutes before the deadline to complete our entry, we had to come up with a team name, and lo and behold – our inspiration walks past…
Team Tippius, our frantic, last-minute name inspired by the darned cat.
“133 YEARS OF MUSIC IN SIX SOLOS”: film selected for a special preview screening April 9 at Toronto’s NFB Mediatheque
We received word today that our (Team Tippius’) entry into the International Documentary Challenge, “133 Years of Music in Six Solos”, has been selected for a pre-screening in Toronto, April 9. It will show alongside other Canadian entries at the NFB Mediatheque – John Spotton Theatre at 150 John Street, Toronto, Friday April 9, at 6pm. Admission is free, so go check it out! If we were going to be in town, we’d be there for sure. This event is sponsored by DOC – the Documentary Organization of Canada.
ROOTSYSTEM: playing St. Patrick’s Day at the Backstage Lounge, Vancouver, BC
Here’s a photo from a morning shoot I did with the band, Rootsystem. They’re playing tonight at 10 at the Backstage Lounge on Granville Island (I know, it’s short notice). Now for a quick nap before we head out to check out the show! If you miss them tonight, be sure check out their myspace page.
2010 INTERNATIONAL DOC CHALLENGE: “133 Years of Music in Six Solos”
Jay Dabbler, a Vancouver drum and bass DJ, appears in "133 Years of Music in Six Solos"
Yesterday I dropped off a package to Fedex containing our – me, Angela, James and Alejandro: “Team Tippius” – entry to the 2010 International Documentary Challenge. 130 teams from 11 countries entered to write, produce, shoot and edit a 4-7 minute documentary based on a genre that we received in our inbox at 8am on the first day of the competition, last Thursday. Twelve finalists will be selected by a jury of documentary filmmakers and screened at Hot Docs, the largest documentary film festival in North America.
Karen Lee-Morlang, classical pianist
Naturally, in hindsight, there are some things that we would have done differently… from process, to creative, to research, type, lighting… pretty much everything. But in the end I think we ended up with a little gem. I’d be happy to share it with you, but unfortunately it needs to stay “secret” until Hot Docs.
Thanks to all of our artists: Scott Good, Karen-Lee Morlang, James Weekes, Neil Cruickshank, Pher, and Jay “Dabbler”. Also thanks to the artists who got back to us but we didn’t have time to include.
FALLEN CONQUER: Great Grunge Metal at the Princeton Pub February 4
Fallen Conquer rehearsing for their February 4 gig at the Princeton.
Now I don’t imagine many of my readers are into Grunge Metal music, and to be honest, I don’t have that many tracks on my iPod either (okay, I have none). But I am reminded of my love/hate relationship with late 80′s hair metal whenever I sip from my broken Dee Snider mug each morning. Fast forward twenty years (!!) and these guys, Fallen Conquer, are a pretty decent crew – the modernization of what I thought was a phase of my life, this is something that is totally incomprehensible but exploding with energy and a catchy beat that I cannot deny (better with earplugs, I have to admit – and I don’t know if that is a compliment or an insult to the band, but considering the earplugs were given to me by them before the rehearsal began tells me it’s not a bad thing). Formed recently, Fallen Conquer brought me out to shoot at their rehearsal last week, and with my earplugs firmly planted as I moved about the “stage” to get my shots, I did not listen, but felt the music blasting through my body and it felt pretty darned good. You can check out Fallen Conquer on their myspace page (it’s a work in progress) but I do recommend you take them in live for the full experience. If you have sensitive ears, or even if you don’t, bring earplugs. Tomorrow night, February 4 at the Princeton Pub at Powell and Victoria.
STREET PHOTOGRAPHY: you have a conscience – trust it
Today I am offering a follow-up on a recent post where I shared my thoughts about shooting on the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. The same day I posted that article I was contacted by Pacifica Photography, a studio that I work with from time to time, to teach a “street photography” tutorial – on the streets of Vancouver. Hmmm. Well this is a bit of a dilemma. “Street photography” and “Vancouver” immediately conjure up images of the Downtown Eastside, poverty, drug abuse and prostitution in a lot of people’s minds, including my student’s; with that perception relentlessly fed to us by the mainstream media, it’s no wonder. Well I can definitively tell you that the Downtown Eastside also has probably the strongest soul of any neighbourhood I’ve been to in Vancouver – and I’ve been to them all. But photographers don’t usually go to that neighbourhood to capture happiness and soul do they? Without getting into the why right now, I also previously warned photographers from venturing into the Downtown Eastside without first being invited. So we didn’t go there.
Carlos (background) and Darrell gave us permission to photograph them.
With that touchy area now off the table, we still need to be ethical in our approach to shooting people in public. So how do I do (and teach) street photography while remaining well within my own ethical comfort zone? As Carlos, one of our subjects today so simply put it: ask. Don’t be shy. Ask permission to take someone’s photo. If they say no, respect their wishes. If they say yes, shoot away. Think about it: how would you like it if you were minding your own business and then you noticed someone taking photos of you without asking first? Things are a little more gray when it comes to candids, sometimes described as “stolen” pictures because, well, they’re stolen, taken without permission – and may even be downright voyeuristic – which is or may be awfully close to exploitation. A rule of thumb I use is with regards to the context of the photo – for example, a person is holding their ears as a firetruck screams by, then that might be okay. But if you’re taking a candid photo of someone just because they look decrepit, down on their luck, emotionally distressed… or on the flip side perhaps you find a person attractive and photogenic – and if you’re doing this without their permission – then you’re venturing into the realm of voyeurism and exploitation. Do not exploit your subjects. Respect them.
I did not ask the pedestrian for her permission - and I think that's okay because of her contextual role in this photograph.
Another form of exploitation happens when you take advantage of the reduced mental capacity of your subjects. Last week I was browsing the internet and came across a photograph that Google found – a photograph of a well-known neighbour on the Downtown Eastside – and it was clear that this person had given permission, or at least stopped long enough for the photographer to take their photo. It’s a safe bet that this person also suffers from mental illness. While it may seem that you have been given permission (or at least there has been no objection) to taking someone’s photo, they may not fully understand that their photo may end up at the top of the list when someone Googles “downtown eastside vancouver” – on display for the world to see, and for others to then further exploit (note that if someone is under the influence of alcohol or drugs they do not have adequate mental capacity). On the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, there are a lot of people who may not have the mental capacity to understand what their photo may be used for. Use your judgement. Be respectful. Trust your conscience. Your subjects are human beings, like you, like me.
So, what did we do today during our tutorial? Well, first of all we didn’t go to the Downtown Eastside. We weren’t invited and the area is just too exhausted from having photographers coming in, taking what they want, and leaving. Instead we went to Commercial Drive. And it was beautiful – the light was warm, the shadows long, the people happy and willing – because we asked – and didn’t exploit. Thanks Carlos. Thanks Darrell. I look forward to seeing you, and photographing you, again.
