Day 7 Bella Bella !
One of the things I am really enjoying witnessing is all the teamwork. There is so much support for each other and the projects that are happening. It is truly heartwarming.
Filmmaking is never really a solo sport, it often takes assistance and it can be better because of this…AND more FUN!
Today started with mad skill sharing while Eryn helped Sanique get her eyelashes on for another filming session. Eryn can add ‘makeup artist’ to the resume! ;)
TJ arrived feeling better and got to mad work laying down imagery and considering music. Lori is reaching out to Rory to see if there is a song that TJ can use. As well TJ worked on credits. TJ has a great way of working, short bursts that get a lot done in a short period of time. And again, the young people have a real vision and know how they want their films to be - it is wonderful to experience.
Sanique and team went out to the river for Sanique to lip-sync her song in 2 more locations. Eryn was camera and TJ worked the blue tooth speakers for location one and then as an actor in the second location! AND BTW it was SO cold- this team worked through it. Sanique is really great at lip syncing to her song AND withstanding the biting cold in just a t-shirt. GO JAMAICA! Sanique is VERY CLEAR on what she wants this music video to be and so it will be exciting to see how thru editing it will all come together! Sanique left a bit early to celebrate her mother’s birthday…Happy Birthday Mom!
(an aside…TJ dropped their phone in the water and was SO calm and moved through this accident so wonderfully…almost giving up and then persevering to crack the ice and find the phone and pull it out…it was STILL working ! RELIEF! We went back to the Youth Center to pack in rice before we headed to second location!)
Danny carried on with arranging the recorded songs on his timeline of the animation. Danny is so clear on how he wants his film to be. Danny also worked on the opening title ! This film has such attention to detail and Danny continues in his vision! It is almost there! ;)
Eryn finished reordering her film AND added some still images. This story is getting more and more detailed celebrating the Youth Center and the Bella Bella young people. SO charming and FUN.
Yaya came in to move their film forward during breaks and after Heiltsuk Language School. They captured b-roll and conducted one more interview- this time with Auntie Fran! Yaya is so comfortable with the gear and the software. Yaya’s first film was 2016 so there has been a lot of practice with digital storytelling and it is so nice to witness the confidence! Yaya knows how to record interviews (they use their own camera!) sync the sound and edit the footage. Yaya also really understands how to consider story and honour the folks who have been interviewed. Elle is sick today but Yaya is figuring ways to share the interviews if Elle can’t come into the workshop tomorrow. It is a team effort so feedback from both parties is important. This project is coming along! ;)
Tehya listened to the interview that Norman conducted of Ayla! She loved it! Then they interviewed House (nick name for William Housty) in the Big House and then had another film shoot out at the Old Bella Bella townsite with their regalia. Again it was FREEZING cold so there was a need to warm up in the truck between scenes. These two are so connected to their culture and dancing and potlatch. It is wonderful to witness their friendship and passion for this. We talked about how dancing makes you strong both physically and spiritually. I learned a bit about the crests on their blankets which are given by family. Also that these two enjoy helping out behind the scenes during a potlatch.
Lori and Claudette continue to support us all with jokes and food and community outreach and suggestions.
These workshops are about making films, yes, but also about connecting and celebrating who everyone is as individuals, AND also supporting each other within community.
Heart warming.
