The Art of Film

Big Island - Oil Pastel on Paper, Hawaii.

Gillian Cornwall, c. 2006.

Art is essential, a diamond, the soul of us, sculpted and cut, unique in approach and in reception by each of us, depending on when and how we encounter the work.

Vincent van Gogh said, "It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done."

This week I wonder if you might engage with a few film industry folks I have come to know. These are people who have completed films or have projects in post-production. Some are actors, some film makers and some are both. The subject matter varies - a couple are drama, some are documentary. The works are by people whose hearts, minds and spirits are undeniably and fully engaged in their creations. May each of us live our lives with the passion put into these works of art, may we live our lives with our love for each moment spilling over from an endless fountain into all of those around us and on through eternity. Enjoy.

Two4One A film by Maureen Bradley - This is "a bittersweet romantic comedy about an oddball couple, Miriam and Adam, who have a one night stand and both end up pregnant." Keep up with the post-production progress and details on this great, upcoming film by following along on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Two4OneFilm

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Two4OneFilm

Instagram: http://instagram.com/two4onefilm

Tumblr: http://two4one.tumblr.com/

Blue A film written by Michele Martin and Charles Huddleston and directed by Charles Huddleston. This film is the story of a "mysterious young man suffering a rare blood disease that colours his skin blue. He meets a young woman who looks beyond his unusual appearance as she struggles with dark secrets of her own." The spectacular cast includes, Michele Martin, Kelly McGillis, Drew Connick, and Kenny Johnson. Currently in post-production, this film is not to be missed. Keep up with news and release information:

http://www.cinemaalterna.com/#project:BCA-ABOUT

Twitter: https://twitter.com/theBlueMovie

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theBluemovie

Us and Them by Krista Loughton - Us and Them is about one woman's experience befriending four drug and alcohol addicted street people over seven years. In my opinion, this is a film created out of love and an honest path. Check in on post-production status and updates on release though these social media platforms:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/usandthemmovie

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_UsandThem_

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7RwIvXYn9Y

Smiling at Death by Alberta Nye - Alberta has filmed people telling their profound experience while being with a person just before or when they pass over. This film is cutting edge in offering us a glimpse into what has been a taboo subject in some cultures. The film is honest and beautifully real in its approach and would benefit everyone who watches. It will touch your heart. This is Alberta's second documentary, following So I'm Dying ...now what? which took us along the path of Margaret Hackman who chose to live until she died of brain cancer.

Check the Spirit Valley Pictures site or follow Alberta on Twitter for info on showings of these two wonderful films:

Website: spiritvalleypictures.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlbertaNye_Here

I hope you will enjoy these films and help to support the work through crowd-funding and by sharing these stories with others. Go to a movie and walk the path of others for an hour or two. The opportunities are endless.

Thanks very much.

-Gillian Cornwall, c. April 27, 2014.

"With each step, the Earth shifts and sighs

for below our feet, another world lies"

Gillian Cornwall, c. 2011.

Art, Home and Voice

The Hands of Time Sculptures - by Crystal Przybille

Photo by Gillian Cornwall - Victoria, BC 

Having just moved my home across town, thoughts around place, creativity and belonging have been swirling through me. It was of concern to me to ensure that the party with whom I live is fully aware of my need for time and space to write and the freedom to work uninterrupted for hours on end. This is no small task for two people in a one bedroom apartment but, thus far, all is well.  

All of this brought me to reconsider a piece I wrote a number of years ago. I have reformed it and brought it forth once again for your consideration:

Imagine you live on the street. Where is your venue for self-expression? Do you care or is it entirely off your radar because your focus is grounded in the most basic elements of survival? Perhaps you are cold, hungry, afraid, ill, addicted and desperate in the act of surviving another day. Some people are without society's concept of home by choice - but I would dare to say that this is a very small number. Some people on the street have homes but cannot go to them because they are less safe than the street. Those homes represent abuse - mental, physical, sexual and psychological. 

I do know that many people who are living without the construct of walls and roof are not seen by those of us who do live within these constructs. I do know many housed people who haven't been in the downtown core for a year or more and they have no concept of how or why anybody could possibly be living on the streets. 

"Aren't their services for 'those people'? Aren't 'they' taken care of with our tax dollars?"

Well, 'those people' are our brothers and sisters, our mothers and fathers and our children. They are our community elders. They are victims of violence, government cutbacks, mental illness and addiction. 'Those people' are of the universal energy that makes up every one of us; they are us. 

Living outside the boundaries of  what we deem to be normal society can come with the price of not being seen - by anyone. You are outside the realm of others vision of acceptability. You are incomprehensible by the nature of your situation and too difficult to look at, so passers-by choose to select you as unseen. If you are not seen, do you question your place in the world? Do you drift outside of yourself or do you drift progressively inward? I imagine each situation is as individual as each one of us.

I do know that, for me, art (be it writing or visual art) allows me to examine my interconnection with the world through self-expression. I would love to see everyone have the opportunity and safe space to engage in this kind of self-expression, the opportunity to be seen and heard through these media if they choose. For far too long, I have been toying with the idea of getting some art and writing supplies donated to Our Place, just to give people the option of giving it a go if they so choose.  

I think it would be totally cool if they were willing to have their work posted on-line and on walls. I do not want to speak for others; rather, I think it would be great to hear the voices of those who can utilize a safe way to speak. Could this be a conduit through which we might all become a little closer to one another, a little more understanding of each other's paths?

I do believe that self-expression is integral to our well-being and as necessary to life as the act of breathing. A picture truly can be worth a thousand words and there is poetry in them there streets. Let us be conduits for each other's voices. Let us stand together with our hearts, ears and eyes open to one another. Let us love without fear. 

If you have thoughts on this post and ideas on how to facilitate it or, if you want to help out, please leave a comment and I'll get back to you in short order. Alternatively, contact Our Place directly if you want to help out in Victoria, B.C.. If you are in another city, there are organizations everywhere that desperately require your help - be it financial or in goods or services. 

May love flow freely as a fountain and may you always be full.

-Gillian Cornwall, c. March 30, 2014

The Hands of Time Sculptures - by Crystal Przybille

Photo by Gillian Cornwall - Victoria, BC