I’ve been absent from this blog, “away” doing administrative tasks, things that have to get done. I’m back and thinking about November?December things: projects to finish and projects to begin. The days are darker and shorter now and all these things combined had led me to thinking about motivation.

There was plenty of motivation, and inspiration afoot at the festival workshops this year! If you ever have a chance to participate in any kind of workshop or forum where filmmakers are going to discuss their work do it! Listen to Eva Madden, our feature filmmaker talk about workshops . From financing to scriptwriting and producing to directing; it was all there

Carol Whiteman from the Creative Women Workshops Association was at the fest again this year leading workshops at the Film Forum. Carol is a really engaging presenter and embodies the spirit of collaboration from whence good filmmaking comes. Carol is the co-founder of the Women In the Director’s Chair Workshops that use the mentorship model as the foundation for successful learning. Pattie LaCroix from Catapult Media had a chat with Carol about mentoring – a really informative and candid interview that I’m sure you will find inspiring.

Carol’s workshops have been extremely successful and have helped many women go on to successful and fulfilling careers in the film industry. Along with the idea of mentoring she also discusses the concept of trust and how important it is, in the creative and personal process, to trust yourself – a truly motivational piece of advice. Mentoring is an important element in the learning approach in any field.

In fact, in the business world, an important part of the film industry as well, mentoring is taking on a new approach with many advocating a “network” of mentors to encourage and guide you on your learning journey. That’s what we’re hoping to do here at moovy – be your network for collaboration and support! Leave a comment let me know what you think!

The interview is in two parts: part one and part two. Well worth the time - you will be inspired and learn something!

A very special thanks to Maura McGovern, an amazing photographer, for letting me include this photo here!

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Well the 19th Annual St. John's International Film Festival is over. The closing night Gala was wonderful and I will be blogging about it starting TOMORROW. Today I need to catch up on things I didn't get done, real life and think about last week. Did you have fun? I miss the festival; the people, the films, the luncheons and the parties! If you're suffering from Post Festival Depression, or PFD as we call it, the video may help. You are not alone. ;)

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Yesterday was one of my favorite days so far; excellent panel discussions with filmmakers who revealed, intrigued and inspired, Bookshorts screening at The Majestic, GORGEOUS films at The Rooms and the party! Wow - what at party! Thanks Pope Productions that was awesome. The Subtitles rocked the house - more later when I am fully recovered. What was your favorite film you saw yesterday??

As soon as I get photos from Jamie I'll put some up! Have a great day!

This photo of The Subtitles was sent to me by JessieJessie at the Pope party on her cell phone. Did you take any pics at the fest? Send them in and I'll post them!!

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Alanis Obamsawin has spent years illuminating aboriginal issues through film, and her recent production screens at the From the Frontlines show at the Women’s Film Festival on Friday morning.

Gene Boy Came Home plays like a chat over coffee with Eugene "Gene Boy" Benedict, who moved to the US as a teenager. He eventually wound up as a scout / sniper in Vietnam for the better part of two years, and the focus of the story is on his experience there, its contribution to his troubles afterwards, and the inner peace he discovered when he moved back home.

There’s archive footage and photographs aplenty, all assembled with the skill of a professional documentary film-maker, but the real treat here is the charisma of Mr. Benedict. The film runs a little less than 25 min., but we could listen to him talk all day.
Born with Down’s Syndrome, Norm Llewellyn was moved to a foster home when he was 14 years old, much to the dismay of his younger sister, Karen. At the time, she promised him that she would come get him, and years later, once she got herself settled she did just that.

The 47 min. documentary, Norm, playing at the afternoon show, Family Ties, recounts their past, various moments of their present, and the uncertainty of the future. The complications that Norm encounters as he ages, continually jeopardize Karen’s promise to her brother that she’d never leave him.

A quality production in every respect, the film immerses us into their world to where we feel as though they’ve become a part of our lives. You won’t make it to lunchtime the next day without wondering how Norm’s doing right now.

For Kelly McAlear, home is a roller derby rink. Her obsession with the sport is the focus of a 4 min. short, Down and Derby which opens the early evening show, From the Nation’s Capitol.

Produced as part of an NFB training initiative, the picture features a lot of music video styled razzamatazz intended to show off the film-makers post-production skills, but Ms. McAlear is such a dynamic person, that she easily shines through the distraction. At the end, we want more, which is always a good thing.

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If you live in St. John's you probably know Tim from Capitol Video; if you don't - go there, it's at Rawlins Cross - the best films to rent in town , good conversation and excellent recommendations for when you want to watch something but just don't know what. For those of you who don't know Tim, I asked him to send me a blurb about who he is. This is what he sent;

"I started reviewing movies for Take Two, a radio show at CHMR in the fall of 1994, and began co-hosting the show the following semester, which I continued to do for a couple of years. During that time, I reviewed movies for a number of community publications, until early in 1997, when I began doing film reviews for the Express. I continued there until the end of 2003, then moved on to Current for half of the following year. I then went on to Independent, until its untimely passing, and am back with Current since September. For the past ten years or so, I've been operating Capitol Video, currently located on Rawlins Cross."

Tim did film reviews for us! This is his review from last nights screening - were you there? Comment and let us know what you thought - start a conversation!

WEDNESDAY NIGHT REVIEWS by Tim Conway

Sometimes, dreams come true. The same holds for metaphors in the 7 min. short, Struck, written and co-produced by Milena Ferreira, and screening at the WIFF’s Brevity Meets Levity show on Wednesday evening.

Just as Joel catches sight of a fetching woman on the other side of the street, he’s struck in the chest by a metre-long arrow. He’s not fatally wounded, but his life is certainly more complicated, as doctors choose to leave the projectile intact.

A well crafted, highly polished comic gem featuring a lot of familiar faces, Struck is a delightful picture that is sure to charm you. Afterwords, check out the entertaining "making of" offering on the film’s web-site.

Playing in the same show is a couple of 2min. films from mobiDOCS, a joint project of the NFB and Film Australia. First, Canadian film, I’ve Never Had Sex challenges participants to respond truthfully to a statement that begins "I’ve never had sex ...". Presumably shot on a cell phone, the folks behind the film were clever enough to realize that if you have no visuals to show off, you’ve gotta have content, and editing skills, which they do.

URNT4ME, an Australian component of mobiDOCS offers great visuals, but wastes way too much time with bells and whistles. The film offers reactions to the trend of announcing the break-up of a relationship via text-messaging. There’s a bit of older film footage cut into this that helps give it a professional glow, but in a two minute film, you don’t spend a third of the time on an introduction. The core material is great, but this is as much an audition for the film-maker as it is an attempt to entertain you.

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