Well, there’s 24 hectares of research farmland and green space out near the University of British Columbia in Vancouver its called UBC FARM and it is the ONLY working farm in Vancouver…it is used for teaching the community about sustainable agriculture, forestry and food systems….great, right?
(picture from amandamandapants)
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Category : Uncategorized
I had to share this clip. It is an exert from the Ellen Degeneres talk show. In the clip comedian Wanda Sykes adresses a very important issue in a quirky way. Enjoy:
For those who are not familiar with Proposition 8, it is a bill that was passed on November 4th 2008 revoking the rights to Gay marriage in the state of California. The greater message behind Sykes’ comedy is one of openness. Ironically on a day when Americans voted for change, they also voted for things to go back to the way they were in terms of Gay rights. I believe the underlying message here is that struggle is universal and that we should be open understanding the obstacles that our neighbors face.
Check out the Youth Towards Tolerance dossier and watch the old school One of Them clip that I was able to dig up.
Category : Uncategorized
Hey, great news!
CITIZENShift has just received an Award of Excellence in the Media Division, Media Creation Category, from the Society for New Communications Research! (http://sncr.org)
The Society honours innovative organizations that are pioneering the use of social media, ICT, mobile media, online communities, virtual worlds, and collaborative technologies in the areas of media, marketing, public relations, advertising, entertainment, education, politics, and social initiatives.
“The National Film Board’s CitizenShift program is a great example of the successful and innovative use of new communications solutions and social media practices to enhance communications and relationships,” commented Mike Manuel, SNCR Best Practices & Awards committee chairman.
All the winning case studies submitted to this year’s SNCR awards program have been published in New Communications Review at http://www.newcommreview.com/index.php?s=awards.
Check out the Mediacasters site for a great article about it!
About the Society for New Communications Research
The Society for New Communications Research (SNCR) is a global nonprofit foundation dedicated to the advanced study of the latest developments in new media and communications, and their effect on traditional media and business models, communications, culture and society. The Society creates a bridge between the academic community and practitioners using these news tools and technologies. SNCR’s Fellows include a leading group of futurists, scholars, business leaders, professional communicators, members of the media and technologists from around the globe – all collaborating together on research initiatives, educational offerings, and the establishment of best practices. For more information, visit http://sncr.org or call +1 (650) 331-0083.
Category : Uncategorized
What if we had access to the media we consume? What if rather than being simple consumers we became a part of that same media. What if we had a hand in improving it, changing around, and making it our own all the while?
That is what these Concordia students did with this clip from RiP: A Remix Manifesto.
The documentary explores the issues surrounding copyright. Taking something that belongs to someone else without permission has always been a “no-no”. With this documentary, filmmaker Brett Gaylor leads the audience to question what would happen if we simply made media available? What would happen if we gave a universal permission of sorts on media. The website creativecommons.org practices this. Here media makers can make their media available to other users to share, remix, and reuse their work.
I wonder what Cinderella would look like if I had a hand in shaping her character, her thoughts, and her taste in handsome princes?….For the longest time cultural icons have been embedded in our minds as because the private owners who have the rights to them maintain the image of these icons a certain way. Brett Gaylor makes the point in that Cinderella and other Disney characters were taken from original fairy tales and shaped to into Disney’s interpretation of these characters. Can I be audacious enough to say that these interpretations are simple remixes of the original fairy tales on the part of Disney? Maybe I won’t go there however, I will say that it is refreshing to see a movie that does address this issue and that encourages the viewers to participate in the production of the film.
For more information on RIP: A Remix Manifesto and information on how you can contribute to it check out http://www.opensourcecinema.org/
Category : Uncategorized
This upcoming Sunday evening there’s going to be a fantastic evening of film screenings and discussions dedicated to youth, as part of the 11th annual RIDM (Recontres internationales du documentaire de Montreal) film festival. Hosted by Natalie Indongo, the event partners different local comminunity organizations with the film fest, presenting several works by youth related to the theme of “The Right to Live My City.” The films in this event will specifically address how young people feel in relationship to their environment- their personal perspectives and sentiments, their realities and viewpoints.
To get a taste of the kind of projects that will be screening, check out this video “Turning Points,” made by students from at Place Cartier Adult Education Centre here in Montreal.
Participating on the panel will be: Homeless Nation, The Inter-tribal Youth
Center, The Segal Center in association with the Flyt Foundation, Oracle
Productions as well as Camera Côte-des-Neiges in association with the
Black Community Association of Côte-des-Neiges, Wapikoni and La Maison des Cultures Nomades en collaboration avec le Drop-In de St-Michel.
It looks like a great evening - see you there!
INFORMATION:
Le droit de vivre ma ville (français, anglais)
The right to live my city (English, French)
Dimanche 16 novembre 18h30 /Sunday, November 16th at 6 :30pm
Lounge des RIDM de la Cinémathèque Québécoise
(335, boulevard de Maisonneuve Est)
Billetterie: www.ridm.qc.ca• 514 844-2172 • 1-866-844-2172
RIDM (Rencontres internationales du documentaire de Montréal)
11e édition : du 13 au 23 novembre 2007
Informations: www.ridm.qc.ca / info@ridm.qc.
Category : Uncategorized
Tags: youth video event workshop film RIDM
Moderator Kristine Collins with panellists Shaun Else, David Rose, Jeana McCabe, Isaias Garcia
For this year’s Media Education Week (November 3-7) CITIZENShift along with NFB Mediatheque and Media Education Project co-hosted Making Sense of Sound, Integrating Sound into Media Education.
This multimedia event explored various aspects of sound production including podcasting, sound design for film and in-class video production. Our list of speakers included award-winning sound designer and editor David Rose, Grade 5 teacher at Maple Grove Public School Shaun Else, video production teacher at Bishop Marocco -Thomas Merton Catholic Secondary School, Jeana McCabe and Isaias Garcia, student composer and sound designer. Read the rest of this entry »
Category : Uncategorized
A CITY RENEWAL PROJECT is an installation in Toronto that is challenging people to think about the hidden narratives of their city. As older buildings are torn down and condos are being developed across the continent, two artists are doing their part to preserve their city’s history in this meaningful, playful look at this special era of change and transformation.
“A large-scale, site-specific collaborative installation by fauxreel and Specter [street artists from TO], the project focuses on the state of decay within the city, specifically examining abandoned storefronts and infrastructure that’s on the verge of being erased from the cityscape. Housed inside a 4400 square foot warehouse, the project renews these dilapidated buildings as artistic monuments and documents their history amidst the gentrified frenzy of urban change”
See the exhibit @ 39 Lisgar St., south of Queen St. West until November 23rd.
Check out the URBAN RENEWAL: HUMAN NEGLECT? dossier on CitizenShift more great media about the issue of ever-changing cityscapes and what it means to the people that inhabit these places.
For more information, check out this article on the Torontoist blog HERE
Category : Uncategorized
Prior to an unforseen sick day, I made a musical discovery that I would have told you about earlier. Their name is Lal and they are an underground concsious electro R&B musical collective. She does the lyrics and they do the beats. Their myspace page describes them as Electronic/Down-tempo/ Soul. I’m not quite sure what that means but their beats are sick! Meaning really really good… really good.
I had never heard of them. My friend invited me to a show at Lambi lounge in Montreal last Saturday. After having walked in front of the place about five times , I finally found the spot and made my way inside. Not knowing what to expect I settled into a seat with my friends. And then they came to the stage. The group is composed of Nicholas Murray, Ian de Souza, and Rosina. The first beats that Nicholas played were of a starlight twinkle and Rosina’s voice complimented the rythms. As the show whent on Rosina sang about the environment, conformity, and immigration. Once again I have to say that the beats were really good. I often found myself getting carried away with the hypnotyzing rythms.
The latest album is called Deportation, however the group has been making music since 1998 and now have six albums under their belt. Here is another video entitled White Cloud Intellect from their very first album “Corners”, 1998.
White Cloud Intellect, Lal 1998
Remember to check our Change the Beat dossier, where musicians vocalize the need for social change right here on CitizenShift.
Category : Uncategorized
The classic “voice of God” narration that we’ve all heard countless times in documentary cinema is most certainly a trend of the past. At one time, the integrity and authority of the unseen narrator was unquestioned- the fact that one could be speaking over a film was considered prestigious enough that it would warrant the audience’s unquestioned respect. But today in 21st Century western society, the absolute abundance of media, as well as its financial and technical accessibility to “non-professionals”, has dramatically altered our society’s relationship to the media. While once the media was dominated by a nearly-single point of view- that of the major production studios and broadcasters- today, especially thanks to the internet’s user-participatory capabilities, there are countless points of view available, each in contrast to the next.
Category : Where Are They Now?
Tags: Rebel with cause avi lewis documentary pov point of view Isaac Isitan
I attended the opening of McGill University’s Power in Diversity Career Week where Luca “Lazylegz” Patuelli was the keynote speaker. It’s been a week now since I attended but it’s still on my mind.
I met Luca nearly five years ago when a film portrait was created about him by Joshua Selinger for an NFB emerging filmmaker initiative called Doc Shop. In the film To Break Through, Luca mentions that his goal by age twenty-five would be to walk without his leg-braces. It was so hard to imagine that happening given the description of his ‘dis’-ability, arthrogryposis. Well now, guess what ‘move’ this awesome breakdancer currently claims to be his best ever… walking — brace-free and crutch free! Dropping his crutches to the side, Luca takes step after step in front of the audience.
Luca is a fabulous (motivational) speaker and I strongly encourage anyone who is looking to inspire their staff, students, organizations etc… to connect with him. He reminds us that there is no unachievable goal, if your mind is made up.
Category : Uncategorized
Tags: arthrogryposis, breakdancer, lazylegz, motivational speaker
Updates from the basement, courtesy of the CITIZENShift team.
Eve B. St-CyrMontrealer in her mid-twenties. Freelance journalist and photographer, with an interest in human rights and sustainable living. Has a cheerful disposition.
KathleenKathleen Jayme is a film production student at the University of British Columbia and is currently interning at CITIZENShift in Vancouver.
Laura GlowackiFrom Winnipeg, I now live and study in Montreal. I really, really like sci fi television and tobaggonning. I intern here at CitizenShift.
ryanRyan Spence is a Montreal based filmmaker/editor working primarily in documentary and independent fiction.
timTim McSorley is CITIZENShift's podcast coordinator and freelance journalist. He's also a contributor to CKUT radio and The Dominion newspaper.
TyneshaTynesha is CITIZENShift's summer intern from Concordia University's Communication department (Mtl., QC). Brimming with interests, she states "I enjoy school, I sing in a choir and I am also involved in community radio and volunteer work with youth. In the future, I look forward to developing a company that merges my three great passions in sound, community engagement, and music."
widgeDavid Widgington was the event coordinator for the Citizen Media Rendez-vous 2010 (http://citizen-media.ca). He is a mobile journalist (MoJo) who is well-versed in community radio, video and print and web-based media practices. He has a particular interest these days with diaspora communities returning to Southern Sudan since the end of the war. He is script-writing a documentary project on the subject. (http://southsudaninfo.net).
