Maybe you have heard of Korsakow (pronounced ‘KOR-SA-KOV’): “Yeah, you know, Korsakow is a principle, a logic, with its own rules and structure,” … these are the words of the person behind Korsakow, Florian Thalhofer. What is it? Where to start! ::: On-line software for making films (aka k-films). Non-linear. Database. Narrative. Interactive. Open-source. Still trying to wrap my mind around it, as i write. You can download the tools on-line and everything is pretty much laid out for you, and there seems to be quite a movement behind it. documentary. fiction. experimental… there is a symposium looking for entries in Montreal: DlNlA. Florian Thalhofer made this as a reaction to the constraints of linear filmmaking. It’s intersting: If you have material that you shot at some point, and could never quite get it edited or never used, this might be the perfect way to bring it alive. Really though, you just have to see it to understand what these letters are trying to say… here >> here >> and here.
HTMlles is a festival dedicated to women and digital art. That is: “HTMlles Festival is an international platform dedicated to the presentation of women’s independent media artworks from all facets of contemporary technological creation”. The festival was held this past November in Montreal for its ninth year, and was branded with this theme: (home)(/land).
What i found really interesting is the different ways people are using new media and the internet to make art. Check out Skawennati Tricia Fragnito, an artist who presented work that was built through online gaming and virtual environments. Here is one of the projects she is working on: AbTeC (Aboriginal Territories in Cyberspace).
Although the festival is over, you can still take a look at some of the work that was presented, on line, including video archives of some of the artist talks and conferences. The festival brings together established artists along with some awesome new talent. In conjunction with the NFB and StudioXX, HTMlles also presented First Person Digital, “a training and production program for women exploring new approaches to storytelling through multimedia.” The results of this program were shown at the festival, where artists each spoke about their final work and attendants got a first look. Here are just a few of some of the works from First Person Digital, all worth checking out.
Not to be missed ::: This 20min documentary is an introduction to the issue of shadeism, the discrimination that exists between the lighter-skinned and darker-skinned members of the same community. This documentary short looks specifically at how it affects young womyn within the African, Caribbean, and South Asian diasporas. Overall, ‘Shadeism’ explores where shadeism comes from, how it directly affects us as womyn of colour, and ultimately, begins to explore how we can move forward through dialogue and discussion ::: (description taken from film’s authors, http://vimeo.com/16210769)
This film will be playing along with other shorts, this Wednesday Nov. 3, at the opening night gala of The Regent Park Film Festival, followed by a youth panel discussion! If you are in Toronto, be there!
You Don’t Like The Truth…is the title of a new film by Luc Côté and Patricio Henriquez. Using recently declassified footage of Omar Khadr’s 4 day interrogation by canadian agents. A large part of the film is low quality images taken from 3 security cameras :: here is a sample :: The film is backed with excellent interviews with co-detainees of Omar and also one of his interrogators. Rightly disturbing. the film opens in theatres late October.
The title of the film is a taken from one of Omar’s responses to the canadian agents repeated attempts to get him to admit that he participated in the murder of a US soldier/medic. To this day Omar refuses to comply with the assertion of his guilt. Will the distribution of this film help change things for Omar Khadr?
There seems to be more than a little interest here in Canada to launch a news station similar to the FOX News channel in the US, aka Fox News North . There are a few articles out there in the mainstream media touching upon the subject: CBC and Globe And Mail. here is an article on Rabble.ca. Would you personally find this worrisome? Avaaz has started an online petition to support the Chairman of CRTC Konrad von Finckenstein. OpenMedia.ca has also launched a campaign to encourage the public to intervene. Finckenstein himself responded to one of the articles, downplaying the tone; see his response here. Is this going anywhere? Do you already see a similarity between our current mainstream media and that of our neighbour’s? Let us know your thoughts!
The Oka Crisis…20 years later…nothing has changed!Twenty years ago this July 11, the people of Kanehsatake and Kahnawake rose up in defense of their ancestral lands, facing off against government officials, the police, and the Canadian Army. Kanienkehaka (Mohawk) communities have been on the forefront of ongoing resistance to colonialism in Canada.
TRANSPORTATION will leave from Parc-Émilie Gamelin, corner Berri and Maisonneuve, at 8:30AM. To reserve a place on the buses please contact immediately (438) 288-4081, or visit the website. The Indigenous Solidarity Committee-Montreal will also facilitate car-share. If you plan on taking a car and have room, or if you looking for a space, please contact taylor.frances.lewis@gmail.com.
People’s Commission has published two new videos that dramatize home visits by CSIS agents. The videos were made in response to recent visits to the homes of activists. Not only do the videos feature the very activists who were targeted, they also show viewers how they can respond if they themselves hear a knock at the door. The People’s Commission has issued a community advisory in response to these visits and offer community workshops about citizen rights regarding the Canadian ‘national security agenda’.
Pull Focus Films, a non-profit film school in downtown Vancouver, is opening it’s doors to visitors as they announce their summer courses beginning in June. The school has a particular mandate; to partner aspiring filmmakers with community organizations that are looking for film content! For more information about the event and the courses they offer, click here.
This July will mark 20 years since the people of Kanehsatake and Kahnawake faced off against the army, the police and the Canadian government, marking a crucial point in the history of Indigenous resistance to colonialism. On Wednesday May 12th, five speakers from different Kanienkehaka (Mohawk) communities will come together to reflect on the events in 1990 and how they have affected on-going struggles for justice. The event, starting at 7pm, will be at De Sève Cinéma (1400 de Maisonneuve Ouest), Concordia University, Montreal.
For more information you can:
email indigenoussolidaritymontreal@gmail.com
go to the event Facebook page
or call (514) 848-7583
If you are not yet acquainted with the events of Oka 1990, check out the CitizenShift dossier on filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin. She was behind the scenes in Kanehsatake, where she completed a feature length film about the crisis: Kanehsatake 270 Years of Resistance
um…maybe you miss these one off, one day events that are happening around the globe, like earth day or turn off the lights night. Maybe you don’t have a UN Calendar on your desktop. Maybe you are too busy with work and or kids. Well, here is a beautiful blog about keeping your home garbage free, all year long! Say No to Trash is a project by a young family trying to use the least amount of waste, and they document it all in detail: there are recipes with no trash, celebrating with no trash, diapers with no trash. If changing your habits around the house makes you nervous, Say No to Trash has helped clear the way, so you can work for mother earth, one step at a time.
Andrea is a Communication Studies student at Concordia University in Montreal. She has a background in photography and visual arts, and is interested in web-media as a tool for social change.
Currently living in Somoto, Madriz, Nicaragua. I work with children victims of child labour or at risk in the nearby town of Totogalpa, mainly helping out with photography workshops. I also participate in the development and promotion of sustainable community tourism.
Montrealer in her mid-twenties.
Freelance journalist and photographer,
with an interest in human rights and sustainable living.
Has a cheerful disposition.
Genevieve is a second year Communications Studies student at Concordia University. She is interested in graphic design, photography and fashion. Genevieve also enjoys creating social media and riding the slopes whenever she gets the chance.
Tynesha 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."
David 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).
