The mission of the Okanagan Institute
is to contribute to
the quality of creative engagement in the Okanagan through publications and events.
» Home
» Express
» Publications
» Collegium
» Poet Laureate
» ArtsCare
» The Institute
» Contact
Kelowna BC Canada
Telephone 250.870.2690
Email: Click here
Click here to help us improve our programs.
|
|
Lights! Camera! Action!
INSIDE THE OKANAGAN FILM WORLD
» Thursday 26 February 2009 | 5 pm
» The Bohemian Café, 524 Bernard Avenue
An informal afternoon hour showcasing people and ideas featured in Okanagan ARTS. Join us as Jason Woodford of the Okanagan International Film Festival, Kelly Korpesio from the Okanagan Film Commission, James Dow of CHBC and TechYou Media, Donovan Bach of the Okanagan Independent Film Society, and Denise Kenney from UBCO's Creative and Critical Studies Department take us inside the local film scene.
» This is a free event. Refreshments will be available at a modest cost.
» Seating is limited, please reserve yours HERE
The Reel Story of Okanagan Film
Nothing grabs buzz quite like the movie business. One whiff that an actor was spotted at a local restaurant, or movie cameras are roaming the streets of Kelowna and everyone can't wait to get the real scoop.
A quiet revolution has been brewing over the years as more and more filmmakers set their cameras down in the Okanagan. It's a beautiful setting, but more than that the Okanagan is also a beehive of activity with professionals and amateurs of all kinds offering up their talents. The Okanagan has become a "go-to" place because it's a film community.
Most recently, the popular vampire series Twilight selected Kelowna for a casting call. Before that there was Shred, featuring Tom Green, and before then Fido. Let alone the movie that arguably got the whole thing going - My American Cousin, released in 1985 by director Sandy Wilson and filmed in Naramata.
The big names may capture the headlines, but it's the local players involved in the industry that keep it going - from putting together the locations and the crew, to establishing film festivals that increase local interest in this innovative art form that now encompasses documentaries and animation.
On Thursday, February 26th at 5 pm the ongoing weekly Okanagan Institute Express series at the Bohemian Café presents Lights! Camera! Action!. You'll hear about how the local film industry took the progressive step of launching a film commission back in 1990. And you'll hear how local independent film producers decided to bring their talents to the forefront, starting their own production companies, an independent film society, and a burgeoning film festival that celebrates local and international talent.
Speaking at the event will be Jason Woodford of the Okanagan International Film Festival, Kelly Korpesio from the Okanagan Film Commission, James Dow of CHBC and TechYou Media, Donovan Bach of the Okanagan Independent Film Society, and Denise Kenney from UBCO's Creative and Critical Studies Department.
 Kelly Korpesio is the Locations Service Officer for the Okanagan Film Commission. She began making films after graduating with a BA from the UofA. Enticed by film school and work opportunities, she moved to B.C. five years ago and has immersed herself in the business ever since working on DTV Features like "Dr. Dolittle 4 & 5." Alongside her role of assisting the film commissioner in facilitating industry oriented economic and community development, Kelly sits as a Director on the OFFS. When she's not video editing or taking in cinematic pleasures, she's actively participating in yoga and is a self proclaimed "weekend warrior" x-country skiing or snowboarding.
 Denise Kenney is an assistant professor in the Department of Creative and Critical Studies and is currently involved in the university's Minds and Movies film appreciation series that gets underway Mar. 6. As a filmmaker, she's worked in experimental, narrative and documentary film. Her research work includes new and adapted work for live performance, multimedia performance art, adaptations to digital media, and eco-art. Recently she collaborated with colleagues Neil Cadger and Stephen Foster, and sound designer Steve Heimbecker to produce an interdisciplinary exploration of people's relationship to their habitat. The work was highlighted during the National Independent Media Arts Festival and Conference hosted by the Alternator Gallery for Contemporary Art in Kelowna, BC.
 Jason Woodford - Since moving from his native England in 2002, Jason threw himself into working in the volunteer sector specializing in film, as a continuation of his studies in England and Vancouver. After two years as president of the newly reformed Okanagan Society of Independent Filmmaking (OSIF), Jason also spearheaded a new-look Okanagan Film Festival board in 2005. Balancing both full-time and part-time positions with his volunteering, Jason is currently in his 5th year with the Okanagan Film Festival (his 3rd as President). During his tenure with these organisations he setup his video company Crosswood Productions that is currently developing and shooting several projects.
 James Dow is the Creative Director at CHBC Television and a partner in the digital media production company TechYou Media. As a broadcast television writer/producer/director, Dow has garnered numerous regional, national and international awards for documentary, commercial and promotional production. His company, TechYou Media was one of first production companies in Western Canada to adopt the Red One 4K Digital Cinema Camera and is on the leading edge of new digital technology for film and TV. From 2001 to 2003 Dow sat on the board of directors of the Okanagan Film Commission and established key contacts within the region's growing film industry. He is also a regular panel judge for the Okanagan Film Festival Amateur competition. Dow is currently developing several television properties for presentation to the national networks.
 Donovan Bach is the President of the Okanagan Society of Independent Filmmaking (OSIF) and Independent filmmaker located in Kelowna B.C. He graduated in 2002 from the Vancouver Film Schools 3D program and is currently experimenting with various aspects of CG/Compositing/Color Grading.
Lights! Camera! Action! is a free event, and takes place at the Bohemian Café. This marks the 79th event the Okanagan Institute has held since the Express series got underway in July 2007. Since that time, the series has played host to many Okanagan luminaries, including former deputy secretary general of Amnesty International Derek Evans, artists Lee Claremont and Gary Pearson, BC Book Award nominee Don Gayton, CBC Literary prize winner poet Harold Rhenisch, distinguished editor and author Jim Taylor, poet and professor John Lent, animator and filmmaker Jim Cliffe, community activist Don Elzer, dancer David LaHay, architect Jim Meiklejohn, culinary artist and writer Heidi Noble, broadcaster Marion Barschel and others from a wide range of creative fields.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER ONLINE CLICK HERE
Where Enquiring Minds Gather. Okanagan Institute at the Bohemian Café A hearty feast of lectures, presentations, workshops and showcases celebrating our culture and community. Produced by the Okanagan Institute in association with Wheat King Publishing magazines: Okanagan Arts and Okanagan Home. Express is sponsored in part by the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan, Wood Lake Publishing, UBCO-FCCS, and in support of Project Literacy Kelowna.
The Okanagan Institute is a group of creative professionals that have gathered around the goal of providing events, publications and services of interest to enquiring minds in the Okanagan. We partner with individuals, organizations, institutions and businesses to achieve optimal creative and social impact.
Our mission is to ignite cultural transformation, catalyze collaborative action, build networks and foster sustainable creative enterprises. We invite the participation by all members of the creative community.
|
