CLiFF Burnaby took place on Sunday November 29 – after a long week of conventions and conferences.
Thanks to those who attended and saw a couple of great films: Six Weeks to Solidarity and Tanaka-San Will Not Do Calisthenics.
Snacks at CLiFF Burnaby included popcorn
in special CLiFF bags and rice crackers!
More photos on the CLiFF BC blog: http://labourfilms.ca/bc
In 18 days, CLiFF BC will take place in Burnaby. The venue is the BCGEU Theatre at the headquarters for the BC Government and Service Employees’ Union located at 4911 Canada Way.
The entrance is off Iris Crescent, a half block west of Norland. Free parking is available near the entrance (first driveway on left) as well as on Iris Crescent and in the big surface parking lot (third driveway on left).
Two films will be shown from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The first is a short film that looks at the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike, 75 years later. The film is called Six Weeks of Solidarity.
The second film is Tanaka-san Will Not do Calisenthics. It was filmed in Japan and tells the story of Tanaka-san who was let go from his job 25 years ago when he refused to conform – and what happens when he protests at his old office every day.
Two fabulous films that you can’t see at your local movie theatre so please join us at CLiFF Burnaby on November 29. You’ll also be participating in this first labour film festival for Canada so you’ll be a part of history.
Thank you for your support of CLiFF – Canadian Labour International Film Festival.
If you have any questions about CLiFF BC please contact Lorene Oikawa at burnaby@labourfilms.ca
If you have any questions about CLiFF locations around BC contact me, Lorene Oikawa CLiFF BC Coordinator at bc@labourfilms.ca or check out my CLiFF BC blog http://labourfilms.ca/bc
Tech guru Tod Maffin has just done a video review of the new Flip cameras. CLiFF founder Frank Saptel uses a Flip in addition to his other cameras. The Flip is very compact with a built-in USB so definitely very convenient.
I usually use my Nikon digital camera that has video capability. I’ve also used my blackberry to shoot some short films, but it’s always good to check out the new tools. Also, keep in mind that Youtube does compress your videos so the quality isn’t as good when viewing on youtube.
May is Asian Heritage Month and BCGEU held two film events. One in Victoria last weekend and one in Burnaby tonight. The response was good in Victoria considering it was a Saturday afternoon and a gorgeous hot day. Both events are also good previews of what to expect for the CLiFF festivals in November. If you produce it they will come.
Speaking of movies, the provincial election in BC took place on May 12 and the results are not what I hoped for. Maybe I could shoot a movie version with a different ending?
Asian Heritage Month Film Festival at BCGEU Victoria
CLiFF BC held its first meeting tonight. Frank Saptel founder of CLiFF is here from Toronto and showed a PowerPoint presentation. It was a chance for people to see the Burnaby venue for CLiFF and check out the technology in the new Tom Kozar Education Centre at BCGEU Headquarters.
Frank spoke about the vision for CLiFF and how we have for the first time a film festival totally devoted to worker’s issues. We can not rely on others especially corporate media to provide films about workers or if they do it’s not authentic and not our voices. With CLiFF we have the opportunity to not only show films about workers and workers’ issues, but also show films created by workers.
Not everyone who expressed interest could attend tonight’s meeting. Most people are busy working on campaigns for positive change. Not to worry we will have other meetings and other means of connecting.
We did have a lively discussion about films, festivals, social justice, human rights, politics and all the topics of interest to workers and for our film festival. We also discussed some ideas for other venues in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island.
Now that we are starting to firm up other locations, I will compile a list and post it soon. If you’re interested in having a film festival in your location, let me know bc@labourfilms.ca If your community is not on the list, we can add it to the list.
I picked up Frank Saptel, CLiFF founder, at the Vancouver airport. Luckily it was sunshine and Vancouver in all its glory. Although I grew up here so I love it even in the rain.
We talked about ideas for CLiFF BC and Frank is looking forward to the CLiFF BC meeting. It’s at 6 pm on Monday, April 27 at BCGEU 4911 Canada Way, Burnaby.
It’s not too late if you would like to attend. I would appreciate a RSVP bc@labourfilms.ca or a call at 604-291-9611 just to have an idea of numbers. Food and refreshments will be provided.
Frank and I also chatted about the hot political scene in BC. We’re in campaign mode as our provincial election is on May 12. The BC Liberals under Gordon Campbell have ripped up contracts, cut jobs, services and programs, broken promises on long term care beds for seniors and for our public health care, made cuts to education, refuses to increase minimum wage from paltry $8 ($6 training wage) while voting on increases to his own salary, favours a gas tax over true caps (and favours offshore drilling, removing farmland from Agricultural Land Reserve, threats to our wild salmon because of unfettered fish farm activity, cuts to environment protection, conservation, and parks, grizzly bear trophy hunting, toxic chemicals, TILMA, etc.), mismanagement, convention centre cost over runs that blow your mind, spiralling Olympic costs, no accountability, secrecy, police raids on the legislature and BC Rail scandal with a Liberal insider receiving $300,000. Oh yes and in the last week we’ve heard about Liberal candidates who break the law (drunk driving, dangerous driving, speeding), one who is homophobic, and one under police investigation. Two are cabinet ministers. No one has stepped down. The only candidate who had to step down is the one who criticized Campbell and said he should resign.
Of course, the BC Liberal leader Gordon Campbell refuses to accept responsiblity for any of the current corruption and he is the one (our premier) who refused to step down when he was charged with drunk driving.
Sounds like a screenplay doesn’t it? Hopefully with a satisfying ending for BC’ers on May 12. Stay tuned.
Just a reminder of the CLiFF BC meeting on
Monday, April 27, 6 pm
BCGEU Headquarters Auditorium
4911 Canada Way, Burnaby
(half block west of Norland, entrance at Iris Crescent)
Special guest is CLiFF founder Frank Saptel
Ask your questions and find out about participating in or setting up a film festival in your community.
Food and refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP to CLiFF BC Coordinator Lorene Oikawa at 604-291-9611 or bc@labourfilms.ca
Quiet on the set: CLiFF BC is rolling.
Exciting news. CLiFF creator Frank Saptel is coming to Vancouver and wants to meet with us.
He’ll give us an update on what’s happening in Toronto and across Canada – and we can share our ideas and questions with him. You’ll also get to see the Burnaby venue for CLiFF.
Mark your calendars:
Monday, April 27 @ 6 pm
BCGEU Headquarters Auditorium
4911 Canada Way, Burnaby (half block west of Norland, entrance at Iris Crescent)
Food and refreshments provided so please rsvp
e-mail bc@labourfilms.ca
CLiFF BC will be meeting in Burnaby.
For more info, please e-mail bc@labourfilms.ca
Details will also be posted on this blog so stay tuned.
Last night I had the opportunity to join the Ottawa CLiFF meeting. It was great to hear the ideas of people who are passionate about both film and labour issues. They spent the evening discussing their preparation and had the opportunity to pose questions to CLiFF founder Frank Saptel.
Ottawa CLiFF Coordinator Doug Massey also announced that he had secured the National Archives Theatre for the festival. What a fabulous venue.
I reported on the work happening in BC and let them know about this BC blog.
I’m in Ottawa for meetings with the Canadian Labour Congress‘s Human Rights Committee. We’re talking about making connections and communicating our message.
CLiFF would be one great way to get our message out.
I was attending various events on March 21-International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Unfortunately I didn’t have my camera with me. I pulled out my blackberry and shot a short film – the start of the 8,000 Drums ceremony at Victory Square in Vancouver.
The quality isn’t as good as my digital camera, but it captured the awesome sound of drumming and a visual of people gathering for the ceremony.
8,000 Drums Ceremony at Victory Square, Vancouver
