Telling their own stories
Mobile movie studio helps eskasoni youth learn filmmaking for free
a mobile movie studio set up outside the eskasoni health Centre is giving young people in the area a chance to learn filmmaking for free.
“it’s the first days we are here. We find it very exciting. everything can happen,” said sarah Junique, a writer and director originally from France, who is one of the filmmaking mentors for the project.
Wapikoni mobile, a nonprofit organization, travels to indigenous communities in Canada with a portable audiovisual and music studio. it is equipped with a recording booth, editing suite and shooting gear.
people between ages 15-30 are invited to come and learn how to make a documentary or fictional film from start to finish. This includes writing and post-production.
“We’re here to help people in the community tell their own stories. We just kind of listen, mediate, encourage and give them the tools to do that,” said the other Wapikoni mentor Cass Gardiner, an indigenous filmmaker and artist based out of new york and toronto.
“We’re not coming in here and making documentaries about First nations people. We are letting First nations people tell their own stories. i think that’s the most important thing we can do — give people the tools and power to do things for themselves.”
it’s the first time the montreal-based company, created 13-years ago by Quebecois filmmaker manon barbeau, has been in atlantic Canada.
Wapikoni mobile will be in eskasoni until oct. 24. during that time, Junique and Gardiner hope to have enough interest to finish six short films (up to five minutes) and two music videos.
since 2004, Wapikoni has visited more than 32 communities in Canada. during those visits, 4,300 participants wrote, directed and produced almost 1,000 short films.
These films have won 148 awards at national and international festivals.
Wapikoni Mobile also helps youth learn employable skills in the film industry.
“When we come in, we show people, or I hope we can show people, you can make a living off of being creative,” said Gardiner, whose family is from Kebaowek First Nation in Kipawa, Que.
“There are options outside of what you may know or what your school has taught you or what you have seen in your immediate family and community.”
For Junique, who now lives in Montreal, being a Wapikoni mentor has personal meaning.
“I struggled with many problems when I was a child and a teenager.
Through writing and making movies
I realized I could be happier and I think
I want to share that,” she said.
Wapikoni Mobile, which is partially funded by Health Canada, has a youth outreach worker on the team to help participants deal with issues and emotions that may come up during the creative process.
Flore Gamet is the youth outreach worker on the Wapikoni team in Eskasoni.
“I am here to be a good listener and to make contact for the organization here in the community,” said Gamet, who lives in Montreal.
“In one month, we won’t be there anymore so I am not going to do interventions but I do have to refer those young people to the good persons.”
On Oct. 23, there will be a public screening of the films.
“As a First Nations filmmaker and a woman, I feel like it is really important to provide for native, First Nations, Inuit and Metis people, the ability to tell their own stories. I think that the only way we can move forward with reconciliation is by giving First Nations people the autonomy they deserve,” Gardiner said.
“I think that once we control our own narrative and our own storytelling, it is a large step in the right direction for that.”