Indigenous film a ghost story set in 1812
Screening June 25 at Ridge Film House
A buddy’s brief illness evolved in to a life-changing experience for a Fort Erie man.
Niagara Falls resident Timothy Moran was on his honeymoon in spring 2017 when he became ill and passed the time browsing the internet.
By chance, he came across information on a program that gives Indigenous people an opportunity to learn about the film, television and digital media industry. He knew his high school friend Andrew Lown would be a perfect candidate.
“Everything happens for a reason,” said Moran, 37. “It was one of those things where I was meant to find it and I was meant to pass it along to Andy.”
Moran and Lown have known each other since they were teenagers. They were classmates, and fellow film geeks, at Fort Erie Secondary School.
At his friend’s insistence,
Lown applied and was one of nine people from across the country — and the only resident from Ontario — selected to participate in the CBC New Indigenous Voices program at the National Screen Institute in Winnipeg.
“I didn’t think I had a chance,” Lown recalled. “But, Tim said I absolutely had to apply and I’m glad I did. It was one of the best experiences of my life, bar none.”
At the institute, Lown trained with industry professionals to develop his skills and then undertake an internship to put those skills into practice.
He learned the ins and outs of screenwriting, directing, producing, how to work with actors and set etiquette.
Lown and several classmates co-produced a short film, “Forgotten,” as part of the course.
He was so impressed with the finished product that he began to enter the film in to festivals. The
film was an official selection at the LA Skins Fest, a Native American film festival held each year in Los Angeles.
When he returned home to Fort Erie, Lown put his newfound skills to good use and produced a short film, “Presage,” written and directed by Moran.
“Presage,” a ghost story set during the War of 1812 and filmed in Fort Erie and Port Colborne, will be screened June 25 at the Ridge Film House in Ridgeway.
Funds raised from the screening will support an upcoming film project by the two independent filmmakers.