Documentary is a graphic novel too
The documentary film Amplify Her is coming to the Innovation Centre on Saturday, complete with a projection mapping of artwork from the movie on the Innovation Centre’s stairwell.
Amplify Her is a film, graphic novel and animated motion comic series exploring the rise of female artists in the electronic music scene.
Imagined and brought to life by more than 30 female creators, with a lot of the film’s cinematography shot by Kelowna’s Jan Vozenilek and the graphic novel cover design and body paint of each of the artist by local artist Kristin Grant, the 89-minute feature follows seven upand-coming stars as they find their voices within a male-dominated realm.
On the surface, it’s a story about women in the electronic music industry, but it digs deeper than that.
Five years in the making, Amplify Her is directed by award-winning, west-coast filmmakers Ian MacKenzie and Edmonton born and raised Nicole Sorochan.
“During production, we realized the themes faced by women in the music world were the same as other industries, like tech, video games, comics and more,” said director Nicole Sorochan. “We thought: what if we gave women a chance to tell stories in collaboration with each other? We found 16 more female comic writers, illustrators, and animators and gave them the support and space to create.” The result: an seven-chapter graphic novel and motion comic series.
Kelowna filmmaker Vozenilek filmed the workshop on Galiano where 30 women gathered from North America to create the graphic novel and motion comic series. Body paint artist Grant turned each of the music producers/DJs from the film into their comic book heroine visions through body paint and photography.
The Innovation Centre and Amplify Her are also putting together a unique projection mapped experience on the stairs inside the centre, that will feature graphic novel video artwork from the film. The event will also feature local DJ JGirl. Following the event an afterparty will take place at the Lounge room at Sapphire. All screening ticket holders will have free admission before 10:30 p.m.
Showtime is 6 p.m. Tickets are $20, available at eventbrite.ca. Search for Amplify Her – Kelowna. The Innovation Centre is at the corner of Doyle Avenue and Ellis Street.