May 2008 Archives

THE RIDGE

By Colin on May 10, 2008 11:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It’s been well over a year since Madison Graie suggested we create CENTIGRADE. Seventeen years since I first wrote it. And last night was one of those weird but wonderful ‘full circle’ moments in a lifetime of people, places and films.

The Directors Guild of Canada screened the (2007) Kick Start films at the Ridge theatre last night. And it was exactly one year ago that Madison and I sat in the very same theatre and watched those who had won the previous year.

Five films in all. And some of them were damn good. I was proud to be there. And Madison and I shared more than one unspoken wink. We made it. We actually did it. We lived to tell the tale.

We were proud.

Taking a ‘thought’ and manifesting a tangible, three dimensional reality from it is a pretty nifty trick. You are literally changing the world, albeit in a small way, but you are. You are not simply drifting through a life without consequence. Existing in the wake of others. Instead, you are simultaneously piloting and building a ship that is going to carry you to places that don’t even exist yet. There are few markers along the way and with little more than faith keeping you afloat it can get very scary. It’s a long, surreal and often lonely journey that will profoundly change how you see the world.

People are beginning to come up to Madison and I to shake our hands. Respected people. People we’ve never met before (but know by reputation). Actors, Producers, Cinematographers. Some of the best in the business. They see something different in what we’ve done and I think they find it refreshing. Word is beginning to spread. The film has qualified for an Academy Award and in an ocean of cinematic indifference, that’s a hard thing to ignore.

And so, we stood a little taller last night. A year ago we were sitting in the front row of the Ridge Theatre asking questions. Last night we were answering them. A difference of ten feet and a gallon of blood.

But we did it.

We made it to the other side.

We earned our fifteen minutes. (Or, should I say 17 minutes, 11 seconds.)

So, I think we’re going to enjoy a bit of fruit. Have a little fun. God knows it won’t last forever. Soon we’ll be setting up shop again, ready to tackle the next big storm. Today the harbor’s calm and welcoming, but I can feel a little wind kicking up. Might be time to pull out the old pilots cap and carpenters hammer again.

A little scary, but that’s life. If you’re going to set out for new lands, sometimes you have to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.