WNDX review

The 3rd Annual Winnnipeg edition of the One Take Super 8 Event has come and gone at WNDX and was another fantastic success. Closing out the festival, we had a great crowd show up at the Garrick Theatre to see 28 new films by Winnipeg filmmakers. This venue was once part of a multiplex built in the 70's, but closed as a movie house in the late nineties. It was nice to once again show celluloid in this 600 seat theatre. As their site describes the space -
"This 600-seat theatre has been fitted with a remarkable array of audio-visual equipment. A state of the art facility, Garrick One features a stage, twenty-foot-wide motorized screen, outstanding digital projection equipment, high tech sound and lights, and a touch screen control system with LED monitor built right into the podium. The touch screen technology puts control of your presentation right where it belongs -- at your fingertips. Garrick One is ideal for any type of presentation or performance."
Too funny, that with all that high tech equipment at our fingertips, we bring in a 30 year old projector.















I have to admit there was a lot of skepticism that my ELMO ST1200 wasn't up to the job of throwing the distance to the screen. We set up on the podium that separates the two tiers of the theatre and managed to convert the naysayers with a big bright image that really showed off the Ektachrome and 2 b/w reversal stocks used for the films. It's suprising what a 150W bulb in a dark room is capable of (not to underestimate the power of a good lens).
The night started with a bang, with Kevin Bacon (no, the other Kevin Bacon) creating a smart but fun narrative about a man shipping himself in a box to his love in Paris. Things don't turn out so sweet when he arrives. Leslie Supnet also raised the bar with a fantastic piece of cut out animation. A definite highlight and a true One Take came from Cam Woykin, in his 'Weekend' inspired tracking shot following a love story on a prairie highway. Stephane Oystryk pulled a similar page from the new wave playbook, with an intimate portrait of a jeune fille. The evening contained a few surprises, some of which got a little naughty, but in a quirky Winnipeg way. And what would a Winnipeg film fest be without a train film, provided by David Streit who created a great live soundtrack with vinyl, to support his black and white documentary of a cross Canada Train trip. Too many other great films to mention, showcasing the eruption of talent that makes Winnipeg an epicenter of independent cinema in Canada.
The night carried on after the screening in the lobby,where the "‘70’s retro décor creates a funky atmosphere for any event." And not to be remiss, I have to mention the late late party which contained some die hard filmmakers making a trip to a Winnipeg icon, The Salisbury House to continue to chat about the evenings hits, and not quite hits. Salisbury House and super 8 at 3 am, icons of another era finding a niche in this 21st century.

If you want to see more photos from the event (or want to add some) you can check out our Facebook group page. Thanks to Gerald Saul for the photos in this post.