Extended Interviews from the documentary

BackBone: Vancouver Experimental Cinema 1967 - 1981

Total Time: 3 hours 42 minutes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXTENDED INTERVIEWS

 

Tom Braidwood (16:30min) discusses some of his other experimental works and his transition into mainstream cinema and television as an assistant director, producer and actor. An interesting and historic look at the formative years of the Vancouver film industry and his work with Stephen J Cannell and The X Files, where he was cast as Melvin Frohike (The Lone Gunman).

 

Al Razutis (48:10min) relates a fascinating history of the development of Vancouver's art scene from the late 60s through the 70s. He discusses aesthetic considerations of analogue filmmaking (including building the first optical printer in the city). He also delves into ideological notes concerning the definitions of art, the Canada Council, regionalization and historical perceptions.

 

Gary Lee-Nova (21:55min) describes the varied influences of Bruce Conner, Marshall McLuhan and the Cold War. He relates historic moments of the Vancouver art scene including film artist Sam Perry, Intermedia, Stan Fox, the CBC and the social arts community that brought them all together.

 

Chris Gallagher (16:35min) discusses his 1981 film Seeing In The Rain in greater detail. Gallagher discusses his aesthetic influences and the inspiring Vancouver art institutions of the 1970s.

 

Sturla Gunnarsson (13:59min) recounts the making of his award-winning student experimental short and building a dynamic career as a professional director. He offers fascinating insights into the development of his career with sagely advice for young filmmakers.

 

David Rimmer (21:00min) explains his personal journey and development to becoming an artist and filmmaker. He discusses Canada's first artist-run centre INTERMEDIA, the supportive experimental atmosphere of institutions like the Vancouver Art Gallery, the CBC and the National Film Board as well as the Hippie culture that drove the times.

 

Peter Lipskis (12:15min) describes the influences of William Burroughs and the "cut up" technique. He looks at the 1970s war between film and video and other notes from the art scene in 70s Vancouver.

 

Kirk Tougas (33:04min) describes the notion of Poetic Cinema as reflected in experimental work. He also relates a fascinating and historic look at Vancouver's burgeoning art scene in the 60s and 70s. A journey that begins with the creation of the film program at the University of British Columbia and leads to the creation of the Pacific Cinematheque. Along the way he gives notes on cultural ideology and funding hurdles.

 

Patricia Gruben (18:27min) recounts the first failed attempt to make her 1979 film The Central Character and the personal struggles to remount and complete the award-winning film. She discusses feminist filmmaking and political premises versus "new narrative".